Pregnancy is a special journey; a time of joy, health, and hope. Every mother deserves to give her baby a safe and healthy beginning. Regular prenatal care – the healthcare you get when you are pregnant -- is an important first step.
Through regular check-ups, screenings, and important advice, prenatal care monitors your health and your baby’s health throughout your pregnancy.
Early prenatal care can also help detect and prevent diseases and conditions like gestational diabetes, listeriosis, and syphilis before they become serious health problems.
At the Rhode Island Department of Health, it's our mission to raise awareness and provide the support you need to access quality prenatal care. We can help make accessing care easy and convenient by connecting you to the right dedicated prenatal healthcare professionals near you to give you peace of mind and help guide you on this journey.
Here are some other steps you can take to have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby:
- Tell your prenatal healthcare professional about any prescription medicine you are taking.
- Take a prenatal vitamin with 400-800 micrograms of folic acid every day to help prevent birth defects.
- Learn about the health screenings your new baby will receive.
- Learn about the benefits of breastfeeding and find local support services.
- Sign up for Family Visiting: Family Visitors offer free support to moms-to-be, families, and babies. Join other people like you who want to give their babies the best possible start.
- Pay attention to your mental health during and after pregnancy: Pregnancy brings with it lots of physical and emotional changes. If you’re feeling sad or anxiety, help is available.
- Get the flu and Tdap vaccines to protect you and your baby before and after birth.
- Get all the tests your healthcare professional recommends during your pregnancy. These tests check for potential problems for you and your baby, many of which can be treated during pregnancy.
- Take care of yourself by eating smart, exercising safely, getting plenty of sleep, and finding ways to control stress.
- Talk with your prenatal healthcare professional about your family planning goals and birth control options before your baby is born.
- Find a child healthcare professional for your baby. You may want to ask friends, neighbors, and relatives for a suggestion or call for a prenatal interview.
