What To Do Next If You Are Pregnant

Check If Your Period Is Late

What To Do When You Find Out Youâre Pregnant – “Take A STEP”
  • Did your last period start more than four weeks ago?
  • How far apart are your periods usually? .

Tip: Even if your cycle is inconsistent or longer than 32 days from one period to the next, if you are more than one week past your expected period, and you have been sexually active, there is a chance you could be pregnant.

See A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

If you dont already see a dietitian, you should start seeing one before you get pregnant. Your dietitian can help you learn what to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat to reach or stay at a healthy weight before you get pregnant. Together, you and your dietitian will create a meal plan to fit your needs, schedule, food preferences, medical conditions, medicines, and physical activity routine.

During pregnancy, some women need to make changes in their meal plan, such as adding extra calories, protein, and other nutrients. You will need to see your dietitian every few months during pregnancy as your dietary needs change.

Check In With Your Human Resources Department

Once you’ve informed others of your pregnancy, speak with someone in your benefits department to discuss the details of your maternity leave. Some companies don’t grant extra time if you have to enter the hospital early due to complications. Knowing the fine print can help you make the smartest decisions.

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Come To Terms With Your Emotions

More than half of women experience feelings of anxiety or depression during pregnancy, according to an online poll done by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. If you’re grappling with one of these emotions, tell someone so you can get the help you need, whether it’s a supportive hug or medical assistance.

What To Do If You Are Pregnant

Pin on Next Pregnancy :)
  • Suggestion #1: Never make a decision based on impulse, fear, or shock. The first thing that comes to your mind when you are pregnant is, “What shall I do?” It seems like a thousand questions need to be answered. The first thing you should do is nothing. You have several months to figure out what you are going to do with the baby. Calm yourself as best you can and then pray. Ask God to keep you calm and to give you wisdom in what to do next. Remember, we usually don’t make good decisions when we act out of fear, confusion, and shock. You may have heard someone say when having a difficult decision to make, let me sleep on it. They’re want to calm down so the wisdom part of their brain can kick in. Then they won’t do something impulsive they’ll regret later. Remind yourself that hundreds of thousands of people have gone through what you’re going through and somehow in some way most of them made it and you will too. Remind yourself the decisions you will be making affect not only you, but those closest to you and especially the baby. I tell the teenagers and young adults who call me and are pregnant to remember to always do what’s best for the baby. So, calm down and take a deep breath. Things will turn out okay.
  • If you are pregnant and wondering what to do, download your free eBook.

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    Path To Improved Health

    Schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as you find out youre pregnant. Your doctor will start by reviewing your medical history. He or she also will want to know about your symptoms. During this first appointment, urine and blood samples will be taken. Urine tests check for bacteria, high sugar levels , and high protein levels . Blood tests check for blood cell count, blood type, low iron levels and infectious diseases .

    The doctor also may do other tests at your first visit. These may vary based on your background and risk for problems. Tests can include:

    • A pelvic exam to check the size and shape of your uterus
    • A Pap smear to screen for cervical cancer
    • An ultrasound to view your babys growth and position

    After your first visit, you will have a prenatal visit every 4 weeks. In months 7 and 8, you will have a visit every 2 weeks. In your last month of pregnancy, the visits will occur weekly until you deliver your baby. At each visit, the doctor will check your weight and blood pressure and test your urine. The doctor will listen to your babys heartbeat and measure the height of your uterus after the 20th week. You should always discuss any issues or concerns you have with your doctor.

    Below are some other guidelines to follow during your pregnancy.

    Eat A Healthy Pregnancy Diet

    Eating a balanced diet is vital for both you and your baby and despite the old wives’ tale, you don’t have to eat for two .

    All you need for most of your pregnancy is 2000 calories a day, the exception being the final three months of your pregnancy when you should have an extra 200 calories a day.

    Starting each day with a healthy breakfast should help to reduce the temptation to snack on sugary, fatty foods. Have plenty of fruit and vegetables, wholegrain carbs such as brown bread, dairy and protein foods such as fish and poultry.

    Make sure you know which foods you can’t eat when pregnant – including unpasteurised milk and cream, non-British Lion mark eggs and some fish – by clicking the link below.

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    Dont Clean The Cats Litter Box

    Pet your furry friend all you like and wash your hands afterward but dont clean a cats litter box.

    Feline waste is filled with millions of bacteria and parasites. One in particular, Toxoplasma gondii , is particularly dangerous to expecting mothers.

    If you contract it, you may never know until you begin having complications with your pregnancy. A miscarriage or stillbirth is possible. Babies who contract this parasite may face serious health problems, including seizures and mental disabilities.

