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Preconception Health & Advice Healthy Beginnings Program

Preconception Health & Advice

If you are considering getting pregnant, preconception care helps increase your chances of conception and having a healthy pregnancy by helping you understand how health conditions and risk factors can play a role in your health.

Even if you aren’t planning a pregnancy, it’s a good idea to think about your preconception health. Preconception care also includes preventing unintended pregnancies.

The Importance of Preconception Care

Planning for a healthy pregnancy starts before conception. In this video, Dr. Emily Burdette shares expert advice on how preconception care can improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy and baby. From managing chronic conditions to starting prenatal vitamins, small steps now can make a big difference later.

Dr. Burdette is currently accepting new patients at two convenient Newark locations:

ChristianaCare Center for Women’s Wellness
4745 Ogletown Stanton Road, MAP 1, Suite 105, Newark, DE 19713
Christiana Women’s Health
4755 Ogletown Stanton Road, Suite Y100/1900, Newark, DE 19718

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Advice for a Healthy Conception

Have a pregnancy plan.
Exercise daily.
Learn to manage the stress in your life.
Don’t ignore conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure or infections. Get help from your doctor.
Ask your doctor about the safety of all medications, vitamins and herbs you are taking if you were to become pregnant. Even over-the-counter medications can be harmful to an unborn baby.
Avoid smoking, alcohol and illegal drugs.
Find your ideal weight and try to maintain it.
Take a multivitamin with folic acid every day.
Make sure your immunizations are up to date.

Healthy Beginnings Preconception Health Program

ChristianaCare’s Healthy Beginnings program began as an effort to reduce Delaware’s infant mortality rate.

The program brings together several important focus areas in every woman’s health care:

Preconception care identifies and addresses risks to future pregnancy, even if you aren’t planning to get pregnant
Pregnancy planning guides you through the critical first steps that can set the stage for a healthy pregnancy
Prenatal care ensures the well being of you and your baby from conception to childbirth

Healthy Beginnings brings together the services of a team of doctors, nurse practitioners, nurse educators, social workers, resource mothers, dieticians and case managers in one convenient location. Ask your doctor for a risk assessment today and ask about Healthy Beginnings.

This program is supported, in part, by funding from the Delaware Division of Public Health. Further support comes from Children and Families First, and the Delaware March of Dimes.