Start A Maternity Wardrobe
With my first pregnancy, I didnt buy any maternity clothes until over halfway through. By that point, I was miserable because my expanding waistline was being constricted by pants made for normal people.
Dont torture yourself like I did because you think maternity clothes are all ugly and frumpy. There are so many cute boutiques online and you can find some great deals .
Black maternity leggings are my go-to piece because I can wear them over and over and no one really notices!
Another tip: You might think a maternity wardrobe is a waste because youll be back in your regular clothes after birth. If that happens to you, then youre one of the extremely lucky ones! Most of us mamas end up wearing our maternity clothes for a few months after birth as our bodies slowly shed the baby weight.
So that nine month wardrobe might actually last you a year and a half, or more! Plus, if youre planning for multiple children, you can always box them up for next time.
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The 40 Best Gifts That Pregnant Women Will Love In 2022
Pregnancy is an exciting time for the mom-to-be as well as her whole tribe! If you have a special expecting mom in your life, youll want to celebrate her with love, support, and, of course, the right present. But, sometimes, it can be hard to think of the perfect gifts for pregnant women.
Whether youre hunting for a unique baby shower present or just want to surprise the mom-to-be with a special something, this list is for you! Weve got 40 interesting and useful gift ideas. Scroll through and find the perfect present!
Pregnancy Must Haves First Trimester
Your first trimester of pregnancy can be a whirlwind of feelings and emotions.
You might be feeling happy, sad, anxious, scared, impatient.oh, and dont forget sick.
Related: 9 of the Best Ways to Combat Morning Sickness
With your hormones ramped up and on high alert, theres a good reason for why you feel as though your mind and your body are constantly stuck on fast-forward mode. The good news? You can have a great first trimester as long as you mentally and physically are prepared.
Even though you might hit a few bumps in the road, there are a few must-have items for your first trimester that can really be a huge help!
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Make A Pregnancy Checklist
Over the next nine months there are plenty of tasks that need to get done. Dont worry, you have lots of time and dont need to do them all right now or start buying baby stuff just yet.
Bookmark or pin this pregnancy checklist so you can come back to it to make sure you get fully ready for babys debut.
Make A Healthy Pregnancy Plan
There are some things you can do during your pregnancy to help make sure that you and your baby stay happy and healthy. There are also some things to avoid. Making a healthy pregnancy plan will include things like:
- Get your vitamins: You dont need pregnancy multivitamins, but vitamin D and folic acid supplements are essential in pregnancy. Some people may need a higher dose of folic acid .
- Watch out for certain foods: Its important to try to eat well during pregnancy, including foods from a variety of food groups. But there are also some foods you should avoid because they can put your baby at risk.
- Keep moving: Exercise in pregnancy is great for you and your baby but it doesnt mean you have to join the gym. A daily walk or a swim can be a great way to stay active in pregnancy.
- Stop drinking alcohol: Drinking alcohol can harm your babys development. There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink, so the best thing to do is avoid alcohol completely during your pregnancy.
- Stop smoking: Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for yourself and for your babys health. There is lots of support available to help you quit smoking.
- Know what medicines are safe: Talk to a health professional before taking any drugs or medicines. Find out which medicines to avoid.
Let us help you! We can give you a personalised plan with everything you need to know for your pregnancy. Try our Healthy Pregnancy tool.
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Choose A Health Care Professional
This is the time when you need to take extra care of yourself.
Its a must that you stay updated about how your body is changing and also how your baby is growing so you need to find a good health care professional.
Go ahead and schedule an appointment with your doctor for an initial check-up.
This also gives you peace of mind knowing that you have one in the books at least for some time soon.
How Accurate Are Pregnancy Tests
Pregnancy tests are super accurate when you use them correctly. The pregnancy tests you get at the drugstore work 99 out of 100 times. Theyre just as accurate as a urine pregnancy test that youd get at a doctors office.
Pregnancy tests work by checking your urine for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin . Your body only makes this hormone if youre pregnant. HCG is released when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of your uterus when pregnancy begins. If your pregnancy test results are positive, it means you’re pregnant. If theyre negative, it means youre not pregnant.
Pregnancy tests are most accurate when you take them after youve already missed your period.
A pregnancy test will be less accurate if its expired or if you dont use it the right way. So always check the expiration date on the package, and carefully read the directions that come with your pregnancy test.
