What to Do When You Find Out You’re Pregnant

You’re bound to feel a mixture of emotions when you discover you’re expecting a baby, ranging from elation, fear, excitement, apprehension, or even shock. However, you must start focusing on how you can experience a happy, healthy pregnancy. Here’s what to do when you find out you’re pregnant.

Calculate Your Due Date

Once you find out you’re pregnant, you will want to work out when you can expect your little bundle of joy. There are various calculators online that can help you to calculate your due date. All you need to do is enter the first day of your last period and your average cycle length, which is commonly 28 days, to get an idea of when your new family member will arrive.

Book an Appointment with Your Doctor

As soon as you learn you are expecting, book an appointment with your doctor to commence with prenatal care. Once a doctor learns you’re pregnant, he or she will notify the midwifery team regarding your pregnancy, and they will then provide you with an appointment once you reach the 8 to 10-week mark of your pregnancy. Alternatively, you could arrange to see a midwife immediately.
Update to: As soon as you learn you are expecting, book an appointment with your doctor to commence with prenatal care, even if you are considering giving your baby up for adoption. Once a doctor learns you’re pregnant, he or she will notify the midwifery team regarding your pregnancy, and they will then provide you with an appointment once you reach the 8 to 10-week mark of your pregnancy. Alternatively, you could arrange to see a midwife immediately.

Make the Necessary Lifestyle Changes

Pregnancy will often require expectant mothers to make various lifestyle changes. For example, you may need to lose or put on weight for a healthy pregnancy and baby. You will also need to review your caffeine intake or avoid certain foods, such as unwashed produce, raw eggs, high mercury fish, and raw fish (such as shellfish).

You will also need to quit smoking if you’re a smoker, and you must say goodbye to drinking alcohol until the baby has arrived – and once you have finished breastfeeding. Both bad habits can harm your baby’s development, so you must eliminate them from your lifestyle completely.

Identify the Symptoms

Your body will experience many changes during pregnancy. It’s therefore important to learn about the different experiences you can expect throughout the next nine months. For example, 15 weeks pregnant symptoms may cause lower back pain, a chronic stuffy nose, weight gain, and swollen, bleeding gums.

Keep Moving

While you should not go and sign up for a gym once you discover you’re pregnant, you must try to keep moving. Physical activity is good for both you and your baby, so discuss a healthy exercise plan with your doctor. For example, you could go for a daily walk with a dog, partner, or friend to stay active and enjoy some fresh air.

Learn to Relax

While physical activity is essential, you must also learn to relax and slow down. Pregnancy hormones can play havoc with your emotional and physical health, and it can be easy to feel tired or stressed. You owe it to your body and your baby to simply unwind. Things like taking a bath or going for a gentle walk in nature are good ways to destress when you are pregnant. Whilst a lot of people like to use delta 8 THC to help them to deal with their stress and unwind, there are questions about whether it is safe to use during pregnancy. You should probably do some research, including reading any delta 8 brand reviews, and speak to your doctor or midwife first before you choose to try this.

Take Your Vitamins

Vitamins are vital for a healthy, happy body and baby. Ensure your body is not in need of nutrients by taking pregnancy vitamins each day, which can help you maintain a healthy body while supporting your baby’s development.