Congratulations!!! You probably found this post because you just got a positive pregnancy test and you are super excited, scared, and wondering what the next 9 months has in store for you. Not only is the first trimester very exciting it is when the real fun gets started as you are preparing for the arrival of your little one. Once you have a confirmed positive pregnancy test, you might not know what else to do afterwards and I wanted to share some things that you should take care of fairly quickly.
Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins
Many doctors recommend that you start taking prenatal vitamins or folic acid at least one month prior to trying to conceive. The folic acid helps reduce birth defects that usually take place during those early few weeks of pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins include the recommended amount of folic acid plus additional vitamins that are needed to help grow a healthy baby. If you didn’t start taking prenatal vitamins until after you found out that you are pregnant, don’t worry many women go on to have healthy babies. You can purchase prenatal vitamins over the counter such as Evergreen Nature Prenatal Vitamins or wait until your doctor gives you a prescription. It might be a few weeks before you can get into see your doctor so starting them right away is best.
Schedule an Appointment with your OB/GYN or Midwife
As soon as I got a positive pregnancy test, I called my doctor’s office to schedule an appointment. Depending on your health care policy (you can usually find a list of in-network providers on their website or you can call them), you might have to schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor first so that you can obtain a referral. Depending on the provider you choose to care for you during your pregnancy, they may not want to see you until you have missed two menstrual cycles while others have you come in as soon as possible. Don’t be afraid to ask for an appointment sooner if you have a history of problems before, chronic medical problems, or symptoms that are causing you to worry. You can also talk to the doctors nurse about any possible medications that you take on a regular basis or have any questions before your first scheduled appointment.
Celebrate Your Exciting News
If you haven’t told your spouse or significant other yet about the exciting news, you could plan a romantic meal or find another fun way to share the news. I remember when we found out that we were expecting our youngest, we surprised the kids over dinner at a restaurant.
Even though you may not be ready to share the news with the world yet, make sure you celebrate your exciting news.
Pamper Yourself
The first trimester can be exhausting so it is important that you take the time to pamper yourself. You can go get a prenatal massage, manicure, pedicure, take a nap, get your hair done, read a book, or do something that you enjoy.
Take Care of Yourself
Now that your expecting, you need to make sure that you do your best to take care of your body. Your body is currently working hard to grow a baby especially during the first trimester. It is very important to make sure that you eat a well balanced diet (as best as you can while your dealing with morning sickness), get plenty of sleep, reduce your stress, exercise (you may have to modify your workout), drink plenty of water, and take your prenatal vitamins.
Share the News with Family and Friends
Don’t forget to share the news with your family and friends. Some women wait until they reach the second trimester before they decide to share the news with their family and friends. I personally shared my pregnancies after I went to the doctor with my close family members. I decided to waited to share the news with my friends and coworkers until after I had my first ultrasounds. I ended up telling my direct boss a bit sooner in case I had certain issues doing parts of my job.
Enjoy your Pregnancy
Nine months seems like a really long time but when you are pregnant it seems to fly by until those final few weeks. It is important to take the time to enjoy your pregnancy. Make sure that you take plenty of baby bump photos and embrace every kick, hiccups, punch, and jabs.
Pregnancy is an exciting time and it is important that you try to enjoy the ups and downs that come with it. I hope these tips help you know what you need to do next after you receive a positive pregnancy test.
Photo Credit: Flickr via Creative Commons
Do you have any additional tips for new moms?
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