New Parent News

Everyone Wants to Have a Healthy Baby

By Jennifer Howard, MA, for the Times Herald Record on July 18, 2007

Often when a woman finds out she is pregnant, she does everything possible to ensure that her baby is healthy – such as quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol and other drugs and getting early prenatal care. However, half of all pregnancies are not planned, and many women do not even realize they are pregnant until one to three months after conception. The first two months of pregnancy is when all of the baby’s body parts are forming, which means that a lot of damage can be done before women even know they are pregnant!

Good health is a cycle that begins before we are even born.

Healthy girls grow up to be healthy women; these healthy women then give birth to healthy babies.

Babies who are born too soon or too small tend to have many more health problems than babies that are carried for the full nine months.

Even if she is not trying to get pregnant, all woman of childbearing age should follow these guidelines routinely, so that when she is ready for a baby, her body is, too.

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight. Women who are overweight are at risk for medical problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes, which are related to premature birth.
2. Take a Daily Multivitamin that contains 400 mcg. of folic acid, a B vitamin that decreases the risk for birth defects of the brain and spinal cord, when taken in the months before becoming pregnant.
3. Talk to Your Doctor About ANY Prescription Medications that you are taking. Many medications, such as those prescribed for high blood pressure, depression and anxiety, seizures and acne, have been shown to cause birth defects. Your doctor can tell you if there are options that would be safer in case you become pregnant. 
4. Manage Medical Conditions through regular check ups. Infections such as HIV can be passed from the mother to the baby during pregnancy, however, there are medications that are available to reduce the risk.
5. Get Vaccinated against Hepatitis B, Rubella, HPV (Human Papillomavirus), Varicella and Influenza. Females need to be vaccinated before they are pregnant. Serious birth defects can result if a woman is infected while pregnant and vaccinations can not be given during pregnancy.
6. Get Tested for STI’s (Sexually Transmitted Infections) since most can be passed to the baby during pregnancy or birth. Some STI’s are curable and others can be managed with medications to reduce the risk to the baby. 
7. Genetic Testing can identify the parent’s risk for passing on a genetic disorder to their child. Some commonly screened disorders are sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis and maternal PKU.
8. Avoid Alcohol and Drugs since they can cause serious, long term effects on a developing baby, including behavioral, physical and learning problems.

When the day comes that your baby is depending on you, you’ll be prepared to give them the best chance for a healthy beginning!

Jennifer Howard, MA, is a program coordinator and health educator for Maternal-Infant Services Network (MISN) of Orange, Sullivan and Ulster Counties, a not-for-profit organization that coordinates health and human services for pregnant women and children. Visit our website at www.misn-ny.org  or call 1-800-453-4666 for more information.

For More Information on FREE or LOW COST Health Insurance, Prenatal Care or Breastfeeding Support Call 1-800-453-4666.