What Do You Do When You Discover You're Pregnant ?

Firstly, heartiest congratulations! You have started on the journey of growing a person inside you- one of the most beautiful experiences ever. Now that you have embarked on this journey, let me put together a list of things you need to do:

Jump with joy- You may not be able to jump once you are heavily pregnant so do it now. On a light note, feel blessed and thankful.

Share this joy- I am sure your family members would be overjoyed to hear of this good news so share the news and spread the joy. And yes, the oxytocin released is going to definitely rub off positively on your lil one. 

Select your hospital and doctor- It is always advisable to go with recommendations from friends and family on a good gynecologist but if you do not get ready references, feel free to look up reviews on practo or similar websites for identifying a set of doctors that you can then evaluate through in person visits. A good gynecologist is as good as choosing a business partner- you need to trust them implicitly. So don’t be in a hurry and do not settle till you get the right match. You should feel comfortable and confident with your choice. Of course another parameter that should top your list is the time it would take to reach your doctor/ hospital. During the duration of the pregnancy, you would be making frequent visits and you do not want to have a taxing commute. Hence do consider doctors and hospitals in the vicinity. 

Once the doctor is finalized, they would recommend a comprehensive medical check up. Ensure you have a detailed discussion with your doctor on it and take necessary actions based on the results. You would be getting scans and check ups done at a regular frequency here onwards.

Chart out your diet - Well pregnancy is the time when even the most fussy eaters willingly take to everything that is healthy. However morning sickness can strike by week 6 accompanied by a keen sense of smell. It is difficult to eat right at this time. Do not worry! This phase would get done real soon. It generally subsides by week 16 if not earlier. However during this time, you could look at options like citrus juices and shakes, bland solids like rice and toast and keep ginger chews and peppermint candies as munchies to maintain good intake.

Once you are over your morning sickness, chart out a plan that has a lot of fresh fruits and leafy green vegetables. Creating a schedule that incorporates a good mix of all the nutrition the body needs helps you follow your food goals more closely.  

As you progress in your pregnancy it is also crucial to have frequent small meals to aid good development of the baby and to avoid other issues like bloating that are common during pregnancy. 

Exercise religiously: While your body may not feel up for exercise, it is a good idea to not slump into a lazy schedule once pregnancy begins. Keeping active during pregnancy has many more far reaching benefits both for the child’s development and for your recovery post delivery. If you were following an exercise regime prior to getting pregnant, you can keep a similar duration of activity during pregnancy but modify the exercises in keeping with your condition. For others, it is highly recommended to include a walk in your daily schedule even till the final delivery. You can start off slowly but should be doing overall 30 minutes that can be broken into 2 slots if required. Yoga is also another very good alternative that helps stretch the body and helps ease the aches and pains that the third trimester may bring in. There are Youtube videos available for different trimesters and could be a good resource in the absence of any guidance. However do consult your doctor on any exercise whatsoever before starting off.

Inform your workplace- It is a good idea to inform your managers at your workplace so that they can plan your absence and are also reciprocal towards your application of leaves for doctor visits. You could also read up on maternity benefits offered by your workplace and understand the insurance coverage.

Do what you love- Pregnancy is a once in a lifetime experience. Hence enjoy the period immensely, get pampered and do what you love. Your peace of mind does pass off to the baby and gives him an added sense of comfort and belongingness. It is a good time to get back to reading or listen to music you love or just put up your feet(quite literally) and watch TV. Your baby will definitely begin to know you through some of these activities. Stay clear of negative thoughts and build up an environment that you want your baby to grow up in.

Bond with your baby- Your partner and you can definitely bond by talking, reading and listening to the baby in the womb. The baby starts recognizing sounds as early as 4-5 months into pregnancy and it is a good idea to talk to them as they would be more receptive to these sounds when they come into this world. Playing the same music while you are preparing to sleep and waking up to the same music would also help build this recognition for the baby. The same music would then comfort them once they are on the other side.

Download apps like Baby centre- They give a week to week update on the growth of the baby within you and what you should prepare for. They can help you with basic tips and guidance on some common symptoms that come up in different weeks for the pregnant mother and remedies for the same. 

Final countdown: In the 8th month, you can create a list of items to buy for the baby and for you. Do remember not to over buy newborn clothes as babies are of different sizes and you do not want to end up with unused clothes. However, do your research and pick diapers, wipes, nappies, toiletries, towels, swaddles and blankets. Pack your hospital bag with only the essentials and keep it ready to avoid any last minute anxiety. 

A typical engineer cum MBA working as a marketing professional in e-commerce and a mother to a 6 month old munchkin. Love doing everything under the sun- dancing, exercising, painting and reading but now fully occupied with momma duties. Picked up writing during my maternity break to share experiences with other new moms starting out on this adventure.

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are the personal views of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mom Store.