IMMUNIZATIONS/VACCINES

Immunizations (vaccines) are a big part of your health and your baby’s health. This is for both during and after pregnancy. They can protect you and your baby from diseases like the flu and whooping cough.

Getting vaccines during pregnancy gives your baby immunity. This is also called protection. It lasts for their first few months of life. But you can lose that protection over time. This means that your baby should get vaccines during their first year of life and after. You and your baby can get vaccines during well visits.

Get a whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine (Tdap) during each pregnancy. Whooping cough can be serious for all people. But it can be life-threatening for a newborn.

Getting the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy will give your baby some short-term, early protection against whooping cough. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests getting a Tdap vaccine during the 27th through 36th week of pregnancy. It is best to get it during the earlier part of this time span.

Get a flu vaccine during pregnancy. Pregnant people are more likely to get very sick from the flu. Be sure to get your flu vaccine each year. This is the best way to protect you and your baby from flu complications. This protection will last for their first few months of life.

If you are pregnant, the CDC suggests getting a flu vaccine by the end of October. This can help protect you and your baby before flu season.

Whether you are pregnant or not, you can get the COVID-19 vaccine. Pregnant people are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about getting the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy.

The CDC’s Adult Vaccine Self-Assessment Tool can give you a list of suggested vaccines. Take this to your next health care visit.

EXERCISE AND NUTRITION

Eating well is one of the best things you can do during your pregnancy. It’s important to make sure you’re getting enough nutrients to support your baby while also maintaining good health for yourself. Click here to learn more about nutrition during pregnancy.

Colorado PEAK is an online service where you can apply for help with food. This means things like Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). You may be eligible to get benefits from both programs at the same time.

You may also qualify for other cash assistance programs. These can help you buy healthy foods. You need to make a free account on the Colorado PEAK website to find out what programs you are eligible for.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps families buy the food they need for good health. If you are eligible for SNAP, you can get a monthly benefit to use for groceries. SNAP also has training on nutrition and food preparation.

WIC (Women, Infants and Children) helps give free food to pregnant women, new parents, and families. WIC also has nutrition counseling, new parent education, and breastfeeding support. All pregnant women and parents or caregivers of children younger than five are welcome. Call 800-688-777 to find an office near you. Or you can look online.

USDA National Hunger Clearinghouse can help you find meal sites and food banks near you. They can also help you find other services near you.

Call the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 866-3-HUNGRY. Or 877-8-HAMBRE. Call them from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m, Monday to Friday.

You can also text a question to 914-342-7744. Make sure to use key words like “food," “summer,” “meals,” etc.

Exercise: If you’re healthy and your pregnancy is normal, it’s safe for you to exercise daily. Talk to your doctor about what type of exercise is best for you. Click here to learn more about exercise during pregnancy.

GESTATIONAL DIABETES

Some people get gestational diabetes when they’re pregnant. You can get this even if you don’t already have diabetes. It can negatively affect your health and your baby’s health. If you get gestational diabetes, managing it can help you have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.

Your doctor can help you manage your diabetes. See them as often as they suggest. Make sure they check your blood sugar levels. Talk to them about healthy eating habits and being physically active. If they tell you to take insulin, take it as directed.

If you have gestational diabetes, know that you are not alone. There are many things that can help you manage your diabetes.

Ask your doctor to refer you to a diabetes education program. This can help you learn more about diabetes. It can also help you learn how to manage it. Here are other things that may help you:

• The Prenatal Plus program: This is for at-risk pregnant Health First Colorado members. You can get care management, nutrition counseling, and other services. These can all help lower health risks for you and your baby.

• The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE): They have tools that can help you manage your gestational diabetes. These things can help you with carbohydrate counting and portion sizes. They can also help you learn how to track your health.

• Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES): This can teach you how to manage your diabetes. This means things like eating healthy and being active. It also means checking your blood sugar levels and taking medication.

  • These classes are free for you. Sign up for classes and start going to them. Then the program will bill Health First Colorado.

• The American Diabetes Association: They aim to prevent and cure diabetes. They also work to help the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Their website has tools that can help you manage your diabetes.

SMOKING

Quitting smoking is hard. But it will help you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. It will also lower your risk of having a pre-term baby. This means a baby born before 37 weeks. When you quit smoking, your body starts to heal almost right away. Click here to learn more about tobacco and pregnancy.

Baby & Me Tobacco Free can help you quit smoking for free. They have counseling support and other resources to help you quit. If you quit and “stay quit,” you will get diaper vouchers for up to a year after your baby is born. Click here to find a program location near you.

Tobacco Free Colorado can also help you quit smoking for free. They will help with your quitting journey. They can also connect you to other helpful programs to help you quit.

FAMILY PLANNING

If you are not using a birth control method, you could get pregnant very soon after you have a baby. The weeks after you have a baby is called the postpartum period. Using a birth control method during this time and beyond can help you avoid an unintended pregnancy. It also lets you plan your family.

After you have a baby, experts suggest waiting at least two years before getting pregnant again. This timing can help you and your baby stay healthy for many reasons. Click here to learn more.

You may want to choose the birth control method you will use after pregnancy while you are still pregnant. Or you may want to wait until right after you give birth. Talk with your doctor or obstetrician–gynecologist (OB-GYN) about your choices.

There are many birth control methods you can choose from. Many can be started right after you have your baby. Experts suggest using long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) right after you give birth.

LARCs are safe and very effective. They last for years. You can stop using them at any time if you choose to. Click here to learn more about LARCs.

If you have Health First Colorado, all contraceptive methods approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are covered. This includes LARCs.