Prenatal Resources

YES! Vaccines that are recommended in pregnancy include the seasonal flu vaccine, TDap vaccine and now the COVID vaccine. Check out immunizebc.ca for more information or talk to your healthcare provider.

Most women can work until close to their due date. Depending on your type of job you may need to make some modifications to your duties if you are able to. Some medical conditions that develop in pregnancy may require that you go off work before baby comes. If needed, look into what medial benefits and maternity leave benefits are available to you at work and through Service Canada.

Anything you did prior to becoming pregnant can likely be continued. Exercise is actually very beneficial and may reduce the length of your labour and your pain in labour. As you get a bit larger some things will be more difficult and may require modifications. Swimming and walking are very safe and excellent choices when pregnant.

Foods that often get asked about are tuna, deli meat, soft cheese and sushi. As a general rule, as long as food is safely prepared, it is safe to eat in moderation. Regarding alcohol, we don’t know what amount is safe in pregnancy, so it is best to avoid it.

Cigarettes have harmful effects on baby and should be avoided, which is sometimes easier said than done. If you do smoke and want help to stop, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about it. Nicotine replacement products are safe in pregnancy when used under doctor supervision.

E-Cigarettes have not been studied in pregnancy. If you currently use one or are thinking about starting, please talk to your health care provider first and be sure you know what is going into the vaporizer.

Marijuana has had a variety of studies in pregnancy and results are conflicting. Certainly smoking or ingesting a large amount can be harmful for baby. People often use marijuana to cope but pregnancy is a good time to try using other tools to manage this. Once the baby comes you need to ensure the marijuana does not affect your ability to care for your baby.

Very few drugs have been studied in pregnancy so it is always best to check with a health care provider or pharmacist. This website MotherToBaby has fact sheets for parents that answer frequently asked questions about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Generally it is okay to take the occasional Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Gravol (Dimenhydrinate) but use Advil (ibuprofen) with caution and not after 30 weeks.