So you’re pregnant–yay! First off, let me say congratulations! You may be wondering what to do now that you’re pregnant.
I remember when I found out I was pregnant with my son, Elijah.
My husband and I had only been married about a month and a half, and we had no clue what to do.
We hadn’t been planning to have a baby quite that soon, so we were a bit surprised and unprepared.
Today I want to take your through a few things you should do shortly after you find out you’re pregnant.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here. I am not a medical professional, and this is not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor concerning your health or that of your baby.
What To Do When You Find Out You’re Pregnant
I assume at this point you have taken a pregnancy test to confirm that you are pregnant.
If not, but you think you are pregnant, grab a pregnancy test at a local drugstore or pharmacy. I used Clearblue’s pregnancy test, and got clear results fast.
At first I wasn’t sure how accurate over the counter pregnancy tests were, and you may be wondering the same thing. Rest assured that OTC pregnancy tests are typically 99% correct.
So if it says you are pregnant, it’s almost always correct.
If your test comes up negative but you still think you might be pregnant, try taking another one in a week or so. It’s possible that the pregnancy hormone, hCG, hasn’t built up enough to be detected by the test.
Once you have confirmed your pregnancy, be sure to do these eight things, listed in no particular order.
Make An Appointment With Your OBGYN
One of the very first things you should do after finding out you’re pregnant is to make an appointment with your OBGYN (or midwife, if that’s the route you want to go).
Don’t be alarmed if you aren’t scheduled for an appointment immediately. Typically you don’t have your first prenatal visit until at least eight weeks from your last period (source).
Still, you should call to schedule it as soon as possible.
Tell Your Partner/Spouse
This is probably the first thing you should do in most cases.
Definitely be sure to tell your spouse or partner after you find out you are pregnant!
How you tell them is up to you. You can simply sit down with them and tell them or go as elaborate as planning a surprise to let them know.
You know your significant other best, so do what works best for you and him.
Check Out Your Medical Insurance
Before your first prenatal visit, be sure to look into your medical insurance to find out what is covered and not covered. This can save you a ton of money in the long run!
You’ll want to make sure that the OBGYN/midwife you are seeing accepts your insurance, for sure.
Also find out if there are any tests or procedures that are not covered by your insurance.
For example, when I was pregnant, my insurance did not cover two particular tests unless you requested approval by them prior to having the test done.
At the time, we didn’t know that (and didn’t know enough to even think it could be a problem!), and it ended up costing us around $700 out of pocket.
Do yourself a huge favor and find out these things ahead of time. And if you are in an appointment and something sounds like it might not be covered, don’t hesitate to ask to wait until you have a change to check with your insurance provider.
Begin Financially Preparing
If we’re being honest, babies are expensive.
Even practicing some of the best money saving tips on baby items only reduces the cost to a degree.
It’s smart to begin financially preparing for your baby as soon as you find out you are pregnant (if not before).
Figure out how much it will cost you monthly for things like diapers, wipes, clothes, and other baby products.
Sit down with your spouse and adjust your budget now, so that you have time to figure out how to make it all work before there’s the pressure of having to make it work.
Also figure out how to set money aside to pay for medical bills.
Remember, delivery is not the ending point of the bills. To be honest, I think I got more bills after delivery than I ever did while I was pregnant.
You’ll have the bill for yourself while you are at the hospital, and a separate bill for your baby. Plus, your baby will need to have regular well child checkups for the first two or more years of his/her life.
Decide When/How To Tell Others
I recommend sitting down with your spouse/significant other as soon as possible and deciding when to tell family, friends, and other people in your life.
It’s best to do this together so that you are both on the same page.
When you announce that you are pregnant is completely up to you.
Some people like to announce it as soon as possible, while others like to wait until the end of the first trimester or even later.
Just decide together so that the cat doesn’t get out of the bag sooner than you want it to!
Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins
As soon as you find out that you are pregnant, pick up some prenatal vitamins to start taking.
You can get over the counter prenatal vitamins, and can start taking them before your first prenatal appointment.
If you are able to swallow pills you can get ones to swallow. Or, if you find that your gag reflex has become super sensitive, making it difficult to swallow pills, you can get gummy prenatal vitamins to chew.
When I was pregnant, my gag reflex was completely out of control. There was no way I was able to swallow even the smallest of pills! I ended up getting these gummy vitamins to take.
Stop Taking Medication Harmful To Baby
One thing many first time moms don’t think about is over the counter medicine that could be harmful to their unborn baby.
For example, you shouldn’t take Ibuprofen while pregnant, because it can be very harmful to your baby, especially early on.
To be safe, stop using any medication that has not been directly approved by your doctor.
At your first prenatal appointment, you should receive a list of OTC medication that is safe for you to take during your pregnancy.
Stop Eating Food Harmful To Baby
Once you know you are pregnant, it is a good idea to avoid foods which can be harmful to your baby.
Practicing good prenatal nutrition will help you to avoid harmful chemicals such as mercury (found in some fish and tuna).
Definitely make a point to eat healthy, nutritious foods that will nourish both you and your baby.
What Did You Do First When You Found You Were Pregnant?
What steps did you take or plan to take once you found out you were pregnant? Share with me in the comments below–I’d love to hear from you!
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