What To Do Once You Find Out You’re Pregnant

You’re expecting! What’s next? The first things I did when I found out we were expecting.

It’s surreal when you figure out you’re  pregnant for the first time. Honestly, at first when I found out I didn’t feel too much. I don’t know if I was expecting to break into tears or jump up and down. I just remember looking at the pregnancy test and saying, “Huh, I guess we are doing this, let’s do it”. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled my husband and I are pregnant, but I feel like at the time I was in some type of shock. I don’t think it actually hit me until our first ultrasound, then I broke into tears. I just saw that little jelly bean in there fist bumping and squirming around and it hit me, I’m having a baby. Even though the pregnancy didn’t hit me right away, I knew as soon as I found out that I should start preparing. I remember talking to my husband and saying, “Okay, what next? I feel like calling a doctor might be a good start. Oh, and I think I’m suppose to start taking some type of vitamin now. Oh no! Why me!?” I’m now looking at the frantic face my husband is making, thinking I was in some type of pain, “What is it?!” “I can’t drink anymore. No wine, Moscow mules, gin and tonics, cosmopolitans…” As I’m listing my favorite drinks, I see his eyes roll back into his head. Then, I watch as he processes the new information, now realizing that he can’t fix any problem by putting a glass of wine in my hand, “Oh, shit.” The no drinking thing was a hard pill to swallow, I love a good drink occasionally. We moved back to our list of things we should probably get accomplished soon. The list kept growing and growing and then we got overwhelmed. I realized that we needed to take these tasks and scale it back. One thing at a time is like the Moto of my life. I just said to myself, “Okay, what needs to be done right now”. Well, I’m about to share that list with you. If you just found out you’re pregnant, these are the things you should absolutely get done right now. 

A little disclaimer, I’m obviously new to this whole pregnancy thing, so take what you want from all my advice. These were the things I accomplished first when I found out I was pregnant! 

The First Things You Should Accomplish When You Find Out You’re Pregnant!

1. Call Your Doctor

The first thing I did when I found out we were pregnant, was research local Obstetrician-Gynecologists. At this time, I was in-between doctors and I really wanted to find one that I liked and made this journey feel safe and comfortable for me. If you already have a doctor that you love, give them a call and tell them the good news. If you want a new doctor, start researching now and get an appointment set up for your first appointment.

2. Start Taking a Pre-Natal Vitamin

It’s time for you to start taking a pre-natal vitamin. It’s so critical that your baby is getting a good dosage of folic acid. Pre-natal vitamins have a high dosage of folic acid, which helps the growth of your baby. It’s especially important to take these vitamins in your first trimester, since your baby is doing most of it’s developing. Folic acid helps prevent brain and spinal cord problems, so it’s essential you take a pre-natal vitamin everyday. The pre-natal vitamin I’ve been taking is by Nature Made. I’ve been using Nature Made products for years and I love them, so I figure why buy another brand. They also have a very high rating and can be found on the favorites list of many baby websites. Don’t take my word for it though! Check out this Healthline article on best prenatal vitamins of 2021! Another pre-natal vitamin I have heard amazing things about is the Ritual Essential Prenatal. People love this pre-natal for its benefits and also that yummy lemon smell it has. This vitamin can also be found in the Healthline article!

3. Change Lifestyle Habits That Could Harm The Baby

This one can be tricky for some people, especially if change is a big no no for you. You might be use to coming home on a Friday night and having a glass of wine, not anymore. There are going to be some habits you have to kick to the curb during pregnancy.

Alcohol: Make sure you give up all alcohol, no amount of alcohol should be consumed during pregnancy. Researchers have not found an amount of alcohol that is safe to consume during pregnancy, so it’s probably better you kick it all together. Consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can lead to low birth rate, miscarriage, premature birth, and fetal alcohol syndrome.

Caffeine: You should also limit your caffeine amount. Some women give up caffeine all together and more power to them. I was not one of these women. The coffee was a lot for me to give up and I did a lot of research on safe amounts of caffeine to drink during pregnancy. You can safely drink 200 mg of caffeine a day during pregnancy. That is the equivalent to a 12oz cup of coffee.

Smoking: If your’e a smoker, it’s time to quit. Smoking can increase your risk of pregnancy and delivery complications, stillbirth, premature birth, low birth rate, and cot death.

4. Eat a Healthy Diet and Stay Away From Certain Foods

If you’ve been keeping up with my blog, you know that a healthy diet has always been important to me. If you don’t already have a diet that makes you feel good from the inside out, it’s time to start now. There is no better time to start when you find out you’re expecting. A healthy diet is so important to your little one and helps aid in their growth and development. Some of the top foods and vitamins I’ve increased since finding out I was pregnant are dairy products, greens, legumes, omega-3, eggs, lean proteins, whole grains, and water. More specifically, greek yogurt, almond milk, salad, any green veggie, lentils (lots of lentils), salmon, tuna, eggs, chicken breast, whole wheat bread, steel cut oats, flax seeds, and lots of fruit!

When you’re talking about avoiding foods, the best foods to stay away from when you’re pregnant are, high mercury fish, undercooked or raw fish, undercooked, raw, and processed meat, raw eggs, raw sprouts, unwashed produce, and unpasteurized milk, cheese, and fruit juice.

5. Get Moving!

You need to start an exercise routine as soon as you find out you’re pregnant. Exercise is so beneficial for pregnancy and delivery. Make sure you’re doing it safely though. If you are brand new to working out, now is not the time to start some strenuous workout routine. I think the best advice I can give you is, make sure your heart rate is at a good level and you can breathe and comfortably have a conversation when you’re working out. If you can’t talk to someone while you’re exercising, you’re pushing too hard for a pregnant woman. Another thing I want to point out is, don’t think you have to start a whole routine. It should be fun and comfortable to you, just make sure you’re active. So, if that means going on daily walks or dancing in your living room, then go for it.

6. Check Your Medications

There are so many medications out there that are harmful to a growing baby. Please make sure to call your doctor and check out all your medications, even if you swear they’re safe. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

I can’t wait to share with you all the ways I’m handling this new journey. Obviously, this is a new step for me and my husband, so I’m more than welcome to advice or comments. Please leave comments below on ways you handled your pregnancy or topics you want me to cover on my blog!

Hope you guys enjoyed this blog! If you just found out you’re pregnant and need a jump on a healthier lifestyle, check out my blog, 3 Tips To Find Your Healthy Lifestyle!