What To Do After A Positive Pregnancy Test?

In every mother’s life there is a moment that is quite different from any other, and that moment is when she decides to do a pregnancy test and gets a positive result.

Whether the pregnancy is part of the plan or a long desired blessing or an absolute surprise, the exact time you know you’re expecting is always so full of emotions and often associated with endless questions that can be tough sometimes.

But before you start looking for a beautiful name for your baby or worrying about how to furnish and decorate his bedroom, there are a number of important and practical steps you need to take right after you know the good news.

Home pregnancy tests nowadays are highly accurate, yet errors can occur and remain a small possibility. For this particular reason, we advise you to contact the office of a gynecologist or a delivery health professional and schedule an appointment, the sooner the better.

During this appointment, the doctor will order you a pregnancy blood test. He will also examine your pelvis and ask you about any particular health condition you have and might affect your new journey.

Once the doctor confirms your pregnancy and assures you that everything is going the way it should, start deepening your knowledge of pregnancy trimesters, signs and symptoms, and everything that has to do with a fetus safety, health and growth. Think of adjusting your life style and daily diet and moving towards a healthier and more balanced living, paving the way for a sound and free of complication delivery.

For more detailed information, continue reading this post:

• Start taking the necessary prenatal vitamins and dietary supplements, including: Iron and Folic Acid to prevent congenital abnormalities and impact your baby’s intelligence, mental capacities and motor skills after birth; Vitamin A, fatty acids and Omega 3 to keep you healthy and stimulate your baby’s development inside the womb.
• Follow a healthy nutritious diet taking into consideration the amounts of proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables deemed necessary for your health and your baby’s.

Try to focus on the types of food that are rich in folic acid and can be useful to you in the first stages of pregnancy.

Mind choosing your nutrition wisely and remember to avoid all packaged, canned and processed foods, as well as soft drinks, caffeine sources, unpasteurized dairies, soft cheeses like Feta and Roquefort, raw or undercooked foods, highly contaminated fishes, etc.

If you’re unsure about the risk level of any food item, do not hesitate to consult your doctor.

• Do not abandon your regular exercise routine to keep moving your muscles, stimulate your blood flow and increase your energy level. Exercising in general, stimulates the production of endorphins which play a major role in improving the mood and reducing tension and stress. Yet do not over-exercise and avoid the types of sports considered dangerous and unsafe during pregnancy, like biking, tennis and diving.
• Take good care of yourself and make sure you get enough rest and sleep especially during the night, because sleeping can give you the energy boost you need to handle the changes that will occur to your body during pregnancy, and help you relax and reduce your pains and symptoms of headache, morning sickness, back pain, shortness of breath and leg swelling, etc.

Given that sleep becomes more complicated in late pregnancy, we advise you from now to try sleeping on your left side and use pillows to support your different organs and stimulate your blood circulation.

• Quit the bad habits that may negatively affect your safety and your pregnancy, like smoking for example.

Join a childbirth professional class that teaches pregnant women the right breathing techniques for labor and delivery, i.e. the slow deep breathing technique, the noisy breathing technique, the light breathing technique and the breath-holding technique.

• As your pregnancy nears its end, set a comprehensive birth plan where you can specify the kinds of medical interventions you’re comfortable with, in case of any complication whatsoever. Tell your husband and your doctor about your plan and ensure that everything will go smoothly with no surprises.

In addition to the above mentioned, be sure to visit your doctor on a periodical basis, so he can examine you, closely observe your baby’s growth, and make all the necessary exams, tests and ultrasound scans to prevent any potential harm to you and your baby.

Read More: The First 3 Things You Should Do Once You Find Out You're Pregnant