Looking after yourself during pregnancy
Staying healthy
Being healthy while pregnant means you are more likely to have a healthy baby and fewer pregnancy and birth complications. Both our health professionals and Family Hub staff can
support you and your partner, to adopt positive health behaviours and reduce risk factors.
Nutrition and physical exercise
During pregnancy it is important to:
- Eat a healthy diet and not eat for two
- Take 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day through pregnancy and continue after the baby is born if you are breastfeeding
- Continue to take folic acid up to the 12 weeks of pregnancy
- Stay active and healthy
Eating healthily while you're pregnant means that your baby eats healthily too. See the healthy eating section on the Start4Life website: Start4Life (healthy eating).
Did you know that 150 minutes of walking each week has loads of benefits for pregnant mums? Gentle exercise is great for you and your baby. If you're not used to doing regular exercise, why not start doing 10 minutes every day, perhaps take a brisk walk or go for a swim? You can then build up to 150 minutes of exercise throughout the week. Active 10 has some great ideas on how to stay active. Why not visit Active Sunderland to see what is on offer.
Sexual health
Encouraging good sexual health during pregnancy is just as important, if not more so, than at any other time. All pregnant women are offered screening. See our Sexual health page for more information.
Smoking during pregnancy
Quitting smoking at any stage of your pregnancy has health benefits for you and your baby. It is
never too late to quit. That's because if you smoke while you're pregnant, your baby smokes
too. Even after just one day of not smoking, your baby will get more oxygen.
We understand that quitting can be a difficult process, and we can help you quit. For more information about smoking and your unborn baby, and advice on how to stop smoking and support with quitting you can speak to your midwife, visit Sunderland's Stop Smoking Service or speak to them on 0191 567 1057. You can also speak to our Family Hub team for more information and advice on quitting.
Baby on the way, quit today!
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy
It's recommended that if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant you should not drink alcohol. This will keep any risk to your baby to a minimum.
Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby, with the more you drink, the greater the risk.
See the NHS website's Can I drink alcohol when pregnant? for more information.
Domestic abuse
There is an increased risk of domestic abuse to mothers during pregnancy. If you need help and support, see our domestic abuse information.
Services
- Maternal Mental Health - South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
- Antenatal care - South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
- Change4Life Sunderland Facebook page
- Growing Healthy Sunderland, Single Point of contact telephone number: 03000 031 552.
Community Midwives
Use the contact numbers below to reach the NHS South Tyneside and Sunderland Community Midwifery teams:
- Sector 1, South Tyneside - 0191 283 1288
- Sector 2, Ryhope Health Centre - 0191 502 5918
- Sector 3, Springwell Health Centre - 0191 502 7340 / 0191 502 7405
- Sector 4, Galleries Health Centre - 0191 502 6892
Sunderland Royal Hospital
Use the contact numbers below to reach antenatal departments of Sunderland Royal Hospital:
- Antenatal Day Unit - 0191 569 9181
- Antenatal Clinic - 0191 569 9036
- Delivery Suite - 0191 569 9777
