[Sinesipho]

Hi, I just found out that I am pregnant and would like to know what my next should be. I am not on medical aid. Can I afford an OB GYN? How much are they on average?

[dontknownuthin]

If you cannot afford medical services, all pregnant women and their babies, are covered by medicaid. Contact your county, tell them you are pregnant without medical coverage, cannot afford medical coverage and need prenatal care. They will advise you how to enroll in medicaid.

You can alternatively find a medical provider which provides services to women who are unable to pay and they can help you through the medicaid process. For example, if you don't know who to call, you can probably call any women's medical practice and ask them about it, or call your local hospital and they can probably tell you who to call. Another resource would be a pro-life organization such as Catholic Charities - they will connect you with services because they want to support you in your pregnancy to support you in continuing your pregnancy and either parenting or placing the child for adoption, whichever you choose. You do not have to be Catholic to receive services from Catholic Charities and they will not try to convert you. The Catholic church is very respectful of other religious traditions and beliefs and really just want to provide you the help you need and deserve. Catholic Charities serve every community but don't have offices everwhere, so you could just call your local Catholic church and they can hook you up with the right people to call.

Whomever you connect with, they will help you get set with an initial appointment, get a test to confirm your pregnancy, get you started on prenatal vitamins, figure out your due date and provide you literature and advice on how to take proper care of yourself through your pregnancy. You will probably need to return every month at first and as you get closer to your due date, or sooner if any concerns or risk factors arise, the appointments will be closer together to every week, and then every couple days and so on until you deliver.

Congratulations on taking a proactive approach to get the care you need and deserve. Do not panic - there is a lot of support available for you, and not being able to afford it will not prevent you from getting it. Of course, I'm sure you already know that you should not smoke, use drugs, drink alcohol. You should also talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the fact you are pregnant before you take prescription or over the counter medications. It is also advised that pregnant women should avoid certain foods. For example, it's good to limit consumption of fish because a lot of fish is contaminated with mercury - there's an amount that's considered safe and some types are better than others, but a doctor or his staff can help you with that stuff.

Until you can get to an appointment, just do all things in moderation - get adequate sleep, be active but don't run marathons or things like that unless you have your doctor's OK. Avoid drinking, partying, smoking. Don't start eating "for two" - you won't need to increase calories for a while. Eat a balanced diet and make your calories count - fruit, vegetables, lean dairy (cheese, low-fat milk, yogurt), lean protein, whole grains. The same stuff you're recommended to eat to be healthy is good for pregnancy as well. If you get morning sickness, which can hit at any time of the day, sometimes it's helpful to eat some plain saltines until your stomach settles. Some women keep a pack by their bed and eat a few a while before they have to get out of bed to settle their stomach.

It's also adviseable to drink plenty of water - like 10 8-oz glasses a day. Just sip it throughout the day. Dehydration can contribute to nausea, diziness and fatigue and can also contribute to complications like spotting, per some other posters on here who are a lot smarter than me!

Best wishes to you.

[LearningAsIGo]

If you have a Planned Parenthood in your area, they can also provide you with resources to get an affordable doctor and the prenatal care you need.

If you're not already on them, get prenatal vitamins immediately to help prevent neural tube defects. Congrats and good luck