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Pregnant? Stay SAFE from alcohol and drugs

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  • Additional Education Resources
  • Pregnancy Drug & Alcohol
  • Your unborn baby drinks what you drink
  • Fetal alcohol syndrome
  • Make a change now
  • Get help and support
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It’s a fact.

Drinking alcohol and abusing drugs while pregnant harms your baby. It can cause birth defects!
If you are pregnant, might be pregnant, or trying to get pregnant STOP using alcohol and abusing drugs.

Your Unborn Baby Drinks

What You Drink

Parenting is the start of a long journey… and it is hard work! Taking care of yourself and staying healthy helps you be able to care for your child.

  • Remember, you are not alone. Take one day at a time. It is never to late to get started on your recovery.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Is The Only Disease That Is 100% Preventable

It may seem like a drink now can do no harm. Yet, alcohol can cause you to lose your baby to a miscarriage.

Drinking can cause Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Your baby can be born exposed to substances and then go through withdrawal. Your baby will cry, shake, and hurt. It can cause your baby to have:

  • Slow growth
  • Small brain size
  • Learning disorders throughout the school years
  • Poor judgement which could lead to problems breaking the law as an adult
  • Attention problems
  • Trouble getting along with others
Child looking irritated

Make A Change

Now

There are a few things you can do if you are pregnant or there’s a chance you could become pregnant, these include:

Taking medicine

Take Your Prescriptions

Use your own prescription medication. Never borrow or use another person’s prescription.
Pregnancy help

Get Help

There is no amount of alcohol that is safe during pregnancy. Alcohol can cause life-long behavioral and learning issues. Please talk to someone if you are struggling with eliminating alcohol during your pregnancy or visit:
  • www.helpisherede.com
Prescription form

Follow Directions

Take your prescription medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Read all instructions carefully before taking any prescription medications.
Prescription form

Follow Directions

Take your prescription medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Read all instructions carefully before taking any prescription medications.
Alcohol and Drugs

Parenting is a hard job especially if you are trying to keep infants and young children safe.

Drug or alcohol use may make it harder for a parent to attend to their child. Keeping a child safe means paying attention to the environments that they live, play, and sleep in.

Under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, a parent may not be able to make the safest choices. For example, a parent may fall asleep and sleep heavier then usual. If they are cosleeping with infants and young children, this can put them at risk for suffocation.

Tobacco

Tobacco use by caregivers who are around infants and young children can affect the children’s health.

Secondhand smoke is smoking that occurs in an enclosed space like the home or a car. Examples of thirdhand smoke are when a baby inhales the toxins from the clothing, hair, and skin of someone who smokes.

Exposure to secondhand and thirdhand smoke puts young children at risk for ear infections, asthma, or more serious breathing problems when they get a cold or virus.

Street Drugs

Young children are naturally curious and can get into any drugs or prescribed medicines that are not safely stored. They may unintentionally swallow or eat something that is not intended for them.

Always keep prescriptions and any drugs or medicines out of the reach of children. In a key locked medicine cabinet is best.

Tip:Ask your doctor before taking any medicines. Medicines you used before you got pregnant may not be safe to take now. Even those sold at a drugstore or grocery store can hurt your baby.

Street Drugs

Young children are naturally curious and can get into any drugs or prescribed medicines that are not safely stored. They may unintentionally swallow or eat something that is not intended for them.

Always keep prescriptions and any drugs or medicines out of the reach of children. In a key locked medicine cabinet is best.

Ask your doctor before taking any medicines. Medicines you used before you got pregnant may not be safe to take now. Even those sold at a drugstore or grocery store can hurt your baby.

Get Help

and Support

Quitting drugs or alcohol can be hard. If you want help, visit:
  • www.helpisherede.com
If you want to learn more about alcohol and how it harms a baby, visit:
  • cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/
For help caring for a child with FASD, visit:
  • nofas.org/living-with-fasd
To get medical care while pregnant or if you might get pregnant, visit the Healthy Women/Healthy Babies program at:
  • https://dhss.delaware.gov

Want help sorting it out?

