Learning that you’re pregnant, or trying to conceive is an exciting time! There are SO many questions though. “What to do when I’m first pregnant?” is on a lot of women’s minds. Here’s a few tips from an L&D Nurse.
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1. Dollar Store Pregnancy Tests
They’re legit, people. They just have less packaging, less advertising and less plastic. It’s not like your doctor’s office needs an EPT to tell if you’re pregnant each time. I buy them in bulk, just so when I’m having a procedure or I’m taking medicine I can KNOW. Do it. Or, check these out from Amazon!
2. Find a Doctor
Perhaps you had an OB before you got pregnant, but a lot of people just see family practice doctors for physicals outside of pregnancy. I have a whole post on finding a doctor but let me boil it down
- Find someone close to your home or your work
- Figure out what hospital you want to deliver at, and find a doctor that matches it.
- Find one you agree with — and that post has lots of hints to figure that out with!
Most doctors want to see you for your first visit between 6-10 weeks.
3. Find a Hospital
Again, 2 and 3 are kind of inter-related. I work at a free-standing birth center. This offers the ability to not be in a “hospital” environment, but having a full hospital at your disposal (because I am a nurse that works for the hospital). I think it’s really nice not to have share elevators with people who have who-knows-what. I’d see what’s around you and get recommendations from friends. Keep in mind that doctors only get “privileges” at one or two hospitals. They can’t just go to any hospital and deliver a baby. It’s just not how it works. One word: paperwork. Lots, and lots of paperwork. 🙂 Hence,they can usually only keep up with a few. That’s just one of the ways why a hospital is not a hotel.
4. Call your insurance.
Check out co-pays and how much your hospital stay is likely to cost. Also, you may need to pre-approve your hospital stay, they can give you the skinny!
5. Find a prenatal vitamin
Hopefully, you were taking prenatal vitamins before you conceived, as folic acid is most important before you’d really even know you’re pregnant. I’ve heard some controversy between folic acid and folate lately. Anyone have thoughts on that?
6. You can continue to work out
If you feel up to it, you can continue to keep up the same activity you did before you got pregnant. There are more restrictions on what type of workouts you can do as you progress in your pregnancy. Check with your doctor, but there’s no reason to feel like a fragile flower.
7. Being tired is normal
I remember with princess P I was pretty sure I had cancer if I wasn’t pregnant. I wanted to lay in my bed ALL. DAY. When I wasn’t caressing my pillow I was wishing I was. Constant droopy lids. SO. TIRED. When you think of all the iron it takes to build a placenta and a baby, you’ll know why! Having a hard time sleeping — this post shows you some ways to sleep during pregnancy.
Looking for more info on very early pregnancy symptoms << that blog has some awesome info!
It’s NOT to early to think about fitting in a prenatal class? Check out my online, non-nonsense prenatal class for couples available now with 3 price points to fit your wallet! — even a free version to try out now!
Of course, the other thing to do is to sign up for my Pregnancy Newsletter. You’ll get all my latest pregnancy posts. The most IMPORTANT thing is to just get excited. It’s such a fun, exciting time full of possibilities. You can do this!
Do NOT miss my new post about what you REALLY need for that new baby!
Check out all my other pregnancy posts:
Tess says
My MD recommended I take folate but I couldn’t find it, the PharmD said it’s just a “trade name” for folic acid. Same exact thing 🙂
Samantha | Forming Family says
Folate and Folic acid are very similar. Folate is the natural form of the vitamin while folic acid is the synthetic form. With all other vitamins in the body, the natural (food) form is better absorbed. However, folate is strange because it is better absorbed in its man-made folic acid form rather than in its naturally occurring folate form.
Hilary Erickson says
I have heard some controversy between the two lately…. not sure which is best anymore. 🙂