| Important signs to watch for if you are pregnant |
[hide] |
- Bad cramps or stomach pains that don't go away
- Bleeding or a trickle or gush of fluid from your vagina
- Lower back pain/pressure or change in lower back pain
- A feeling that the baby is pushing down
- Contractions or change in the strength or number of them
- An increase in the amount of vaginal discharge
- Fever, chills, dizziness, vomiting or a bad headache
- Blurry vision or spots before your eyes
- Sudden or severe swelling of your feet, hand or face
- A significant change in your baby's movements
Go to a hospital right away and contact your doctor/midwife if you have any of these symptoms!
Adapted with permission from:
Best Start: Ontario's Maternal Newborn and Early Child Development Resource Centre
|
Last Reviewed May 2010
Teen Pregnancy
Taking care of yourself
You have just found out that you are pregnant. Caring for yourself and your baby is very important - especially now! In fact, adopting a healthy lifestyle can help you stay healthy and greatly improves your chances of having a healthy baby.
You might want to consider making some changes in your lifestyle:
- Avoid drinking alcohol, smoking and taking drugs, including street drugs and over-the-counter medications, all of which can put you and your baby at risk for a number of serious health problems. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or Motherisk if you are taking any prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs.
- Eat a healthy diet according to Canada's Food Guide.
- Avoid excess caffeine. Too much caffeine can increase the risk of having babies with a low birth weight or of having a miscarriage.
- Avoid risky sexual behaviours such as having unsafe sex.
- Get plenty of rest.
It is important to get key nutrients and vitamins during pregnancy especially:
- Folic acid
- Iron
- Calcium and Vitamin D
- Essential Fatty Acids
It is also important to limit your intake of certain foods (e.g., caffeine) and avoid other foods (e.g., energy drinks)
Find out your due date!