Tips For a Healthy Pregnancy

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Dear Mom,

You want to have a healthy baby and keep yourself healthy, too. Eating nutritious foods and getting the care you need is one of the greatest gifts you give to your developing baby.
WIC can help you:

Learn about breastfeeding​

Make healthy food choices for you and your family

Get referrals to healthcare and other community programs​

Learn how to keep your baby healthy and safe​

Buy healthy foods

The tips on this page do not replace your healthcare provider’s advice. Write down questions to ask before you go to your prenatal checkups.

When you visit your local WIC office, you can learn more about healthy eating. We hope you enjoy all that WIC has to offer.

Sincerely,
Your WIC staff

Get Prenatal Care

Prenatal care is healthcare for pregnant women. A healthcare provider or specially trained nurse checks that you and your baby are okay.
You can expect:
  • 1 checkup each month for the first 6 months.
  • 2 checkups each month in the 7th and 8th months.
  • 1 checkup each week in the 9th month.
  • 1 checkup 2 to 6 weeks after your baby is born (postpartum).
Get prenatal care as soon as you think you are pregnant. The above schedule is a guide; it is important to go to all recommended appointments. You can learn more about your baby and how your body is changing.
If you need help to pay for prenatal care, visit one.oregon.gov for information about the Oregon Health Plan or 211 at 211info.org.

Choose Healthy Foods for You and Your Baby

Your baby grows best when you eat healthy. Choose a variety of foods from all 5 food groups every day.
For a personal daily food plan, visit www.myplate.gov

Sample Menu

You and your baby do best when you eat regular meals and snacks. Here is a sample menu using some foods you can purchase with your WIC benefits.
Here are some examples of what meal and snack portion sizes might look like on your plate.

Breakfast

½ cup blueberries

1 cup water

A colorful plate of assorted dishes

½ cup cooked oatmeal

1 cooked, scrambled egg

Lunch

½ cup cooked broccoli florets

1 cup water

thp-lunch

1 ounce cornbread

½ cup tomato sauce

and ¼ cup pinto beans and ¼ cup red beans

SNACK IDEAS

1 cup 100% orange juice

1 cup cut up melon

½ cup low-fat yogurt

5 or 6 whole grain crackers

Snaks-ideas

3 or 4 slices cheese

½ cup sliced cucumbers with 1 tablespoon dressing

water between meals and snacks

Dinner

1 cup mixed, green salad with ¼ cup tomato

with ½ hard-boiled egg with 1 tablespoon dressing

½ cup cooked, sliced carrots

The Dinner

1 cup cooked brown rice

with 3 ounces baked, sliced chicken

1 cup non-fat or 1% milk

Snacks: Tasty, Healthy, and Easy​

Aim for 2-3 snacks each day. Try healthy snack combos by picking foods from at least two food groups. These balanced snacks will keep you feeling satisfied.

EXAMPLE: Pita Bread + Cucumber + Hummus

BREAD, CEREAL, OR OTHER GRAINS
  • Bagel
  • Cereal
  • Whole wheat or corn tortilla
  • Crackers
  • English muffin
  • Graham crackers
  • Oatmeal or grits
  • Pita bread
  • Raisin bread
  • Whole grain bread
  • Granola or trail mix
  • Popcorn
FRUIT OR VEGETABLE
  • Broccoli
  • Carrots
  • Green peppers
  • Edamame
  • Tomato
  • Celery
  • Apple
  • Cucumber
  • Banana
  • Grapes
  • Melon
  • Orange
  • Peach
  • Pineapple
  • Raisins
  • Strawberries
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DAIRY OR PROTEIN
  • Cheese
  • Cottage cheese
  • Yogurt
  • Egg, cooked
  • Nuts (like walnuts)
  • Peanut butter or nut butter
  • Hummus

Fast Food Restaurant Tips

On the go? Ask for these fast foods:
  • Grilled chicken sandwich
  • Hamburger or cheeseburger
  • Main dish salad or side salad
  • Pizza topped with green peppers, tomatoes and mushrooms
  • Bean burrito
  • Baked potato with vegetable and cheese toppings
  • Fruit
  • Water, low-fat milk, or 100% juice
chicken_sandwich

Food Safety Tips

Hand washing under running water

Wash your hands with soap and water before you eat or prepare food.

