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Congratulations, kudos, and woo hoo – you're pregnant! In those rare moments when you're not dancing on air or completely freaking out, you may wonder what you need to do next. Here are the most important things to do as you wait to meet your baby.
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March of Dimes. 2014. Choosing a prenatal care provider. http://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/choosing-your-prenatal-care-provider.aspx [Accessed February 2020]
Nemours Foundation. 2015. Miscarriages. http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/miscarriage.html [Accessed February 2020]
OWH. 2010a. Stages of pregnancy. U.S. Office on Women’s Health. http://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-are-pregnant/stages-of-pregnancy.html [Accessed February 2020]
OWH. 2010b. Staying healthy and safe. U.S. Office on Women’s Health. https://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-are-pregnant/staying-healthy-safe.html [Accessed February 2020]]
Evonne Lack Bradford is an educational writer and an instructional designer. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three children. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching documentaries, and pretending she has a green thumb.
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After learning that you're pregnant, your main agenda is simple: Tell your partner and celebrate! But once the happy news sinks in, the next steps can seem overwhelming. To help simplify the situation, we asked Akua Afriyie-Gray, M.D., an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Loyola Medical Center, for the most important moves a pregnant woman should make.
Getting proper nutrition is important for a healthy pregnancy, and your body requires an additional dose of certain vitamins at this time. For instance, pregnant women need to bump up their folic acid intake from 400 to 600 micrograms (mcg) a day to protect against birth defects. "Because these nutrients are so important, I recommend that women start taking prenatal vitamins as soon as they start trying to conceive ," explains Afriyie-Gray. Any variety labeled "prenatal" should cover your bases, but make sure to check out the dose; some brands require two pills a day.
Drinking too much can cause permanent harm to your baby. It can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome , a condition that hinders mental and physical development. "What you need to worry about is the cumulative amount of alcohol you drink during pregnancy ," says Afriyie-Gray. So the glass or two of wine you sipped before you realized that you were pregnant isn't dangerous, she says, as long as you lay off the Shiraz from now on.
But whether you can sip the occasional cocktail for the next nine months is up for debate: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there's no safe amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. Some experts disagree, saying that a small glass once in a while is fine; consult your doctor to determine what's best for you.
These days, there are more options for your obstetrical provider: You can choose from Ob-Gyns, midwives, family practitioners, doulas and more. Along with your partner, decide what provider best suits your needs. Those with a medical condition, like diabetes or high blood pressure , may want to choose an Ob-Gyn, while those with a history of genetic problems may choose the guidance of a maternal fetal specialist.
Puffing on a cigarette exposes your baby to harmful chemicals, such as tar and nicotine, while reducing blood flow. As a result, smoking increases your chances of having complications, such an ectopic pregnancy and birth defects. Speak to your healthcare provider about the best way to stop smoking.
Beyond your own habit, it's also important to stamp out cigarettes all around you. "Secondhand smoke is also dangerous to the fetus," says Afriyie-Gray. According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics , pregnant women who were chronically exposed to secondhand smoke were 23 percent more likely to have a stillbirth and 13 percent more likely to have a child with a birth defect. So tell your family to refrain from lighting up in your presence, and always opt for non-smoking areas in public spaces.
Pregnant women should avoid strenuous work and excessive amounts of stress. So if lifting heavy objects is part of your job, or if your high-pressure workload causes anxiety, speak with someone in your company's human resources department.
Ask around about any pregnancy complications or genetic abnormalities , such as sickle-cell disease or Down syndrome , which may run in the family. "This helps your doctor look out for any potential problems during your pregnancy or birth," says Afriyie-Gray.
Whether it's sushi or a medium-rare steak, undercooked meat may harbor harmful bacteria that cause toxoplasmosis , a dangerous infection that can result in serious eye or brain damage. Another potential danger: deli meat, which can contain another bacteria called listeria. If you can't bear to part with those turkey slices, make sure that you heat them until they're steaming hot.
Once you've informed others of your pregnancy, speak with someone in your benefits department to discuss the details of your maternity leave . Some companies don't grant extra time if you have to enter the hospital early due to complications. Knowing the fine print can help you make the smartest decisions.
