I’m pregnant… Now what? 13 Things You Should Do Right Now

There it is. THE positive pregnancy test you waited what seems like an eternity (ie 5 minutes). You are pregnant!

What should you do first? Go tell your husband. Wait, no. Maybe your doctor? Find a midwife? Order a pregnancy book? Your head spins and spins with thoughts and obligations.

If the first thing you did was Google “I’m pregnant…now what?”, we’ve got some answers for you right here.

Without further ado, here is a helpful list for you:

1. Enjoy it

Go ahead. Jump up and down and run around the house screaming at the top of your lungs.I AM PREGNANT!!!” Do your happy dance.

Whether it happened quickly, or you’ve been trying for years, it is a truly happy moment when you realize you have a little miracle growing inside of you.

In the near future, you will come to terms with the fact that you are with a child. For now, it’s time to just feel joy.

2. Find a fun way to tell your spouse or partner

Sure, you could go the old-fashioned way and tell them the moment you find out. Or you could get Pinterest-y and surprise them. Here are some ideas to get your mind set on, but the more personal the better.

• Put a bun in the oven. Add a toothpick flag on top that says baby’s due date. Ask your partner to take dinner out of the oven to catch it first hand.
• Make a sign ahead of time that says, “I’m pregnant!” and plan a trip to the mall or an expo where you’ll know it’ll be there a photo booth. Hold up the sign in the first shot and then enjoy its reaction in the rest of the photos.
• “Hide” the pregnancy test some place you know will find it. In his sock drawer, wrapped around the TV remote, on the fridge door next to the beer.
• Leave it The t-shirt does the talking. Get him a t-shirt announcing the news like this or have your child announce that they are going to a big brother or sister— that includes furry children very.

3. Change your diet

If there was ever a time to take your health seriously, it’s when you’re growing a baby inside of you. Regardless of the starting point (daily trips to McDonald’s and soda on leafy greens and bone broth)making good nutritional decisions during pregnancy is not easy.

You have the cards stacked against you—your heightened sense of smell, your aversion to greens and meat, your morning sickness lasting long beyond the morning.

But if you’re ready and willing to change your diet, try not to get too caught up in the details. There is a lot of conflicting advice out there. The most important thing is to eat a wide variety of nutrient-dense, real foods to make sure you are giving your baby everything he needs. Try to incorporate as many colors of the rainbow as possible into your plate so that you and baby can benefit from all that Nature has to offer.

I’m also an advocate of getting plenty of protein per day Brewer’s Diet. For me, it made all the difference in mine swelling of the legs from my first pregnancy compared to my second and third.

4. Start a prenatal

Even if you follow a nutrient-dense, fertility diet full of avocado, liver, grass-fed meatand cod liver oil, you should be taking a prenatal supplement to make sure all your bases are covered.

Unfortunately, our depleted soils and industrialized food system prevent us from getting everything we need from food alone.

Of course, many of your typical prenatal pharmacies are also industrialized. They may contain all the nutrients, but those nutrients are created in a lab with vitamin isolates separated from the natural cofactors that help your body absorb the vitamin properly.

Thank goodness, then, for natural vitamins, which they actually were turns out to be superior in synthetics. Here is an in-depth analysis of the physical prenatal vitamin options.

5. Exchange your products

When we think processed, unnatural and toxic, food usually comes to mind. But the products you use on and around you can affect you (and your baby) just as much. (Read more about this here and here)

Start with your medicine cabinet with yours toothpaste, soapbody lotion, shampoo, conditioner and deodorant. Here are a handful of suggestions for natural alternativesand what to look for in your products in the future.

Then make your way to it cleaning and laundry products. There are some good products out there, but sometimes the best solution is whole foods like salt, lemons, vinegar, and baking soda.

Finally, leave the scented candlesfragrance, ‘fresh scent’ fabric softener and Glade Plug Ins. These are toxic and not good for you or the baby. (Source)

6. Download a pregnancy app or subscribe to Mama Natural every week

There is nothing more exciting than watching your baby grow each week.

• Week 5: Your baby’s heart starts beating.
• Week 14: You’re in your second trimester and your little one is the size of a peach. Eek!

