Make today the beginning of a healthier you.

A program for women in their childbearing years.

Some of the most important things you can do to help have a healthy baby should happen before you get pregnant. Because half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, the best time to take control of your health is right now. Take care of  yourself, make healthy choices, and make a difference for yourself and your family.

• 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.

Ranked 44th out of 50 states, Delaware's infant mortality rate is among the worst in the nation. Christiana Care is on a mission to make it better.

Our Healthy Beginnings 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, or call 800-693-CARE (2273) or 302-623-CARE and ask about Healthy Beginnings.

Christiana Care Health System is the region's only National Community Center of Excellence  in Women's Health, as designated by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

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. Christiana Care is a private, not-for-profit regional health care system and relies in part on the generosity of individuals, foundations and corporations to fulfill its mission.