Healthy Pregnancy

Health Professionals

It is important that women in Canada have access to information that will help them make informed decisions during the special time of pregnancy. The Public Health Agency of Canada has established this Web site to support health care providers in their efforts to promote healthy pregnancies to the women and families in their care. This portal will:

• supplement discussions with women about pregnancy;
• save you valuable consultation time by providing women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy with the information that will answer many of their questions;
• offer options to either download fact sheets for the women in their care or provide them with the Healthy Pregnancy web address and encourage them to explore it for themselves; and
• provide the appropriate information to women before pregnancy.

Instead of searching for answers from several different sources, health professionals can now access information that is beneficial to the women and families in their care in one place, including the Sensible Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy and commonly asked questions.

Information on this Website covers seven key issues that are important for achieving a healthy pregnancy and healthy outcomes for the baby. Each of these issues is described in clear language, offering tips and dispelling myths.

Prenatal Nutrition
Healthy eating is an important step in the development of a healthy baby. With easy-to-use, easy-to-remember colour codes, the road to nutritious eating is simple to navigate.

Folic Acid
It is important to be prepared before pregnancy. This vitamin is crucial to the health of the growing fetus and women should begin taking folic acid before conception as well as in the early weeks of pregnancy.

Alcohol and Pregnancy
Women who drink alcoholic beverages can learn about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and that there is no safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy.

Physical Activity and Pregnancy
Regular physical activity has many benefits and pregnant women can find activities particularly suitable for them such as swimming, walking and yoga. Get active your way, every day. Everyone can do it!

Smoking and Pregnancy
It is never too late to quit! For women who need additional support to quit, there is a wealth of information available.

Oral Health
There is a relationship between good oral health and a healthy pregnancy. Tips are provided for ways that pregnant women can achieve good oral health.

Emotional Health
The ups and downs of pregnant life are normal and taking time for themselves will help them cope with these fluctuations.

Other info

• Caffeine and Pregnancy
• Calcium and Vitamin D
• Constipation
• Feeling Sick - Nausea and Vomiting
• Heartburn
• Iron
• Swelling (Edema)
• Water and Other Fluids
• Low Cost Nutritious Choices