Prevent birth defects

[Editor]

The WIC and Case Management staff of the Henry and Stark County Health
Departments in conjunction with the March of Dimes announce that January has
been designated as National Birth Defects Prevention Month.

In accordance with this important health observance, the WIC and Case
Management staff note that nine months of a healthy pregnancy is the best
gift you can give your future baby.

Michele Beckstrom, RN Health Department WIC nurse states, "There are
things you can do, before you get pregnant, to help give your baby a better
chance of a healthy and full-term birth."

Therefore the Health Department and the March of Dimes offers the
following list of Nine questions to ask your doctor or nurse before you get
pregnant:

1. Diabetes, high blood pressure, infections or other health problems?
2. Medicines or home remedies?
3. Taking a multivitamin pill with folic acid in it each day?
4. Getting to a healthy weight before pregnancy?
5. Smoking, drinking alcohol and taking illegal drugs?
6. Unsafe chemicals or other things I should stay away from at home or
at work?
7. Taking care of myself and lowering my stress?
8. How long to wait between pregnancies? (Wait at least 6 months
between delivery and the beginning of the next pregnancy.)
9. My family history, including premature birth? Premature birth is
when your baby is born too early, before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy.

For more information on the Health Department WIC and Case Management
services call the Health Department at [phone] (Henry) or (309)
852-3115 (Stark) or visit our website at www.henrystarkhealth.com.
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