If you’re here I’m guessing you’ve peed on a stick and jumped around celebrating the good news that you are pregnant. Now you’re wondering, what on earth am I supposed to do next?
It’s totally natural to feel more than a little overwhelmed at what’s ahead, or maybe you’re just really excited. I remember being a mixture of both with both of my pregnancies.
If you’re still not sure if you are pregnant, check out this post on how soon can you tell if you’re pregnant for the lowdown on the really early symptoms of pregnancy.
Now that you know you are expecting a baby, you’re probably thinking there must be a ton of stuff you need to do immediately. Don’t panic, you’ve got nine months before the baby comes. The most important thing to do right now is relax and enjoy this time as much as possible, because it does fly by!
But to help you get your head around what’s coming next, I thought I would share a list of things that you need to do now that positive test has been done.
You may also like: First trimester must-haves.
Don’t forget to check out my Pregnancy Journal! Featuring checklists, journal pages and tips to help you through your pregnancy.
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I’m pregnant – what do I do now?
Congratulations! What’s next now that you’ve confirmed the happy news with a pregnancy test? Here are the key things you’ll need to do after celebrating.
1. Make your first medical appointment
You need to make an appointment to see a healthcare professional!
In the UK, a GP generally won’t need to see you when you’ve taken a positive pregnancy test. You can just call your local GP surgery where you are registered, inform the receptionist and they will make an appointment for you with the community midwife.
At your very first midwife appointment, they will want to test your wee! Get used to this, as they will be testing it at every single appointment. First of all they will want to confirm you are pregnant and then they will be checking your glucose and protein levels are safe.
Protein in your urine could mean you have an infection in your bladder or kidneys. It could also be a sign of pre-eclampsia.
Sugar in your urine could mean you have gestational diabetes. These tests are nothing to worry about, they are done at every appointment and are just intended to monitor you to ensure all is well!
You’ll also want to get started on pregnancy vitamins, if you haven’t already! There are lots of prenatal vitamins on the market. You should be taking one tablet per day.
2. Ease pregnancy nausea
If you’re still just a few weeks into your pregnancy then you may not be experiencing that many symptoms.
However you could be suffering from nausea, which is common in the first trimester. Unfortunately for some mamas it lasts well beyond the first trimester and can involve being sick, as well as feeling nauseous constantly.
You can ease your nausea by eating simple crackers when you wake up – keep them by your bedside and eat them before standing as an empty stomach can make your nausea worse.
Stick to plain, simple foods and eat little and often, rather than big meals.
Try foods containing ginger – such as biscuits and ginger tea as these also help some people with pregnancy nausea.
It’s important to get lots of rest and keep drinking fluids – nausea passes for most people after the first trimester is over.
It’s a thoroughly unpleasant experience which I suffered with both of my pregnancies. I have lots of tips for coping with 24/7 pregnancy nausea on this post.
3. Read up on pregnancy milestones
If you’re interested in keep track of how your baby is developing every week, you can buy a book such as What to Expect When You’re Expecting. There are tons of pregnancy books out there and it’s just a matter of finding one that appeals to you!
There are also lots of pregnancy diaries out there where you can record your thoughts and plans for your baby. This is a lovely keepsake to pass on to your child one day.
If you don’t want a book then try an app on your phone, where you can input your due date and it will update you every day on your baby’s development. It’s nice to keep track!
4. Decide who to tell
A lot of people wait until the 12-week scan until they announce their pregnancy. This is because the risk of miscarriage is sadly at its highest during the first 12 weeks.
However there is no rule that says you can’t tell people about your pregnancy before you get to 12 weeks. It’s really up to you and if you’ve found out early, it can feel like a long, long wait until that three-month scan until you can share your happy news.
You may want to tell your boss if you are having any kind of complications that are affecting work. However many people hold fire on telling their employer until a little later.
It’s up to you, but giving them plenty of notice is always a good idea as it gives them time to find cover for your maternity leave.
When it comes time to announce your pregnancy to everyone, you could use these amazing pregnancy announcement quotes in social media captions. You may also like these pregnancy announcement ideas.
TOP TIP: Set up a baby registry
5. Find out what your company’s maternity policy is
This policy may be available on your company intranet, so you may not have to ask for it! However it’s a good idea to get your hands on it sooner rather than later because it will give you all of the information you need about how much time you are entitled to and what the pay will be.
Maternity pay varies wildly between companies, so this is definitely something you need to find out about. You will be able to plan ahead much easier. Also remember to find out what your partners leave policy is.
In the UK, you may be able to use shared parental leave after your baby is born, which many couples find eases the financial burden and help mums return to their career sooner.
6. Revise your diet
Your midwife will probably give you a comprehensive rundown of the things you definitely shouldn’t be doing, and most of it is just common sense.
The obvious ones are no alcohol and no nicotine. You’ll also want to cut back on caffeine.
There’s a full list of foods to avoid in pregnancy over on the NHS website.
7. Think about your finances
We all know that babies cost money, but it can really cause a lot of strain and stress if cash is already tight. Try not to panic, because you can make this work!
The sooner you start planning for your maternity leave, and the expenses of having a baby, the better because you can start to save immediately.
