I’m pregnant: What next?

Women and their partners can experience many different emotions when they find out they are having a baby. For some, the pregnancy may not have been planned and come as a shock, while others may have tried for a baby for many years. It is normal to feel anxious about the birth, your finances and your relationship.

It is important you don’t feel under pressure to make any decisions straight away. Take time to think about your options and seek out the support you need.

Here is our guide on what you need to consider during your pregnancy:

1)   Tell your GP

As soon as you find out you are pregnant you need to tell either your GP or your local hospital. It will depend where you live but some hospitals let you book your first midwife appointment online. In other instances you need to tell your GP who will send the details on to the midwifery team.

You will have a booking appointment when you are 8-10 weeks pregnant where the midwife will take all of your details such as medical history/pregnancy history and will weigh you, take your blood pressure and do your bloods. They will give you a set of notes for you to keep through the whole of your pregnancy which will outline all of the appointments and scans you will need and at which stages.

It is important that you tell your midwife or GP at this point about any medication you take, for example for diabetes or asthma. They will need to check if it is safe to continue during your pregnancy. Don’t stop or start taking anything until you have spoken to your doctor.

If your pregnancy is unplanned and you are unsure about what choices are available to you, speak to your GP. They will treat your pregnancy confidentially and will be able to help you find the right antenatal service for your in your local area.

You can calculate your approximate due date here. Your 12-week dating scan will also be able to give a more accurate date, although only a small percentage of babies are actually born on their due date.

2) Diet and alcohol

The day you find out you are pregnant is the day you will want to start cutting out, and reducing, some foods and drinks.

We know that drinking alcohol in pregnancy can cause foetal alcohol syndrome but the effect of drinking even small amounts is not known. Therefore, it is recommended that pregnant women avoid it entirely, just to be safe. Caffeine should be kept to 200mg a day - or two of three cups of coffee. Too much caffeine can lead to a low birth weight.

Avoid eating anything which is raw or undercooked such as fish or meat and unpasturised milk or other dairy products.

Undercooked eggs are fine to eat as long as they have the Red Lion stamp.

Avoid shark, swordfish and liver and liver products such as pâté . There is a small risk of listeria from soft and blue cheeses so it is best not to eat these.

It is important to eat lots of iron-rich foods so try to increase your intake of red lentils, meat, egg yolks, beans, pulses and nuts.

Click here to read our blog on tips for what to eat during each trimester.

3) Supplements

Folic acid is the key supplement to take during the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy and ideally before you become pregnant. It can help prevent birth defects known as neural tube defects, including spina bifida. A 400mcg dose is recommended daily.

Folate can also be found in many foods such as broccoli, peppers, asparagus and fortified breakfast cereals.

Iron is really important during pregnancy because we have more blood flowing through our bodies and it’s needed for immunity and cell growth. If your iron intake before pregnancy was low you may be more at risk of being deficient in pregnancy.

If you are feeling lethargic or super tired and you know you don’t have much iron in your diet you may be deficient. You can get tested by your doctor or a midwife and supplements will be recommended if you are anaemic.

A 10mcg vitamin D supplement is also recommended.

4) Smoking

Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirth or your baby developing serious health problems. Cigarettes can restrict the amount of oxygen which reaches your baby which means their heart must work harder to pump the blood around.

Smoking can also increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as ‘cot death’ once your baby is born.

If you are struggling to stop smoking you can use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) during pregnancy such as patches, gum or sprays. Your GP or an NHS stop smoking adviser can prescribe these for you.

If your partner smokes you need to be aware of the risk of secondhand smoke affecting the health of you and your baby.

It is never too late to stop and there is a lot of support you can get to help you.

5) Exercise

This is not the time to take up a sport you’ve never tried before! Don’t start spinning or hill running if you never did them when you weren’t pregnant. But if you already run, cycle or swim a few times a week then keeping up with that regime will be great for you and your baby.

Yoga and pilates can help stretch out any muscle or joint pains you are experiencing. Once you are past the 12 week mark it is recommended that you switch to a pregnancy-specific class to make sure you are not causing any damage to your body or your baby.

Rest is also very important at this time, your body is coping with more hormones and stress and you need to relax. Meet friends, have a bath and ask for help from friends and family if you need it.

6) Emotional support

There is a lot to think about when you are pregnant and it is easy to feel overwhelmed or scared about what is happening. Try to share any worries with your partner and family and friends.

These worries may not be just about physical changes to your body but also concerns about your career or finances. Speak to your GP if you are struggling with anxiety or find you have been feeling more sad than happy for a few weeks.

7) Symptoms

Every woman has a different pregnancy experience. Some women may have few symptoms while others may be quite ill. The most typical symptoms are tiredness and morning sickness, which is not limited to just the morning. Many women feel nauseous but may not vomit, whereas others vomit at least once a day. These symptoms usually start at around 4-6 weeks.

If your vomiting is severe you may have hyperemesis gravidarum - a serious condition which will need treatment.

Your breasts may become larger and tender and you nipples may change colour and shape.

Pelvic girdle pain and backache may become issues as you become bigger. Indigestion and heartburn can also occur as your womb puts pressure on your stomach.

Food cravings and aversions are also common.

8) Sharing your news 

It is a completely personal decision about when to tell those closest to you about your pregnancy. Some people choose to share their news as soon as they find out, whereas others may want to wait until they have had their first scan at around 12 weeks.

 Legally you need to tell your employer you are pregnant at least 15 weeks before your due date. However, you may want to tell them sooner because you will need time off for antenatal appointments. If your job is strenuous or very physical you may want to tell them early on.

9) Book an antenatal course

An antenatal class will not only prepare you for the birth and postnatal period but will also help you make friends with couples going though the same experience at the same time. This could be a huge support for you.

A course will teach you about how to make a birth plan, tips for labour, breastfeeding and the fourth trimester. 

Have a think about what you want from a course and research the qualifications and experience of those running it.

:: Read our blog on ‘Ten things to consider before booking an antenatal class’.