Finding out that you are pregnant is a great roller coaster of feelings. Emotion, nerves, worry that everything is going well, fear or uncertainty, are all normal feelings among future mothers, whether they are new or not. One of the first questions any expectant mother asks herself when she discovers that she is pregnant is what you have to do now and what are the steps you have to follow.
If this is your case and you have just discovered that you are pregnant (or suspect that you might be), do not miss this guide of all the steps you must follow. Of course all are recommendations, but it is the most appropriate way to have a safe, controlled and healthy pregnancy. If your pregnancy is planned, it is most likely that you have already prepared in some way for this moment, but if it comes by surprise, surely there are many doubts that assail you at this moment.
I am pregnant, the first steps you should take
If you have taken a pregnancy test and the result has been positive, The first thing you should do is make an appointment with your GP. It is essential that from the first moment your doctor closely follows your condition and since the specialist has your medical history, if it is necessary to perform an extraordinary test, he will be prepared for it.
Your doctor will prescribe a vitamin supplement based on iron, folic acid, iodine, and other vitamins. This is because during pregnancy, you will need more of these substances so that your baby can develop normally. The vitamin supplement is important to avoid deficiencies, so you should take it as soon as your doctor prescribes it.
From that moment on, the medical check-ups will be carried out by the midwife of your health center. Or a doctor specialized in pregnancies who will follow up throughout the pregnancy. In each trimester you have to carry out different tests, such as complete blood tests, glucose tests, ultrasounds and different tests that your midwife will explain to you at each visit.
Out bad habits
Another thing you should do since you know you are pregnant is to abandon any type of bad habits that you may have in your day to day. If your pregnancy is planned, the normal thing is that you have already abandoned bad habits. But if this is not the case, or your pregnancy is a surprise, from the first moment you should stop consuming alcoholic beverages, tobacco and all kinds of substances harmful to your pregnancy.
Healthy eating, sport and relaxation
By following those tips, it is possible largely avoid the chances of birth defects in the fetus. Therefore:
- You must follow a healthy, varied and balanced diet: Eliminate from your diet some products that in pregnancy can be dangerous. In the article that you will find in the link, we explain well what are the foods that you should not eat hereinafter. What unpasteurized dairy products, raw meat and fish, including sausages or large fish due to their high mercury content.
- Physical activity: Maintaining a healthy weight during pregnancy is essential to avoid various possible complications. Being overweight increases risks of suffering from gestational diabetes, complications in childbirth or high blood pressure, among others.
- Learn to relax: If you are a normal nervous person, suffer from stress or anxiety regularly, it is very important that you learn to relax from now on. All these alterations can seriously affect the development of your pregnancy. So, find the best way to keep your nerves at bay. You can use guided meditation, pregnant yoga, midwifery, or exercises to control your breathing.
Enjoy your pregnancy
Being pregnant can be scary, it is completely normal and natural. It is an unknown situation and everything that is not controlled creates uncertainty. The best thing you can do for yourself and your baby from now on, is to face your pregnancy with a positive attitude. Enjoying every moment and every new sensation.