Use your phone to dial 2-1-1 for Help Me Grow to be connected with an advisor who can connect you with services.

  • Logo of Delaware Connection organization
  • Help center logo
Pregnant woman smiling

Get Help

and Support

Quitting drugs or alcohol can be hard. If you want help, visit:
  • www.helpisherede.com
If you want to learn more about alcohol and how it harms a baby, visit:
  • cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/
For help caring for a child with FASD, visit:
  • nofas.org/living-with-fasd
To get medical care while pregnant or if you might get pregnant, visit the Healthy Women/Healthy Babies program at:
  • https://dhss.delaware.gov

Want help sorting it out?

Use your phone to dial 2-1-1 for Help Me Grow to be connected with an advisor who can connect you with services.

  • Logo of Delaware Connection organization
  • Help center logo
Pregnant woman smiling
Delaware Wic Site Logo

Contact Us

New Castle County
(302) 283-7540
Email: nccwic@delaware.gov

Kent County
(302) 283-7540
Email: kentwic@delaware.gov

Sussex County
(302) 283-7540
Email: sussexwic@delaware.gov

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    Feeding a 6-7 Month Old

    Feed solids with a spoon and from a bowl, never from a bottle.
    Breast Milk
    Infant Formula
    Breast Milk

    Continue to nurse on-demand, about 4-6 times in 24 hours.

    Babies may experience a growth spurt around 6 months of age and may feed more often.

    Offer breast milk in a cup.

    Infant Formula

    24-32 oz. per day of infant formula.

    Offer formula in a cup.

    Grains
    Vegetables
    Fruits
    Proteins
    Grains
    Use breast milk or formula to prepare 2-4 Tbsp. iron-fortified infant cereal. Offer twice per day. 2-4 Tbsp. of small pieces of dry bread, baby crackers, and cereal. Offer twice per day.
    Grains
    Vegetables
    4-8 Tbsp. per day. Cooked, pureed, mashed vegetables.
    Vegetables
    Fruits
    2-4 Tbsp. per day. Cooked, pureed, mashed fruits. Applesauce, pureed peaches, or mashed banana.
    Fruits
    Proteins
    2-4 Tbsp. per day. Plain strained, mashed, or pureed meats, poultry, eggs, fish, or legumes. May add smooth whole milk yogurt. Thinned, smooth peanut or nut butter.
    Proteins

    Feeding a 10-12 Month Old

    Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for your baby, even after you start offering solid foods.

    Breast Milk
    Infant Formula
    Breast Milk

    Continue to nurse on-demand, 3 or more times per day.

    Infant Formula

    16-24 oz. per day. Offer in a cup.

    Grains
    Vegetables
    Fruits
    Proteins
    Grains
    4-8 Tbsp. per day. WIC approved infant cereals. Dry toast, crackers, bread, bagels, rolls, or plain muffins. Cooked rice and noodles.
    10-12 Month Grains
    Vegetables
    3-4 Tbsp. per day. Cooked bite-size vegetable pieces.
    10-12 Month Vegetables
    Fruits
    3-4 Tbsp. per day. Fresh fruits, peeled, and in bite-size portions.
    10-12 Month Fruits
    Proteins
    2-4 Tbsp. per day. Finely ground, chopped, or diced meats, poultry, eggs, fish, or cooked mashed beans. Thinned, smooth peanut butter.
    10-12 Month Proteins

    Feeding a 8-9 Month Old

    Feed solids with a spoon. Never put cereal in a bottle.

    Breast Milk
    Infant Formula
    Breast Milk

    Continue nursing on-demand, at least 4 times in 24 hours.

    If your baby seems less interested in nursing after you introduce solids, try nursing before you offer solids.

    Offer breast milk in a cup.

    Infant Formula

    24-32 oz. per day.

    Offer formula in a cup.

    Grains
    Vegetables
    Fruits
    Proteins
    Grains

    4-8 Tbsp. per day.

    Plain iron-fortified infant cereals.

    Plain rice or pasta.

    Baby crackers, small pieces of bread, or soft tortillas.

