I’ve dedicated every Friday on the blog to pregnancy. I’m excited about my pregnancy and want to share the excitement with you but I also don’t want to overwhelm anyone who might not want to hear about it. Each week, you can expect a pregnancy related post along with my bump update for the week. If you’re just here for the bump update, feel free to scroll to the bottom. Otherwise, please enjoy the tips I’ve put together for you from my own research and experiences!
There are so many things to do when you’re pregnant and so many books out there giving advice that it can be a little overwhelming. I know I was slightly overwhelmed right after seeing the positive on the stick. That’s why I’m bringing you five steps that you can take immediately without getting too overwhelmed. After all, you have nine months to do everything else!
Deal with your emotions.
Happy, sad, scared, nervous, overwhelmed, surprised. The list could go on and on of different emotions that you might be feeling when you first see that positive on the stick. It’s okay to feel however you feel. Maybe you’ve been trying for months and you’re over the moon with excitement. Or maybe it’s a total (and slightly unwanted) surprise and you’re scared out of your mind. Whatever you’re feeling, know that it’s okay to feel that way and do your best to come to terms with your emotions and the changes that you’re about to embrace. It’s important that you practice a little self care and reflection in this moment.
Figure out how to tell the father.
Let’s face it – it takes two to make a baby (well, in most cases). How you choose to tell the father is entirely up to you. He might be right beside you waiting for the line to appear or he may be nowhere near. There’s three things to consider when you decide how to tell him – when you’ll tell him, how you’ll tell him, and where you’ll tell him. For us, it was a personal moment at home and I told him as soon as he got home. I’ve known others who like to wait a few days and plan something super special as the reveal. Remember, it’s entirely up to you.
Call your doctor and set up an appointment.
This one is going to vary for person to person. For me, I had to set up an appointment with my general doctor in order to be referred out to an OB. For others, you may already have an OB or gynecologist that you can call directly. I recommend looking into your insurance and medical requirements for this step. Special side note: Even though you might call right away, it could still be several weeks before the doctor feels you need to come in and be seen. This might also be a good time to start a secret Pinterest board so that you can start researching on your own and prepare a list of questions for the doctor.
Download a pregnancy app.
You’re probably going to be curious about your due date. The doctor will help you figure it out, but like I mentioned above, you might not get into a doctor right away. There are lots of free calculators out there on website and apps that can help you make a prediction. If you’ve had regular periods, this prediction might even be pretty spot on (mine was). I downloaded several different free apps and I ended up narrowing it down to two that I really like. The first app is the Ovia Pregnancy app. This app has a way that you can compare the baby’s size to things other than just fruits and vegetables. It also has a graphic that will show you how big the baby’s hand is each week. The other app that I’ve enjoyed a lot is BabyBump Pro. I love the simple daily tips it gives and the weekly updates of what to expect. Each of these apps have a lot more features but these are the ones I’ve used the most so far.
Evaluate your wardrobe.
The day you find out your pregnant, you’re still going to be able to fit into your wardrobe. However, this will quickly change as bloat and eventually a bump changes your waistline. I recommend evaluating your wardrobe early and moving things to the back that will get too tight too quick. This will allow you to remain comfortable for longer. For pants, I recommend the rubber band trick and the belly band to help extend the life of the ones you already have. Trust me – these hacks will make your pants SO much more comfortable as your waistline expands. I also recommend wearing lose bottoms, dresses, and skirts whenever possible. For tops, I recommend keeping anything with stretch or an empire waist to the front of your closet. These are going to be your best friend as your body starts to change. If you evaluate your wardrobe well, you can make a lot of things stick around through the first trimester and on into the second trimester.
What were the first things you did when you found out you were pregnant? Are there any tips or hacks you would add to this list?
P.S. Keep scrolling for this week’s Bump Update!
Bump Update
Week?19 weeks
Gender?We know but we’re not telling until Monday! (Teasers on the Facebook page!)
Size?Baby is the size of a tomato!
Movement?Lots of movement – Daddy finally felt the baby move!
Bump?See the picture! Definitely a bump going on!
Maternity Clothes?Some – especially bottoms
Stretch Marks?None!
Belly button in or out?Still in!
Cravings?Dr. Pepper
Symptoms?tired, back aches, head aches
Mood?Happy
What are you missing?Wine
Highlight of the week?We found out the gender and Daddy felt a kick!
Looking forward to?People receiving their gender reveal cards and sharing the news on Monday with everyone!
