Six things to do when you find out you’re expecting
You’re pregnant, so what’s next? Six things to do when you find out you’re expecting
You’re pregnant? Congratulations! Discovering that you’re expecting is an amazing time, full of excitement, new worries and an all new to do list! So what do you need to do next?
Take care of yourself, physically and mentally!
Your body is working overtime, all of a sudden you’re sustaining yourself and the creation of a little one! While you don’t need to be wrapped up in cotton wool, you do need take care of yourself as you might find that you run out of energy more easily than normal. Drink loads of water (even though you’re needing to pee more often as it is!), be prepared with snacks at all times and while you don’t need to eat for two, respond to your body as it craves nutrients. If you can, get plenty of rest and sleep. There’s also a lot to think about, some things you might be anxious about and maybe lots of people giving you opinions, or perhaps it’s stressful that you’re keeping your pregnancy a secret. Understand that it is totally normal to be feeling stressed and anxious. Early on in pregnancy, mindfulness and relaxation can be really helpful. The Freya app has lots of guided relaxations and a simple breathing exercise. It will be with you through pregnancy, birth and postpartum, so consider downloading it now.
Date your pregnancy
To determine how many weeks pregnant you are, count how many weeks it's been since the first day of your last menstrual period. For example, if your last period started on January 1st and it's now February 12th, then you’re in your 7th week of pregnancy. You can then estimate your due date! Even this early on, it can be reassuring to be surrounded by people that are in the same situation as you, so you can join one of our bump clubs to connect with others who are due at the same time as you.
Contact your GP and/or local midwife
When you find out you're pregnant, you should contact your GP to let them know. Every borough/trust works differently. Most GPs will not need to see you, but they will be able to advise you on the next steps in your area. Some GPs notify maternity services for you and others will give you information to do this yourself. When you are in touch with your community midwife, they will then help you to book your first appointment - called your booking appointment.
Your first booking appointment
Unless you have a reason to believe you need to discuss or monitor your pregnancy sooner, most doctors or midwives won’t schedule you in for your first prenatal appointment until 8-10 weeks, but you should make sure your booking appointment happens before the 10 week mark.
During your first visit, your healthcare provider will gather important information about your medical history, discuss your pregnancy care options, and provide guidance on maintaining a healthy lifestyle throughout your pregnancy. They may also perform routine tests and screenings to assess your overall health and well-being, although this might be done in a separate appointment. These tests generally include things like your BMI (body mass index), blood tests and blood pressure.
How many antenatal appointments will you have?
If you’re in the UK and it’s your first pregnancy, it’s likely you’ll have up to 10 appointments. If this is a subsequent child, you’ll have around 7 appointments unless there are medical reasons to have more.
Think about your nutrition
Now that you’re pregnant there are a few adjustments you may need to make to your diet, such as thinking about reducing your caffeine intake, taking pregnancy supplements and making sure you’re eating foods that nourish you and your baby! We’ve written a blog with registered dietitian Katherine Kimber’s masterclass on what you should eat during pregnancy here.
Power up your knowledge!
It can be tempting to hit up Google for pregnancy information, to discover if your symptoms are normal, or to find answers to the questions that might arrive at 3am when you can’t sleep. The problem is, for every question about pregnancy there are often a million different answers on the internet, and that can just add to the confusion.
Empowering yourself with evidence-based information, practical tips and expert advice, so that you can navigate your pregnancy in a confident and informed way, is good for you and your growing baby. It will mean no more anxious middle of the night internet searches and more time to relax, tune into your body and enjoy your pregnancy.
Our Ultimate Birth Pack Part 1 is your online pregnancy partner for every step of your pregnancy journey.
Understand pregnancy symptoms and how to manage them
Unfortunately, the joy of pregnancy often comes with some symptoms that are less joyful! Everyone experiences these differently but here are just a few.
Early pregnancy symptoms:
Sore breasts
Morning sickness (nausea)
Fatigue & tiredness
New food cravings (and dislikes!)
Heightened sense of smell
Cramping (similar to period pains)
Bloating
While there are few cures for many of these symptoms, there are lots of ways to manage them and our pregnancy pack or your GP will help you to figure out methods that work for you. The important thing is to recognise symptoms that are normal for you and times when things maybe don’t feel quite right. If you feel unwell or in pain or notice bleeding that is new or unusual, don’t hesitate to contact your GP or maternity triage. Midwives always prefer you to check, rather than feel that you are a bother.
