PREGNANCY AND NEW
PARENT E-NEWSLETTER
It’s
easy to sign up for
Pregnancy
and
New Parent
e-newsletters.
Go to the “Health Services” page
on the Gold Coast Health Plan’s
website and enter your email
address. You’ll start receiving
your e-newsletter almost
immediately. Do it today! Visit
member services:
888-301-1228
Y
ou want to give your baby
the best start in life.
You can do this by taking
good care of your body. It can help
your baby be healthy. And it may
help you get pregnant sooner.
Some key steps:
Get enough folic acid.
You
need 400 micrograms every day.
It can help prevent certain birth
defects.
ese foods are good sources of
folic acid:
Leafy, dark-green vegetables, like
spinach.
Citrus fruits, like oranges.
Beans.
Breads and cereals with added
folic acid.
You may need to take a
supplement to make sure you get
enough folic acid. Your Provider
can tell you how much you need.
Stay at a healthy weight.
Talk
with your Provider. You may need
to gain or lose weight before you
get pregnant.
Take care of health problems.
If you have an ongoing health
problem, your Provider can help
you get it under control. is
includes:
Asthma.
Diabetes.
High blood pressure.
Get immunized.
Make sure you
have had all your shots. ey can
help protect you and your baby
from serious illness.
Choose the best foods.
Eat lots
of fruits, vegetables, whole grains
and low-fat dairy products.
Exercise every day.
Try to
get at least 30 minutes of
moderate activity on most days
of the week. Walking is a good
choice. Exercise can help you
feel more comfortable during
pregnancy.
Don’t smoke or drink alcohol.
ey can make it harder to get
pregnant. And they could hurt your
baby.
See your Provider before you
get pregnant.
He or she can help
you get o to a good start.
Source: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Many babies enjoy car rides. Just
be sure it’s a safe ride every time.
1. Choose the right seat.
All infants should ride in a rear-
facing seat until they are at least
2 years old. Or use a rear-facing
seat until your child outgrows the
seat’s height and weight limits.
Rear-facing seats have
harnesses. These should be
fastened snugly at your baby’s
midchest. The harness should go
through the slots that are at or
below your baby’s shoulders.
2. Install it the right way.
Read all of the instructions
for your infant’s seat. They will
describe how to secure the seat in
the car. Some car’s seat belts need
special clips.
Make sure the seat is installed
tightly. The seat should not move
more than 1 inch from side to side
or front to back.
Put the seat in the back seat.
Infants in rear-facing seats should
never ride in a front seat with an air
bag. Even in a minor crash, the bag
can inflate, causing serious injury.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
Tips for
a healthy
pregnancy
SAFE TRAVELS FOR BABY
Car seat basics
Your Provider can
help you have a t
pregnancy.
pregnancy
3
winning
health
