Pregnancy Precautions: Care Instructions

Overview

There is no sure way to prevent labor before your due date (preterm labor) or to prevent most other pregnancy problems. But there are things you can do to increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy. Go to your appointments, follow your doctor's advice, and take good care of yourself. Eat healthy foods, and exercise (if your doctor agrees). And make sure to drink plenty of water.

How can you care for yourself at home?

• Make sure you go to your prenatal appointments. At each visit, your doctor will check your blood pressure and weight. Your doctor will also listen for a fetal heartbeat and measure the size of the uterus.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration can cause contractions. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and have to limit fluids, talk with your doctor before you increase the amount of fluids you drink.
• Tell your doctor right away if you notice any symptoms of an infection, such as:
  • Burning when you urinate.
  • A frequent need to urinate without being able to pass much urine.
  • A foul-smelling discharge from your vagina.
  • Vaginal itching.
  • Unexplained fever.
  • Unusual pain or soreness in your uterus or lower belly.
• Avoid foods that may be harmful.
  • Don't eat raw meat, deli meat, raw seafood, or raw eggs.
  • Avoid soft cheese and unpasteurized dairy, like Brie and blue cheese.
  • Avoid fish that are high in mercury. These include shark, swordfish, king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, and bigeye tuna, as well as tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico.
• If you smoke or vape, quit or cut back as much as you can. Talk to your doctor if you need help quitting.
• If you use alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs, quit or cut back as much as you can. It's safest not to use them at all. Talk to your doctor if you need help quitting.
• Follow your doctor's directions about activity. Your doctor will let you know how much exercise you can do.
• Ask your doctor if you can have sex. If you are at risk for early labor, your doctor may ask you to not have sex.
• Take care to avoid falling. Changes in your body during pregnancy, such as a growing belly, can make you more likely to fall. Sports such as bicycling, skiing, or in-line skating can increase your risk.
• Avoid risky activities like horseback or motorcycle riding, water-skiing, scuba diving, and exercising at a high altitude (above 6,000 feet). If you live in a place with a high altitude, talk to your doctor about how you can exercise safely.
• Avoid things that can make your body too hot and may be harmful to your pregnancy, such as a hot tub or sauna. Or talk with your doctor before doing anything that raises your body temperature. Your doctor can tell you if it's safe.
• Do not take any over-the-counter or herbal medicines or supplements without talking to your doctor or pharmacist first.