For Your Baby

Are You Having a C-Section?
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development can provide data and medical information about this health issue. A 13-page booklet, Facts About Cesarean Childbirth, discusses cesarean delivery, types of incisions, current thinking about repeat cesarean, and the pros and cons of this method of birth. Contact: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Building 31, Room 2A32, 9000 Rockville Pike, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; 301-496-5133.

Pregnancy Care
You are pregnant. Now what do you do? How much weight should you gain? Can you keep exercising? The Maternal and Child Health Clearinghouse has several free publications dealing with prenatal care to get you and your unborn child off to a good start. Some of the publications include: Caring for Our Future: The Content of Prenatal Care (healthcare professionals). Health Diary: Myself-My Baby, a new publication which takes you step by step through your pregnancy. Contact: National Maternal and Child Health Clearinghouse, 8201 Greensboro Dr., Suite 600, McLean, VA 22102.

The Ultimate Announcement!
Let the President welcome your newest newcomer to the world with a special congratulatory notice sent directly from the White House. Just send a copy of the birth announcement or write a note with the date of birth. Contact: White House, Greetings Office, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20500.

Is Smoking Really Dangerous for My Unborn Baby?
The Office on Smoking and Health can provide you with information on smoking as it affects pregnancy and newborns. Some of the free pamphlets available include: Is Your Baby Smoking?, which explains the dangers of passive smoke on the baby; and a "Pregnant? Two Reasons to Quit" poster, which reminds pregnant women that when they smoke, they smoke for two. Contact: Office on Smoking and Health, Centers for Disease Control, 4770 Buford Hwy., Mail Stop K-50, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724; 770-488-5705.

Eat for Two
Now that you're pregnant, your doctor is going to tell you to gain weight. All About Eating for Two is an article describing the types of food and vitamins you will need to maintain a healthy pregnancy. Once you've had Junior, you have to feed and clothe him. Feeding Baby: Nature and Nurture and Good Nutrition and the High Chair Set are articles which discuss breast feeding, formula and vitamin supplements. For your free copies contact: Food and Drug Administration, Division of Consumer Affairs, HFE-88, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857; 301-827-4420.

A Healthy Start
Your body is going through some drastic changes now that you are pregnant. To help you learn what to expect next, get your free copy of Baby On The Way Basics, which provides you with information on pregnancy, labor and delivery, and more. For your copy contact: National Maternal and Child Health Clearinghouse, 8201 Greensboro Dr., Suite 600, McLean, VA 22102.

Can I Have a Drink?
There are many concerns regarding alcohol use while pregnant. The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information has several free publications dealing with drinking and drug use during pregnancy. Some of the titles include: How To Take Care of Your Baby Before Birth, a low-literacy brochure aimed at pregnant women that describes what they should and should not do during their pregnancy, emphasizing a no use of alcohol and other drugs message (PH239, also in Spanish). "An Inner Voice Tells You Not to Drink or Use Other Drugs", a poster which depicts an artistic rendition of a pregnant American Indian Woman (AV161). Healthy Women/Healthy Lifestyles: Here's What You Should Know about Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs explains alcohol's effect on women and why women shouldn't drink, smoke or take illicit drugs (PHD691). Pregnancy: Women, Teenagers and Their Infants provides information about preventing drug and alcohol use amongst women of childbearing age (MS420)). Contact: National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, P.O. Box 2345, Rockville, MD 20847; 800-729-6686.

What If I Become Diabetic While I'm Pregnant?
Understanding Gestational Diabetes: A Practical Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy addresses questions about diet, exercise, measurement of blood sugar levels, and general medical and obstetric care of women with gestational diabetes. It answers such questions as: Will my baby have diabetes?, What can I do to control gestational diabetes?, and Will I have diabetes in the future? This is a free booklet. Contact: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Building 31, Room 2A32, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892; 301-496-5133.