Pregnancy And Women’s Health

There are several important steps you can take to stay healthy and strong throughout your life:

• Going to your doctor and dentist regularly
• Keeping vaccines up to date
• Protecting yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Planning for or preventing an unwanted pregnancy 
• Avoiding tobacco and alcohol
• Staying active
• Eating healthy 

These are all important steps you can take to stay healthy and achieve your goals.

Health A to Z

Women’s health

Birth control

Zika virus

Breast self-examination

Quitting smoking

Pap tests

Alcohol or drug use during pregnancy

Immunizations

Healthy Eating Tips

Fitness: Getting and staying active

How ready are you to quit smoking?

What is your stress level?

Is drinking getting in the way?

Are you depressed?

Helpful Resources

• CDC Reproductive Health
• Decision in recovery: Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
• Smokefree for women

National Tobacco Quitline

 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)

 800-662-HELP (800-662-4357)

If you’re thinking about having a baby, there are steps you can take to stay healthy before, during and after pregnancy. These steps will help you have a healthy baby, too!

Before you become pregnant, talk with your doctor about:

• Planning to start a family.
• Avoiding tobacco and alcohol.
• Taking medications safely.
• Taking folic acid.
• Making sure your vaccines are up to date.
• Staying active.
• Eating healthy.

Health A to Z

• Women’s health
• Preparing for a healthy pregnancy
• Zika virus
  
• Breast self-examination
• Quitting smoking
• Pap tests
• Drug withdrawal in newborns (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome)
• Pregnancy and Diabetes: Planning for pregnancy
• Obesity and pregnancy
• Immunizations and pregnancy
• Alcohol or drug use during pregnancy

Helpful Resources

• Preconception health and health care
  
• Show your love! Steps to a healthier me and baby-to-be [PDF]
• Decision in recovery: Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
• Smokefree for women
• Preventing Preterm Birth- the Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative

National Tobacco Quitline

 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)

 800-662-HELP (800-662-4357)

Congratulations! This is an exciting time for you. There are many things you can do to make sure you and your baby stay strong and healthy.

Once You Find Out You’re Pregnant, What Are Your Next Steps? 

Schedule An Appointment With Your OB Provider

Prenatal care is very important for you and your baby. Your doctor will ask you questions about your health, do a physical exam, tell you your baby’s due date, and give you the information you and your baby need to stay healthy.

Who is your OB provider? If you don’t have one, you can use our provider search tool to find one near you 

Find Care Tool

Take Care Of You

Eating healthy foods, staying active, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol can help you stay healthy during and after pregnancy.

Complete an OB health screener

This screener will help us customize the care and support we provide you throughout your pregnancy. Complete an OB health screener in our Concierge Care digital app or with an Anthem associate.

Chat with your OB care manager

Call us to learn about our New Baby, New Life℠ program. We can help you find resources to help you take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby. Call 844-912-0938 (TTY 711) to learn more. 

Enroll in Healthy Rewards

Earn dollars for completing healthy activities. You may be eligible to earn rewards for attending your prenatal and postpartum appointments. To enroll in our Healthy Rewards program, visit the Benefit Reward Hub or call 888-990-8681 (TTY 711)

Enroll in Healthy Rewards

Health A to Z Articles 

• First trimester exams and tests
• Pregnancy: Prenatal exam schedule
• Second trimester exams and tests
• Third trimester exams and tests
• Preeclampsia
• Gestational diabetes
• Preterm labor
• Alcohol or drug use during pregnancy
• Drug withdrawal in newborns (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome)
• Pregnancy: Dealing with morning sickness
• Nausea or vomiting during pregnancy
• HIV and pregnancy
• Depression during pregnancy
• Immunizations and pregnancy 
• From embryo to baby in 9 months

Helpful Resources

• March of Dimes 
• Text4baby 
• Smokefree for women
• Preventing Preterm Birth- the Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative
• Concierge Care Maternity
• Find Care page

National Tobacco Quitline

 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)

 800-662-HELP (800-662-4357)

You may be eligible for WIC benefits. Visit the WIC website to learn more.

Congratulations! Being a new mother is an exciting time, but motherhood can bring some challenges you might not have expected. You may have questions about how to keep yourself and your baby healthy.

Besides talking with your doctor, there are many resources available to help keep you healthy, both physically and emotionally. There are also many resources to help you make sure your baby is safe, happy, and healthy.

