Important Things to Do When You Find Out You Are Pregnant

So you found out you are pregnant and you’re feeling a mix of incredible emotions.

The feelings of happiness, joy, nervousness, or surprise – maybe all are brewing inside you!

I feel you because it happens to every mommy-to-be. It’s such a delightful AND terrifying moment.

Once you get past the initial excitement you realize this joyful news comes with huge responsibilities as well.

On your 9-month journey, you should take the best possible care of yourself. So, let’s go through all the things you need to do and consider when you find out that you’re pregnant.

The following tips will keep you on the right track.

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Important Things to Do When You Find Out You Are Pregnant

 

Make a Prenatal Appointment with a Gynecologist

 

The first thing you need to do is book an appointment with your doctor.

In most cases, the first prenatal visit is between 8 to 10 weeks. Sometimes up to 12 to 14 weeks depending on where you live and who your Doc is.

It’s very important that you pick your doctor carefully and read reviews from past patients.

You need to make sure you and your Doc are on the same page with beliefs and philosophies.

It really sucks to become invested with a Doc and later find out they don’t respect your ideas around pregnancy and birth.

I know this from experience.

So check Google reviews and interview them as well when you go in. If you find that you and your Doc don’t mesh well you still have time to get an appointment with another.

Must Read: 

• Your complete pregnancy shopping list from A to Z. 
• Here’s your Full Mega TO-DO list for all three trimesters!

 

 

Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins

 

While waiting for your next appointment date, you should definitely begin taking multi-nutrient prenatal vitamins.

These supplements contain vitamins and minerals crucial for your overall well-being – such as vitamin C, Zinc, Copper, and Magnesium, etc.

Make sure that you’re consuming high-quality supplements that contain a reasonable ratio of all important vitamins and minerals.

Once you see your doctor they may give you a prescription prenatal especially formulated for you and your baby.

But until then you should take a high-quality vitamin like this one.

Likewise, refrain from using vitamin A or Retinol supplements separately because excessive vitamin A consumption during pregnancy can harm a baby.

 

Consume Folic Acid till You Become 12 weeks Pregnant

 

In addition to taking multivitamins, you need to make sure you’re taking folic acid during the first trimester of pregnancy.

It is known to prevent major birth defects of the brain and spine in the baby.

Start consuming 400 micrograms of folic acid every day for 12 weeks. Don’t wait till your first appointment, otherwise, it can be too late.

You may think about consuming it only through a natural diet, but it is difficult to consume this much folate from diet alone.

So, it’s best to consume it through supplements to fulfill your body’s folic acid needs.

Note: For the ones having a history of neural-tube or brain development defects in the family, doctors often recommend taking higher doses of folic acid i.e. 5 milligrams. If it is the case with you, consult a professional as soon as possible, and mention it explicitly during your checkup so your doctor can recommend the appropriate precautionary measures.

 

Track Your Symptoms & Document Your Pregnancy

 

As you move further into the first trimester of your pregnancy you may start to have morning sickness, indigestion, nausea, and cramps in your body.

Relax!  These are some of the common pregnancy symptoms that happen to the majority of pregnant women in the first trimester.

Keeping track will help you ask appropriate questions and get the best health care advice from your Obgyn.

You can also buy pregnancy journals that are available online like this one.

Dozens of pre-written questions help you log your condition precisely.

You can also get my free pregnancy journal below. Just add your email and you can get it right away.

If you consider writing a journal for every pregnancy, you’ll be amazed how each pregnancy can be so completely different from another. It’s fun to look back and see how they differed.

Along with writing stuff don’t forget to capture plenty of pretty pregnancy pics so you can add them to your journals.

 

Focus On Your Nutrition

 

In the past, you may not have been that conscious about your diet before but you now have the responsibility of feeding that tiny sweet babe that’s growing inside of you as well.

So, you need to focus on your nutrition needs.

You need to eat nutrient-dense foods that nourish both you and your baby.

For instance, to fulfill your body’s increased calcium and iron needs, increase the intake of dairy products – milk, yogurt, and cheese, etc.

Likewise, for high-quality protein intake, lean meat and eggs are good to consume.

As far as diet is concerned, potassium is recommended for pregnant women suffering from leg cramps. You can consume potassium enriched fruits such as bananas and avocados.

There are some foods to avoid as well. Let’s take a look at the most common ones.

•  Excess caffeine is associated with poor fetal growth and low birth weight. If you are a coffee person then restrict caffeine intake to under 200 mg per day.
• Likewise, alcohol intake should be completely avoided. Because it can severely affect the baby’s brain development.
• Stop consuming junk foods as well. They can put on unnecessary weight which leads to pregnancy complications.

 

Exercise Regularly 

 

You can prepare for birth and healthy delivery through regular exercise.

Walking, jogging, low-intensity weight training, and parental yoga poses are good in this regard.

These stretches and exercises help create a flexible body and fast delivery.

In addition, you should pay special attention to strengthening your pelvic floor through recommended exercises.

This will help you cope with growing baby weight. The key here is to start slow but stay consistent.

 

 

Download A Pregnancy App

 

There are some great pregnancy apps that can help you track your symptoms and keep you informed on all you need to know.

‘ What to expect ‘ has a good one called Pregnancy And Baby Tracker. 

These apps will help you stay educated about your body changes and baby development stages.

Likewise, there are fitness apps specifically designed for mommy-to-be.

They help you to explore recommended exercise poses. These apps are also packed with useful tips to keep your pregnancy healthy.

There’s a good one called Baby2Body you should check out.

Though these apps are helpful, you shouldn’t rely on them solely. Nothing can replace going to your Obgyn and getting regular checkups.

To Wrap It Up

 

There are lots of things you need to do when you find out you’re pregnant and this list is just a start.

You should keep practicing these recommendations till your first prenatal care visit.

After that, your Doc will provide you with further recommendations for your particular circumstances.

Happy pregnancy and we wish you luck!

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