Services
Maternity Services provide education, resources, and care to expecting mothers. These services provide a variety of options based on the individual need of the expectant mother.
For more information and to make an appointment, please contact your local health department
Folic Acid
It is very important for a pregnant woman to have enough folic acid in her body during pregnancy. Folic acid is a B vitamin that can help prevent against major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine. Pregnant women will be issued prenatal vitamins, given educational materials on folic acid, and be referred to an OB-GYN for primary care throughout the pregnancy when they seek medical attention at the health department.
Breastfeeding has many benefits for the mother as well. Breastfeeding uses extra calories which makes it easier to lose post pregnancy weight that might have been gained. It also produces a hormone called oxytocin which stimulates uterine contractions that reduces blood loss after delivery.
For more information, visit this website: CDC Folic Acid Facts
Healthy Eating
Eating healthy when pregnant is necessary for not only your health, but also your baby’s health. You’ll need to eat vegetables such as spinach, fruit such as bananas, whole grains such as brown rice, and healthy proteins such as eggs or chicken. Eating enough nutritional food while pregnant will help you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
For more information on eating healthy, visit this website: Healthy Eating While Pregnant
Physical Activity
Getting enough physical activity plays a large role in a healthy pregnancy. You should ask your doctor before you start any physical activity, but as long as the doctor doesn’t object, you should start or continue being physically active. Examples of physical activity include walking, dancing, swimming, doing yoga, or lifting light weights. You should aim to exercise for about two and a half hours per week, which is about 20 minutes per day.
For more information on exercising while pregnant, visit this website: Physical Activity during Pregnancy
Lifestyle Choices
Throughout your pregnancy, it is extremely important to not participate in any drinking, smoking, or other drug related activities. These substances expose your baby to harmful chemicals that can cause lifelong problems to your baby.
Drinking alcohol while pregnant puts your baby at risk for alcohol related disorders such as fetal alcohol syndrome which can cause many birth defects such as physical, mental, or behavioral. There is no safe amount to drink while pregnant.
Smoking tobacco while pregnant can cause harm to your baby’s lungs, heart, and brain which increases your baby’s risk for premature birth, low birth weight, birth defects, asthma, and childhood obesity. It is also important to not be around other people who smoke because you may breathe in the smoke from that person.
For more information, visit this website: CDC Reproductive Health