Congratulations – you’re pregnant! So now what…
Seeing that positive sign come up on a pregnancy test is one of the most defining moments in your life and one that you’ll probably never forget. This is one of the most exciting (albeit scary) times of your life so take some time to let it soak it in…
First things first, have you worked out what your due date will be? Pregnancy typically lasts 40 weeks (however some women go under and some women go over) and is calculated from the first day of your last period; which means you can estimate when your due date will be.
However, this date may change once you see your doctor and have a dating scan as they will be able to determine it with more accuracy because every woman’s cycle, and at what point in it she conceived, will slightly differ. Most women don’t even know they are pregnant for the first few weeks until they miss a cycle, so you might find you are already 4 or even 5 weeks along when you find out.
So what now? Well there are a few things you can (and should) start doing as soon as you find out you are expecting:
- If you haven’t started taking a pregnancy multivitamin yet, now is the time to start! There are plenty on the market, just make sure you taking one with at least 400 mcg of folate in it.
- Start trying to eat a healthy, balanced diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, proteins and iron – your doctor will monitor your iron levels throughout your pregnancy as your volume of blood increases to help develop and grow your baby.
- Make sure you cut out alcohol and cigarettes too (if you haven’t already) and try and cut back on the amount of caffeine you’re drinking.
- It is safe to continue exercising in the first trimester if you are feeling up to it and have been exercising before falling pregnant, however always talk to your doctor before taking up any new exercise or if you are unsure or have any questions. Staying active during your pregnancy is good for both you and your baby and will help you with your recovery after giving birth.
Check out our week-to-week pregnancy guide for what is going on inside your body, how your baby is growing and how you can expect to feel each week.
All pregnancy medical content has been verified by Dr Christine Catling, a midwife for over 25 years and the Director of Midwifery studies at UTS.
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