Pregnancy and women's health
We understand that deciding if and when to have a baby is one of the most important decisions you will make. Whatever you choose, our Healthy Blue plan is here to help you stay healthy.
If you’re pregnant, take these important steps:
- Step 1: Schedule an appointment with your obstetrics (OB) provider
Who is your OB provider? If you don’t have one, you can call us at 844-594-5070 (TTY 711), and we can help you find one near you.
- Step 2: Complete an OB health screener
This screener will help us customize the care and support we provide you throughout your pregnancy. Expect a call from a Healthy Blue associate to complete the OB health screener.
- Step 3: Call to learn more about our New Baby, New Life℠ program and to get connected to an OB care manager
Call 844-594-5070 (TTY 711) to learn more.
- Step 4: Take care of you
Eating healthy foods, staying active, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol can help you stay healthy during and after pregnancy.
- Step 5: Sign up for our Healthy Rewards program
Earn rewards for completing healthy activities.- $25 incentive for a prenatal visit in the first trimester or within 42 days of enrollment in Healthy Blue
- $25 incentive for attending a postpartum visit 7 to 84 days after delivery
- $25 incentive for attending up to six well-baby visits between the age of 0-15 months
- $25 incentive for attending at least two well-baby visits between the age of 15-30 months
To join, log in to the Benefit Reward Hub and visit the Healthy Rewards portal. You can also call 888-990-8681 (TTY 711) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Interactive tools
From embryo to baby in nine months
Watch how your baby grows and changes month by month inside the womb.
Pregnancy and childbirth apps
Spark Recipes Healthy Recipes
Search and find more than 190,000 healthy recipes.
Baby Center
Track your pregnancy and count down to baby’s arrival.
CDC Show Your Love
Plan and prepare for pregnancy with health tips from the CDC.
MyPreemie
Get information and advice to help you care for a premature baby.
March of Dimes My NICU Baby
Get answers, tools and support so you can focus on your baby during this time.
CDC Milestone Tracker
Track your child’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with this easy-to-use tracker from the CDC.
Support and resources
Infant Safe Haven
Learn about safe-haven laws in your state and what to do if you can’t care for your newborn.
Go to Infant Safe HavenLocal resources
Find local resources near you with our Community Resource Link
Go to Community Resource LinkThere are several important steps you can take to stay healthy and strong throughout your life:
- Going to your doctor and dentist regularly
- Keeping vaccines up-to-date
- Protecting yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Planning for pregnancy or preventing an unwanted pregnancy
- Avoiding tobacco and alcohol
- Staying active
- Eating healthy
These are all important steps you can take to stay healthy and achieve your goals.
Are you in treatment or recovery for substance use?
Birth control gives you the time to heal and take care of yourself. Call 844-594-5070 (TTY 711) and ask to speak to our Women’s Wellness and Recovery coach.
Health A to Z
- Women's health
- Birth control
- Zika virus
- Breast self-examination
- Quitting smoking
- Pap tests
- Alcohol or drug use during pregnancy
- Immunizations
- Healthy Eating Tips
- Fitness: Getting and staying active
- How ready are you to quit smoking?
- What is your stress level?
- Is drinking getting in the way?
- Are you depressed?
Helpful resources
- CDC Reproductive Health
- Decision in recovery: Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
- Smokefree for women
- Tobacco Quit For Life: 866-784-8454
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA): 800-662-HELP (800-662-4357)
If you’re thinking about having a baby, there are steps you can take to stay healthy before, during and after pregnancy. These steps will help you have a healthy baby, too!
Before you become pregnant, talk with your doctor about:
- Planning to start a family
- Avoiding tobacco and alcohol
- Taking medications safely
- Taking folic acid
- Making sure your vaccines are up-to-date
- Staying active
- Eating healthy
Health A to Z
- Women's health
- Preparing for a healthy pregnancy
- Zika virus
- Breast self-examination
- Quitting smoking
- Pap tests
- Drug withdrawal in newborns (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome)
- Pregnancy and Diabetes: Planning for pregnancy
- Obesity and pregnancy
- Immunizations and pregnancy
- Alcohol or drug use during pregnancy
Helpful resources
- Preconception health and health care
- Show your love! Steps to a healthier me and baby-to-be
- Decision in recovery: Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
- Smokefree for women
- Tobacco Quit For Life: 866-784-8454
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA): 800-662-HELP (800-662-4357)
Congratulations! This is an exciting time for you. There are many things you can do to make sure you and your baby stay strong and healthy.
Once you find out you’re pregnant, what are your next steps?
- Schedule an appointment with your OB provider
Prenatal care is very important for you and your baby. Your doctor will ask you questions about your health, do a physical exam, tell you your baby’s due date, and give you the information you and your baby need to stay healthy.
Who is your OB provider? If you don’t have one, you can call us at 844-594-5070 (TTY 711), and we can help you find a provider near you.
- Take care of you
Eating healthy foods, staying active, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol can help you stay healthy during and after pregnancy.
- Complete an OB health screener
This screener helps us make sure we’re helping you get the care and support you need throughout your pregnancy. Expect a call from My Advocate® or a Healthy Blue associate to complete the OB health screener.
- Chat with your OB care manager
Call us to learn about our New Baby, New Life℠ program. We can help you find resources to help you take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby. Call 844-594-5070 (TTY 711) to learn more.
