PRENATAL CARE

Prenatal Care

Pre-pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum Care:

Prenatal care is offered at the Tulalip Health Clinic until you reach 28 weeks, at that point your care will be transferred to a provider of your choice. Some local providers include Providence Pavilion for Women and Children, The Everett Clinic, Cascade Valley Hospital, Snohomish Midwives, Cascade Midwives and Birth Center or another provider that accepts your insurance. Your new provider will continue your care and will be responsible for delivering your baby.That provider will also continue to see you if any delivery complications occur, once those have resolved you will return to Tulalip Health Clinic for any further care.

Getting Ready for Pregnancy:

There are many things you can do in order to prepare for pregnancy and most of them are fun. But there are some practical issues about having a baby that shouldn't be forgotten. If you are thinking about having a baby, it is important to prepare yourself for pregnancy before you try to conceive.

• Visit your physician for prenatal counseling
• Make changes to your diet including increasing your water intake, eating healthy foods, avoiding sugars, avoiding sweetened drinks and sports drinks
• Reduce your caffeine intake
• Stop smoking and drinking alcohol
• Stop taking social drugs
• Start taking prenatal vitamins that include 400mcg of folic acid. Eat foods high in folic acid such as leafy greens, beans, asparagus, sunflower seeds, peanuts, avocados and brussel sprouts
• Ask you family about their health history
• See your dentist for a checkup and cleaning
• Talk to your pharmacist to check safety of both prescription and over the counter medications

Pregnancy Tests:

You can find out if you are pregnant with tests of your urine or blood. These tests look for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). HCG is produced by the placenta. It is found in your blood or urine when you are pregnant. Tulalip Health Clinic offers an initial urine pregnancy screening as well as a confirmatory blood test.

Genetic Screening Before or During Pregnancy:

If you are planning to have a baby, you may be concerned about illnesses that your child might inherit. Genetic screening is a way to learn more about inherited diseases before you are pregnant. Genetic screening may also be done at your first prenatal visit and later in your pregnancy. The Tulalip Health Clinic offers genetic screenings - the maternal quad screen is performed between the 16th and 18th week of pregnancy.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Tribal verification (Tribal ID or Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood)
• Address verification (PUD/water/cable/cell phone bill, copy of lease, or letter from an individual you are residing with)
• Birth certificate
• Social Security card