A Healthy Pregnancy: The Basics

Finding out you're going to have a baby is exciting, and can also feel overwhelming, with plenty of questions about how to give the baby a healthy start. Taking care of your own health during pregnancy helps the fetus develop into a healthy baby.

What helps

• Regular prenatal visits. At prenatal care visits, a health care provider checks your health and monitors the pregnancy until delivery. Problems can be found early, and prompt treatment can cure many and prevent others.
• Healthy eating and plenty of water. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats or other protein sources, and low-fat dairy.
• Prenatal vitamins. Pregnancy calls for more of certain vitamins and minerals, such as folic acid and iron.
• Care with medicines. Check with your provider before starting or stopping any medicine, including over-the-counter medicines and dietary or herbal supplements.
• Staying active. Physical activity can help you stay strong, feel and sleep better, and prepare your body for birth. Ask your provider which activities suit you.
• Avoiding harmful substances, including alcohol, drugs and tobacco.

When to ask

Your body keeps changing as the fetus develops, and it can be hard to tell whether a new symptom is normal or a sign of a problem. Check with your provider about anything that bothers or worries you.

Sources

• MedlinePlus, produced by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Pregnancy": https://medlineplus.gov/pregnancy.html