Healthy Pregnancy: Living My PACT

Read stories from three pregnant women who share their perspectives of how they are striving for healthy pregnancies by #LivingMyPACT.

Amanda

My husband and I made a conscious decision to plan for a family, so even before I became pregnant I was trying to make sure I was preparing my body to be as healthy as possible. I started taking prenatal vitamins that included 400 micrograms of folic acid. I stopped drinking alcohol. I talked with my doctor about other steps I could take to plan for a healthy pregnancy. Doing these things made me feel confident that if we became pregnant, we would have the best chance for a healthy start.

During my pregnancy, I have taken even more steps. I continue to take my prenatal vitamins, I see my doctor regularly, and I exercise almost every day. In fact, I completed my 10th half marathon during my pregnancy! Another motivator for me to maintain a healthy pregnancy is the fact that I serve as a wellness liaison for my coworkers, so I try to be a good example.

Thanks to the support of my family and colleagues, I have felt very equipped in planning a healthy pregnancy and to truly live my PACT for helping prevent birth defects.

Amanda running a half marathon during her pregnancy.

Exercising during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of birth defects before and during pregnancy.

Jasmine during her pregnancy.

Archna

My husband and I always knew we wanted to have a family. Before deciding to become pregnant I started taking prenatal vitamins, had discussions with my doctor on preparing my body to have a healthy pregnancy, and maintained a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise. Although all tests and exams showed that I was healthy, when it came time to actually start a family, we found it difficult to become pregnant. As discouraging as the process was, I kept up with my healthy lifestyle and continued visiting my doctors regularly.

After a year and a half, we decided to go the route of a fertility clinic. Our doctors told us we would not be able to start a family without the assistance of fertility treatments, but before we knew it, I found out I was pregnant. Excited and nervous, I made sure I visited my doctors regularly and as frequently as was suggested. I also continued my pre-pregnancy routine of taking prenatal vitamins daily, maintaining a healthy diet, and exercising as regularly as I possibly could.

Jasmine

A year ago, my husband and I began to plan for pregnancy. We both visited a healthcare provider for our annual well-visit to make sure that we were healthy. During that time, I informed my doctor that we were planning to have a baby and began to take some steps towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

I started avoiding various harmful substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and certain medications. Once I became pregnant, it had already been a few months since I stopped drinking alcohol. I am not a tobacco user, but I made a conscious decision to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy, mainly by avoiding places where tobacco use is common. In addition, I contracted a cold during my pregnancy and after discussing with my doctor, I decided to not take any medications and instead allowed the virus to go away on its own.

I have become more conscious of my nutrition as well. I switched from a multivitamin to a prenatal vitamin before becoming pregnant and also began to purchase healthier meats, fruits, and vegetables more regularly. Lastly, I have been able to maintain a moderate level of physical activity by walking and practicing yoga at work and home. I have strived for healthy lifestyle habits before, during, and after pregnancy, which has equipped me to live my PACT during pregnancy.

What can you do?

Making healthy choices and adopting healthy habits now is important for your own health, but also for the health of the children you may have one day. Tell us how you are living your PACT. Encourage others to live their PACT too. Celebrate those who motivate you and inspire others to get healthy before and during pregnancy. Here are some ideas:

• Create an original picture or a video and post on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter tagged with #LivingMyPACT
• Ask your friends and followers to help raise awareness with you by sharing how they are living their PACT in their own #LivingMyPACT picture or video

For more information about birth defects, visit CDC’s birth defects webpages.