Make sure that you're up-to-date on all of your shots. The CDC advises that all pregnant women receive an annual flu shot , since changes in your immune system leave you more vulnerable to flu-related complications.
While you're at it, check on the status of your TDAP vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Pertussis (also known as whooping cough ) has made a comeback, and the illness can be dangerous—or even deadly—in infants. Getting immunized during pregnancy protects your newborn. To play it safe, ask that anyone who plans on having close contact with your child to get vaccinated.
Finally, a legitimate reason to buy cute new outfits: Your body is going to change over the next nine months. "Not only should you expect them, but you should embrace them," says Afriyie-Gray. To prepare, pick up a nursing bra, maternity clothes and comfortable shoes.
More than half of women experience feelings of anxiety or depression during pregnancy, according to an online poll done by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America . If you're grappling with one of these emotions, tell someone so you can get the help you need, whether it's a supportive hug or medical assistance.
Together with your partner, determine when you're going to share the happy news with your family, friends and coworkers. "There's less of a chance of pregnancy loss after a heartbeat is seen on the ultrasound, so that's when some people feel comfortable telling others," says Afriyie-Gray. But it's a personal decision, so make sure that you're both on the same page.
When you're dealing with so many changes in your body, your dental health probably isn't the first thing on your mind. But the state of your gums and teeth can affect your baby's well-being. "Bacteria in the mouth can enter the bloodstream, which increases the risk of preterm contractions," explains Afriyie-Gray. So don't forget to brush and floss, and schedule those dental checkups.
It's all too easy to get caught up with the details. But don't forget to step back to relax and enjoy your pregnancy. "It's such a special time in a woman's life," says Afriyie-Gray. So pamper yourself and put your pregnancy first!
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Your breasts may be extra tender as early as one or two weeks after conception. "You're making so much estrogen and progesterone in early pregnancy that the glands in the breasts start growing," explains Jasbir Singh, M.D., an OB-GYN at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie in Texas. This hormone surge causes breasts to retain more fluids and feel heavy, sore, or more sensitive than normal PMS tenderness.
Many people mistake these early signs of pregnancy for PMS symptoms, but they're actually caused by hormonal changes and the growth of the uterus. About 30% of pregnant people experience cramping after conception , which is triggered by implantation—when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. Your uterus may also be stretching a little now (hence the cramps) to prep for its massive expansion over the next nine months.
When a fertilized egg implants into the plush lining of the uterus about six to 12 days after conception, light vaginal spotting may occur. You might mistake this "implantation bleeding" for the start of your period, but it's generally lighter than menstruation and brown or pink (instead of red) in color.
While this super early sign of pregnancy is harmless, you should always let your doctor know if you think you're expecting, so they can rule out other causes of vaginal bleeding. "In the first trimester, bleeding should be evaluated for three things in particular: miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy , or certain types of infections," Dr. Singh says. "Implantation bleeding is sort of a diagnosis of exclusion. That means we rule out the bad things before we can determine this is what it is."
During the first few weeks, your body is working 24/7 to support the pregnancy, and fatigue is a normal response. The extra progesterone produced after conception causes your basal body temperature to rise, which in turn contributes to a lack of energy, explains Karen Perkins, M.D., an OB-GYN with A Woman's Choice at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. Your heart also pumps faster, as it has to deliver extra oxygen to the uterus; this, too, can make you feel tuckered out.
So what should you do? " Take prenatal vitamins early on, eat a healthful diet, drink plenty of fluids to keep your blood pressure high enough, and rest when you can," Dr. Singh says.
Are your nipples and areolas looking darker these days? Pregnancy hormones also affect the activity of melanocytes, or cells in the nipples responsible for their color.
"Darker-complexioned women may not notice this until later in pregnancy—say, around 10 weeks or so," says Melissa M. Goist, M.D., Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Ohio State University Medical Center.
While full-blown morning sickness —which affects up to 85% of all pregnant people—likely won't strike for a few more weeks, some may experience more subtle motion sickness as an early pregnancy symptom.
"I've had patients tell me they'd suddenly get queasy from reading in the car or would feel sick during flights," says Dr. Goist. This can start as early as two weeks after conception.
