Taking care during pregnancy
Eating
Pay attention to what you eat.
- Eat healthily: lots of fruit, vegetables and grains (potatoes and bread) and dairy products (milk and cheese);
- Eat a lot of small portions per day instead of a few big meals (easier to digest);
Some foods, soil, and dirty cat litter can contain germs that are dangerous for the foetus (risk of infection with toxoplasmosis and listeria):
- Do not eat raw eggs;
- Do not eat raw or smoked fish;
- Do not eat raw or poorly cooked meat. Wash your hands after cutting raw meat;
- Eat cheese and drink milk bought from the supermarket (no unpasteurised milk);
- Wash raw fruit and vegetables very well;
- Wear gloves if you work in the garden or clean out the cat box. Wash your hands afterwards.
Drinking
- Drink sufficient water.
- Do not drink too much coffee, tea or cola.
- Do not drink alcohol.
Medicines, drugs and vitamins
- Do not take any medicines without asking a doctor.
- Do not smoke.
- Do not take drugs.
- Take the vitamin called “folic acid” during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Ask for it at a pharmacy. You can start taking this when you plan to get pregnant.
Exercise and outdoor living
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Be active: walk, cycle, swim. etc.
-
Rest when you feel tired.
-
Stay out of the sun.
A pregnant woman walking.
Sex
You can still have sex during pregnancy.
Pregnant woman having sexual intercourse while sitting on top of the man.
Seeing a doctor
Make an appointment with a doctor to confirm your pregnancy. If you are pregnant, a doctor, gynaecologist or midwife will monitor you and the foetus during your entire pregnancy.
Doctor taking a blood sample from a woman to check if she is pregnant.
More information or help needed?
Family doctor
You can talk to a family doctor about almost every intimate issue. If necessary the family doctor can refer you to a specialised health professional. Find a family doctor in your neighbourhood:
Community health centre (wijkgezondheidscentrum)
You can visit a family doctor in a community health centre. Other care professionals such as nurses and social workers also work at community health centres. Care is provided free of charge. Find a community health centre in your neighbourhood:
Pharmacy
Shop where you can buy medicines. You can also receive advice here about medicines. Find a pharmacy in your neighbourhood:
CAW - Centrum Algemeen Welzijn
Centre for general well-being - Help with all kinds of issues: a difficult relationship, medical, financial, administrative, legal or material problems, family problems,... CAWs also provide assistance to victims of violence and abuse. Find a CAW in your neighbourhood:
Aquarelle
Prenatal and postnatal care for women who migrated to Belgium
02 535 47 13
Prenataal steunpunt - Bevrijdingslaan
Free prenatal care
078 150 100
Prenataal steunpunt - Brussel
Free prenatal care
02 229 50 17, 078 150 100
Prenataal steunpunt - De Sloep
Free prenatal care
09 234 38 58, 078 150 100
Prenataal steunpunt - Mechelen
Free prenatal care
078 150 100
Prenataal steunpunt - Pothoekstraat
Free prenatal care
078 150 100
Prenataal steunpunt - Sint-Bernardsesteenweg
Free prenatal care
03 285 44 36, 078 150 100
Prenataal steunpunt - Willy Vandersteenplein
Free prenatal care
078 150 100
Kind en Gezin
Assistance to (prospective) parents with information, practical tips and medical follow-up until the child is 3 years of age. Services are for free.
078 150 100
De Kraamtuin
Information about a desire to have children, pregnancy, delivery, maternity care, breast-feeding and parenthood.
078 05 52 00
Expertisecentrum Kraamzorg De Bakermat
Information about a desire to have children, pregnancy, delivery, maternity care, breast-feeding and parenthood.
016 20 77 40
Expertisecentrum Kraamzorg De Kraamvogel
Information about a desire to have children, pregnancy, delivery, maternity care, breast-feeding and parenthood.
03 238 11 00
Expertisecentrum Kraamzorg De Wieg
Information about a desire to have children, pregnancy, delivery, maternity care, breast-feeding and parenthood.
0473 45 14 38, 050 33 02 70
Expertisecentrum Kraamzorg Kraamkaravaan
Information about a desire to have children, pregnancy, delivery, maternity care, breast-feeding and parenthood.
09 333 57 60
Expertisecentrum Kraamzorg Volle maan
Information about a desire to have children, pregnancy, delivery, maternity care, breast-feeding and parenthood.
02 229 25 58, 0478 88 11 86
Midwife
A midwife helps pregnant women before, during and after delivery. Find a midwife in your neighbourhood:
ONE
Free social and medical monitoring during pregnancy and monitoring of the child. ONE works throughout French-speaking Belgium. Contact the local ONE branch: