Pregnancy

Preparing for the Birth of Your Baby

Every pregnancy is different for every woman. Our health care providers and specialists are here to help you during your pregnancy and will create a plan tailored to your needs. Your plan may include routine ultrasounds or specialized care from our maternal-fetal medicine team.

Pregnancy is a special a special time, and it is also a time where many changes will take place as you prepare for the birth of your baby. To help you prepare for pregnancy and parenting, Covenant Healthcare offers a variety of in-person classes and eClasses throughout the year. Our goal is to provide and empower you with education and resources, so you feel more confident making choices during labor, postpartum, and caring for your infant.

To learn more about classes offered at Covenant Healthcare visit the Childbirth Education Classes page.

Entering Pregnancy

One of the best things you can do for you and your baby, starting before birth, is to eat healthy nutritious foods. What you eat must supply enough protein, vitamins, minerals and calories for you and your developing baby. Even though you are “eating for two”, that does not mean double the food (one of you is still very small!).

Twins, Triplets, and Multiple Births

If you are expecting more than one baby, you should discuss diet and exercise with your health care provider. Your nutrient and calorie needs are higher than those of women carrying one baby. You should also visit your doctor more often than women who are expecting one baby as you will need to be monitored more closely.

Prenatal Vitamins

Your OB provider may ask you to take extra vitamins or minerals. Prenatal vitamins do not replace healthy eating. You should take the vitamins that your OB provider gives you in addition to eating a well-balanced diet.

Folic Acid

Getting enough folic acid is also important to your baby’s health. Folic acid helps the baby’s brain and spinal cord develop properly. Without enough, the baby could have serious birth defects called neural tube defects. Research shows that, if all women in the United States took enough folic acid every day throughout their childbearing years, up to 70 percent of these birth defects could be prevented.

Watching Your Weight During Pregnancy?

The amount of weight you gain during your pregnancy depends on your weight before you became pregnant. Studies have shown that excessive weight gain during pregnancy increases the risks of complications for the mother including high blood pressure, diabetes, and labor and delivery complications.

Excessive weight gain in pregnancy can affect the baby by increasing the risk of birth defects, premature birth, newborn complications, and death. The risk of Cesarean birth is also higher if you have a BMI > 30. Talk to your doctor about your diet and having a healthy pregnancy.

For more information on recommended weight gain and diet during pregnancy visit:

• CDC - Weight Gain During Pregnancy
• USDA - Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
• USDA - Tips for Pregnant Moms (English - PDF)
• USDA - Tips for Pregnant Moms (Spanish - PDF)

Keeping Fit

Keeping yourself physically fit is always important, especially during pregnancy. Moderate physical activity during pregnancy is now considered not only safe, but extremely beneficial for most expectant mothers and their babies.

Benefits of exercise during pregnancy can decrease gestational diabetes mellitus, cesarean births, operative vaginal deliveries (such as forceps, vacuum device, or other instruments to assist with the delivery of baby), and postpartum recovery. Exercise can strengthen the muscles you use in labor and delivery. It can improve your posture and relieve discomforts associated with pregnancy including back pain, constipation, and leg cramps. Prenatal exercise can also help prepare you for labor by increasing endurance and building stamina.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists suggest that pregnant women need 30 minutes or more of exercise on most days of the week. Be sure to check with your OB provider first to make sure that exercise is safe for your particular pregnancy.

Vaccines During Pregnancy

FLU Vaccine - The flu is most common from August to March. The flu shot is made from an inactivated (killed)virus, so it’s safe for both you and your baby. Avoid the nasal spray vaccine, which is made from a live virus. Getting a flu shot can help protect pregnant women from getting the flu. Studies also have shown that getting a flu shot while you are pregnant can lessen your baby’s risk of getting the flu for up to six months after birth.

Tdap-Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Whooping Cough) - Whooping cough (pertussis) is deadly for babies. It is necessary for pregnant women 27-36 weeks gestation to receive the Tdap vaccine with each pregnancy to pass protection to their infant against whooping cough since babies do not start receiving the DTaP vaccine until two months of age.

It is also necessary to provide “a circle of protection” around your baby by asking anyone who will be coming in contact with your baby to be immunized against whooping cough. Everyone needs a whooping cough vaccine including parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, childcare providers, etc. You can get a Tdap vaccine at a doctor’s office, local health department or pharmacy.

For more information on vaccines visit https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pregnancy/vacc-safety.html