The best thing to do is to write ALL of your current income and all of your current outgoings, right down to the coffee you buy before work every morning. How much do you put into savings every month, and how much (if anything) is left?
Now look at what your maternity pay will be. Work out the gap between what you will earn during your maternity pay and what your income WOULD be if you weren’t going off to have a baby.
This is the gap that you will need to deal with during your maternity leave, so think about how you can adjust your spending in order to save more, and whether what you already have in savings might be able to help tide you over while you’re off work.
You should also consider how much a baby will cost per month – adding in costs such as diapers, wipes and formula or breastfeeding supplies.
There are lots of tips for how to afford a baby over in this article.
8. Take a folic acid supplement
Taking a folic acid supplement during pregnancy will help to reduce the risk of your baby being born with spinal problems such as spina bifida.
You can buy multi-vitamins that contain the folic acid dose you need daily along with other vitamins that can help to support a healthy pregnancy.
Many mothers also take a fish oil supplement too as studies have shown that this helps with baby’s brain development.
9. Make a plan
During your first trimester the focus is very much on taking care of any symptoms that are making life hard for you, such as nausea.
But from your second trimester onwards there will be lots of practical things to do.
You can start making a plan now about what you will do.
Check out this trimester-by-trimester to-do list with tips on what to do and when during your pregnancy to get ready for baby.
Some things you could start to consider include what room your baby will have in the house and a checklist of things you need to do around the home.
10. Put together a pregnancy survival kit
Being pregnant means a lot of changes to your body, to your sleep and daily routine.
For that reason a pregnancy survival kit of key items can be a real life-saver! Don’t get me wrong, there’s a ton of useless stuff sold to pregnant ladies that you really do not need.
Stuff you actually do need includes:
- Pregnancy pillow – this will be so useful by the third trimester when sleep becomes tricky.
- Moisturiser – moisturise your belly daily from the first day you find out about pregnancy. Even before your belly starts to grow!
- Jeans expander – you can buy expander belts that go in your favourite jeans to add a few inches to the waistband for the weeks where you’re not quite ready for maternity jeans.
- Maternity clothes – you’ll need maternity clothes from around the 14th week of pregnancy, although some mothers don’t start to feel their clothes are getting snug until week 20. Leggings and comfy, lightweight tops are a must-have.
- Maternity bras – bras with underwire are so uncomfortably by the third trimester. Get a supportive but soft maternity bra instead.
11. Create a list of baby essentials
The baby stuff market is a booming one and it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
I recommend you don’t start buying baby stuff until you’re well into the second trimester – preferably after the 20-week scan.
So while you may not be buying anything in the first trimester, it can be worth taking a look at what baby essentials you will need and particularly researching the big ticket items like the crib and pushchair.
This way you can start to learn about the different brands and features available so you can pick the products that will suit you best.
12. Stay active
The first trimester can be absolutely exhausting, so rest is very important.
But gentle exercise is good for not only treating fatigue, and helping you get a good night’s sleep, but also getting your body strong for the rest of your pregnancy.
Try a gentle walk every day, or swimming, to help strengthen your fitness.
13. Check out pregnancy freebies
There is a wealth of freebies, including samples for you and your baby, available to pregnant women.
Brands are desperate to introduce you to their products and so they will hand you freebies to give you a taster.
There’s a guide to pregnancy freebies in the UK here.
14. Start looking at baby names
It’s never too early to start thinking about what baby names you love. Maybe you’ve had your baby names picked out for years!
Begin by writing down your favourite names – having a notebook handy at all times or a notes document in your phone where you add names you like as and when you see them is a useful way to keep track.
Check the meanings of names, and consider what types of names and meanings you really love and are drawn to. Then you can look for related or similar names to continue your search.
You may find these baby name themes with thousands of name ideas useful, or the top baby name trends for 2024.
15. Plan your baby shower
A baby shower usually takes place in the third trimester of pregnancy.
It’s a fun way to celebrate your pregnancy with your friends and family, who may also love to help you out with some of the baby essentials on your baby registry.
I’ve got lots of tips for planning a baby shower, plus a handy checklist.
16. Consider how to tell siblings
If you already have kids then you’ll want to tell them as soon as possible about your happy news.
This includes them in the process, and gives them a chance to get used to the idea of a new baby over the course of the next few months.
Make it exciting for them with a gift – maybe a book about being a big sister or brother. I have lots of tips for telling your child you’re your pregnant here.
What to do after a positive pregnancy test final thoughts
So these are the things to do and consider after that positive pregnancy test!
As you can see there are a few practical considerations, plus the excitement of getting your home ready for baby.
Shopping for a baby can feel exciting, and a bit daunting, as it’s a costly business! I have a post on the stuff you definitely do not need, and the things that will actually be useful!
You’ll also want to look at other rooms in your home and think about what changes you will need to make to prepare for the baby. You can check out my guide on preparing your home for a new baby for more room-by-room tips!
I’ve also got an awesome post about IKEA nursery hacks which you are going to love!
So there you have it, these are the steps to go through after finding out you’re pregnant! I hope this post was useful.
For lots more information about pregnancy, and life with a newborn baby, check out these posts:
What you need to know about the first trimester
What you need to know about the second trimester
What you need to know about the third trimester
What to expect in the first week with a baby
18 ways to survive the first 8 weeks with a newborn
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