Health A to Z Articles

• Baby’s daily needs: What to expect
• Breastfeeding
• Child car seats
• Newborn growth and development
• Postpartum: First six weeks after childbirth
• Managing postpartum depression
• Crib safety
• Childhood immunizations

Helpful Resources

Need help getting a breast pump? Call Member Services at 844-912-0938 (TTY 711).

If you have not already enrolled in WIC, visit the WIC website to learn more or call 800-367-2229. WIC can assist you with breastfeeding support.

For more information or support with breastfeeding:

• Visit La Leche League 
• Visit Infant Risk Center or call 806-352-2519 for questions about breastfeeding and medications

For more information on postpartum depression, talk to your doctor. You can also contact Postpartum Support International (PSI) at 800-944-4PPD (4773).

If your baby was born sick or premature and has been admitted to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), you may be having a difficult time coping. We believe that the more you know, the better you will be able to care for your infant. We are here to help you feel more at ease with your baby’s stay in the NICU.

Health A to Z Articles

Getting to know the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

NICU: Communicating with the staff

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection

Newborn growth & development

Drug withdrawal in newborns (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome)

Helpful Resources

• Need help getting a breast pump? Call Member Services at 844-912-0938 (TTY 711).
• The MyPreemie App provides support to parents and families with preemies.
• Graham’s Foundation provides support, advocacy, and research for preemies and their families.
• March of Dimes’ My NICU Baby App provides answers, tools, and support so you can focus on your baby during this time.

There are many things you can do to support your partner during pregnancy. Encourage your partner to seek early and regular prenatal care and attend appointments and birthing classes with them. Encourage your partner to take other important steps such as avoiding tobacco and alcohol, staying active and eating healthy, and finding ways to reduce stress during pregnancy.

During this exciting time, it is also important for you to take care of yourself. As you encourage your partner to take important steps to stay healthy, take these steps with your partner:

• Visit your doctor 
• Make sure your immunizations are up to date 
• Avoid tobacco and alcohol 
• Stay active — spend time walking or exercising with your partner 
• Eat healthy 
• Find ways to reduce your stress — reach out to friends and family who are parents and can provide you with support and advice 

This is an exciting time for you. Your role as a parent is very important to the health and development of your baby, and you may have a lot of questions about caring for your newborn. Anthem is here for you. You can find helpful information on getting and staying healthy and preparing for parenthood below.

Health A to Z Articles 

Health screenings for men

Immunizations

Healthy Eating Tips

Fitness: Getting and staying active

Getting ready to quit smoking?

Dealing with depression?

What is your stress level?

Is drinking getting in the way?

Partner support during pregnancy

From embryo to baby in 9 months

Baby’s daily needs: What to expect

Bonding with your newborn

Newborn growth and development

Helpful Resources

• Baby center: Childbirth cheat sheet
• Decision in recovery: Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
  
• Smokefree.gov

National Tobacco Quitline

 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)

 800-662-HELP (800-662-4357)

Losing a baby is a very painful experience. If you are dealing with the loss of your baby, it is important to have a circle of support. Below are some resources you might find helpful.

First Candle — Support for families who have experienced a SIDS or sleep-related infant loss 

Call 800-221-7437. Grief counselors are on hand at no cost, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

National SHARE — Pregnancy and infant loss support

Call 800-821-6819

MISS Foundation — Support and resources for parents after the death of a child 

Call 888-455-6477

You may have questions about sex, relationships, body changes, birth control, or other topics. Getting regular checkups gives you a chance to ask your doctor these questions and talk about any other concerns. Ask your doctor if they can answer your questions without a parent in the room.

You can also find information and support online. Below are some sites you can visit to get accurate information about ways to stay healthy.

Health A to Z Articles

• Teen health
• Fitness: Getting and staying active
• Quitting smoking
• Bullying
• Teen relationship abuse
• HPV: Should I get the vaccine
• Birth control for teens

Helpful Resources 

• What is Teen health? 
• Take charge of your health: A guide for teens 
• BAM! Body and Mind 
• Am I in a healthy relationship?  
• Learn more about reproductive health for teens 
• Everything you wanted to know about IUDs and the implant at WhoopsProof 
• Learn more about unintended pregnancy prevention 
• Learn more about quitting smoking at teen.smokefree.gov