Pregnancy and women's health

Are you thinking about having a baby? There are steps you can take to stay healthy before, during and after pregnancy. They will help you have a healthy baby, too!

Before you become pregnant, talk with your doctor about:

• Planning to start a family
• Avoiding tobacco and alcohol
• Taking medications safely
• Taking folic acid
• Making sure your vaccines are up-to-date
• Staying active
• Eating healthy

Health A to Z (Healthwise)

• Alcohol or drug use during pregnancy
• Breast self-examination
• Drug withdrawal in newborns (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome)
• Immunizations and pregnancy
• Obesity and pregnancy
• Pap tests
• Pregnancy and Diabetes: Planning for pregnancy
• Preparing for a healthy pregnancy
• Quitting smoking
• Women’s health
• Zika virus

Helpful resources

Decision in recovery: Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
Preconception health and health care
Show your love! Preconception health care app
Show your love! Steps to a healthier me and baby-to-be
Smokefree Women

National Tobacco Quit Line: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) (TTY 711)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) (TTY 1-800-487-4889)

Congratulations! This is an exciting time. There are many things you can do to help you and your baby stay strong and healthy.

Once you find out you’re pregnant:

Schedule an appointment with your OB provider.
Prenatal care is very important for you and your baby. Your doctor will ask you about your health, do a physical exam, and tell you your baby’s due date.

Who is your OB provider? If you don’t have one, call the Customer Care Center at 800-407-4627 (TTY 711) Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific time. We can help find a provider near you.

Take care of you.
Eat healthy foods, stay active, and avoid tobacco and alcohol.

Complete an OB health screener.
This helps us get you the care and support you need during your pregnancy. Call the Customer Care Center to complete your OB health screener.

Chat with an OB care manager.
We can help you take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby. Call the number on your member ID card to learn more about our New Baby, New Life^SM program.

Doula services

Doula services are available as a preventive service. Doula services include personal, emotional, and physical support to women and families from pregnancy through childbirth and postpartum. Doulas have been shown to prevent perinatal complications, improve birth outcomes, and reduce health disparities.

Doulas offer various types of support, including:

• Perinatal and labor support and guidance
• Health navigation
• Evidence-based education (development of birth plans, linkages to community-based resources, etc.)

Anthem-covered doula services include:

• One initial visit
• Up to eight additional visits that may be provided in any combination of prenatal and postpartum visits
• Support during labor and delivery (including labor and delivery resulting in a stillbirth), abortion, or miscarriage
• Up to two extended three-hour postpartum visits after the end of a pregnancy

For more information on doula services, please visit the DHCS Doula Services page .

Healthy Rewards

You may be eligible to earn rewards for attending your prenatal and postpartum appointments.  To enroll in our Healthy Rewards program, visit the Benefit Reward Hub or call 888-990-8681 (TTY 711).

Health A to Z (Healthwise)

• Alcohol or drug use during pregnancy
• Depression during pregnancy
• Drug withdrawal in newborns (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome)
• First trimester exams and tests
• From embryo to baby in 9 months
• Gestational diabetes
• HIV and pregnancy
• Immunizations and pregnancy
• Nausea or vomiting during pregnancy
• Preeclampsia
• Pregnancy: Dealing with morning sickness
• Pregnancy: Prenatal exam schedule
• Pregnancy: what to expect
• Preterm labor
• Second trimester exams and tests
• Third trimester exams and tests

Helpful resources

March of Dimes
Smokefree Women
Text 4baby

National Tobacco Quit Line: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) (TTY 711)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) (TTY 1-800-487-4889)

You may be able to get Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits. Visit the WIC website to learn more.

Congratulations! Being a new mother is an exciting time. But it can bring some unexpected challenges. You may have questions about how to keep yourself and your baby healthy.

Besides talking with your provider, there are many resources to help keep you healthy, both physically and emotionally. There are also many resources to help you keep your baby safe, happy and healthy.

Health A to Z (Healthwise)

• Baby’s daily needs: What to expect
• Breastfeeding
• Breastfeeding: How to Use a Breast Pump
• Child car seats
• Childhood immunizations
• Crib safety
• Managing postpartum depression
• Newborn growth and development
• Postpartum: First six weeks after childbirth

Helpful resources

Need help getting a breast pump? Call Customer Care at the number on your member ID card. A care manager will help you.

Visit the WIC website or call 1-888-942-9675. WIC can help you with breastfeeding support.

