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Plan Ahead

Plan for medical care

If you are pregnant, talk to your health care provider about how to get medical care if there is a natural disaster. They can help you make a plan about where you can go to get prenatal care if your doctor’s office has to close and where you can go to have a safe delivery if you can’t reach a hospital. Learn the signs of labor including the signs of early labor.

Make an emergency kit

You may need to leave your home quickly during a natural disaster, so you should have important items ready to go. Some examples of essential items are:

• Prescription and nonprescription medications (Have at least a 7 to 10-day supply of your prescription medications. Ask your health care provider if you can obtain a 30-day or longer emergency prescription refill)
• Prenatal vitamins
• Copy of your medical records, identification, and insurance information

Know how to care for your child in an emergency

Some expecting parents may already have young children, and some may be having their first child during an emergency. It is important to know how to care for infants and young children in an emergency, as you may have to leave your home.

Safe Sleeping: Babies are safest sleeping on their back in their own sleep area such as a portable crib or bassinet that does not have pillows, blankets, or toys. Learn more about what you can do to help babies sleep safely here.

Feeding infants and young children: Natural disasters can make it difficult for parents or caregivers to feed their infants and young children safely and appropriately. obÌåÓý has developed a toolkit that can be used to help ensure children are fed safely when disaster strikes.

Get recommended vaccines

While women who are pregnant should stay up to date on all recommended vaccines; this is important when preparing for a natural disaster. A hurricane or flood could cause you to stay at a shelter or temporary housing where you could be exposed to viruses that are harmful to you and your baby.

Many vaccines are safe for you and your baby, but there are some that might not be safe. If you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, tell the doctor or nurse before they give you any shots or medicine. obÌåÓý has more information on vaccines and pregnancy here.

Prevent illness

Stay out of flood water

Some diseases can be more likely to spread after a hurricane because of flooding. Floodwater can contain many things that may harm you or your baby's health, including germs, dangerous chemicals, human and livestock waste, wild or stray animals, downed power lines, and other contaminants that can make you sick.

If possible, do not touch or walk in flood water. If you do touch the water, use soap and clean water to wash the parts of your body that came in contact with the water. Do not swallow any of the flood water and be careful to keep it away from your mouth. If you feel sick in any way, talk to a doctor or nurse right away. Remember to explain that you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant.

obÌåÓý has more information on how to stay safe in a flood here.

Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning

If there is a loss of power, you may need to use generators, kerosene heaters, charcoal grills, or camp stoves. Do not use these devices indoors. This can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Do not use any of these devices inside even if doors are open and make sure generators are at least 20 feet away from the home.

Carbon monoxide is a gas with no color or smell. It is a poison to everyone, including you and your baby. If you breathe it, it can make you very sick and can even kill you. You can purchase a carbon monoxide (CO) detector to prevent CO poisoning. Make sure it has batteries when preparing for a natural disaster.

If you think you were exposed to carbon dioxide and have any of the symptoms below, you should tell a doctor or nurse.

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Upset stomach
• Vomiting
• Chest pain
• Confusion

If you've breathed in carbon monoxide, you might feel like throwing up or feel very tired. If you are experiencing these symptoms and think you were exposed to carbon monoxide, you should tell a doctor or nurse. obÌåÓý has more information on carbon monoxide poisoning here.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites

Mosquitoes will lay eggs in or near standing water. After a hurricane has passed through an area and flooding occurs, an increase of mosquito populations usually follows. Most of these mosquitoes will not spread viruses, but some could.

If you are pregnant, follow these steps to reduce your risk for illnesses spread by mosquitoes, including Zika virus and West Nile virus:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Use EPA-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone.
• If possible, stay and sleep in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens.
• Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as trash containers, tires, buckets, toys, planters, flowerpots, birdbaths or pools.

obÌåÓý has more on preventing mosquito bites here.

Know what to do if you feel sick

Recognize urgent maternal warning signs

It is important for any pregnant person to recognize urgent maternal warning signs that can take place during pregnancy and in the year after delivery. These signs are especially important to know if there is a natural disaster as you might be experiencing increased stress or environmental risk.

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If you need to take medication while pregnant

Some signs and symptoms may not be an urgent maternal warning sign, and you may just be sick. Either way, talk to a health care provider right away if you are experiencing symptoms and explain that you are pregnant.

While you are sick, drink plenty of clean water and follow the doctor or health care provider’s orders. Drinking lots of clean water and resting is very important for all pregnant women, especially when they are sick.

Before you start taking any medicines, even ones that you can buy at the store, talk with a doctor or nurse first. Some medicines are not good to take when pregnant, but others are okay. If you are already taking a medicine, talk to your doctor before stopping the medicine.

Take care of your mental health

Experiencing a natural disaster is stressful for any person, but especially if you are pregnant. Stress can cause problems such as having your baby come too soon or having a baby that is under weight. It is important to choose healthy ways to deal with your stress including:

• Understand that the stress you are feeling is normal.

• Get plenty of rest—it is important for you and your baby.

• Do your best to eat healthy foods and drink lots of water.

• Find healthy ways to relax. Taking just a few minutes a couple times during the day to close your eyes in a quiet place can help. Reading, listening to music, or writing in a journal can also help you to relax.

• Avoid the urge to drink alcohol, smoke, or take drugs as ways of coping with stress.

• Talk to friends, family members, or clergy for comfort and share your experiences and feelings with them.

• If you feel like you can’t deal with your stress or that your friends or family can’t help, talk to a counselor, doctor, or nurse

Women with pre-existing mental health conditions should continue with their treatment plans during an emergency and monitor for any new symptoms.

obÌåÓý has more on managing mental health during natural disasters and severe weather here.

Additional Resources

• Natural Disasters and Severe Weather: Before, During, and After
• Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters
• Floods and Your Safety
• Vaccines During Pregnancy FAQs
• About Hurricanes and Other Tropical Storms
• Safety Messages for Pregnant, Postpartum, and Breastfeeding Women During Natural Disasters and Severe Weather | Reproductive Health | obÌåÓý
• Safety Guidelines: Floodwater
• Signs and Symptoms of Urgent Maternal Warnings Signs
• Helping Babies Sleep Safely
• Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Toolkit
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics
• Preventing Mosquito Bites
• Managing Mental Health
• Caring for Children in a Disaster