You have just had your first positive pregnancy test, now what? Even if you’re only a few weeks pregnant, it’s time to start thinking about how to best care for yourself and your baby.

If you haven’t already been taking prenatal vitamins, this should be your first step in taking care of yourself. By taking care of yourself, you’re taking good care of your growing baby. There are many good over-the-counter prenatal vitamins – just ask for help from the pharmacist in any store. If you can’t afford prenatal vitamins, there are local pregnancy crisis centers that can help you first verify your pregnancy and then provide prenatal vitamins. But taking prenatal vitamins is only the first step. Now you need to see a health care provider.

Call and make an appointment with an OB/GYN or midwife for care during your pregnancy. Most of these pregnancy care providers will want to see you between six and 10 weeks. It’s important to have this early appointment because there are number of possible issues that might require attention sooner than later.

For example, if you are taking any prescription medication, your provider may need to determine if this medication is safe to use during pregnancy. Some medications could affect the normal growth of your baby. Do not stop taking prescription medication until you have talked to your pregnancy care provider. You should, however, stop taking any non-prescription medication until after you have talked to your pregnancy provider about its safety during pregnancy.

The next step is as important as the first two. You’ll need to take a good look at your current habits. No amount of alcohol or recreational drug use during pregnancy has been found to be safe. Please stop now. Smoking is also harmful to the baby’s growth and the health of your baby’s lungs. If you need help with any of these issues, there are many people available to help you, including a Maternity Care Coordinator at your local hospital.

A Maternity Care Coordinator is a maternal/child health nurse who can help guide you through a safe and healthy pregnancy for you and your baby from your first positive pregnancy test to your last postpartum visit. She will be able to connect you with available community services, pregnancy care providers and prenatal through newborn classes.

You can reach a Maternity Care Coordinator in Corvallis at (541) 768-6908, Albany at (541) 812-4301 and in Lebanon at (541) 451-7872. There is also a Spanish-speaking Maternity Care Coordinator at all three sites who can be reached at (541) 812-4303.

Now you can relax, at least until your first visit.

Sonia Hintze, LPN, is a maternity care coordinator at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. Maternity Care Coordinator services are free for women delivering at a Samaritan Health Services hospital.