As soon as you find our you're pregnant, you'll want to start taking care of yourself and your baby as well as you can to keep you both as healthy as possible.

And there's more to do now than just making sure to eat right and get a little exercise -- here are my best tips for ensuring a safe pregnancy and a safe environment once your baby is born.

During the First Trimester

Consider feeding your baby breast milk, exclusively, for at least the first six months. Breastfeeding is best for your baby’s overall health and well-being, and there are less SIDS deaths among breastfed babies than bottle-fed babies. Please pay close attention to safe feeding/safe sleeping practices and the hidden dangers of falling asleep with your baby in an adult bed, sofa, chair or other unsafe sleep area.

Every parent dreams about their baby’s nursery. But when it comes to safe sleep to reduce the risk of SIDS, suffocation and accidental infant deaths, less is best. All you really need is a safety-approved crib with a firm, tight fitting mattress covered with only a sheet. Cute quilts and comforters can be used as wall-hangings or tummy-time mats, soft or pillow-like bumpers should be avoided and stuffed toys and animals should be displayed in baskets or on shelves. You should also steer clear of positioners and other products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS.

When considering a home nursery monitor, remember that while they may be a great way to monitor noise, movement, activity and/or temperature in your baby’s room, they are not effective at preventing a SIDS death. (For questions or guidance on retail products, please contact First Candle at 800-221-7437 or the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 800-638-2772.)

During the Second Trimester

Providing a safe sleep environment is the single most important step you can take to reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS, suffocation and accidental infant deaths. Take time during your second trimester to learn all you can about providing a safe sleep environment for your precious bundle.

First Candle understands that parents make choices about sleep environments for many different reasons. While we recommend putting your baby to sleep in a safety-approved crib, we encourage you to duplicate the vision created by our safe sleep messages no matter where you choose to put your baby to sleep.

During the Third Trimester

Start monitoring your baby’s activity beginning with week 26. Make note, and immediately report, any sustained or significant change in your baby’s activity levels to reduce the risk of stillbirth.

Consider expanded newborn screening for your baby. Many newborn screening tests are available to detect possible birth defects, disorders and other conditions that cannot be seen in the newborn but can cause physical problems, mental retardation and in some cases, even death. But laws and regulations on what tests are standard for newborns vary from hospital to hospital. Some hospitals test for as little as four disorders and some for as many as 30. You can visit the National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center website to find out what tests are required in your state. This site also lists commercial and nonprofit laboratories that provide comprehensive newborn screening for parents considering having their baby tested for more disorders than those screened for in their state.

What is “positional plagiocephaly”? This is a medical term to describe a flattening of the back of a baby’s head, usually as a result of spending so much time on their back. While experts agree that the vast majority of “flat heads” correct themselves once the baby is up and moving around more (usually by age 1), there are things that parents can do to lessen the potential for a “flat head”: Be sure to alternate the arm that you cradle your baby in for feedings. This is natural with breastfeeding, but should become a routine for babies when using a bottle as well.

Likewise, alternate the end of the crib at which you place your baby’s head for sleep. Babies usually have a visual focal point in the room and will routinely turn their head toward that object. Depending on crib placement, you can also move the mobile or other focal point from one side of the crib or room to the other. Make sure that babies do not spend too much time in car seats and carriers. Most importantly, provide your baby with as much tummy time as they will tolerate during the day while they are awake and being supervised. Never leave your baby alone during tummy-time!

If you are post-term, discuss options with your doctor. Pregnancies longer than 42 weeks may be at increased risk for stillbirth.

Nationally recognized child safety expert Alison Rhodes has dedicated herself to keeping kids safe. Her passion was born out of tragedy – in 1997 she lost her first child to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Since then, she has become a leading spokesperson for infant safety and SIDS risk-reduction. As a former member of the board of directors for First Candle, the national organization focusing on SIDS and other infant deaths, as well as founder of the Connecticut SIDS Alliance, Alison is frequently called upon to be a guest speaker on infant and child safety issues. Find our more by visiting her website, www.thesafetymom.com.

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