For more support with breastfeeding:

• Visit La Leche or call the La Leche League Breastfeeding Helpline at 1-877-452-5324.
• Visit Infant Risk Center call 1-806-352-2519 for questions about breastfeeding and medications.

For more information on postpartum depression, talk to your doctor. You can also contact Postpartum Support International (PSI) at 1-800-944-4PPD (4773) (TTY 711).

If your baby was born sick or premature, they may have been admitted to the NICU. You may be having a hard time coping. We believe that the more you know, the better you’ll be able to care for your baby. We’re here to help you during your baby’s stay in the NICU.

Health A to Z (Healthwise)

• Drug withdrawal in newborns (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome)
• Newborn growth & development
• NICU: Communicating with the staff
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection

Helpful resources

Need help getting a breast pump? Call Customer Care at the number on your member ID card. A care manager can help you.

• Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A family guide – English
• Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A family guide – Spanish

The MyPreemie app supports families with preemies.

Graham’s Foundation provides support, advocacy, and research for preemies and their families.

There are many ways you can support your partner during pregnancy. Encourage her to seek early and regular prenatal care. Attend appointments and birthing classes with her. Encourage your partner to avoid tobacco and alcohol, stay active, and eat healthy. Find ways to help her reduce stress during pregnancy.

Take care of yourself, too! As you help your partner stay healthy, take these steps with her:

• Visit your doctor
• Make sure your immunizations are up-to-date
• Avoid tobacco and alcohol
• Stay active — spend time walking or exercising with your partner
• Eat healthy
• Find ways to reduce your stress — reach out to friends and family who are parents and can provide you with support and advice

Your role as a parent is very important to the health and development of your baby. You may have a lot of questions about caring for your newborn. The links below can help you get ready to be a parent.

Health A to Z (Healthwise)

• Baby’s daily needs: What to expect
• Bonding with your newborn
• Depression
• Fitness: Getting and staying active
• From embryo to baby in 9 months
• Getting ready to quit smoking?
• Health screenings
• Healthy eating tips
• Immunizations
• Is drinking getting in the way?
• Newborn growth and development
• Partner support during pregnancy
• What is your stress level?

Helpful resources

BabyCenter: Childbirth cheat sheet
Decision in recovery: Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
March of Dimes
Smokefree.gov
National Tobacco Quit Line: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) (TTY 711)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) (TTY 1-800-487-4889)

Losing a baby is very painful. A strong circle of support can be very helpful. You can find help here:

CJ First Candle — Support for families who have had a pregnancy or infant loss
Call 1-800-221-7437 (TTY 711). Grief counselors are on hand at no cost 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
National SHARE — Pregnancy and infant loss support
Call 1-800-821-6819 (TTY 711).
MISS Foundation — Support and resources after the death of a child
Call 1-888-455-6477 (TTY 711).

You may have questions about sex, relationships, body changes or birth control. When you get regular checkups, you can talk with your doctor. If you want to talk privately, ask your doctor if they can answer your questions without a parent in the room.

You can also find information online. Below are some sites that can help you get and stay healthy.

Health A to Z (Healthwise)

• Birth control for teens
• Bullying
• HPV: Should I get the vaccine?
• Fitness: Getting and staying active
• Quitting smoking
• Teen health
• Teen relationship abuse

Helpful resources

Am I in a healthy relationship?
BAM! Body and Mind
Everything you wanted to know about IUDs and the implant at WhoopsProof.org.
Explore birth control methods. Get birth control and appointment reminders at Bedsider.org.
Get important health information especially for teens.
Learn more about reproductive health for teens.
Learn more about unintended pregnancy prevention.
Learn more about quitting smoking at teen.smokefree.gov.
Take charge of your health: A guide for teens
What is teen health?

Stay healthy and strong by:

• Going to your doctor and dentist regularly
• Keeping vaccines up-to-date
• Protecting yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Planning for pregnancy or preventing an unwanted pregnancy
• Avoiding tobacco and alcohol
• Staying active
• Eating healthy

• Family planning for women in substance abuse treatment – English
• Family planning for women in substance abuse treatment – Spanish

Health A to Z (Healthwise)

• Alcohol or drug use during pregnancy
• Are you depressed?
• Birth control
• Breast self-examination
• Fitness: Getting and staying active
• Healthy eating tips
• Immunizations
• Is drinking getting in the way?
• Pap tests
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Quitting smoking
• What is your stress level?
• Women’s health
• Zika virus

Helpful resources

Learn more at www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth.
Decision in recovery: Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
Smokefree Women
National Tobacco Quit Line: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) (TTY 711)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) (TTY 1-800-487-4889)