If you’ve been actively trying to conceive and you’ve now missed a period, you might actually be already pregnant! Finding out that you’re pregnant for the first time can be an exhilarating experience. Even just imagining yourself with a little one in tow seemed so surreal, until now! But aside from these heart-fluttering emotions, a nagging thought comes to mind—what now?
If it’s your first time being pregnant, chances are you don’t know what to do first. Should you go to the doctor immediately? What vitamins should you start taking? You may have so many questions…and that’s completely normal!
To give you an overview, here are some of the most essential must-dos for your first pregnancy:
Schedule a prenatal appointment.
Once you get a pretty clear positive result on your pregnancy kit, the first thing you need to do is to make a prenatal appointment to a trusted healthcare provider. If you already know one, then you’re all set. But if you still don’t, do a thorough research first or ask around friends and family for referrals before choosing a healthcare provider.
Onceyou’vee decided, make that call for a first prenatal appointment. To prepare for your visit, make sure to remember the first day when you had your last period to help your doctor determine your due date. He or she may also ask you about you and your spouse’s family medical histories, so you’d want to know about that beforehand too.
Get an ultrasound.
Your doctor may request for this prenatal test as a way to confirm your pregnancy, making it one of the most thrilling tests a pregnant woman has to take! An ultrasound, which is a painless diagnostic procedure, relies on sound waves to form an image of your baby and have it flashed on the screen of the ultrasound monitor. The good news is that 3d HD ultrasounds are now becoming popular so you’ll be able to see everything clearly. This type of ultrasound allows for more in-depth viewing during an ultrasound, giving the doctor a better understanding of the baby’s health.
A woman’s first prenatal ultrasound usually happens between weeks 18 and 20, but your doctor may already recommend a transvaginal ultrasound even before 12 weeks’ gestation to set a due date. In this case, a vaginal ultrasound transducer probe is put in the vagina to get a clear view of the uterus, or the womb, through the cervix. This procedure will already show your baby’s heart rate, size, umbilical cord, and the placenta.
Take prenatal vitamins.
Once your pregnancy is confirmed, your doctor will likely prescribe daily prenatal vitamins for you to take from thereon. For pregnant women, taking vitamins is one of the most essential to-dos throughout your pregnancy, as you would not want to miss out on any important nutrients that your baby needs. Some of the vitamins that your doctor may prescribe include folic acid, calcium, iron, vitamins A, C, D, and E, copper, and zinc.
The first month of pregnancy is one of the most crucial stages for your child’s growth as this is when the neural tube develops, eventually turning into your child’s brain and spinal cord.
Take care of yourself.
At this stage, looking out for your health is more important than ever. A healthy woman will most likely constitute a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. If you haven’t been conscious about your diet or your physique prior to becoming pregnant, now is the time to be so. Maintaining a nutritious diet during pregnancy can help sustain your baby’s brain development and birth weight, as well as reduce his or her risk of acquiring birth defects.
While it is essential to eat a variety of nutritious foods during pregnancy, it is also equally important to maintain a specific weight. Some women are often concerned about the weight that they may put on during pregnancy, but gaining weight is actually recommended when you’re expecting. A pregnant woman is expected to gain about 25 to 35 pounds throughout pregnancy, that is if her weight falls within the normal range prior to being pregnant.
Weight gain recommendations should differ from others, particularly those who were underweight before pregnancy or those who were obese. Have a lengthy discussion about this with your doctor to be sure.
Get lots of sleep!
Many new mothers often wish they could take back all the chances of sleep they wasted when they were pregnant. While your tiny tot has not come out yet to demand middle-of-the-night feedings, make the most of your time by getting enough rest. Sleep is especially important during your final trimester as your pregnancy gets more and more demanding. Don’t allow fatigue to get the best of you; catch Zzz’s every chance you get!
Last but not the least, here is a fool-proof must-do to get you through pregnancy: Enjoy it while it lasts! It is an experience that women only go through for nine months at a time. Make the most out of it and cherish every moment!
Infographic provided by International Surrogacy Center, a top company to become a surrogate
