Choices:

EIGHT STEPS TO HAVING A HEALTHY BABY.

• 1. STOP DRINKING alcoholic beverages. Even small amounts may be dangerous to your baby. Avoid alcohol tonight and for the rest of this pregnancy! Fetal alcohol syndrome is the most common preventable cause of mental retardation. One drink a day puts your baby at increased risk for a number of major and minor problems.
  
  
• 2.TAKE FOLIC ACID. Go to your local drug store today and tell them you need prenatal vitamins with at least 0.4 mg of folic acid per day. Folic acid helps prevent some types of severe birth defects like spina bifida and congenital heart defects. Even if you are not pregnant now, but may be considering pregnancy in the future, start taking folic acid now. Get in the habit of eating cereals that have 100% of the recommended folic acid intake. This is an important vitamin. It can also be found in green leafy vegetables and peas.
  
  
• 3. FIND A DOCTOR, A NURSE MIDWIFE OR A CLINIC you trust and make an appointment as soon as possible. Tell your clinician all medications that you are taking.
  
  
• 4. STOP SMOKING This addiction is extremely hazardous to you and your baby. Don’t let others smoke around you! If you can’t stop completely, cut down as much as possible.
  
  
• 5. WEIGHT GAIN of 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy produces the healthiest babies. Now is not the time to lose weight. A slow steady weight gain is best. If you begin gaining more than 2 pounds a week, check with your clinician.
  
  
• 6. EAT A WELL-BALANCED DIET Eat a variety of foods from each food group with a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables. Your bones and teeth will lose calcium if you don’t get enough in your diet. Four cups of milk a day or 5 TUMS should do the trick. If you need help, talk to a registered dietitian. Limit your caffeine intake.
  
  
• 7. USE CONDOMS if there is any risk of HIV or other sexually transmitted infections during this pregnancy. Don’t let an infection hurt you or your baby!
  
  
• 8. GET MODERATE EXERCISE  You should talk to your clinician about getting into an appropriate exercise regimen during pregnancy if you are not already exercising.

Good luck with this pregnancy. Take great care of yourself and your baby! Complete information about what you should do to have the healthiest baby possible is available through your clinician. Beware of using any medications and talk them over with your clinician as soon as possible. Start thinking now about nursing your baby. When it comes to feeding your baby "Breast is best."