Seeing a doctor when you are pregnant is important for your health and the health of your growing baby. That type of care is called pre‑natal care. Arkansas Medicaid encourages enrolled pregnant women to attend all prenatal care visits your doctor schedules. These visits will help the doctor:
- Detect health problems with you or your baby early
- Monitor fetal development
- Provide guidance on healthy eating and habits during pregnancy
- Prepare you for labor and delivery
- Reduce risks to you and your baby
As part of these visits, your doctor will discuss the benefits of vaccinations, like the flu vaccine, to you and your baby. During pregnancy, vaccinated moms pass on infection‑fighting proteins called antibodies to their babies. Those antibodies provide some protection against certain diseases during the first few months of a baby’s life when the baby is too young to be vaccinated.
The Nurse-Family Partnership program can help first-time moms with low incomes who live in central Arkansas or the Delta learn more about prenatal care and how to care for their babies after birth through its home-visiting program. To learn more and see if you are eligible for this support, call 1-870-732-7990.
Need help finding an obstetrician? Call the ConnectCare helpline at 1‑800‑275‑1131 (TTY: 1‑800‑285‑1131) Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. to find a prenatal care provider near you. very county in Arkansas has a local health unit run by the Arkansas Department of Health. At those units, you can get pregnancy testing, prenatal care, breastfeeding support, vaccines, and more. To find the local health unit in your area, visit healthyar.info/LHU.
In addition to pre-natal care, it’s important that you take care of your mental health while you are pregnant. Medicaid covers mental health services, such as counseling, while you are pregnant, even if you are in a pregnancy category with limited benefits. To find a mental health provider, call the Arkansas Mental Health & Addiction Support Line at 1-844-763-0198.
Transportation and Safe Driving
If you need a ride to a prenatal visit, Medicaid may be able to help. Visit our Non-Emergency Transportation site to learn more about eligibility for transportation and how to get a ride.
During pregnancy it is important that you wear a seatbelt while in a vehicle. The Arkansas Department of Health has detailed information about how to wear seatbelt when you’re pregnant.
