You’re Pregnant! Now What?!

You just took a pregnancy test and waiting those 3 mins for your results feels like a lifetime when you’re in that moment. Your 3 mins are up, you flip over your test and there it is, PREGNANT! Once you find out you’re pregnant you may feel a wave of emotions rush through you from excitement, nervousness, to anticipation! You’re pregnant CONGRATULATIONS! Once you see that positive or pregnant result a whole new chapter of your life is about to begin, and you probably have a tonne of questions about what to do next? What should I do now that I’m pregnant? When do I call my doctor? When do I book a hospital appointment?

Let the News Sink In!

Some of us dream for months or even years to find out we’re pregnant. Enjoy the moment! Take a deep breath, relax, and celebrate with your partner. It’s a moment you’ll want to remember!

Contact Your Doctor

Get in touch with your doctor! Let them know you think you are pregnant and then set up an appointment. Your doctor will carry out their test to confirm your pregnancy. This will be similar to the test you did at home. You can even bring a sample of your urine with you to your appointment that way you don’t run the risk of ‘stage fright’!

Book Your First Hospital Appointment

Next is your first appointment at the hospital will happen typically around week 12. You might hear this being called a ‘booking visit’. In this appointment the midwife will go over your medical history, family history and you may even have your first ultrasound depending on the hospital.

Share your News!

There is no wrong time to announce your pregnancy! This is entirely up to you and your partner. Whether you want to shout it from the rooftops the moment you find out or wait till after your first hospital appointment the choice is yours!

Tips for a healthy pregnancy

Bye, Bye Booze!

This one you hear all the time but it’s best to cut out alcohol altogether during your pregnancy.

Take Prenatal Vitamins

You don’t need to break the bank when it comes to taking vitamin supplements. However, there are a few essential supplements such as Folic Acid that your body needs. Before starting anything new, please consult your doctor. If you are on any medication it is best to check if they are safe to continue taking while pregnant with your doctor.

Relax and Rest

It’s natural to get a bit stressed out when you’re pregnant. You’ll probably have a lot on your mind. From coping with your pregnancy symptoms to everyday life, it can all just get overwhelming at times. So, remember to take some time to relax. Do whatever makes you the most relaxed whether it’s watching your favourite Netflix show on the sofa, spending time outside in your garden, getting a pregnancy massage, or baking. Take time to rest and relax.

Keep on Moving!

Staying active is important for your overall general health and can help reduce stress, improve circulation, boost your mood, and even help you sleep better. It can be a simple as a moderately paced stroll around your back garden, at-home pregnancy yoga, or pregnancy pilates classes.

There’s how much caffeine in that?!

Whether it’s that first cup of coffee in the morning or a relaxing cup of tea at night, you should get to know how much caffeine is in your food and drink. For instance, did you know that high caffeine foods include dark chocolate and some yoghurts! It is recommended to keep your caffeine intake below 200 milligrams a day. High levels of caffeine in pregnancy can result in babies having a low birth weight, which can increase the risk of health problems in later life.

Journaling!

Journaling can be very therapeutic as well as a way for you to remember how you felt during this exciting time of your life! Noting down any milestones, craving, or emotions. It could be a fun way to look back on a very special time in your life! Our friends Pip & Ruby have a beautiful pregnancy journal you can use to document everything! Click here to have a look!

Create a Birth Plan

Explore all your options and select the birth plan you would prefer. Creating a birth plan ahead of time will help relieve stress when you’ve gone into labour. Whether you’re counting on that epidural, like the idea of a water birth or have a plan B if things don’t go to plan A. You can let your midwife and doctor know and they can go from there and advise you on the safest way to deliver your baby. Make sure to share your birth plan with your partner!

Checklist

Packing for the birth of your little one can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, especially for first-time mums. What do I need? How many nappies should I bring? What does the hospital provide?? Is this too much or not enough?! Don’t worry mamas, Pipin Pear has you covered! Print off the Pipin Pear Ultimate Hospital Checklist here!

The journey from initially discovering you’re pregnant to holding your little one in your arms is an incredible experience. Enjoy every moment.

If you found this helpful, why not check out our Helpful Recommendations for New Mums blog post.

We also have a webinar with Jennifer Moynihan, voted Mums& Tots Top Midwife for 2020. Check out her talk here