Pregnancy

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is a nonprofit organization of professionals who provide health care for women, including teens. The ACOG Resource Center publishes manuals and patient education materials. The Web publications section of the site has patient education pamphlets on many women's health topics, including reproductive health, breast-feeding, violence, and quitting smoking.

The American Pregnancy Association is a national health organization committed to promoting reproductive and pregnancy wellness through education, research, advocacy, and community awareness. You can call a toll-free helpline or use the Web site to request patient education materials.

The International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) promotes freedom of choice based on knowledge of alternatives in family-centered maternity and newborn care. Family-centered maternity care is ICEA's primary goal and the basis of ICEA philosophy. They offer a catalog of information available to consumers.

The March of Dimes tries to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and early death. March of Dimes supports research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies' lives. The organization's Web site has information on premature birth, birth defects, birth defects testing, pregnancy, and prenatal care. You can sign up to get a free newsletter and also explore Understanding Your Newborn: An Interactive Program for New Parents.

The National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) is a service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health. NWHIC provides women's health information to a variety of audiences, including consumers, health professionals, and researchers.

This organization provides information about the fetal risks of numerous medicines, herbal products, infections, vaccines, chemicals, mothers' medical conditions, illegal drugs, and other exposures (such as high heat levels from hot tub and sauna use).

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is a federal agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The WIC program pays for nutritious food for low-income women and their infants and children up to age 5. Pregnant low-income women are also covered by this program. WIC provides information on healthy eating, breast-feeding, and referrals to health care.

WIC is federally funded and managed by each state government. See the WIC Web site or the government pages of your phone book for local contact information.