What to Do When Pregnant: Your Survival Guide

There is nothing quite like discovering that you are pregnant. Whether it is a planned pregnancy or not, you are sure to feel overwhelmed. You’ll likely experience almost every emotion, all within the first few minutes. This statement is especially true if it is your first pregnancy as the journey ahead is incredibly exciting but also immensely daunting. When it comes to what to do when pregnant, one of the most important things for you and your baby is to prepare as much as possible before birth. With this in mind, here are a few tips on what to do when you find out you are pregnant.

First of All, Am I Pregnant?

The first thing to do is make sure that you are pregnant. Listen to your body and ensure that any strange feeling you have checked if that’s an early sign of pregnancy.

A few early signs include cramping, feeling hot, bloating, heartburn, morning sickness, and tender breasts. When you experience one of a few of these signs, get a pregnancy check done by your doctor to find out for sure the answer to the question of “Am I pregnant?”

Tell Those Who Need to Know

Next on the list of what to do when pregnant is to tell those who need to know about it immediately. Who these people are will depend on your particular situation, but it likely includes your partner, parents, or a best friend. This is an exciting but also daunting time, and it is vital that you have some form of support network and someone to help you along the way.

When you find out you are pregnant is big news, so tell those who need to know in a private and proper way. You may not want to make your pregnancy public knowledge, but having one or more people in the know is important for a range of reasons.

Arrange to See the Doctor

You need to see the doctor, who will confirm that you’re pregnant and make plans for the coming months. You will have a million questions to ask, so always come to this appointment prepared.

Don’t feel embarrassed about asking any questions about what to do when pregnant, no matter how big or small it may seem. This appointment will also help determine your due date so that you can start making plans for the big day.

What to do When Pregnant? Make Plans!

Following on from the last point, you need to make plans for your pregnancy and beyond. These steps will depend on your current situation, of course.

Think about having someone to support you, your living situation, what you will do about work, and plans for when the baby is born. Essentially, these areas are all part of embracing motherhood.

Lifestyle Changes

Now that you are pregnant, start looking after yourself and your upcoming baby. Doing so will likely require several lifestyle changes that can feel strange at first.

Lifestyle changes for pregnant women can include the following:

• Eliminate alcohol
• Stop smoking cigarettes
• Avoid certain foods
• Cut down on caffeine – coffee, for example
• Know what medicines are safe and unsafe in your current condition

Also, stay active when you find out you are pregnant, even if it’s just getting outside for a walk. What to do when pregnant also includes choosing a prenatal vitamin to ensure that your baby is getting the nutrients that they need each day.

You’ll want to invest in comfortable pregnancy clothes too. Shop affordable online boutiques like Jane for maternity dresses that are comfy and also trendy. We couldn’t resist showing this midi dress here.

Decide Who to Tell and When

As such a large moment in your life, you will need to find the right time to tell people. As mentioned, it’s a good idea to keep the information to core people in your life to start with. Then wait a while to make it public.

Many people wait until week 12 when the risk of miscarriage drops drastically. You will also need to talk to your boss about maternity leave and think about what your plan is once the child is born. Do you want to go back to work or stay at home to look after the child?

Speak to Those Who Have Been Through It

Once you share the news, you are sure to receive lots of unsolicited advice, which can be frustrating and confusing. The best thing to do is to identify a few important women in your life who you look up to and speak to them about their experiences.

Ideally, this person is someone who was recently pregnant. These people will be able to guide you along the way and provide valuable support for times when you need it most.

Educate Yourself & Find Classes

It is also important that you educate yourself. This way you’ll know what to expect and what to do (and not do) over the next nine months.

Also, seek out local prenatal classes. In addition to helping you to prepare for giving birth, these classes are a great way to meet other pregnant women. These females can be hugely important support-wise.

Socializing While Pregnant

Following on from this, it is important that you remain social when you find out that you are pregnant. This can be challenging if your friends often go to bars, for example.

So, it’s great if you can make friends who are also pregnant. Make the effort to go out with your friends but hopefully, they will also make the time to spend with you somewhere you’re comfortable. One great location? Hanging out at home with them.

Stay Positive During Pregnancy

It is vital that you remain positive when you find out you are pregnant. This statement is true not only for your own sake but also for the baby. There are sure to be some challenging days, yes. But try to remain positive and think about how exciting the future will be.

Staying positive by yourself is difficult, no doubt about it. So don’t hesitate to reach out to loved ones if you have difficulties at any point during pregnancy, childbirth, and onward.

What to do when pregnant: Concluding words

Finding out that you are pregnant is a strange feeling with so many different emotions to process. It can feel completely overwhelming at first. But the best thing for what to do when pregnant is to take those first few small steps explained above. Visiting the doctor for the first time, for example, will likely put you on the right path. You’re also more likely to have a positive mood when you have a good support network.