 Prenatal care is the care you receive while you are pregnant.  To get the care you need, you HAVE to schedule doctor appointments and you HAVE to go to the check ups your doctor schedules.

 Prenatal care is important because it helps ensure that you and your baby are healthy.  With out prenatal care, the risk of low birth weight and death rate may increase.

 They know how your body works and how the baby grows and he/she knows what is needed to keep both yourself and your baby healthy.  They have helpful advice.  Doctors know when the baby and/or the mother is unhealthy, so he/she can treat the problem early.

 Preconception health is how you SHOULD take care of yourself before pregnancy.  Women need to know how health conditions affect your unborn baby.  Foods, habits and medicine can affect pregnancy.  Someone who is trying to get pregnant should prepare three months before conception

 Proper nutrition is important during pregnancy because baby’s need certain things to develop correctly.  During pregnancy, your calorie in take should increase by 300.  A well balanced diet is very good for your body and the baby during pregnancy.

 Foods high in protein like, meat, poultry, fish, eggs or nuts.  Things high in fiber like, whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice, fruits, and vegetables.  Eat and drink at least four servings of dairy products and calcium-rich foods a day.  Foods high in fiber.  Foods that contain Vitamin A or Vitamin C, like oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, honeydew, papaya, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, green peppers, tomatoes, mustard greens, carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, spinach, water squash, turnip greens, beet greens, apricots, and cantaloupe.  Also a serving of foods with folic acid, once a day.

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