During Pregnancy

Congratulations on  being pregnant. This can be a very exciting time. But it can also be stressful.  Your body is changing, bringing  some health challenges.

Tell us you’re pregnant

Let CareSource and the Division of Family & Children Services know you are pregnant as soon as you  know. We can send you information you will need.

Think about working with a Care Manager

Working with a Care Manager is a great way to help make sure you’re getting the best support you while you are pregnant. Working with a Care Manager is vital if your pregnancy is high-risk. They will help you stay on track for all your prenatal visits.

Want to Work with a Care Manager? Call 1-855-202-0729 (TTY: 711) and ask for Care Management.

Go to all prenatal visits

Scheduling prenatal visits is  important for you and your baby. Seeing your OB early, and  on a routine while pregnant can help  them spot problems  early.

If  you have no risk factors, you can expect to see your OB:

  • Every 4 weeks until  your 28th week of  being pregnant
  • Then, every 2 weeks until 36 weeks
  • Then, once a week until  you have your baby

Need help getting to your prenatal visits? We’re here for you. CareSource offers free rides to and from all provider visits. Call us at 1-855-202-0729 (TTY: 711) 48 hours before your visit. We will arrange a ride to and from your visit.

Join the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program

Did you know you can get food, education and support at no cost to you?  Sign up for the WIC Program. WIC can be used to buy groceries. This can help you keep a healthy diet during pregnancy.

Have questions on the WIC Program or want to find out how to apply? Need help finding an office near you? Call 1-800-228-9173 or visit the WIC Program website.

Get recommended vaccinations

You should get two vaccinations during pregnancy: the flu shot and the Tdap vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks. You may also want to ask your OB provider about getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Want a list of other vaccinations you might want to ask your OB provider about? Check out this guide for vaccinations during pregnancy.

Go to routine dental visits

During pregnancy, keeping your teeth and gums healthy can become a challenge. This happens for many reasons.  Being pregnant often causes  sickness. This causes pregnant women to brush and floss less often.  You can also make you crave foods, like sweets.  Some hormones can loosen the tissues and bone that keep teeth in place. All these things can lead to:

  • Tooth damage
  • Tooth loss
  • Gum disease
  • And more

Going to  your dental visits is key to keeping good dental health while pregnant.

Visit https://www.caresource.com/ga/members/education/pregnancy/medicaid/.

Avoid tobacco smoke

If you are a smoker, quit smoking as soon as you find out you’re pregnant. Smoking during pregnancy can cause many problems for your baby, such as:

  • Miscarriage or stillbirth
  • Premature birth
  • A low birth weight
  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
  • Asthma and other breathing problems

If you need support to quit smoking, call the Quitline at 1-877-270-STOP (1-877-270-7867). The Quitline has free coaching, a quit plan and info.

Use opioid painkillers? Talk to your OB right away

Have you been prescribed opioid painkillers, like Vicodin or Percocet? You need to you let your provider know right away that you’re pregnant. They can come up with other ways to help  with your pain. This can be nonopioid options for chronic pain. Even if opioid painkillers are prescribed, they can be harmful to your baby. They can cause problems like:

  • Birth defects
  • Premature birth
  • A low birth weight
  • Small head circumference
  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is when a baby withdraws from certain drugs they are exposed to in the womb before birth. Signs of NAS are:

  • Body shakes, seizures, twitching and tight muscles
  • Fussiness, crying a lot or having a high-pitched cry
  • Poor feeding/sucking or slow weight gain
  • Breathing problems,  this can be quick breathing
  • Fever, sweating or blotchy skin
  • Trouble sleeping and lots of yawning
  • Diarrhea or throwing up
  • Stuffy nose or sneezing

Are you pregnant and dealing with substance use disorder? If you are, we’re here to help you. Call the CareSource Substance Use Hotline at 1-833-674-643 (TTY: 711).

Eat healthy food

Good  healthy food is vital for you and baby. Choose high-calcium foods, fruits and vegetables in a rainbow of colors, high-fiber foods, good sources of iron,  Take a prenatal vitamin  daily. Don’t drink alcohol and limit your use of caffeine.

What else should you eat  while pregnant? What should you  not eat? Get more tips on what to eat during pregnancy.

Exercise more often

Even if you haven’t worked out much in the past, being pregnant is a great reason to start. Exercising during pregnancy  can be safe. It gives many benefits and helps you through your pregnancy.

Want to find out what activities are safe during pregnancy? Learn the facts about exercising during pregnancy. Check with your OB before starting a fitness routine.

Download pregnancy apps

 If this your first child or your third,  you may have questions after your baby is born.

Text4Baby This free program can help answer  your questions  about being pregnant. You will get up to three  texts a week  while pregnant, and until your baby is one year old. Sign up at text4baby.org.

Count the Kicks. This app  tracks the well-being of your baby during your third trimester. It  tracks your baby’s movement patterns.  Tell your OB as soon as possible if you notice big changes in your baby’s movements. Visit countthekicks.org.

CareSource mobile app. Even though this isn’t a pregnancy app, it will be useful. You can use this app to:

      • Set up free rides to your visits
      • Find an OB
      • Keep track of rewards

Take care of your mental health

For some women, being pregnant can lead to depression. This can be from hormonal changes.. One in 8 women have symptoms of depression while being pregnant, or after having the baby.  

Symptoms of prenatal and postpartum depression may be:

  • Crying a lot
  • Feeling moody or angry
  • Not wanting to be with friends and family
  • Feeling distant from your baby
  • Feeling worried, scared or panicked
  • Blaming yourself for no reason
  • Doubting whether you can care for your baby

If you have any of these symptoms and need help finding a mental health provider, call us.

For help day or night, call CareSource24, our Nurse Advice Line, for help 24/7 at 1-844-206-5944 (TTY: 711). This number is also on your CareSource ID card.

If you feel you are in a crisis or an emergency, call 911. You can also call the Crisis Text Line or text HOME to 741741 to get help or call 988.

Dealing with the loss of your baby?

 Losing your baby can be very painful. If your baby died during pregnancy, you may need support right now. You may also need ways to deal with the pain of losing your baby. March of Dimes is where you can share your story and  meet others with  the same loss.

Get Support Now

Pre-select a pediatrician for your baby

You will need to take your baby in for well-visits and shots right after birth. The good news is you don’t have to wait until after your baby is born to start looking for  doctors. You can choose one right now. Fill out the pre-birth form below to sign up for a pediatrician. Call your Care Manager or  us for help.

Prenatal Care Resources

Have other questions related to prenatal care?

Call our Maternal Care Team at 1-833-230-2034 (TTY: 1-800-750-0750 or 711).

Pregnancy and Family Planning

Planning for Baby

After Pregnancy