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Start Your Birth Plannow
Your birth plan sets the course for your pregnancy. If youre hoping for a home birth, your preparations will be different than for a hospital birth.
With my first pregnancy, I didnt create a birth plan at all. Big mistake!!
Things didnt go exactly how I hoped and I ended up at the mercy of a strange doctor and a strange hospital. And that is NOT how you want labor to go.
You better believe this time around Im making a plan!
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Yuck.
Dealing with insurance is the worst.
Unfortunately, its a necessity, as childbirth is more expensive in the United States than any other developed country in the world.
To avoid any unpleasant surprises, call your insurer NOW to see whats covered on your plan. Ask about:
- In-network providers
- Which facilities in your area are available
- Specific services that are covered
- What happens in case of an emergency
- Will your baby automatically be covered on your plan
- Your expected financial responsibility
- Anything else you can think of!!
The more you know in advance, the better prepared youll be to manage and anticipate your pregnancy and childbirth expenses.
Shop Around For Maternity Clothes
I have found that my favorite places to buy maternity clothes are Target and Old Navy. They have cute clothes other places, too, but Target and Old Navy are both affordable and cute, and you can try them on in the store, which is helpful since not all pregnancy bodies are the same!
You dont want to spend a lot of money on maternity clothes because you dont get to wear them all the time. But at the same time, you still want to look cute and show off that bump. The Liz Lange line at Target is my favorite for maternity clothes. I pretty much want all of their dresses, and the tops I got from there are my favorite of all my maternity shirts. I also really like PinkBlush Maternitys maternity clothes!
Pants are a little bit harder, because they usually just come in small, medium, or large and I have yet to find ones that are long enough. Ive had success at Old Navy, but only because I was able to order long ones. Try on a bunch and if you still cant find any that are perfect, just remember that you only have to wear them for a few months!
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What Happens During Week 1
These are the first 2 weeks of your menstrual cycle. You have your period. About 2 weeks later, the egg thats most mature is released from your ovary this is called ovulation. Ovulation may happen earlier or later, depending on the length of your menstrual cycle. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days.
After its released, your egg travels down your fallopian tube toward your uterus. If the egg meets up with a sperm, they combine. This is called fertilization. Fertilization is most likely to occur when you have unprotected vaginal sex during the 6 days leading up to and including the day of ovulation.
Start Looking Into Childcare
Okay, this one totally depends on where you live, but I have heard of people being on a waitlist for childcare in some cities for up to a year!
If you know you want to be a working mom, then start exploring your options when you find out youre pregnant. Talk to friends and family members so you can get a pulse on the childcare situation in your city.
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First Trimester: Weeks 1
4 weeks: Wee on a stick
Home pregnancy testing kits work by measuring the level of human chorionic gonadotrophin , a hormone detected in your urine that increases from the moment of conception. Levels of hCG usually spike within a week or so of your period being late, but follow the instructions on the testing kit for the best time to test for pregnancy.
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6 weeks: Know your due date
Your due date is calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period not the date of conception, which generally occurs two weeks later. Add seven days to the date of the first day of your last period, then add nine months . If your maths is rusty, there are plenty of online pregnancy calculators available.
8 weeks: Dating scan
Not all women will choose to have this early ultrasound, but if youre really confused about your dates, your midwife or GP may refer you for an early ultrasound to measure and check your babys development. The results will give a better indication of how many weeks along you are.
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10 weeks: Vaccination
A flu shot is free for pregnant women, as health authorities believe its the best way to protect yourself and your unborn baby from what can be a serious illness during pregnancy. The flu shot is safe to have at any stage of pregnancy and is recommended, especially if youre going to be pregnant through the winter influenza season.
11-13 weeks: Nuchal translucency testing
Products You Need To Buy When Having A Baby
Alisa Baer, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician, nationally certified child passenger safety instructor, and co-founder of The Car Seat Lady. In her 21 years in the field, Dr. Baer has consulted with many of the leading car seat manufacturers in the design and development of their car seats.
Right after you learn that you’re having a baby, you learn that babies seem to need a lot of stuff! If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry. This list will help you figure out what to buy for baby. There are millions of products available for purchase, but the following products are the most common needs or wants for newborns.
