The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) protects and promotes quality of life and the health of all Missourians throughout the life span. DHSS provides, a toll-free information and referral telephone line for maternal, child and family health services, called TEL-LINK. Call 800-TEL-LINK or (800-835-5465) to speak with an operator.
5 Tips to a Healthy Pregnancy
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
- Take a multivitamin or prenatal vitamin containing at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day.
- Don't use alcohol, tobacco and other street drugs throughout the pregnancy and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Schedule and keep prenatal care visits. Along with discussing all medications (prescription and over-the-counter) and supplements you are currently taking.
For Familes:
How Substance Use Can Affect Your Baby
Using alcohol, tobacco, nicotine products, opioids, or other drugs during pregnancy can affect your baby’s health.
It can increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, birth defects, low birth weight, breathing problems, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) or neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
There is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy. If you use alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, or other drugs, talk with your health care provider. Help is available.
Health Care Providers
The Prenatal Substance Use Prevention Program provides information for health care providers.
Prenatal Substance Use Prevention - Health Care Providers
Literature
Brochures that address substance use in pregnancy are available at no charge through the DHSS warehouse.