8 Things to Do as Soon as You Know You’re Pregnant

Now that you’re pregnant, you would probably like to know all the things to do when you are pregnant — especially for that first trimester. Even if it’s not your first time going through a pregnancy, each one is different — and who can remember things after they have children anyway? Whether it is about having sex, if you can work out, or what you can get away with not doing while pregnant, you may be feeling a tiny bit overwhelmed.

“I would suggest that folks who are thinking about getting pregnant do see their GYN health care provider before starting to try to get pregnant, to see what they should be doing,” said Mary Jane Minkin, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale University Medical School.

With the huge journey ahead of you, sometimes all you want is a list to check off. Here are eight things to do as soon as you know you’re pregnant.

1. Tell your spouse, partner, or friends

Michele Brosius recommended to Mom.com that you tell your significant other, but in case you’re not in a position to do so, it’s OK. Tell who you want, when you want.

Or, if you’re Lizz Porter, who couldn’t wait, a perfect stranger is fine, too. “I told a Taco Bell drive-thru employee before I told my husband! She was very happy for me,” she told Mom.com.

2. Stop smoking, drinking, and/or using drugs

“In general, I would suggest women stop smoking and drinking if they can; and stop using drugs,” said Dr. Minkin. “If a woman does have a medical problem, and is taking some medications, she should definitely check in about these medications — for example, certain seizure medicines and high blood pressure medications aren’t great during pregnancy, and they are better switched before one gets pregnant.”

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to finally quit smoking, pregnancy may just be that incentive. Darcy Zalewski confessed to Mom.com, “I was still smoking after several unsuccessful attempts to quit when I got pregnant with my first.” The mom of two made a plan for quitting and finally did once and for all during the first trimester.

3. See a doctor

“Make a doctor’s appointment,” Pamela Swear-King advised Mom.com. Most doctor’s offices don’t schedule a prenatal visit until your eighth week of pregnancy. However, the schedules of many OB-GYNs fill up quickly — so make your appointment as soon as possible.

If you have any or all of the following symptoms, please consult with your doctor or medical professional to determine if you could be experiencing a miscarriage:

• Mild to severe back pains (worse than PMS)
• White-pink mucus
• True contractions (very painful and occurring every 5 to 20 minutes)
• Brown or bright red bleeding with or without cramps
• Clot-like tissue passing through your vagina
• Sudden decrease in pregnancy signs

4. Eat healthy and take prenatal vitamins

Growing a human requires a lot of nutrients for proper development. Even if you eat a healthy diet, prenatal vitamins are recommended to supplement your diet. Remember to drink enough water, too.

“Everyone should be taking a vitamin with extra folic acid before they start trying to get pregnant,” Dr. Minkin advised. “We do know that women who are taking extra folic acid have a lower risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect, and probably some other abnormalities as well.”

5. Exercise

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“As long as you are doing well in pregnancy, do exercise regularly,” said Dr. Minkin. “I always tell my patients that no one would do a marathon without training — so you should train for labor and birth!”

6. Get enough rest

You are creating a human. Fatigue and exhaustion are common side effects of pregnancy. Make sure you listen to your body, and get enough sleep and rest.

7. Get your legal documents in order

Whether it is a will, a living trust, or an advanced health directive, make sure you get those in order. While we don’t like to think in worst-case scenarios, having these documents in place will ease your mind and ensure your child — and you — will be taken care of.

“Get a will,” said Eghe Lenze, a registered nurse. “Go ahead and start the process because once that kid comes, you’re not thinking about the will and it takes forever.”

8. Announce your pregnancy

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When should you tell people about your pregnancy? The short answer is: whenever you want.

Want to tell everyone as soon as possible? Go ahead! Want to wait until you pass the first trimester mark? Totally understandable.

Want to wait until you birth the baby and, in the meantime, stare at people asking about your pregnancy until they feel uncomfortable? YES! (Also, please email me the stories, if you do this.)