Whether it’s your first, second, third or even fifth or sixth pregnancy, when you first find out you’re pregnant it is a hugely emotional time. You may feel happy, elated, nervous, excited or shocked, or possibly even all of the above! If you’ve just found out you’re pregnant again after a previous loss it can be a particularly emotional time. While your brain is busy processing your pregnancy news, taking some time to work through our pregnancy checklist of what to do when you first find out you’re pregnant can really help to focus and (hopefully!) calm the mind.
1. Contact your GP or midwife
Probably the single most important thing you can do when you find out you’re pregnant is ensure your ongoing health and pregnancy care is in place. Depending on where you live and your individual GP surgery they may want you to contact your GP in the first instance or, alternatively, make contact directly with your midwife. Most GP surgeries will have this information on their website but, if in doubt, call your surgery. If you discover that you’re not actually registered at a GP surgery the NHS website can help you identify your local GP surgery.
2. Get your pregnancy vitamins sorted
Despite the plethora of pregnancy vitamins available, the only specific vitamins that the NHS recommends you take during pregnancy are folic acid and vitamin D. Of course, if you like the ease of taking a pregnancy vitamin so you’ve got all bases covered then there’s absolutely nothing wrong in doing so. If you are trying for a baby it is recommended you start taking 400 micrograms of folic acid every day. Vitamin D (10 micrograms) is routinely recommended for all UK residents during October – April. There may be some incidences where your GP or midwife recommends additional medication or a higher dose. They will typically discuss this with you as soon as you contact them (as well as at your booking appointment and 12 week scan) which is why contacting your health care provider should absolutely be step 1.
3. Take a look at your lifestyle
Pregnancy can be a wonderful experience but also one that takes a toll on your body. There’s no need to panic, for most people, their body is designed and equipped for the challenge however, ensuring your lifestyle is as healthy as possible will only have positive benefits for both you and baby. Cut out any bad habits (e.g. smoking and drinking), reduce your caffeine intake and make sure you’ve checked the latest list of food and drink items to avoid whilst pregnant. You should also aim to keep active during pregnancy so, if you’re already fit, it is usually fine to keep your regular exercise going whilst dropping the intensity (different recommendations apply for contact sports) but again, if in any doubt speak to your GP or midwife – they are there to support you during pregnancy and keep you well so no amount of questions are too many!
4. Relax
Your body has an amazing and yet very busy 9 months (ish) ahead of it! Taking time to rest, accepting that things you once found easy may become tiring is key to setting the right mind set for your pregnancy. Whilst relaxing have some fun planning your nursery décor, thinking about which baby toys baby will love and choosing your feeding pillow (trust us – you’ll love it during pregnancy too!).
5. Consider telling your employer
Many women find the first trimester brings with it the most amount of pregnancy symptoms (morning sickness we’re looking at you!). Often women choose to wait and share their news until after 12 weeks pregnancy, and yet, this is so often when women need the most support and their hormone levels are really doing summersaults. When you choose to share your news is, of course, entirely your choice however, if you’re working and your employer is unaware of your pregnancy they will be unable to support you. Employers are legally obligated to ensure pregnant women are safe and working in a healthy environment so don’t feel concerned about sharing your news.
6. Think about childcare
As ridiculous as this may sound if this is your first pregnancy, if you are planning to utilise paid childcare after maternity and / or parental leave then get your name on a waiting list now! Childcare providers (especially the really great ones) can often have a waiting list of 12 – 18 months so, as early as it may seem, get on that waiting list now. You will also want to consider whether a childminder or nursery setting suits you best and whether you have family close by who will want to be involved in the day to day childcare.
7. Plan your finances
Pregnancy not only brings physical and emotional changes but also significant financial implications, especially if you are planning to take a long maternity leave, return to work part time or perhaps not at all. It’s important to start planning your finances early. Assess your current financial situation and consider future expenses, such as baby essentials, and potential loss of income. Make sure you check your employers maternity pay policy and if you qualify for statuary parental leave (previously statuary maternity pay). You may even choose to consult with a financial advisor to help plan in more detail.
8. Consider antenatal classes
For some mums-to-be attending antenatal classes can be a vital part of preparing for childbirth and parenthood. These classes are designed to educate you about the different stages of pregnancy, labour, and the early days of parenting. Often, the most popular classes and groups get booked up early so, despite being early, you may wish to check what’s available in your area sooner rather than later. As well as traditional antenatal classes, you may also want to think about joining pregnancy specific exercise classes like pregnancy yoga, and also hypnobirthing classes and workshops. Your partner certainly can’t start preparing for his or her birth partner role soon enough!
