Whether you’re experiencing the first signs of pregnancy or you’ve just taken a pregnancy test, finding out that you’re pregnant is an exciting time! There’s a long journey ahead, so it can be a lot to get your head around, and you’re probably wondering, what happens next?
While you’ll be able to get detailed advice from your doctor, the following can give you a good idea of the next steps to take to help you prepare yourself as you wait for the arrival of your baby.
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Get your result confirmed
The first thing you need to do if you think you could be pregnant or you’ve taken a test that’s positive, is to get it confirmed. You could do this at your doctor or you could take advantage of free ultrasound testing for pregnancy that can help you work out how far along you are and help ensure everything is ok and healthy. Even if you had a negative result and you’re still showing pregnancy symptoms, it might be worth booking an appointment in case you were given a false negative or you have another health issue.
Work out your due date
Now you need to work out when your baby is due! While you likely won’t get an exact measurement until you see a doctor, a due date calculator can help you figure out how far along you are and what your expected due date will be. This can be handy for planning backwards to give you an idea of what changes you can expect and what you will need to do and when.
Book an appointment with your doctor
After confirming you’re pregnant, it’s important that you book an appointment with your doctor or an obstetrician as soon as possible. They’ll be able to check that everything is progressing as it should be and make sure you get the care you need throughout your pregnancy. Be sure to go armed with questions so that you can get all the answers you need about pregnancy.
Start doing your research
Your first pregnancy will come with a lot of unknowns! From symptoms and changes to your body to the development of your baby, there’s a lot to learn in the nine months of pregnancy. Fortunately, there are all kinds of books and articles on the subject that will help you prepare so that nothing comes as too much of a surprise. Preparing for your new baby can help make the process much more exciting and will make sure you feel more informed about what to expect during this time.
Prioritize your health
It’s important to prioritize your health during pregnancy so that you can take care of both yourself and your baby. You’ll soon find there are a lot of things you shouldn’t do when you’re pregnant, including obvious things like smoking and drinking, but there will also be foods you shouldn’t eat too.
While many people will tell you that you’re ‘eating for two’, you can still enjoy a healthy, balanced diet while pregnant that will help give you everything you and the baby need. You can also remain active if you were before and your doctor says it’s ok. Regular walk can be a good way to get you moving and keep your energy levels up throughout your pregnancy.
Make a to-do list
Pregnancy is something that comes with a time limit, giving you a list of things you need to do and prepare for before your due date. Make a to-do list of all the things you need to do before the baby arrives. You might need to declutter your home, buy a different car, etc. to help you make way for your new arrival, as well as make sure you feel ready too. A baby shopping list can be very useful for helping you get everything you need for when they arrive.
Remember to put some fun things on your to-do list as well like thinking of names or taking a pre-baby vacation – it’s important to enjoy this time and give yourself some me-time too!
Tell people when you’re ready
Once you’ve got your head around the fact that you’re going to have a baby, you can start letting people know. Some close friends and family you’re likely to tell during the early stages – especially if you need help masking morning sickness, etc. But others, you might want to tell at a later date when you’ve had some scans and are happy with your baby’s progress.
Check out some fun pregnancy announcement ideas to give you some inspiration!
Let your employer know
At some point, you’ll need to let your employer know that you’re expecting. While you might not want to tell your whole workplace just yet, you can share with your manager so that they can start making arrangements for your maternity cover. Do your research about your employer’s pregnancy and maternity policy to make sure you know where you stand ahead of these conversations.
Start getting excited
While there are a lot of things you need to do after finding out that you’re pregnant, there’s something else on the list – enjoy it! Pregnancy can be a very exciting and emotional time, with a lot of milestones, so let yourself enjoy it! It can be wonderful to share the news with others and get ready to grow your family, and while pregnancy isn’t always comfortable or relaxing – it will all be worth it by the time your baby arrives. One thing you could do is keep a memory box of different moments from your pregnancy to look back on in the future, and even share with your child one day!
Finding out you’re pregnant can come as a big shock, but once you’ve had time to let the news sink in, it’s all systems go. Take care of yourself and do the things you need to do to keep you and your baby healthy and get ready to make the most of your pregnancy.
