Pregnancy

Summary

You’re going to have a baby! It’s an exciting time, but it can also feel a bit overwhelming. You may have a lot of questions, including what you can do to give your baby a healthy start. To keep you and your baby healthy during pregnancy, it is important to:

• Have regular visits with your health care provider. These prenatal care visits help make sure that you and your baby are healthy. And if there are any health problems, your provider can find them early. Getting treatment right away can cure many problems and prevent others.
• Eat healthy and drink plenty of water. Good nutrition during pregnancy includes eating a variety of
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Whole grains
• Lean meats or other protein sources
• Low-fat dairy products
• Take prenatal vitamins. Pregnant women need higher amounts of certain vitamins and minerals, such as folic acid and iron.
• Be careful with medicines. Always check with your health care provider before you start or stop any medicine. This includes over-the-counter medicines and dietary or herbal supplements.
• Stay active. Physical activity can help you stay strong, feel and sleep better, and prepare your body for birth. Check with your provider about which types of activities are right for you.
• Avoid substances that could hurt your baby, such as alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.

Your body will keep changing as your baby grows. It can be hard to know whether a new symptom is normal or could be a sign of a problem. Check with your health care provider if something is bothering or worrying you.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Related Issues

• A Partner’s Guide to Pregnancy American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Are You Pregnant and Thinking about Adoption? Children’s Bureau
• Birthing Classes American Academy of Family Physicians
• Disaster Safety for Expecting and New Parents Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Health Problems in Pregnancy: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• MRI Safety during Pregnancy Radiological Society of North America
• Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Bone Health National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
• Reproductive History and Cancer Risk National Cancer Institute
• What to Do When Your Pregnancy Is Unexpected American Academy of Family Physicians
• X-Rays, Pregnancy and You Food and Drug Administration

Patient Handouts

• Aches and pains during pregnancy Medical Encyclopedia
• Common symptoms during pregnancy Medical Encyclopedia
• HCG blood test – qualitative Medical Encyclopedia
• Morning sickness Medical Encyclopedia
• Morning sickness Medical Encyclopedia
• Pregnancy and travel Medical Encyclopedia
• Pregnancy and work Medical Encyclopedia
• Problems sleeping during pregnancy Medical Encyclopedia
• Skin and hair changes during pregnancy Medical Encyclopedia

Encyclopedia

• Amniotic fluid Medical Encyclopedia
• Cell division Medical Encyclopedia
• Choosing the right health care provider for pregnancy and childbirth Medical Encyclopedia
• HCG blood test – quantitative Medical Encyclopedia
• HCG in urine Medical Encyclopedia
• Melasma Medical Encyclopedia
• Pregnancy test Medical Encyclopedia
• Stretch marks Medical Encyclopedia

Diagnosis and Tests

• At-Home Medical Tests National Library of Medicine
• Pregnancy Test National Library of Medicine
• Prenatal Testing: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine

Specifics

• Back Pain during Pregnancy: 7 Tips for Relief Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Body Changes and Discomforts Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Common Discomforts of Pregnancy March of Dimes Foundation
• Common Skin Conditions during Pregnancy American Academy of Family Physicians
• Having Kids Later in Life: Healthy Pregnancies as You Age National Institutes of Health
• Headaches during Pregnancy: What’s the Best Treatment? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• How Your Fetus Grows during Pregnancy American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Multiple Pregnancy American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Stages of Pregnancy Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Travel during Pregnancy American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Birth Control: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Pregnancy National Institutes of Health

Living With

• Cosmetics and Pregnancy Food and Drug Administration
• Exercise during Pregnancy American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Pregnancy and Nutrition: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Sex during Pregnancy Nemours Foundation
• Sleeping during Pregnancy Nemours Foundation
• Staying Healthy and Safe Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health

Find an Expert

• Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• Find an Ob-Gyn American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• March of Dimes Foundation March of Dimes Foundation

Start Here

• During Pregnancy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Pregnancy Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• Pregnancy and Beyond: Make Healthy Choices for Yourself and Your Baby National Institutes of Health
• Pregnancy Calendar: A Week-by-Week Guide Nemours Foundation
• Staying Healthy during Pregnancy Nemours Foundation
• Taking Care of You and Your Baby while You’re Pregnant American Academy of Family Physicians

Reference Desk

• Female Reproductive System Nemours Foundation
• Female Reproductive System National Cancer Institute

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

• How to Stay Healthy During Pregnancy

Images

• Linea Nigra VisualDX

Symptoms

• Morning Sickness: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Symptoms of Pregnancy: What Happens First Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• What Are Some Common Signs of Pregnancy? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Children

• Preparing Your Child for a New Sibling (For Parents) Nemours Foundation

Journal Articles

• Pregnancy

Teenagers

• Teenage Pregnancy: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine