10 Pregnancy Do's

1. Eat a healthy diet before and during pregnancy. Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole-grains. Choose lean foods such as chicken and skim milk, avoid eating fatty foods such as butter and fatty meat. Expectant mothers require approximately 300 additional calories per day.
2. Take a daily multivitamin that contains folic acid, both before and during pregnancy. 400 microgram (.04 mg) of folate, or folic acid, reduces the chance of neural tube defects (NTD) or defects of the brain and spinal cord such as spina bifida "open spine." Folate-rich foods include dried beans, oranges, orange juice, and leafy green vegetables.
3. Take calcium daily. A daily dose of 1000 mg of calcium will help your baby develop strong, healthy bones and teeth and will decrease your risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures later in life. Calcium-rich foods include yogurt, milk, cheese, broccoli, tofu, and beans.
4. Gain healthy weight. According to the pregnancy weight gain guidelines from the Institute of Medicine, if before pregnancy you are:
   • underweight, gain 28-40 pounds
   • normal weight, gain 25-35 pounds or 1-2 pounds/week
   • overweight, gain 15-25 pounds
   • obese, gain 15 pounds
5. Exercise. Regular, low-impact exercises such as walking and swimming are good for you and your baby. Talk to your doctor about what is safe.
6. Ask your doctor before taking any medicine. Prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medicine may be harmful to your baby. Ask your doctor if you should continue taking prescription medicines.
7. Stop smoking and stop taking drugs or consuming alcohol. Discuss openly with your obstetrical provider.
8. See your doctor regularly. Prenatal care can help keep you and your baby healthy by detecting problems and preventing pregnancy complications. Discuss any preexisting medical problems with your provider. A plan can be made to decrease the risk of pregnancy complications.
9. Consider getting a flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests vaccinations during the flu season for all women in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of their pregnancy. Consult your health care provider.
10. Consider genetic counseling and testing if you are over the age of 35: Women 35 years and older at delivery have a higher risk of giving birth to babies with Down Syndrome and other disorders
    • Genetic counselors review your history and advise you of the risks and benefits of genetic testing, helping you decide on your options.
    • Genetic tests include amniocentesis, traditionally performed at 15-20 weeks or early at 12-14 weeks, and chorionic villus sampling at 10-12 weeks.
    • While you may be at higher risk, if you are healthy and have no medical problems, you most likely will have a normal pregnancy, labor and birth, and healthy baby.