    Know Your Pregnancy Benefits

    Finding Out I’m Pregnant and The First Trimester!

    Pregnant women or those who gave birth less than a year ago are entitled to free prescriptions and NHS dental treatment with the Government’s Maternity Exemption form .

    Women receiving certain benefits and all pregnant women under 18 will also receive free milk, infant formula, vitamins and fruit and vegetables under the Healthy Start scheme.

    They may also be entitled to a one-off £500 Sure Start Maternity Grant to help with the cost of their baby.

    If you are working, you may have the right to paid time off for antenatal care.

    Find out more about maternity and paternity leave, tax credits and child benefits.

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    Blood Tests To Determine Pregnancy

    Another way to take a pregnancy test is by having your blood tested for human chorionic gonadotropin , which is a hormone that is produced by the body during pregnancy. This test is called a beta-hCG test or quantitative hCG blood test. An hCG blood test for pregnancy is more common if you have not had a period and dont know when your last period was, or if you have been using hormonal birth control.

    False Positive And Negative Results

    When a test result is inaccurate, its either a false negative or a false positive . Several factors can cause false negative results:

    • Having too dilute urine after drinking a lot of water or testing later in the day.
    • Testing too soon when there has not been enough time for a fertilized egg to implant and start hCG production.
    • Using a pregnancy test that doesnt detect lower levels of hCG. You can check the package insert for more information about the level at which the test will be positive.

    Sometimes an egg will implant briefly but will not be sustained. This is also called a chemical pregnancy hCG is produced, but the pregnancy doesnt continue. A test performed several days before an expected period can show a positive result, but the woman still gets her period soon or on time. Rarely, certain tumors can produce hCG, causing a pregnancy test to be positive even when a woman is not pregnant.

    Related reading:It’s not your fault: Understanding miscarriage

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    When Does Ovulation Occur

    In an average 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation occurs about 14 days before the beginning of your next menstrual period. The exact timing varies your cycle length may be longer or shorter. You may find it helpful to track your menstrual cycle using an app on your phone or a calendar. This can help you determine when ovulation is most likely to occur. Most people will have a period 14 to 16 days after ovulation, regardless of the length of their overall cycle.

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    Changes In Bathroom Habits

    Shes Pregnant. What Do I Do Next?

    Bowel and bladder symptoms can appear in early pregnancy. A person might experience frequent urges to urinate during the day and night. They may also have constipation, which affects of people at some time during pregnancy, according to 2012 research.

    In the early stages of pregnancy, the rise in hCG levels

    8 days after conception. As the pregnancy progresses, levels rise by around 50% a day. HGC is detectable in urine a few days later than in the blood.

    Tests for home use are urine tests. A person will need to go to a healthcare facility for a blood test.

    A range of pregnancy tests are available for home use, and some are more sensitive than others. This means they can detect hCG at lower levels.

    Many tests claim to be 99% accurate, but experts note that not all of them undergo rigorous scientific testing. A person may also get a false-negative result if they take the test too early, do not follow the instructions precisely, or do not handle the test as the manufacturer intended.

    Some medical bodies suggest taking a test on the first day of a missed period, but many people do not know when their period should arrive, for example, if they experience irregular menstruation.

    When taking a test, a person should:

    • read the instructions carefully
    • ensure they handle the test as advised
    • try to avoid taking the test too early

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    Is There A Possibility To Get Pregnant Just After My Period Has Finished

    Getting pregnant right after your period is unlikely but not impossible. The chances of becoming pregnant are lower immediately following periods than a few days or a week later.

    • There is no safe time of the month when you can have sex without contraception. However, there are times during the menstrual cycle when you are most fertile and most likely to conceive.
    • The fertile days can last for up to three to five days after your period has ended. The likelihood of becoming pregnant immediately following a period is determined by the length of the menstrual cycle and the length of the period. If your period is long, you may only have a few or no days after your period ends.
    • You may ovulate just days after your period if your menstrual cycle is short, such as 22 days. Sperm can survive in the fertile cervical mucus for five to seven days. You may be able to become pregnant if you ovulate a little earlier than usual.
    • If your cycle is irregular, you may become pregnant right after your period.

    How to use this ovulation calculator tool

    What Health Problems Could I Develop During Pregnancy Because Of My Diabetes

    Pregnancy can worsen certain long-term diabetes problems, such as eye problems and kidney disease, especially if your blood glucose levels are too high.

