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GUIDELINES FOR PREGNANT WOMEN DURING A DISASTER

By Kent Donahue

September 28, 2022

Contact:
Kent Donahue
Kent.Donahue@flhealth.gov

407-858-1418

 

 

ORLANDO, FL – Hurricanes can be very stressful. The Florida Department of Health in Orange County provides the guidelines below to help pregnant women and their baby stay healthy and safe.

Preparations:

  • Be sure to have enough food and water to last at least seven days.
  • Know where to go for safe
  • Notify your family members to let them know where you will
  • If you need to leave the area to be safe, take a copy of your medical records, and a two- week supply of any medications you are taking, including prenatal

After an event:

There will be a period of cleanup and recovery. This is the time when you must be very careful not to become dehydrated and/or over-tired. Heavy labor and dehydration can contribute to premature labor.

 To prevent dehydration and exhaustion follow these suggestions:

  • Drink plenty of water or beverages that do not contain alcohol or
  • Bathe when you can. Try to stay in the shade as much as possible. If you have to be outside in the heat, bring water and a hat or umbrella to provide shade if they are
  • Do not lift heavy
  • Be sure you do not over tire yourself, take frequent
  • Try to eat a healthy diet as soon as possible. Sometimes stress causes you to eat too much, not enough, or choose “comfort” foods that are less healthy; try to limit these

 To decrease stress:

  • Try to lie down on your left side three times a day, even if only for 10-15
  • Take deep breaths from your belly. You should see your stomach rise with each
  • Find a buddy to discuss your fears and
  • If you ever feel like harming yourself or your baby, talk to a health care provider immediately or visit call211.org for more information on services in your area.

PRETERM OR EARLY LABOR starts more than three weeks before your baby is due. Preterm labor can happen to anyone, yet the risk is greater for women who are:

  • Dehydrated
  • Under stress
  • Have had a previous premature birth
  • Overweight or underweight
  • Smoking
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Taking drugs that have not been prescribed by your health care provider

Please remember a contraction does not have to hurt or be painful. It is normal to have some contractions when you first lie down, have a full bladder, after you walk up or down stairs or engage in sex. It is not normal to have regular, frequent contractions before your baby is due.

You should call your health care provider or a hospital right away if you experience any ofthe following signs of preterm labor:

  • Contractions, when your tummy tightens like a fist every 10 minutes or more often
  • A change in vaginal discharge such as leaking fluid or any bleeding
  • Pelvic pressure, or a feeling like your baby is pushing down
  • Low dull backache or cramps that feel like your period might be starting
  • Diarrhea with contractions

If you wait too long to get medical attention, your baby could be born too early. When you speak to a health care provider, be sure to ask when to call back if your symptoms do not go away.

Remember it is important to continue your prenatal care.

If your health care provider’s office is closed, or you have had to move due to a storm, you can call a local hospital, county health department, or Healthy Start Coalition to get information about prenatal care and the location of hospitals.

For more information, contact the Family Health Line at 1-800-451-2229. This is not an emergency call line. For more information on family planning, please visit www.floridahealth.gov.

 

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

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