While we’re on the subject of fruits and vegetables, remember to properly clean and/or prepare your fresh fruits and vegetables. The outer surface of raw fruits and vegetables can harbor harmful bacteria, such as listeria. Be sure to wash your produce thoroughly. Heat will kill the bacteria, but refrigeration will not. So enjoy your fruits and vegetables, just make sure they are clean. If you’re concerned about pesticide and fertilizer residue on the fruits and vegetables, you may want to purchase certified organic produce.
Veggie Snaps – Central Ohio Farmers’ Market Incentive Program
Most pregnant women are aware of the value of eating a diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Women and infants need the vitamins and minerals the fruits and vegetables provide and a diet high in fiber can prevent uncomfortable constipation during pregnancy. However, many women complain about the high cost of buying fruits and vegetables at the supermarkets or farmers’ markets. Central Ohio has an incentive program where individuals enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can double their dollars when buying fruits and vegetables at participating markets. Follow this link to find more information about Veggies Snaps as well as which markets are in the program: https://veggiesnaps.wordpress.com/
If you aren’t living in the Central Ohio area, check to see if your farmers’ markets have a similar program.
Allergies, Asthma and Pregnancy
Allergy season is upon us and many women wonder if it’s safe to take medications to treat their allergy and asthma symptoms while they are pregnant. Doctors believe it is important to keep allergies and asthma under control and treatment is safe with the correct medication. If you are pregnant and suffer from allergies or asthma, you should visit your physician to see which treatment plan is best for you.
Go to the staying healthy while you are pregnant page to read more regarding safe treatments for allergy and asthma while you are pregnant.
New Resource!
Check out this web site for pregnant women: http://www.cradlecincinnati.org/. It guides you towards resources for pregnant women in the Cincinnati area as well as general pregnancy information. You can also find a link to this site on the resources for pregnant women and children page.
Home Based Maternal Counseling
Catholic Social Services provides comprehensive in-home maternal counseling in Franklin County, Ohio. Licensed social workers provide counseling to any income eligible individual living in Franklin County who is pregnant, parenting or a caretaker for a child 12 months or younger. For more information on these services, go to the resources for pregnant women and children page or call counseling intake coordinator, Lucy, at 614-857-1218.
Alcohol and Pregnancy
Doctors say there is no safe amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. If you would like to read about the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant, go to the staying healthy while you are pregnant page for more information about alcohol and pregnancy.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases Can Hurt Your Baby
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are diseases passed from one partner to another during sex. When you get prenatal care, you will be tested for STDs (another important reason to get prenatal care). If you have any infections, you and your partner will be treated. If these diseases are left untreated, they can seriously harm your infant. Go to the getting healthy before you get pregnant page to read more information on STDs and their impact on your pregnancy and baby.
A Call for Resources
One of the most popular pages of this blog is the page about resources for pregnant women and children. If you are aware of any resources for pregnant women in your city or state, please submit the information to the link on the right side of the front page which states submit links, information and events. We can share this information with our viewers.