A Healthy Pregnancy: Your Warning Signs Guide

Go to every checkup

• Visits are usually every 4 weeks, then every 2 weeks from 28 weeks, then every week from 36 weeks.
• Each visit checks your blood pressure, weight, urine, and your baby's heartbeat and growth.

Take your prenatal vitamin

• Take 1 every day, with at least 400 mcg of folic acid.
• Folic acid helps prevent birth defects of the brain and spine.
• Your dose, if different: ____________.

Count your baby's movements

• From about 28 weeks, count once a day when your baby is usually active.
• Lie on your left side. Count kicks, rolls, and flutters.
• You should feel 10 movements within 2 hours.

Stay away from

• Alcohol. No amount is safe.
• Smoking, vaping, and other people's smoke
• Raw fish, raw meat, unpasteurized milk and soft cheese, and cold deli meat
• The cat litter box. Ask someone else to clean it.

Go to labor and delivery right away if you have

• Bleeding or fluid leaking from your vagina
• Contractions (belly tightening) every 10 minutes or more often before 37 weeks
• Fewer baby movements than usual, or fewer than 10 in 2 hours
• A severe headache or changes in your vision