Firstly Congratulations! The pregnancy test says it's true:
You are pregnant!!!!
Early pregnancy is when the fun begins, despite what some
may have told you. This is where you get to start celebrating your pregnancy
and telling the world your big news, whether you tell them right away or wait
awhile. The problem is many women aren't sure what the next step is after their
pregnancy is confirmed. Here is a handy list of things to do when the test is
positive!
Do make an
appointment with your midwife or doctor. Call for a prenatal appointment as
soon as your pregnancy is confirmed or you suspect you are pregnant. The big
surprise is that you may feel a sense of "hurry up and wait." Many
practitioners don't schedule the first appointment until after you have missed
a period, while others have you come in right away. Even if you don't have an
early appointment, do feel free to call with questions about things like
medications you're currently taking, symptoms that are worrisome, chronic
health conditions, etc. Also do not be afraid to get an earlier appointment if
you've had a history that might suggest you need to be seen sooner. Examples of
reasons you might need to be seen sooner include: history or previous pregnancy
loss, complications in this pregnancy like pain or bleeding, or chronic
conditions that you had before pregnancy like diabetes or hypothyroidism.
Do celebrate!
While you shouldn't have alcoholic beverages during pregnancy, that doesn't
mean you should stop having fun. A great glass of sparkling cider is a great
way to liven up the night and to toast your new bundle of joy. Some women plan
a romantic dinner to surprise their partners with the news of the pregnancy,
others have bigger parties. How and when you celebrate may depend on many
factors. Either way remember that having fun is perfectly acceptable part of
pregnancy. By having fun, you're releasing stress and relaxing, which is good
for you and the baby.
Do share your news!
Telling your family and friends about the new addition, is fun and exciting.
Some families wait until after 12 weeks, the first ultrasound or a special date
to begin telling everyone, while others begin telling everyone right away.
There isn't a right or a wrong answer to when the appropriate time to tell is
for you.
Do learn about
pregnancy. Look through things like the pregnancy calendar and follow your
pregnancy week by week. See if you can sign up for an early pregnancy class at
a local hospital or birth center. This will give you a bit of knowledge to
start making the appropriate decisions for you and for baby. Books are also a
great source of knowledge about pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
Do take care of
yourself. Getting a good night’s sleep, eating well, taking a prenatal
vitamin and exercising in an appropriate way are all healthy ways to encourage
a great pregnancy, easier labour and healthy baby. Listening to your body's
signals, whether it is morning sickness or exhaustion, will help you cope more
easily with symptoms of pregnancy.
Do find a support
system. Whether you're talking to your family, old friends or new, the
support you get is a must have for pregnant women. So much will change in your
life and you'll have so many questions, you will need to surround yourself with
people to help you answer the questions and gain the knowledge you need.
Sometimes that will be your midwife or doctor and other times that will be your
friends and family. Consider finding others who are due when you are due to
share the ups and downs of pregnancy. These friendships can last a lifetime and
are often really helpful.
Most of all, enjoy
your pregnancy! After all, it's only nine months, while the end of
pregnancy seems really far away, it does arrive more quickly than most moms
anticipate that it will. Planning ahead and preparing a bit every month will
help you prevent that panicked feeling towards the end of pregnancy when some
moms "wake up" and realize that there are only a few short weeks
before the baby arrives.
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