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Write Things Down Throughout Your Pregnancy
This can be questions for your doctor, feelings you are having about being a parent, or stories about the firsts . These are special things and theres usually a place in the baby book for at least important dates and how you felt when you found out you were pregnant , so you will want to make sure you remember! And since pregnancy is notorious for making you forgetful, writing down things will help you solve that problem !
Pregnancy is weird and you can easily question the things that are happening with your body. And since you probably dont want to call the doctor every day, write those questions down and bring them to your next appointment. Super handy to have them right there in front of you when the doctor asks, Do you have any questions for me?
What If Im Not Sure I Want To Be Pregnant
If youre pregnant and dont feel ready to be a parent and dont want to have a baby, you have options, including adoption or abortion.
Some people find it helpful to talk with their partner, a supportive family member, friends, or a therapist if theyre considering termination or adoption. You can also ask your doctor for guidance and support.
No matter what you choose, having a support system before, during, and after can be very beneficial.
Just remember: The decision to continue or terminate your pregnancy is yours alone to make. No one should pressure you to make a decision youre not comfortable with. You alone know whats right for you.
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Start Thinking Of How Youll Announce Your Pregnancy
Its so fun to let others know you are pregnant. The timing of when to announce your pregnancy is up to you. Here are some memorable ways to let your parents know youre pregnant as well as adorable ways to let your family know youre pregnant.
Then, when youre ready to announce it to the masses here are some ideas:
Find A Workout Plan And Stick To It
Not only is it important to workout when you arent pregnant, it is important to stay healthy and workout while you are pregnant! Your body is going through a lot of changes and you want to keep it healthy. When I was pregnant the first time I used the stretches and exercises in the What to Expect When Youre Expecting book and I did them every day. They helped me stay flexible and I think especially the ones that strengthen your pelvic floor helped me have a really fast delivery.
The second time I did a combination of the Gaiam Fit Plan for Pregnancy and Blogilates. I felt great and I felt strong. I did a combination of cardio and strength training and stretching, which will help you stay healthy as long as you arent eating too much.
And make sure you have all the pregnancy workout essentials you need, too!
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Morning Sickness Acupressure Band
Unfortunately, there is no real cure for morning sickness, and if there ever is one everyone will be raving about it. Morning sickness may bypass a few lucky pregnant moms, but chances are high youll experience it as one of the very first symptoms of pregnancy. It may last a few days or several months, but for most moms, it passes along with the first trimester of pregnancy.
Youll no doubt have heard about drinking ginger tea or eating ginger cookies to ease it, and recommendations to eat regularly as nausea and sickness can get worse on an empty stomach. These remedies may help you, they may not.
If youve tried to relieve your nausea and nothings helping then many Moms find they benefit from anti-nausea wristbands. They are to be worn on both wrists at the same time and work by acupressure which is similar to acupuncture. The plastic stud presses on a specific acupressure point and is said to reduce nausea and sickness.
Pregnancy App With Photo Stickers
This is the most fun of the first trimester must-haves! Youll be photographing a lot of your pregnancy, even if you arent ready to share it during the first trimester. If youre planning to take weekly bump photos, download an app that lets you apply cute stickers to photos. I use the Little Nugget app. You can do in-app purchases for pregnancy stickers, baby milestone stickers and holiday themed stickers. Once the baby arrives, youll already have it ready to go! Plus, you can organize your photos according to people or events.
See that cute little sticker? I added that with my Little Nugget app!
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Be Aware Of Pregnancy Symptoms And How To Manage Them
Pregnancy can be tough. Tiredness, sore breasts and morning sickness are all common in the first few weeks of pregnancy. But there are things you can do to manage these symptoms.
There are some symptoms that could be a sign of something more serious. Its a good idea to familiarise yourself with these using our symptom checker so you know when to ask to help.
NHS. Ultrasound scans.
NHS. Your first midwife appointment.
NHS. Foods to avoid in pregnancy.
NICE . Antenatal care: NICE clinical guideline 62. National Institute for health and care excellence www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg62/resources/guidance-antenatal-care-pdf NICE Smoking: stopping in pregnancy and after childbirth. Public health guideline . National Institute for health and care excellence
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4 weeks pregnant – what’s happening
Congratulations on your exciting news! Tommys Midwives are here to guide you through every stage of your pregnancy and help you get to know your growing baby.
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5 weeks pregnant – what’s happening
Your babys tiny face is starting to form – the beginnings of a miniscule nose and eyes are already taking shape.
