Staying healthy during pregnancy
“Mothers need to remember they are living, eating and drinking for two,” said Dr. Luther Harrell, chief physician, Department of Health and Human Services.

Start taking prenatal vitamins to make sure of getting the folic acid and iron needed for a healthy pregnancy, Harrell said.

Between 400 and 1,000 micrograms of folic acid should be taken daily through the first three months of pregnancy to decrease the risk of nerve defects in the baby’s brain and spinal cord. Pregnant women also need 27 to 30 milligrams of iron and at least 1,000 milligrams of calcium every day. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)

“Drink 64 ounces of fluids, especially water, each day to prevent dehydration. ” Harrell said. “Stay away from tobacco. Smoking passes nicotine and harmful carbon monoxide to the fetus.

“Don’t drink alcohol or take recreational drugs. They carry risks of stillbirth, prematurity, low birth-weight, and brain damage.
“Think and act healthy. That’s the biggest break you can give your unborn baby,” Harrell said.

Pregnant city
Sabrina Smith was having her first baby.

“I was aware of the higher risks associated with giving birth at my age,” said Smith, 40, an administrative specialist in the General Services Department. “I had the amniocentesis test and am glad to say the results came back fine.”

Nine months into her pregnancy, Mariluz Arthur controlled excess weight gain with diet and mild walking. Photo by John Perry.

Usually performed between 11 to 14 weeks into pregnancy, the test is recommended for women 35 or older to determine mental or physical abnormalities in the amniotic fluid. Chances of disorders, such as Down syndrome, increase as expectant mothers reach 35. The test carries a slight risk of miscarriage.

The amniocentesis is a covered benefit if pre-approved by the HMO plan, said BCBSTX customer advocate Ivan Flake.

Smith developed gestational diabetes 28 weeks into her pregnancy.

Two to 3 percent of women develop diabetes during their pregnancies, said Eunice Ihaza, a registered nurse in the Methodist Hospital’s diabetes division. “If untreated, it can have serious consequences.”

Smith followed her obstetrician’s advice and gave up potatoes, rice and other starches while eating more vegetables and smaller portions of grilled meats. She cut out Coca-Cola and caffeine, tested her blood sugar four times a day, and self-injected insulin to get her glucose back in the normal range.

Though her due date was Sept. 7, Smith delivered by Caesarian section July 31 at The Woman’s Hospital.

Born 35 days prematurely, her 5-pound, 7-ounce daughter is doing well in Level 1 NICU, the least intense care level for premature babies.

Mariluz Arthur delivered her first baby by Caesarian section Aug. 11 at The Woman’s Hospital. At 19 inches in length, her healthy 7-pound, 10-ounce daughter was carried to full term.

“When I found out I was pregnant, the first thing I did was give up smoking. I did it cold turkey, too,” said Arthur, a systems support analyst in Public Works & Engineering.

“Later on, I had an issue with my weight: I gained 45 pounds.”
Her obstetrician had preferred she gain no more than 30 to 35 pounds, Arthur said. He put her on a diet high in protein and vegetables, told her to drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day, and exercise more.

“Following my doctor’s orders, I soon had my weight in the normal range,” Arthur said.

Women with more than 30 percent body fat have a greater chance of delivering babies with defects that include spina bifida, an increased risk of heart defects, limb reduction defects, and hernias. (Source: The University of Texas School of Public Health, 2007.)

Dana Doan, 31, is expecting her second son Oct. 20, and plans to deliver at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. She suffered “horrific” morning sickness during her first trimester, at one time vomiting 10 times a day.

“I didn’t have morning sickness with my first pregnancy,” said Doan, a risk management safety officer in Human Resources. “But every pregnancy is different. If a woman is throwing up three or more times a day, I advise her to contact her doctor immediately.”

Prolonged morning sickness could be an indicator of an undiagnosed problem.

Doan’s obstetrician prescribed the anti-nausea drug Zofran, a Tier III nonpreferred brand in the city’s formulary, which is also available in a generic equivalent.

She also joined special beginnings and found it “very convenient and informative.”

Now, 34 weeks into her pregnancy, Doan is feeling fine and expecting the best.

Her advice to expectant mothers: “Keep all your doctor appointments, take prenatal vitamins, start a walking routine, join special beginnings … and give up Mexican food.”

See sidebar for tips for a healthy pregnancy.

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