Visit the doctor, inform your family members, say no to harmful products, take rest, eat healthy, financial security, book in to have blood tests, book early screening tests, dental care and fill the nutritional gaps are some of the things to do after a positive pregnancy test.
You may feel it all once – happiness, stress, worry and what not. Of course, you can look forward to the exciting times of pregnancy but that will happen only if you take proper care of yourself. Amongst all this excitement, the first thing you need to do is relax and take a deep breath. Now after you have that positive pregnancy test in your hand, you may be thinking what’s next? Well, we have done the job for you. In this article, we have listed 11 must to do things after a positive pregnancy test:
11 Things you Should do after you Get a Positive Pregnancy Test
Visit the Doctor
So, the first thing that one must do after having taken a pregnancy test is to visit the doctor. If you have taken a home pregnancy test and confirmed your pregnancy only with that, you should take a pregnancy test with your doctor immediately. It is important for you to follow your doctor’s advice and recommendations so as to ensure proper care for the born-tobe.
Inform Your Family Members
In the first 12-13 weeks of pregnancy, the mother is at the stage of highest risk of miscarriage and thus, some doctors are of the belief that the pregnancy news should only let out after the mother is past that stage. You should inform your spouse, family members and close relations about the test results. The issue is that one might feel very sick in those first 12 weeks or so and therefore, you need to arrange for the people who you know will be there by your side to take care of you in such condition.
Say no to Harmful Products
If you are someone who is addicted to alcohol or any such product that can be detrimental to your health and your baby, it is necessary that you quit the consumption of such products. Alcohol, tobacco and other such drugs can lead to a number of complications during pregnancy. Low birth weight, premature birth, mental and physical deformity in the baby and other problems can be caused as a result of substance abuse.
Take Rest
After the next 9 months, you are likely to experience a number of sleepless nights with the crying baby in your laps. Trust me, this will surely happen. And in order to make up for the sleep deprived months in the future, it is important for you to take complete rest with lots of sleep now. Sleep deprivation begins during the later stage of pregnancy and thus, you need to prepare your body for what is coming up next. You would also be recommended prenatal vitamins by your doctor so as to ensure the health your baby. make sure you do not skip them.
Eat Healthy
Gone are the days when you could eat lots and lots of junkies. It is now the time for you to start eating healthy. Your diet should consist of food that is nutritious for both, you and your baby. Include fresh fruits, whole grains and lean proteins in your diet as they are extremely vital for your needs as well as for the baby’s growth.
Financial Security
It is never too late to consider the budgeting guidelines which are an equally important part of pregnancy. You must figure out exactly how much you spend and earn each month, open savings account, research tax credit and child eligibility benefit and prepare an estimated list of baby expenses per month.
Book in to Have Blood Tests
You will be sent to have some initial blood tests by your GP. While some doctors do this straight away, others wait for a little long. You should thus check with your doctor for any blood tests that you need to have and when you need to book yourself in for the same.
Book Early Screening Tests
Your GP or midwife will discuss with you about the availability of screening tests in pregnancy. For certain syndromes and genetic conditions, there are early screening tests that can be performed around 10-14 weeks into the pregnancy. Also, these tests are performed during a specific window of time and thus, you should be informed about them in case you are planning to have them.
Private vs Public
This would probably be the first question asked by your GP, which is where you plan to have your baby. well, private or public hospitals are not the only options and you can also choose birthing centre or GP shared care but in case you have private hospital insurance that covers maternity, you have an option of choosing private hospital to have your baby.
Dental Care
It is essentially important for you to continue with your regular dental care during pregnancy. Poor dental habits can be a lot harmful during pregnancy. Premature delivery, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and intrauterine growth issues can all be caused as a result of poor dental habits.
Fill the Nutritional Gaps
A baby born with neural tube defects which affect the brain and spinal cord can be prevented with folic acid. These defects usually develop within the first 28 days following conception. So, even if you are planning for a baby, it is recommended that you take a daily dose of folic acid. Similarly, calcium supplements will help in maintaining the bone density and her teeth and iodine is essential for proper thyroid functioning.
Conclusion
Pregnancy is the best possible thing that can happen in one’s life. There is so much to expect in the near future and for that, planning is equally important. You must eat healthy and nutritious food, go for routine check-ups, take your vitamins and so much more that we have already discussed above.
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4275593/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4137896/