Washing broccoli under running water

Wash vegetables and fruit with water before eating or cooking.

Thermometer inserted into chicken on the grill

Cook beef, pork, chicken, turkey, fish, and seafood to the well-done stage.

Grilled cheese and ham sandwich

Heat to steaming before eating hot dogs, cold cuts, and deli meats like bologna, salami, or ham.

Grilled fish fillet on a plate

Ask WIC staff or your healthcare provider what fish is safe and the recommended amounts to eat during pregnancy.​
Learn more on how to make healthy choices for you and your family about fish by checking out this Fish and Seafood Guide.

Don’t eat certain foods.
Some foods are not safe for you and your baby when you are pregnant. Do not eat:
  • Tilefish, swordfish, king mackerel, or shark
  • Raw oysters, or fish like sushi, sashimi, or ceviche
  • Undercooked, rare, or raw meat like chicken, beef, or turkey
  • Deli meat, spreads, or patés that haven’t been heated to steaming
  • Raw or soft-cooked eggs
  • Smoked meats
  • Uncooked hotdogs
  • Feta, blue-veined, Brie, or Mexican-style (queso blanco or queso fresco) cheeses
  • Unpasteurized (raw) milk or cheese
  • Unpasteurized juice or cider
  • Raw sprouts, like alfalfa sprouts
Ask your healthcare provider before you take herbs or drink herbal teas; they may not be safe for your baby.

Take Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal vitamins have extra iron and folic acid to help your baby grow. Check to see if your prenatal vitamin has at least 150 mcg of iodine. If the prenatal vitamin you take doesn’t have this amount of iodine, talk to your healthcare provider. 

Don’t take any other vitamins unless prescribed by your healthcare provider.

Get Folic Acid Every Day
Folic acid is a vitamin that every cell in your body needs. This vitamin might protect you from a heart attack, stroke, and cancer. During pregnancy, it protects your unborn baby from birth defects in their spine and brain which develop very early in pregnancy. It is recommended to get at least 400 micrograms (mcg) every day.
Check nutrition labels to get enough folic acid each day.
  • Take a vitamin that has 400 mcg folic acid in it every day.
  • Eat a bowl of breakfast cereal that has 100% of the daily value of folic acid every day.
Eat foods with folic acid even if you take a vitamin pill or eat fortified cereal.
  • Add some cantaloupe, oranges, or strawberries to your breakfast.
  • Choose darker green lettuce and greens, like romaine, green leaf, or raw spinach for salads or sandwiches.
  • Have peanuts or peanut butter for a snack.
  • Mix up a great tasting dip and use cut up raw veggies like broccoli and cauliflower or use cherry tomatoes and mini carrots for dipping.

WHAT ABOUT IRON?

During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep you healthy and help your baby grow. Not getting enough iron can make you feel weak and tired.
If the vitamin you take doesn’t contain enough iron, your healthcare provider may recommend an iron supplement to take as well.
Try to eat more of these iron-rich foods:
  • Iron-fortified breakfast cereal
  • Cooked dried beans like white beans, lentils, garbanzo beans, or pinto beans
  • Lean red meat
  • Tofu
  • Eggs
  • Greens like spinach, collard greens, and mustard greens
  • Potato with skin
  • Prune juice
  • Whole grain bread
Combine iron rich foods with foods high in Vitamin C. Eating these together helps your body absorb more iron from the food you eat.
Good sources of Vitamin C include:
  • Orange juice
  • Grapefruit
  • Baked potatoes
  • Tomatoes
  • Peppers
  • Broccoli

Keep Your Teeth Healthy​

Pregnant women go through hormonal changes that can impact the health of their mouth.
To keep your teeth and gums healthy, be sure to:
  • Brush your teeth (and tongue) at least two times a day
  • Floss your teeth daily
  • Drink water and avoid sugary drinks
  • Get a dental checkup

Use a soft-bristle toothbrush. Brush gently. If your gums bleed when you brush or floss, tell your healthcare provider.