- Enroll in Healthy Rewards
Earn dollars for completing healthy activities. To join, log in to the Benefit Reward Hub and visit the Healthy Rewards portal. You can also call 888-990-8681 (TTY 711) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m to 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Health A to Z articles
- First trimester exams and tests
- Pregnancy: Prenatal exam schedule
- Second trimester exams and tests
- Third trimester exams and tests
- Preeclampsia
- Gestational diabetes
- Preterm labor
- Alcohol or drug use during pregnancy
- Drug withdrawal in newborns (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome)
- Pregnancy: Dealing with morning sickness
- Nausea or vomiting during pregnancy
- HIV and pregnancy
- Depression during pregnancy
- Immunizations and pregnancy
- From embryo to baby in 9 months
Helpful resources
- March of Dimes
- Text4baby
- Smokefree for women
- Tobacco Quit For Life: 866-784-8454
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA): 800-662-HELP (800-662-4357)
You may be eligible for WIC benefits. Visit the WIC website to learn more.
Congratulations! Being a new mother is an exciting time, but motherhood can bring some challenges you might not have expected. You may have questions about how to keep yourself and your baby healthy.
Besides talking with your doctor, there are many resources available to help keep you healthy, both physically and emotionally. There are also many resources to help you make sure your baby is safe, happy and healthy.
Health A to Z articles
- Baby’s daily needs: What to expect
- Breastfeeding
- Child car seats
- Newborn growth and development
- Postpartum: First six weeks after childbirth
- Managing postpartum depression
- Crib safety
- Childhood immunizations
Helpful resources
Need help getting a breast pump? Call Member Services at 844-594-5070.
If you have not already enrolled in WIC, visit the WIC website to learn more or call 800-367-2229. WIC can assist you with breastfeeding support.
For more information or support with breastfeeding:
- Visit La Leche League
- Visit Infant Risk Center or call 806-352-2519 for questions about breastfeeding and medications
For more information on postpartum depression, talk to your doctor. You can also contact Postpartum Support International (PSI) at 800-944-4PPD (4773).
If your baby was born sick or premature and has been admitted to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), you may be having a difficult time coping. We believe that the more you know, the better you will be able to care for your infant. We are here to help you feel more at ease with your baby’s stay in the NICU.
Health A to Z articles
- Getting to know the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- NICU: Communicating with the staff
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection
- Newborn growth and development
- Drug withdrawal in newborns (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome)
Helpful resources
Need help getting a breast pump? Call Member Services at 844-594-5070.
The MyPreemie App provides support to parents and families with preemies.
Graham’s Foundation provides support, advocacy, and research for preemies and their families.
March of Dimes’ My NICU Baby App provides answers, tools and support so you can focus on your baby during this time.
There are many things you can do to support your partner during pregnancy. Encourage your partner to seek early and regular prenatal care, and attend appointments and birthing classes with them. Encourage your partner to take other important steps such as avoiding tobacco and alcohol, staying active and eating healthy, and finding ways to reduce stress during pregnancy.
During this exciting time, it is also important for you to take care of yourself. As you encourage your partner to take important steps to stay healthy, take these steps with your partner:
- Visit your doctor
- Make sure your immunizations are up-to-date
- Avoid tobacco and alcohol
- Stay active — spend time walking or exercising with your partner
- Eat healthy
- Find ways to reduce your stress — reach out to friends and family who are parents and can provide you with support and advice
This is an exciting time for you. Your role as a parent is very important to the health and development of your baby, and you may have a lot of questions about caring for your newborn. Healthy Blue is here for you. You can find helpful information on getting and staying healthy, and preparing for parenthood below.
Health A to Z articles
- Health screenings for men
- Immunizations
- Healthy Eating Tips
- Fitness: Getting and staying active
- Getting ready to quit smoking?
- Dealing with depression?
- What is your stress level?
- Is drinking getting in the way?
- Partner support during pregnancy
- From embryo to baby in 9 months
- Baby’s daily needs: What to expect
- Bonding with your newborn
- Newborn growth and development
Helpful resources
- Baby center: Childbirth cheat sheet
- March of Dimes: Information for new dads
- Decision in recovery: Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
- Smokefree.gov
- Tobacco Quit For Life: 866-784-8454
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA): 800-662-HELP (800-662-4357)
Losing a baby is a very painful experience. If you are dealing with the loss of your baby, it is important to have a circle of support. Below are some resources you might find helpful.
CJ First Candle — Support for families who have had a pregnancy or infant loss
Call 800-221-7437. Grief counselors are on hand at no cost, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
National SHARE — Pregnancy and infant loss support
Call 800-821-6819
MISS Foundation — Support and resources after the death of a child
Call 888-455-6477
You may have questions about sex, relationships, body changes, birth control or other topics. Getting regular checkups gives you a chance to ask your doctor these questions and talk about any other concerns. Ask your doctor if they can answer your questions without a parent in the room.
You can also find information and support online. Below are some sites you can visit to get accurate information about ways to stay healthy.
Health A to Z articles
- Teen health
- Fitness: Getting and staying active
- Quitting smoking
- Bullying
- Teen relationship abuse
- HPV: Should I get the vaccine
- Birth control for teens
Helpful resources
- What is teen health?
- Take charge of your health: A guide for teens
- BAM! Body and Mind
- Get important health information especially for teens
- Am I in a healthy relationship?
- Learn more about reproductive health for teens
- Explore birth control methods and get birth control and appointment reminders at Bedsider.org
- Everything you wanted to know about IUDs and the implant at WhoopsProof
- Learn more about unintended pregnancy prevention
- Learn more about quitting smoking at https://teen.smokefree.gov/