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You were full of joy and excitement when that little plus sign first emerged, but now that you know you’re pregnant, you’re focused on practicalities — what should your next steps be? Our obstetrics team offers guidance here.
Your period is late, your breasts are sore and tender, and you’ve been feeling unusually tired. A simple at-home urine test reveals the reason: You’re pregnant.
Congratulations! After a positive at-home pregnancy test, it’s normal to feel elated and overwhelmed. Our obstetrics team at Panhandle Obstetrics and Gynecology is here to help with this quick guide of important steps to take when you find out you’re expecting.
1. Confirm your pregnancy
First, you need to see your primary care provider, gynecologist, or obstetrician to confirm your pregnancy with an in-office blood test. You can do this as soon as you’ve missed your period or even a few days before, as blood tests can accurately confirm pregnancy starting 6-8 days after your last ovulation.
2. Schedule a prenatal care visit
With your pregnancy confirmed, it’s time to establish prenatal care. Your first prenatal care appointment is scheduled between weeks 6-8 of pregnancy, based on the timing of your last period and estimated due date. If you’re further along, start your prenatal care as soon as possible.
Regular prenatal care reduces health risks for both you and your baby. Our team monitors your baby to make sure they’re growing and developing as expected; we also keep close tabs on maternal well-being and offer personalized advice.
3. Prepare for your appointment
An important part of your first prenatal care visit involves discussing your medical history. Ahead of this appointment, gather information on the following:
- Preexisting health conditions (i.e., fibroids, diabetes)
- A list of the medications and supplements you take
- Your vaccination records and details on past surgeries
- Past pregnancies, births, stillbirths, and miscarriages
- Any previous experience with pregnancy complications
It’s also helpful to make a list of any initial questions you may have. This vital information exchange helps us tailor our prenatal care to your specific health needs.
4. Start taking prenatal vitamins
If you aren’t already doing so, start taking a daily prenatal vitamin. Make sure it provides 400-800 micrograms (mg) of folic acid, an essential B vitamin that helps prevent serious neural tube defects as your baby’s brain and spinal cord develop in the first trimester.
Continuing to take a daily prenatal vitamin throughout your pregnancy helps ensure you’re getting enough nutrients to meet your body’s increased needs and sustain fetal growth.
5. Avoid harmful substances
If you smoke, vape, use marijuana, or drink alcohol, it’s important to stop these harmful habits as soon as you learn you’re pregnant. These substances can hurt fetal development and lead to serious problems like birth defects, low birth weight, preterm birth, and even stillbirth. Steer clear of secondhand smoke too.
If you need help stopping any substance use, see our team right away.
6. Start eating “twice as healthy”
Eating for two doesn’t mean consuming twice as many calories when you’re pregnant, but it can mean making your dietary patterns twice as healthy.
A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, low-fat dairy, and plant-based unsaturated fats — and low in added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats — supports optimal prenatal health, nourishes your growing fetus, and makes pregnancy weight gain easier to manage.
After you deliver, healthy eating makes postpartum weight loss easier and provides a solid nutritional foundation if you plan to breastfeed.
7. Practice prenatal food safety
When you’re pregnant, food safety is just as important as a wholesome diet. Why? Certain foods are more likely to sicken you or your fetus with foodborne bacteria called Listeria. To avoid these dangerous pathogens, don’t eat raw fish (i.e., sushi), undercooked meat, cold deli meats, smoked meats, unpasteurized cheese, or unwashed fresh produce.
You should also avoid eating larger fish that are high in mercury, such as swordfish, marlin, king mackerel, and bigeye tuna, which can cause birth defects.
8. Prioritize safe daily exercise
Regular exercise helps you build and sustain the strength and fitness you’ll need for later pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Plus, it’s beneficial for your energy, sleep, and mood.
If you already exercise, you may be able to maintain your workout routine with certain safety measures in mind (i.e., swap your weekly hot room yoga class for prenatal yoga). If you aren’t active, we can provide a list of workout options for safe, well-rounded prenatal fitness, like walking, swimming, and water workout classes.
Your healthy pregnancy starts today
Searching for the best prenatal care in the Amarillo, Texas, area? Look no further than Panhandle Obstetrics and Gynecology. Call 806-359-5468 to schedule a visit with our team today.