Be Active for a Healthy Body

Your body stays fit when you move it. If your healthcare provider says it’s okay, keep active. Walking, stretching, and swimming are a few good ways.
Being active will help you:
  • Have more energy and feel less tired
  • Sleep better
  • Work off stress
  • Tone your muscles
  • Have better posture
Find time to be active for 30 minutes most or all days of the week. You can break the time up like this:

Walk 10 minutes
in the morning

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Walk 10 minutes
in the afternoon

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Walk 10 minutes
in the evening

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30 minutes

Weight Gain

The amount of weight you should gain depends on your weight before pregnancy. Ask your healthcare provider, nurse, or WIC staff for a weight graph to track your progress.
Your Pre-Pregnancy Weight
Underweight
(BMI less than 18.5)
Healthy Weight
(BMI 18.5-24.9)
Overweight
(BMI 25-29.9)
Obese
(BMI greater than or equal to 30)
Healthy Weight Gain During Your Pregnancy
28-40 pounds
25-35 pounds
15-25 pounds
11-20 pounds
Weight gain during pregnancy helps your baby grow. First trimester weight gain should be 1-4 pounds. Starting in the 4th month, you may gain about half (½) to one (1) pound a week.

To keep a steady weight gain:

battery
Being active will help you:
learntomake
Choose healthy foods to eat
glass
Drink water
shoes
Keep active by walking
If you are concerned about your weight gain being too little or too much, talk to your healthcare provider or WIC staff.
If you are expecting twins, triplets, or more, talk with your healthcare provider or WIC staff about the weight gain that is right for you.

Keep Your Baby Safe and Healthy

It is recommended to avoid tobacco, nicotine, alcohol (beer, wine, liquor, or mixed drinks), marijuana, and illegal drugs during pregnancy. Each of these products can negatively impact you and your baby’s health.

We know it can be difficult to stop or reduce use of tobacco, nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, and illegal drugs.

If you are struggling to stop or reduce use, there are resources available to you.

You are not alone.

We are here to support you.

For support with quitting tobacco or nicotine use, including free coaching, a free quit plan, and free educational materials visit www.quitnow.net.

For support with quitting alcohol, marijuana, or other illegal drug use contact your healthcare provider or visit www.findtreatment.gov.

Ask your healthcare provider before you take medicine to make sure it is safe for your baby.

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Pregnancy Discomforts

Your body changes when you’re pregnant. You might feel sick to your stomach the first 3 or 4 months. Some smells and foods might make you throw up.
If you feel sick… (morning sickness):
  • Open the window to let fresh air in and stale air out
  • Get up slowly when you wake up
  • Eat a few crackers before you get out of bed
  • Stay away from smells that make you sick
  • Eat cold foods if the smell of cooked food makes you sick
  • Eat small amounts of food every one or two hours
  • Drink liquids, but take small sips

“Morning sickness” can occur anytime of the day.

Even if you feel sick, you still need food and liquids. If you can’t keep anything down, call your healthcare provider.

As your baby grows, you might get an upset stomach when you eat. It might be hard to move your bowels. Talk to your healthcare provider if you get these problems. Don’t take medicine unless advised by your healthcare provider. Here are some tips:

If you have heartburn… (indigestion):
  • Eat 5 or 6 small meals, instead of 2 or 3 large ones
  • Avoid fried or greasy foods
  • Eat less spicy foods
  • Drink small sips of water with your meals
  • Sit upright or take a walk after you eat
  • Avoid caffeine in soda, coffee, or tea
If you’re constipated… (can’t poop):
  • Eat foods with fiber like:
  • Vegetables
  • Fruits
  • Beans and peas
  • Whole grain cereals (whole wheat, rye, barley, oats)
  • Whole wheat bread and crackers
  • Whole wheat noodles
  • Brown rice
  • Corn tortillas
  • Drink plenty of fluids, like water
  • Walk after you eat

Give Your Baby the Best Start – Breastfeed!

