What to Do If You Think You’re Pregnant
Thinking that you’re pregnant can be a stressful experience, especially if you were not expecting it. And even if you have been trying to get pregnant for some time, finally making your dream come true can overwhelm you.
Are you wondering what to do if you think you’re pregnant? Keep reading.
1. Take the morning-after pill if you don’t want to be pregnant
There could be different reasons why you might not want to be pregnant right now. If the thought of being pregnant does not bring you joy, it might not be too late to use an emergency contraceptive.
What is known as the morning-after pill can be taken up to 3 to 5 days after having unprotected sex? So if you don’t want to be pregnant, this could be an option.
For the rest of this article, let’s assume you’re happy about thinking you’re pregnant. What should you do next?
2. Take a home pregnancy test to make sure
Before you get too excited about your pregnancy, you must ensure you are pregnant. Get a paternity test while pregnant and follow the instructions. These tests are generally reliable and accurate, but you might want to buy two different ones and take them both, just to be sure.
It’s recommended to take your pregnancy test in the morning. But don’t do it on a day when you have to go to work, as it will be impossible for you to focus on your work if your test results are positive.
3. Don’t tell everyone right away
When you get a positive test result, you should share the news with your partner if you have one. But try not to tell everyone else right away.
It’s best to wait at least a few weeks so you have some time to process the good news before sharing it with your friends and family and getting everyone excited for you.
Remember that the risk of miscarriage decreases after the 12th week, but you don’t have to wait this long before letting your loved ones know you’re pregnant. Just wait for the right moment!
4. Schedule an appointment with your doctor or gynecologist
After your at-home pregnancy test tells you you’re pregnant, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor to confirm it. You could also see an obstetrician-gynecologist for a prenatal appointment.
But what if your at-home test says you are not pregnant but still missed a period? You should still schedule an appointment with a doctor who can administer pregnancy tests more accurately than at-home tests.
After you get confirmation from a medical professional, they will help you figure out what to do next.
5. Make sure you know who the father is
Chances are you already know who the father of your baby is. But what if you’re not sure? Fortunately, taking a paternity test while pregnant is possible so you can rapidly put your mind at ease. There is no need to wait for the birth of your baby to take a reliable paternity test.
A paternity test while pregnant is perfectly safe for the mother and the baby. All you have to do is collect your blood and DNA samples from potential fathers.
The laboratory will then test these samples and let you know who the father of your baby is.
6. Make a few changes to your lifestyle
You should make a few changes to your lifestyle right at the beginning of your pregnancy. That means you should ideally stop drinking, smoking, and taking drugs. You should do everything possible to help ensure your baby will be healthy.
More concretely, you should take measures to improve your health by eating healthy foods, drinking enough water, and getting enough quality sleep each night.
You should know that certain prescription medications can be risky for your baby. Discuss this with your doctor if you are unsure.
7. Consider taking some prenatal vitamins
It’s also a good idea to start taking some prenatal vitamins. These contain all the minerals and nutrients your baby needs to grow healthy.
During your pregnancy, your body will need more vitamins and minerals than usual, so even if you are eating a very healthy diet, you might not be able to get all the calcium, iron, folic acid, and omega-3 fatty acids required to ensure the healthy development of your baby.
This is why taking prenatal vitamins daily during your pregnancy is important, especially if you have dietary restrictions or a chronic disease.
