T.J. Samson | Destination Health | December 2019

6 DESTINATION HEALTH Pregnancy Y ou and your partner are having a baby. Such wonderful news! Though she is doing most of the work of growing and protecting the baby, you have an important role to play in helping ensure she has a healthy pregnancy. It’s important for a pregnant woman to have a supportive partner by her side. Women who have good support during pregnancy may be less anxious and less stressed dur- ing and after childbirth. And babies born to well-supported women may be born healthier as well. So what can you do to be a sup- portive pregnancy partner? Here are six ideas: Go to your partner’s prena- tal care appointments. These pregnancy checkups help keep your partner and your baby healthy. Practice healthy habits to- gether. Your partner needs to avoid harmful substances such as alcohol, smoking and marijuana. (Marijuana is not recommended during pregnancy, even in states where it is legal.) It’ll be easier for your partner to stay away from these things if you both make a commitment to do so. If you smoke, keep in mind that secondhand smoke is harmful to both your partner and your baby. Sign up for childbirth classes. These help you and your partner learn what to expect during labor and delivery. You’ll also learn how to support your partner during childbirth. Install a rear-facing car seat. You can’t take your baby home from the hospital unless you have one and it’s installed correctly. Your partner will appreciate your taking care of this sometimes difficult job. Get vaccinated. Is your baby arriving during flu season? Join your partner on one of her doc- tor visits and ask about flu shots for both of you. (They’re safe for preg- nant women.) Protect your partner from toxoplasmosis. Pregnant women who become infected with the parasite toxoplasma can pass the infection on to their baby, and the baby can develop serious health problems later in life, such as blind- ness or mental disability. Cat feces may contain toxo- plasma. The parasite doesn’t be- come infectious until at least a day after it is shed in a cat’s feces. So if you have a cat, you (rather than your partner) should clean the litter box daily throughout the pregnancy. Fruits, vegetables and meat may also become contaminated with toxoplasma. When taking on chef duties, be sure to wash and peel all produce before serving it to your partner, and cook all meats to rec- ommended temperatures. Sources: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Nine months go by quickly. Check out our schedule for childbirth classes, and sign up now by calling 270-659-5919 . 1 2 3 4 5 6 A partner’s guide TO PREGNANCY SUPPORT * #