Members

Avoid unhealthy choices

pregnant woman getting checkup

Smoking

No amount of smoking is safe during pregnancy. Any type of smoking can cause complications during pregnancy. This includes smoking cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes or vaping.

When you smoke during pregnancy, your baby gets less oxygen.

Smoking can increase

your risk of having:

Smoking can increase

your baby’s risk of having:
  • A miscarriage or stillbirth
  • A baby being born too soon or too small
  • Crib death (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome/Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SIDS/SUID)
  • Ear and lung infections
  • Lifelong learning problems

 

Secondhand or thirdhand smoke

Secondhand smoke is when you are around someone who is smoking, and you breathe in the smoke they exhale. It can cause:

  • Low birth weight
  • SIDS
  • SUID
  • Ear infections
  • Lung problems
  • Coughing
  • Wheezing
  • Increases your baby’s chances of going to the hospital for bronchitis or pneumonia

Thirdhand smoke is when the gas and particles from smoke sticks to surfaces like hair, skin, clothes, toys or furniture. If you or anyone smokes inside your house – stop!

A fan or air freshener will not remove secondhand or thirdhand smoke.

Stopping smoking will not only improve your health and the health of your baby, it will also:

  • Lessen morning sickness
  • Give your baby more oxygen
  • Lower your risk of a miscarriage or stillbirth
  • Have fewer complications during and after delivery
  • Lower the risk of your baby being born too early or too small
  • Lower the risk for SIDS/SUID


Relapse

Relapse is when you start smoking again after you’ve stopped. 

Take one day at a time and reward yourself for success. Remind yourself why you stopped smoking. Quitting smoking is the best gift you can give your baby! It’s never too late to quit smoking.


Alcohol

No amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy.

Any type of alcohol (beer, wine, liquor) can cause complications during pregnancy. If you drink alcohol, it reaches your baby through the placenta. Exposure to alcohol can seriously harm your baby. 

Exposure to alcohol can:
  • Stunt the growth of your baby’s mind and body
  • Increase your risk for complications
  • Cause your baby to be born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)


Alcohol and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) can increase your baby’s risk of:

  • Being born too early or too small
  • Having withdrawal symptoms (these babies must stay in the hospital when mom goes home)
  • Having birth defects
  • Having lifelong medical and learning problems

Pills, medicines and other substances

Some medicines are safe to use during pregnancy, like medicine to treat long-term conditions such as asthma, thyroid disease, diabetes or epilepsy.

Not all natural or home remedies are safe during pregnancy. Herbal and home remedies could harm your baby.

Things you should always do:

  • Check with your OB before taking any medicine (including herbal and home remedies)
  • Tell your OB about any medicines or treatments you get from other doctors 
  • Only use over-the-counter medicines if your OB approves them 


What is Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) or Neonatal Opiate Withdrawal (NOWS)?

When your baby is exposed to any of these during pregnancy:

  • Painkillers (opioids)
  • Medications that treat addiction like Methadone 
  • Sleeping pills (benzodiazepines)
  • Illicit street drugs (such as weed, ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamines, and heroin) 
  • Alcohol
  • Nicotine


It’s important to let your OB know if you are using anything that can cause NAS or NOWS. 

Substances that cause NAS or NOWS can also increase the risk of:

  • Miscarriage or stillbirth
  • Birth defects
  • Your baby being born too early or too small
  • Withdrawal symptoms
  • SIDS/SUID
  • Lifelong learning and behavior problems


Getting help for unsafe habits

You are four times more likely to quit unsafe habits if you have support. You can trust your OB! Tell your OB about any unsafe habits you struggle with and ask for help.

How to get ready to quit

  • Avoid people and situations that make you want to do the habit
  • Change your routine so you can avoid triggers
  • Think about the bad things that can happen if you keep doing these unsafe habits
  • Think about the good things that will happen if you stop
  • Ask for help and support from your friends, family, and OB
  • Make a list of things to help distract you if you feel an urge. You might:
    • Talk to your baby and tell them how much you love them, and you want the best for them
    • Remind yourself of the good things that can happen if you stop
    • Take a walk
    • Search the internet for happy videos
    • Play a game on your cell phone
    • Call a positive friend for support
    • Go for a drive
    • Call one of the phone numbers on the next page
  • Praise yourself for the progress you have made so far
  • Take it one day or even one hour at a time. 


We cover behavioral (mental) health benefits!

You can call member services at (833) 685-2102 for help with locating a mental health provider.

If you feel that you need immediate mental health assistance you can call the Nurse Advice Line at (833) 685-2104 or the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at (833) TLC-MAMA. Both can be reach 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you feel that you are in a suicidal crisis or having thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby please call 988 or 911.

Tips to help you quit smoking:

  • Only smoke outside
  • Get rid of all ashtrays in the house
  • Ask others not to smoke around you
  • Chose a day to stop, write it down and post it on the fridge
  • Call (800) QUIT NOW at (800) 784-8669
  • Call the American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345
  • Contact your local health department for support groups or classes
  • Visit smokefree.gov


Tips to help you quit drinking:


Tips to help with substance use, misuse, or abuse:


Protect yourself and your baby from domestic violence

Not all relationships are healthy and supportive. Abuse is when someone is hurting you in any way. There are different types of abuse. Abuse can be mental, emotional, physical or sexual. An abuser can be anybody in your life.

Protect yourself from abuse — it’s the best thing for you and your baby!

Examples of abuse:

When someone:

  • Makes fun of you, calls you names or puts you down in front of your friends or family
  • Controls where and when you go somewhere
  • Controls how you get food, money, sleep or other resources
  • Keeps you away from friends or family
  • Blames you for their frustrations or anger
  • Accuses you of being unfaithful
  • Threatens you or your family
  • Demands to know where you are at all times
  • Destroys your favorite things
  • Pushes, shoves, slaps or throws things at you
  • Kicks or chokes you
  • Leaves marks or bruises on you
  • Forces you to do things you don’t want to, including sexual acts


How to handle abuse:

  • If you’re being abused, don’t hide it. No one can help you if they don’t know.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You and your baby have the right to be safe!
  • Talk to someone you trust like your OB, a family member, friend or call one of the numbers on this page.


Things to know:

  • Know how to quickly exit your home through doors and windows.
  • Tell a trusted neighbor what to do, like call the police, if something happens.
  • Know where you will go if you must leave.
  • Your children have a high chance of being abused by the same person that is abusing you. The risk is even higher if your partner is not the child’s parent.
  • Children in an abusive home have a higher chance of becoming an abuser and having drug or alcohol problems later in life.


Abuse is not your fault. You are not alone. Help is available!

Who can I call for help?
You can call the Abuse Hotline at (800) 752-6200 or the 24-hour Crisis Line at (877) 803-7577. If you don’t know what to do or you can’t get away, call 911!