Getting early and regular prenatal care is the best thing you can do to keep yourself and your developing infant healthy while you are pregnant. During your first prenatal visit, your healthcare provider will probably talk to you about the following steps you can take to help ensure a healthy pregnancy:
• Take folic acid. Begin or continue to get at least 400 micrograms of folic acid daily by taking vitamin supplements to reduce your child’s risk of neural-tube defects.
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco. Drinking alcohol and smoking during pregnancy can increase your child’s risk for problems such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Your healthcare provider can be a source of help if you find it hard to quit smoking or drinking on your own.
• Talk with your healthcare provider about medications and supplements. As many as half of women take four or more medications during pregnancy. Although many are safe, talk to your healthcare provider before taking any over-the- counter or prescription medication or herbal supplements. Certain medications to treat acne and epilepsy and some dietary or herbal supplements are not safe during pregnancy.
— Source: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Good Neighbor Pharmacy Health Connection, January 2015
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