You don’t have to wait for your audits to get this information because, of course, there’s an app for that. In fact, there are quite a few pregnancy applications.

That said, There aren’t any apps out there for crunchy moms-to-be, so I created my own. It’s called the Natural Pregnancy Week by Week and you can sign up for it here.

7. Make an appointment with a midwife or doctor

If you’re more comfortable with a doctor, there are some naturally minded obstetrician-gynecologists out there.

However, if you want a more natural birth, then Working with a midwife is your best bet.

Studies show that midwife deliveries tend to have fewer interventions (source), and mothers who give birth with midwives are more likely to achieve this I am breastfeeding. (source)

If you choose to go the midwife route, here are some great ones interview questions to find the right midwife for you.

8. Find a doula

Is there a birth professional other than your doctor or midwife? Yes, and they are more necessary than you could ever imagine. A doula is a trained professional who provides ongoing physical (non-medical) and emotional support to expectant mothers. I like to call them birthing angels. Some doulas even provide postpartum support.

A study expectant mothers who were matched with doulas were found to be:

• four times less likely to have a low birth weight baby,
• twice as less likely to have complications in childbirth,
• and significantly more successful in initiating breastfeeding.

The best way to find a doula is to ask around. Friends, family or your midwife can give you referrals. Interview them yourselfand make sure they are the best for you. If you can’t find a good referral, try this website or this website to find one in your area.

9. Create a registry

Oh, the baby registry! Even more exciting than a marriage registry, but also more confusing. If this is your first child, chances are you have no idea where to start. Let me go cloth diaper or disposable? How many bottles need; What is one swaddleand how can i do it?

First things first: Remember that baby “stuff” is useful, but Babies (especially newborns) don’t really need that many things. If you start with the basics—something to wear, somewhere to poop, and somewhere to sleep, you’re covered 🙂

You’ll realize that even though your girlfriend “can’t live without her Moby wrap,” your little one might not. Also, while you may have many well-meaning friends and family who have their registry recommendations, you may be looking for a more natural or minimal route. I’ve got you covered there.

Here’s everything you need to know creating a baby registry.

10. Raise your mental game

Educating yourself is vital to preparing you (and your partner!) for labor mentally, physically and spiritually. Through childbirth education classes (such as Mom Natural course of labor!), you’ll learn everything you need to know about each stage of labor, get helpful tools to navigate the intensity of labor, and connect with a support network of other expectant mothers.

Many moms find the practice to be positive birth certificates and visualizations can also help. Studies show that our brains can create new, positive neural pathways through our thoughts. As a result, birth confirmations can help you connect with the baby and reduce fear and anxiety around childbirth.

11. Exercise strategically

Exercise strengthens the brain power of the baby. It doesn’t have to be crossfit either. In fact, gentle exercise is much more suitable for pregnancy – a little light stretch or 30 minutes of walking a few times a week will do.

You can also do pelvic exercises to keep your baby inside optimal position for birth.

12. Get out as much as you can

Once the morning sickness has passed (or maybe you’ll get lucky and skip this phase altogether!) and you’re in the second trimester (also called the “magic middle”) go and party!

Okay, maybe party isn’t the right word. But there are many things you and your partner can do to pamper and nurture yourselves.

Here is a fun list 17 things to do before the baby arrives.

13. Nest

Do you suddenly feel the urge to clean out the junk drawer? Rearranging the furniture? Organize that huge box of photos into photo albums? After partying like it’s 1999, get down to business. Nesting is the intuitive desire to prepare your home for your bundle of joy.

A 2013 study found that nesting is more than “absurd” behavior. it actually is key to preparing for childbirth. And it doesn’t just stop at cleaning out the garage and painting the bathrooms, it can also involve thinking hard about where the birth will take place and who will be present.

When it comes to nesting, there’s no reason to hold back. By getting your “ducks in a row,” you’ll feel more productive, less stressed, and ready for your big day at work. Set up your nursery, wash those baby clothes, pack your hospital bag, do whatever it takes to feel good before the birth. Unless, of course, it involves lifting heavy objects, climbing stairs or making a sacrifice precious sleep.

How about you?

What did you do when you found out you were pregnant? Share your thoughts in the comments below.