    You also have a greater chance of developing preeclampsia, sometimes called toxemia, which is when you develop high blood pressure and too much protein in your urine during the second half of pregnancy. Preeclampsia can cause serious or life-threatening problems for you and your baby. The only cure for preeclampsia is to give birth. If you have preeclampsia and have reached 37 weeks of pregnancy, your doctor may want to deliver your baby early. Before 37 weeks, you and your doctor may consider other options to help your baby develop as much as possible before he or she is born.

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    What To Do First If You Think Youre Pregnant

    First things first: Dont panic. Are you really pregnant? There are many different opinions on what to do if you think youre pregnant, but youre not 100% sure. Your first course of action should be to take a pregnancy test. Most pregnancy tests claim to be right 99 out of 100 times, but there is room for doubt so you may want to see a doctor, especially if the results are unclear. More on that later.

    Your Due Date Is Only An Estimate

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    Please remember that your due date is only an estimate. Every pregnancy is unique and your baby will come when its ready. Be sure to talk to your health care provider about your due date.

    On average only 5% of births take place exactly on the estimated due date. Most are born within a week either side of the estimated due date. A normal pregnancy can last anywhere between 38 and 42 weeks.

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    Which Is The Best Pregnancy Test

    First Response digital and manual tests are the most sensitive, and can detect hCG-h, the kind of hCG that women produce only very early on in pregnancy, to determine pregnancy sooner. Clearblue Easy and EPT are both less sensitive than First Response, but more sensitive than other tests on the market.

    Things To Do After Finding Out Youre Pregnant

    1. Wait to announce your pregnancy. While you may want to shout from the rooftops that youre expecting a baby, be aware that 80% of miscarriages happen during the first trimester of pregnancy. While most pregnancies do come to term successfully, it would be more prudent to wait before making the announcement.

    2. Schedule an appointment with your OB-GYN. Once you see the positive sign , you can schedule an appointment with a general practitioner to confirm whether you really are pregnant.

    If youre pretty sure you are, you need to schedule your first prenatal appointment around 8 weeks since your last period.

    3. If you drink, now is the time to quit alcohol. If you drink alcohol while pregnant, it will reach your baby through the umbilical cord. This can cause serious complications, such as premature birth, brain damage, birth defects, alcohol fetal syndrome, or miscarriage.

    4. If you smoke, now its the time to stop . If despite all the warnings against smoking you are still doing it, now is the perfect time to reconsider. For the sake of your baby, its essential to quit smoking during pregnancy. Just like with alcohol, smoking while pregnant may cause a wide range of issues: birth defects, low birth weight, cleft lip, birth defects, miscarriage, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, to name a few.

    While water is an obvious choice, you can also mix it up by consuming foods with a high water content, such as watermelon, cucumbers, and soups.

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    What Is The Earliest You Can Find Out You Are Pregnant

    It is recommended that you wait until you have missed a period to take a home test. A missed period is often one of the first signs of pregnancy. If you cannot wait that long to find out and you know the day you may have conceived, then the earliest you can take a test would be 14 days from possible conception.

    Choose A Healthcare Professional

    What You Need to Do If You

    If you have a doctor or midwife in mind already, give them a call as soon as possible. Theyll most likely want to schedule a visit, do some blood work, prescribe prenatal vitamins, and make sure you have everything you need.

    If you dont have a preferred healthcare professional, look into getting one ASAP. Ask friends or family for recommendations, or look for a healthcare office near you.

    Organizations such as Planned Parenthood also offer affordable access to healthcare, including prenatal care if youre not sure where to start. Check with your local Planned Parenthood health center to see what services they offer, as not all centers offer prenatal care.

    Just make sure you pick a doctor or midwife that you feel comfortable with and that you trust. Not only could this person deliver your baby, but youll also be seeing them a lot over the next 9 or so months. Most offices operate as a group, so its also a good idea to get to know as many health professionals there as you can.

    During your pregnancy, you should generally expect to see your OB or midwife:

    • once per month until week 28
    • twice per month from weeks 28 to 36
    • weekly from week 36 to birth

    If you have a high-risk pregnancy or any complications, you might need additional appointments.

    Also Check: How To Control Diabetes During Pregnancy

    How Can I Prepare For Pregnancy If I Have Diabetes

    If you have diabetes, keeping your blood glucose as close to normal as possible before and during your pregnancy is important to stay healthy and have a healthy baby. Getting checkups before and during pregnancy, following your diabetes meal plan, being physically active as your health care team advises, and taking diabetes medicines if you need to will help you manage your diabetes. Stopping smoking and taking vitamins as your doctor advises also can help you and your baby stay healthy.

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