    8-9 Month Grains
    Vegetables

    8-12 Tbsp. per day.

    Plain cooked vegetables, mashed with a fork.

    8-9 Month Vegetables
    Fruits

    8-12 Tbsp. per day.

    Peeled soft fruit in bite-size pieces.

    Unsweetened canned fruit.

    8-9 Month Fruits
    Proteins

    4-8 Tbsp. per day.

    Finely ground, chopped, or diced meats, poultry, eggs, fish, or cooked mashed beans.

    Cottage cheese or mild cheese.

    Thinned, smooth peanut or nut butter.

    8-9 Month Proteins
    I'm Hungry
    I'm Hungry

    Tips

    Mom new born home

    Breast milk and formula feeding:

    Around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age, babies may experience a growth spurt when they feed more often.

    As they grow babies can hold more milk, so feedings may become further apart and take less time.

    To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

    Start offering whole milk when your baby is one year old.

    The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months and beyond.

    feeding solid foods

    Feeding solid foods:

    Wait to offer solid foods until your baby:

    • Can sit up and hold up their own head.
    • Opens their mouth when they see food.
    • Can close their lips around a spoon.

    To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

    Try one new food at a time. Wait 5 days before trying another new food to watch for allergies. Food allergies may include wheezing, rash, or diarrhea.

    Introduce peanut butter around 6 months. Mix one teaspoon of peanut butter with breast milk or formula. Make it thin and easy to swallow. Use a spoon to offer a taste of the thinned product. Watch your baby for any reaction for the next 2 hours.

    Babies under one year should NOT have honey due to the risk of botulism. Also, babies should not have foods that can cause choking like nuts or whole grapes.

    All babies are different. Talk with WIC or your baby’s healthcare provider about your baby’s needs.

    Feeding Cues

    I'm Hungry
    I'm Full
    I'm Hungry
    • Stirring
      Stirring
    • Mouth opening
      Mouth opening
    • Turning head seeking/rooting
      Turning head seeking/rooting
    I'm Full
    • Releases or falls off
      Releases or “falls off”
    • Turns away
      Turns away
    • Relaxes and opens fists
      Relaxes and opens fists

    Feeding a 4-5 Month Old

    Before teeth come in, wipe gums with a soft, clean wash cloth after each feeding, especially before bed.

    Breast Milk
    Infant Formula
    Breast Milk

    Nurse your baby on-demand, at least 7-9 times in 24 hours.

    When your baby starts teething, they may want to nurse more often.

    Infant Formula

    25-45 oz in 24 hours.

    Your baby needs about 4-6 oz of iron-fortified formula every 3-4 hours.

    Your baby may start to feed on a schedule. Instead of focusing on fixed amounts, let your baby tell you when they have had enough.

    I'm Hungry
    I'm Hungry

    Feeding a 0-3 Month Old

    Newborns have tiny tummies and need to be fed often. In the first few weeks, you may need to wake your baby to feed if they sleep longer than 4 hours.

    Growth Spurts

    Many babies are fussy during a growth spurt and will want to nurse longer and more often. This is called cluster feeding. This is your baby’s way of helping you increase your milk supply so that you can keep up with their needs. Remember, the more your baby nurses, the more milk your body makes.

    Growth spurts can happen at any time, and every baby is different.

    They often happen at these ages:

    two-three-weeks

    2 to 3 Weeks

    6 Weeks

    three-months

    3 Months

    six-months

    6 Months

    Breast Milk
    Infant Formula
    Breast Milk

    Breastfeed 8-12 times in 24 hours to help your newborn stay healthy.

    Nurse on-demand and when your newborn shows signs of hunger, such as sucking on hands or smacking lips.

    Infant Formula

    In the first few days, newborns need 2-3 oz. of iron-fortified infant formula every 3-4 hours.

    By the end of the first month, your newborn needs about 4 oz. every 4 hours.

    Feed on-demand and when your newborn shows signs of hunger.

    What foods can I get?

    Authorized Food List
    Authorized Food List

    Where can I shop?