Collaborative Post¦ So you’ve found out you’re expecting a baby, congratulations! You’re probably already starting to think about everything that you need to get sorted before they arrive. So, let’s have a look at some of the things you may want to think about: 

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay 

Calculate Your Due Date

Although you will have your due date confirmed when you have your first scan, there are still things that you need to do before you get to this point, therefore you may want to use a pregnancy calculator to calculate your due date so you at least have a rough idea. This way you can sign up to get weekly updates and start tracking your baby’s development, it’s all part of the excitement. You will need to think about the last date of your period and your cycle length. Once you have your first scan you may find that your due date changes slightly, this is because pregnancy calculators aren’t as accurate as a scan. 

Start Tracking Your Baby’s Development 

Have a look around at some of the popular baby apps that you can install on your phone or tablet. There are many that provide you with good information about the development of your baby and what they are up to in the womb. You will often get a weekly email full of new information for you to learn. They are brilliant at letting you know what to expect and when you should worry. They often have extras including a baby checklist such as a must-have nursery essentials list or baby essential you must buy. 

Contact Your Doctor 

It is important for you to let your doctor know as soon as you can after you get a positive pregnancy test. This is the step that will get all your antenatal care kick-started and on track. After you speak to your doctor (you may need to provide a urine sample or pregnancy test) they will inform the midwifery department and send you a date to book you in as a patient. Depending on the area that you live in, you may be able to refer yourself to the midwifery department. 

Check On Your Health

Being healthy is vital when you are pregnant, pregnancy can put a lot of strain on your body so it’s essential you check on your health. Have a look at your BMI and reduce the amount of caffeine that you are consuming. Now that you are pregnant, there may be some simple lifestyle changes that you can make to help your baby develop and grow healthily. Your healthcare professional will help you if you need to make changes such as smoking or healthy eating. 

Having A Safer Pregnancy 

If you want to make sure you have a safe pregnancy, you should consider the following: 

• Stopping smoking- make sure you access any help available 
• Stop drinking alcohol- Drinking alcohol can harm your baby’s development, so it’s a good idea to try and cut alcohol out completely if you can. 
• Have plenty of rest – Pregnancy hormones are enough to make the most energetic people feel stressed and tired so it is essential you give yourself some time to relax. 
• Keep Moving- Although you may not feel like it through morning sickness, exercise is great for both you and the baby. You don’t need ot joining the gym, a simple walk each day is a great way to be more active during pregnancy. 
• Take the right vitamins- There are a few supplements such as folic acid and vitamin D that are essential when you are pregnant, but your midwife will be able to point you in the right direction with what you need to have. 
• Watch out for food – It’s important for you to have a healthy diet therefore it’s important to try and avoid high-sugar, high-fat, high-salt food. You also need to make sure you don’t want anything that could put your baby at risk, make sure you research or ask your midwife which foods you should avoid. 
• Be wary when taking medications – When you are pregnant you may not be able to take the same medications, if you need to take any make sure check you are allowed to first. For example, you may not be able to take simple painkillers when you have a headache. 

This short guide should help you to get your pregnancy off to a healthy start. Are you pregnant? What have you started to think about and organize? Please share some of them in the comments section below. 

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.