"Progesterone causes a lot of things to slow down," Dr. Singh adds. That includes your digestive processes, sometimes resulting in constipation or indigestion. Since your stomach doesn't empty as quickly as it normally does, it thinks there's too much going on in there and wants to purge in some way—either into the gut or out through the mouth.
Nausea also is related to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) , a hormone that can be detected in the blood or urine even before a missed period. The higher the hCG level, the sicker you may feel.
Can't zip up those skinny jeans? Ramped-up levels of progesterone slow down your digestive tract and may make your tummy feel puffier than usual. (This also happens during PMS, notes Dr. Goist, but bloating typically stops when your period arrives when progesterone levels plummet.) If the bloating doesn't go away—and your period never comes—start watching for that stick to turn pink .
You might think frequent urination comes later when the growing fetus presses down on your bladder, but an increase in bathroom breaks sometimes starts early in pregnancy. Not only can the swelling uterus put pressure on your bladder, but the extra blood flow to the kidneys (which begins right away) also causes them to produce more urine.
There's not much to do about this early sign of pregnancy, unless the frequent urination is accompanied by burning, urgency, or other signs of infection . (If so, notify your doctor.) Do not cut back on your fluid intake.
At this point, you're more likely jonesing for a jumbo bagel than pickles or Rocky Road. "Your overtired body may demand extra carbs now because they're easily metabolized, which helps keep energy levels up," says Dr. Goist.
Increased blood volume may trigger frequent but mild tension headaches as an early sign of pregnancy. These headaches can also happen if you aren't drinking enough fluids or if you're anemic, so be sure to get your blood work done to rule out the latter.
The good news: Migraines become less frequent as pregnancy progresses. "Fluctuating hormones tend to make headaches worse, and estrogen levels are more stable during pregnancy," explains Richard Gersh, M.D., an assistant professor of OB-GYN at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia.
Is constipation a sign of early pregnancy? You bet! The same hormones responsible for bloating are also behind your potty problems. Because your digestive tract is slowing down now, says Dr. Goist, food may not pass through as quickly. This early pregnancy symptom will likely ramp up even more as your pregnancy progresses.
Find yourself weeping over a commercial or raging because the Verizon guy can't come until Tuesday? "As levels of hCG hormones increase, you're feeling massive amounts of fatigue, which makes you more prone to moodiness," says Dr. Goist. And don't forget that stellar combo of headaches, bloating, constipation, and breast pain—need we say more?
Measuring basal body temperature (BBT)—your temperature first thing in the morning—can indicate that you've ovulated . The temperature rises about half a degree when an egg is released, and it remains elevated until you get your period.
So if you're charting your BBT and notice it hasn't decreased in more than two weeks, it may mean you've got a baby on the way. FYI: You'll need a special digital basal thermometer to do this; it's more precise than normal fever-measuring thermometers.
Bloody noses, congestion, and postnasal drip are common in pregnancy, and they're all related to the same two causes, says Nathaniel DeNicola, M.D., an OB-GYN at the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia. Increasing blood volume puts more pressure on delicate vessels like the ones in your nose, but hormones are to blame too, Dr. DeNicola says.
Estrogen, in particular, can make blood vessels dilate, which contributes to swelling of the mucous membranes in your nose. Luckily, much of the discomfort can be relieved by using a simple saline spray, and it should resolve soon after delivery.
What are the five most common early signs of pregnancy? Check out the video, and watch Dr. Alexandra Sowa explain.
Wondering when you’ll feel your baby’s first kick or when you’ll have your first pregnancy ultrasound? Consider this week-by-week pregnancy calendar your ultimate guide to the next nine months.
Find advice, support and good company (and some stuff just for fun).
When you’re pregnant, your baby is changing every day, and your body is keeping pace. This pregnancy tracker will help you better understand the weeks, months and trimesters of your pregnancy; each brings new developments and milestones for you and your baby-to-be.
Read on to learn more about what you can expect to happen week-by-week during pregnancy, including how big your baby is each week, common early pregnancy symptoms you might experience and, once you’ve entered the third trimester, ways to prepare for labor and signs that labor is near . You'll better understand what's going on and why, inside and out, with this guide.
The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff. This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy . © 2022 Everyday Health, Inc
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