Healthy Pregnancy

• Take a multivitamin with folic acid

  • Folic acid or folate is important for brain development and preventing certain birth defects. Include 400 micrograms (or 0.4 mg) of folate in your diet or in pill form before you get pregnant and in the first three months of pregnancy.

  • Foods fortified with folic acid include: leafy green vegetables, kidney beans, orange juice and other citrus fruits, peanuts, broccoli, asparagus, peas, lentils and whole-grain products. Folic acid is also added to some foods like enriched breads, pastas, rice and cereals.

• Kick the habit

  If you smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs — STOP! Quitting is hard, but you can do it. Ask your doctor for help. For more information, see the “Take Care of Your Lungs” section on page 12 in this booklet.

• Get health issues under control

  Talk to your doctor about how your health issues might affect you and your baby. If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar levels. If you have high blood pressure, monitor these levels as well. If you are overweight, talk to your doctor about how to reach a healthy weight.

• Start an exercise program

  Once you get pregnant, you can’t increase your exercise routine by much. So it’s best to start before the baby is on the way.

• Get immunized

  If you haven’t had chickenpox or rubella, get immunized at least three months before getting pregnant.

• Get tested

  Get checked for Hepatitis B and C, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV. These infections can harm you and your baby. Tell your doctor if you or your sex partners have ever had an STD or HIV.

• Be medication wise

  Go over all of the medicines you take (prescription, over-the-counter and herbals) with your doctor. Make sure they are safe to take while you’re trying to get pregnant and during pregnancy.

As soon as you think you are pregnant, schedule your first prenatal checkup. Studies show that pregnant women who receive prenatal care are less likely to deliver prematurely or have other serious problems related to their pregnancy. Your first exam should be within the first six to eight weeks of your pregnancy or when you first suspect you are pregnant.

At these checkups, your doctor will likely want to talk about nutrition and physical activity, what to expect during the birth process and basic newborn care. The first appointment usually takes the most time because it often involves:

• A full physical including a pelvic exam  

• Urine and blood samples for lab tests

• Calculating your due date

* New in 2024:  Parent Support Program (Maven Maternity)

Starting in many of our 2024 plans, WHA is offering the Maven Maternity program, where a personal care advocate is available to you (and your partner) through your parenthood journey, providing access to the expertise of specialists via video chat or messaging, as well as online resources and classes. Visit mywha.org/parentsupport.

After your delivery, the best thing to do to ensure your newborn’s health is to take care of your health. You can start with a postpartum checkup three to six weeks after you deliver or sooner if you had a Cesarean section (C-section) or any complications during your pregnancy. Take this opportunity to discuss any concerns with your doctor on such topics as: