Parenting
Section 5
Some questions and possible answers to consider... “What should I do first if I want to continue this pregnancy?” Find a doctor, clinic, or midwife as soon as you think you might be pregnant. Ask friends who are recent parents which doctors or midwives they liked. Or search the internet under “Physicians-Obstetricians” sometimes known as “OB-GYN in your town.” Or consult your hospital for a birth clinic. If you think you can’t afford to see a doctor, ask your county Medicaid program about a special program for pregnant people.
“What is a nurse-midwife?” They are nurses who are specially trained to deliver babies and give care during pregnancy. Midwives can give you lots of support during the pregnancy and during labor. They prefer low intervention delivery and less “high tech” monitoring and medication. Nursemidwives work with a doctor if you need a higher level of care. A doula, often works with midwives to offer emotional support before, during, and after a delivery.
“Are there things I should or shouldn’t eat?” What you eat affects your pregnancy, so eat as well as you can and take pre-natal vitamins as soon as you can. In the first few weeks, it’s good to have lots of folic acid, vitamin B12, and other minerals and vitamins to prevent certain birth defects. Generally, you want to eat good food—fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, lots of dairy foods, proteins, and whole grain foods. You want to stay away from junk food and fried or fatty foods that don’t give you much nutrition. Also, avoid or reduce caffeine in coffee, tea, or soda if you can.
“Do I have to quit smoking and drinking?” Those who do not drink, smoke, or do drugs have a lower risk of stillbirth, SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), premature birth, small or sick babies, and some birth defects. Stop as soon as possible. Stopping anytime during the pregnancy will help prevent problems for your baby. If you feel you can’t stop drinking alcohol, smoking, or using drugs, ask your doctor or clinic for help.
“What about my medications?” If you think that you may continue the pregnancy, call your physician or psychiatrist to see if the medications you are taking are safe for a developing fetus. Your doctor may tell you it is safe to continue or may suggest a different medication while you are pregnant.
“Can I do it alone?” This is one of the most important questions to ask yourself. Will you have support in raising a child? What about your partner or parents/guardian or extended family? It is very difficult to take care of a child alone. And remember, support comes in many forms— financial, emotional, physical such as housing, and social such as friends and childcare.
“What kind of financial support is available from welfare/social services?” There are programs like Medicaid that will help with medical costs. Your County Social Services department may be able to help with very basic living expenses. Both parents of the baby will be expected to provide financial support. WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) can help with nutritious food during pregnancy and up to age 5 for the child. There may be other forms of assistance in your community. Private agencies like Family and Children’s Society and other groups may be able to help.
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