Maternal Clinic
The maternal health clinic at the Pender County Health Department provides complete pre-natal services. Pre-natal and post-natal care is provided by an OBGYN Nurse Practitioner, with appropriate oversight by a qualified OBGYN physician. Nutritional counseling, pregnancy education, laboratory testing, and ultrasound referrals are also included. Vitamins or supplements that are needed during pregnancy are provided to maternity patients at no cost. Any pregnancy that is determined to be "High Risk" is referred out and monitored by a qualified OBGYN physician.
- Stop smoking
- Smoking during pregnancy contributes to low birth-weight babies, preterm delivery, colic, stillbirth, and other abnormalities
- Try to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke
- Stop drinking alcohol
- Call 910-259-1230 to schedule your first OB appointment
- Meet your provider
- Get lab work
- Receive pregnancy education
- Register for WIC
Nutrition
- Eating a balanced diet can help you avoid:
- Too much weight gain
- Gestational Diabetes
- Needing a C-section
- Anemia
- Infections
- Premature birth
- Poor healing after birth
- Eating for two only means about an extra 300 calories
- Avoid eating fish high in mercury
- Signs of preterm labor:
- Change in vaginal discharge
- Pressure in your pelvis or lower belly
- Constant low, dull backache
- Belly cramps (with or without diarrhea)
- Regular or frequent contractions that make your belly tight
- Your water breaks
- Exercising during pregnancy
- What not to do
- Smoke
- Drink alcohol
- Use recreational drugs
- Eat unpasteurized or raw food
- Take any medications or herbs without checking with your healthcare provider
Feeding Resources
- What to Look for When Breastfeeding
- Hunger Cues
- Paced Bottle Feeding
- Postpartum depression
- After pregnancy, your body is going through changes in hormones, daily routines, and sleeping patterns
- Symptoms include:
- Depression
- Irritability
- Guilt
- Hopelessness
- Loss of interest
- Restlessness
- Thoughts of causing physical harm
- A diagnosis is based on if the symptoms:
- last for more than two weeks
- are upsetting to the woman
- make it difficult to carry out daily life activities
- Safe sleep
- Return to the hospital or call 911 or your healthcare provider if you experience the following symptoms post-birth:
- Pain in chest
- Obstructed breathing or shortness of breath
- Seizures
- Thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else
- Bleeding, soaking through one pad/hour, or blood clots the size of an egg or bigger
- Incision that is not healing
- Red or swollen leg that is painful to touch
- Temperature of 100.4 or higher
- Headache that is persistent or with vision changes
Pender County Health Department offers a Sliding Fee Scale Discount based on family size and income. Please call 910-259-1230 for a Sliding Fee Scale Application. No one will be denied services based on inability to pay.