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Certainly, you can give your baby a healthy environment while you are pregnant. The following 9 must-read tips are for your ante-natal care:


	Check-up Before Pregnancy will allow both parents who decide to have a baby to have thorough physical checks before pregnancy in order to guarantee a healthy pregnancy.


	Sufficient nutrients will help mothers and babies during pregnancy. Protein is the most important for the growth of babies, placenta, wombs and breasts in the whole period of pregnancy.
	Early Pregnancy:	Calorie intake remains as much as the regular time; some of women may like to have food that enables to increase appetite and stimulate hunger to ease morning sickness. Eating small meals spaced evenly throughout the day is encouraged.
	Mid Pregnancy:	Protein and Calcium are strongly needed. Calcium helps growth of skeleton and teeth, muscles contract and blood circulation.
	Late Pregnancy:	Attention to weight gain and balanced nutrition by reducing salt and calorie intake.


	Pregnant women can choose to go to Government Family Health Service, public or private departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology in general hospitals to book regular ante-natal check-ups (www.ha.org.hk/preg). Apart from monthly checks, it is suggested to have examinations of One-stop Clinic Assessment of Risk during week 11 and 14 as well as Fetal Morphology Scan during week 21 and 24. (Please refer to doctors for full details.)


	Babies will bring a lot of changes in life. Parents are advised to have a thought about the separate responsibilities for newborn babies, such as time and meal-making, and achieve agreement. Agreement from hospital selection to post-natal carers will help ease mothers’ pressure before or after pregnancy.


	Mental & physical health and personal hygiene during pregnancy Exercise before and after pregnancy Hospital procedures, delivery processes and introduction of delivery rooms Pain relief in labour and emotional relief before/after pregnancy Abnormal fetation and labour Post-natal notices and common illness in newborn babies Babycare and breastfeeding


	To hire a maternity helper or overseas maid, you need to book the service as early as you can. For example, reservation of a post-natal carer should be made 4 to 5 months prior to the expected date of delivery. (6 months earlier than the expected date of delivery should be allowed for experienced post-natal carers.) To make parents feel more comfortable with their carers, an interview may be requested before the work starts so that parents can have further understanding on carers’ backgrounds and experiences. On the other hand, please allow at least 4 months upon application for maid services since it takes approximately 2.5 months to 3 months for maids to arrive in HK. Also, maids will need time to get used to the environment first upon their arrival so that they can take good care of pregnancy women.


	Easy gym and deep breaths can help relieve pressure. Because the ligaments around the joints become loose and soft during pregnancy and babies’ weight will increase, pregnant women are inclined to lean forward. Make sure the floors are flat when doing exercise. A safe environment should be assured by doctors, including the flat floors and correct balance poses before exercises start.


	a.	Basic facilities for baby rooms Baby beds, bedding, diapers, closets, cabinets, bathtubs, bedside lights, baby monitors/td>
	b.	necessities for ante-natal care Abdomen binders, maternity knickers and suits (light and moisture-absorbing cloth) and scarves
	c.	necessities for babies Car seats, milk bottles and cleaners, diapers, cotton, cotton sticks, showering/bathing gel, towels, clothes, socks, lotion and thermometer


	a.	Familiar with the routes and traffic to the hospitals (from homes or companies) and to time it
	b.	To visit hospitals before delivery so as to get familiar with the environment
	c.	To cut nails in advance to prevent from hurting self during labour
	d.	To cut hair 1-2 weeks earlier than the delivery so as to keep tidy during post-natal period
	e.	To bring the doctor letter, a photocopy of her husband’s ID card and hospital confirmation letter at all time
	f.	Prepare a hospital bag which should contain: Delivery pads, sanitary napkins and diapers, maternity pants, breast pads, nursing bra, towels, (wet) paper towels, cups, tooth pastes, tooth brushes, sandals, coats, Therapeutic vaginal douche apparatus, and after-hospital clothing.

		For reference only.