Breast milk is all your baby needs for the first 6 months of life. Your milk has the right ingredients in the right amounts to give your baby the healthiest start in life. Breastfeeding is good for you too.

Breastfeeding protects your baby’s health.
Babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of:
  • SIDS – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  • Allergies
  • Illnesses, like colds, respiratory, and ear infections
  • Obesity
  • Diarrhea and constipation
Breastfeeding is good for mom, too.
Breastfeeding helps you:
  • Reduce your risk of obesity, heart attack, and stroke
  • Lower your risk of breast and other cancers
  • Keep your bones strong
  • Get back to your pre-pregnancy size quicker
Breastfeeding Moms Say…
  • "Nighttime feedings are easier.”
  • "It saves me time – I don't need to mix formula or clean bottles."
  • "It saves me money - I don't need to buy formula or bottles."
  • "I feel more bonded with my baby."
  • “When I breastfeed, I feel proud. My baby grows
    healthy and strong with a gift only I can give.”
rgt-shape

Breastfeeding Facts

A lot of moms have questions about breastfeeding. Talk with WIC staff about any breastfeeding concerns you may have.
  • Breastfeeding whenever your baby is hungry will allow your body to make all the milk your baby needs.
  • Holding baby skin-to-skin while in the hospital and after going home helps you make milk.
  • Nursing shouldn’t hurt. If it hurts, get help. Call your healthcare provider, WIC clinic, local hospital, or La Leche League (LLL).
  • Ask for help at home, especially in the early days. Ask family and friends to pitch in with household chores and to watch other children. Dad or another family member can hold baby skin-to-skin, help with baths and playtime. Babies need lots of love and cuddling in addition to feeding time.
  • You can go back to work or school and continue breastfeeding. All breastfeeding employees in Oregon are protected by the "Pump Act." Under this federal mandate, breastfeeding employees are entitled to reasonable break time and a private space (other than a bathroom) to pump at work for one year. For more information, visit https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/healthypeoplefamilies/babies/breastfeeding/pages/laws.aspx.
  • Moms who nurse can eat their favorite foods! No special diet is needed.

For more information on breastfeeding, visit wicbreastfeeding.fns.usda.gov

breastfeed with our baby

My Breastfeeding Plan At The Hospital

Tell your nurses and healthcare provider that your goal is to exclusively breastfeed your baby. Ask them to follow these guidelines as long as it is medically safe for your baby and you.

Exclusive Breastfeeding – Please don’t give my baby any formula, water, or glucose water before speaking to my partner or me.

Breast Pumps – If my baby is unable to breastfeed or is separated from me due to medical reasons, I want to use a breast pump as soon as possible. If I need to pump longer than my hospital stay, please remind me to contact my insurance or local WIC office.

Skin-to-Skin – Please place my baby directly on my chest after delivery for at least an hour to allow my baby to latch for the first time. During my stay, I want to hold my baby skin-to-skin as much as possible.

No Bottles or Pacifiers – Please don’t give my baby artificial nipples. This includes pacifiers or any type of bottle.

Breastfeeding Support – Please help me to practice rooming-in so I can breastfeed my baby on demand and learn newborn feeding cues.

Take-Home Bags – Please do not send any formula or information about formula home with us when we leave the hospital. Instead, please remind me that I’m giving my baby the best nutrition by choosing to breastfeed.

Make Time for Yourself

Having a baby is hard work! At times you may feel tired, emotional, and grumpy. You might even feel sad. Find time to relax and get some rest. If you feel overwhelmed, ask for help.

Ask for help from family and friends.

Talk to your healthcare provider.

Call the Postpartum Support International Helpline at 1-800-944-4773, visit www.postpartum.net, or text 800-944-4773 (English) or 971-203-7773 (Spanish).

To show yourself some love:
  • Try to get enough sleep and rest
  • Take a few minutes every day just for you
  • Spend time with people you enjoy; avoid those you don’t

If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, get immediate help.

Call 1-800-273-8255 for free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For additional support, contact your local WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor or WIC Designated Breastfeeding Expert for breastfeeding questions.