Congratulations, you’re pregnant!
We’re delighted for you! But… what now? Don’t worry, we’ve got this.
Make an appointment with your midwife
When you’re sure you’re in the family way (positive pregnancy test) give your GP a quick bell and book an appointment to see the midwife. They’ll ask you how far along you think you are based on the date of your last period and then book you in accordingly. Typically, you should be seen by your midwife between 8 – 10 weeks.
When you’re at the appointment, be prepared for an absolute information overload! It might be worth either taking someone with you or a notebook.
Start taking pregnancy supplements
Folic acid is super important during pregnancy as it helps to protect your developing baby against brain and spinal problems. Speak to your midwife or pharmacist as they’ll be able to advise you about which supplements to take for your needs. It’s also important that you eat a well-balanced and varied diet, not just to rely on supplemented vitamins.
Check your meds
If you’re on any long term medication, you’ll need to speak to your doctor about whether it’s safe for you and baby. If you are on the oral contraceptive pill, you will be advised to stop it once you have discovered you’re pregnant. If you suffer from a cold, flu or nasty bug, you’ll need to check the labels and speak to you pharmacist before taking anything. Some shop bought medicines are harmful for your unborn baby so it is best to check before taking anything.
Give it up
If you smoke, please consider trying to stop as soon as you find out you’re pregnant. We know that it’s hard to break an addiction but there is plenty of help available – speak to your midwife and antenatal team as well as pharmacist and your GP.
Caffeine cut down 🙁 *huge sad face from the Amoralia team*
Once you discover you’re pregnant, you’ll have to watch your caffeine intake – the daily limit for pregnant women is 20mg. After this, the risk of miscarriage increases. 200mg of caffeine is 2 cups of regular instant coffee, for example.
Image credit: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Clearblue_Advanced_Digital_Pregnancy_Test_with_Weeks_Estimator.jpg