Pregnancy and postpartum

Pregnancy

Having a healthy pregnancy

It’s important to begin prenatal care as early as possible in your pregnancy.

If you think you are pregnant, it’s important to see a health-care provider for early medical care as soon as possible. If you don’t have one, you may need to visit an after-hours clinic. Register on Health Care Connect to help get connected with a primary-care provider.

Southeast Public Health offers many prenatal services including:

Additional pregnancy information:

Giving birth in the Southeast Public Health region

Frequently asked questions

It is important to eat well and take a multivitamin containing 0.4 of mg folic acid during pregnancy and while breastfeeding or chestfeeding. Visit Canada’s Food Guide to learn about healthy eating during pregnancy and breastfeeding or chestfeeding.

Your hormones change during pregnancy, and this can affect your oral health by increasing your risk of gum disease (gingivitis), and infection of the bone that supports your teeth (periodontitis). Periodontitis has also been associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, such as having a pre-term delivery or a baby with low birth weight.

View tips on how to take care of your dental health.

Because of all the changes happening in your body, you and your unborn baby are at an increased risk of food poisoning. It is very important to be careful about what you eat and how you store, prepare, and cook your food. Visit Health Canada’s website on food safety and pregnancy to learn how to reduce your risk of food poisoning.

Preterm (premature) labour is labour that starts before week 37 of pregnancy. A normal pregnancy lasts 37 to 42 weeks.

If you think you are experiencing preterm labour, call your health-care provider and go to the hospital right away.

Signs of preterm labour include:

  • A sudden gush, or a constant slow leak, of fluid or bleeding from the vagina
  • An increase in the amount of vaginal discharge
  • Bad cramps or stomach pains
  • Lower back ache that doesn’t go away
  • Pelvic pressure (i.e., a feeling that the baby is pushing down)
  • Contractions that are more regular and don’t go away if you move around, lie down, or drink water
  • A general feeling that something is not right

Seek medical care urgently if you experience:

    • Severe abdominal pain
    • Calf pain
    • Unexplained rash
    • Burning sensation when urinating
    • Smelly fluid coming from the vagina along with itching
    • Feeling more overwhelmed, anxious, or sad than usual
    • A fall or injury to your stomach area, or are in a car accident
    • Fever, chills, dizziness, vomiting, or a bad headache
    • Blurry vision or spots in front of your eyes
    • Sudden or severe swelling of your feet, hands, or face
    • No movement from the baby or if the baby moves less often

Safe pregnancy

Smoking in tobacco during pregnancy and exposure to second-hand smoke while pregnant poses a serious threat to your babies’ health. Like tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes (vaping) can expose your developing baby to nicotine, as well as other harmful substance. For more information about smoking in pregnancy visit Public Health Agency of Canada Your Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy.

If you need help to quit smoking visit our quit smoking program.

When pregnant or planning a pregnancy, it is best to avoid alcohol.

Sometimes it is very difficult to change your drinking habits, even if you really want to. It is never too late to reduce the risks for your baby. If you consumed alcohol during your pregnancy, or if you are having trouble reducing your use, speak to your health-care provider. Help is available through Motherwise and Thrive. Talk to your health-care provider.

For more information about alcohol use during pregnancy visit PregnancyInfo.ca.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

Consuming alcohol during pregnancy puts your baby at risk of developing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a term which describes a group of conditions, that vary from mild to severe, resulting from alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the leading known cause of preventable developmental disability in Canada.

How much alcohol does it take to cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder?

Despite extensive research no one knows how much alcohol it takes to cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. No amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy.

What type of alcohol should I avoid?

All types of alcohol should be avoided. There are no safe types of alcohol to consume while pregnant.

Cannabis in all forms may affect your baby’s brain development and can cause low birth weights. There is no known safe amount of Cannabis use during pregnancy. For more information about Cannabis use in pregnancy visit PregnancyInfo.ca. If you consumed cannabis during your pregnancy, or if you are having trouble reducing your use, speak to your health-care provider. Help is available. In Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington contact Motherwise or the Thrive program. Thrive is also available in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Counties.

To learn about myths and facts to help make informed choices about cannabis use in pregnancy view this video: “There may be a time and a place, but is pregnancy one?”

For information about the effects of cannabis on fertility, pregnancy, breastfeeding, parenting, and on children whose mothers used cannabis during pregnancy, visit Best Start’s Risks of Cannabis on Fertility, Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Parenting.

Taking medication during pregnancy

It is important when planning a pregnancy or when you are pregnant to contact your health-care provider to discuss your prescribed medication(s). For more information about medications and pregnancy visit Pregnancyinfo.ca.

Consuming unregulated drugs during pregnancy

Unregulated drugs always carry health risks since they contain unknown amounts of the drug, harmful fillers, or other contaminants. Speak to your health-care provider about harm reduction strategies while pregnant. It is never too late to reduce your use to support your health and your baby’s health. For information about opioid, cocaine, and amphetamine use in pregnancy visit PregnancyInfo.ca. If you consumed unregulated drugs during your pregnancy, or if you are having trouble reducing your use, speak to your health-care provider.

Help is available. In Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington contact Motherwise or the Thrive program. Thrive is also available in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Counties.