When you’re in your OB/GYN’s clinic, it is very important to make sure that you are being offered all antenatal tests and checks, which include:

• Blood and urine tests
• Weight and height tests 
• Blood pressure tests
• Screening for: HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and Anaemia
• Blood group and Rhesus status checks
• Gestational diabetes checks
• Vaccine flu or jab 
• And, last but not least: ultrasound baby scans!

Remember to also do your part: don’t miss any of your appointments and checks, they all play an important role in monitoring the health of your baby and your pregnancy’s progress!

What to Check and Prepare After Finding Out that You’re Pregnant

The first thing to check, and you’ve probably already done this out of excitement, is to check your due date. This is paramount to monitoring that your baby is growing healthily.

The next step is going to be very exciting, especially if you love legal stuff just like us! (just kidding). Although it might not be the most exciting thing, you need to go read or get informed through HR about your rights and benefits at work regarding pregnancies. Remember to inform your employer 15 weeks in advance before taking your maternity leave.
You’ll also have to check in with your insurance company to check what is going to be covered; we’re talking about tests, checks and finally labour.

And just to keep the fun train going, you need to mentally and physically prepare for the ailments, pains and nuisances that comes with this magical experience that is pregnancy. The most common are:

• Backache
• Bleeding gums
• Headaches
• Heartburn
• Itching
• Morning sickness
• Severe vomiting
• Pelvic pain
• Piles
• Stomach pain and cramps
• Swollen ankles
• Vaginal discharge

Bad Habits to Give up After Finding Out That You’re Pregnant

As briefly mentioned before, there are some bad habits that you have to get rid of for a healthy and trouble-free pregnancy.
We know how breaking habits can be extremely difficult, but think about the little one growing inside of you: we’re sure that you’ll immediately get the motivation that you need! That being said, here are the bad habits that you should definitely give up after finding out that you’re pregnant:

• Smoking cigarettes or legal marijuana.
• Drinking alcoholic beverages.
• Consuming great amounts of caffeine (keep in mind that even chocolate bars, breakfast cereals, some medicines and decaffeinated coffee contain caffeine).
• Not monitoring your sugar intake (gestational diabetes is a very common ailment during pregnancy).
• Bending and lifting heavy objects.
• Not getting enough sleep: aim for at least 8 to 9 hours of sleep for a healthy pregnancy.
• Using makeup containing Phthalates, as they expose your baby to a higher risk of having asthma.
• Having a sedentary lifestyle: it is important to keep active by doing low impact exercises, such as swimming, walking or pregnancy yoga (avoid exercises with a risk of falling or being hit, e.g contact sports, horseback riding); remember to stop doing exercises on your back after your first trimester, as it reduces the blood flow to your uterus.

One of the most common misconceptions or myths about pregnancy is that you have to give your sex life, but it’s true that there are a lot of habits (good and bad) that pregnant women have to get rid of, this is certainly not one of them. Sex during pregnancy is safe, unless your midwife and OB/GYN tells you to avoid it; this could happen if the flow of your vaginal bleeding at the start of your pregnancy was heavier than average or if you’ve had early labours before.
Keep in mind that your sex drive might change due to hormones and that you might feel contractions (especially in later stages of your pregnancy); these are called Braxton Hicks contractions and are perfectly normal).
Always use protection to avoid STIs, especially if you and your hubby are in an open relationship.

To Eat or Not to Eat? Healthy Diet in Pregnancy

You’ll want to be in your best shape from the start of your pregnancy, up to your due date (and beyond!); this includes being mindful of the food that you consume, as well as their preparation.

What to eat:

• Have a healthy breakfast to avoid ending up eating unhealthy snacks throughout the day.
• Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit (but still remember to monitor your sugar intake!).
• Eat your carbs! I know we all have been influenced to avoid carbs as much as possible, but they are a great source of energy and fibre. Go for whole grain options instead of refined ones, as they are much more healthy.
• Up your protein game by consuming beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat (avoid liver), poultry and nuts.
• Always have healthy snacks in your bag. Trust us, you’ll need them!
• Remember to drink plenty of water, it’s good for you and your baby!

What not to eat:

• Avoid consuming more than 2 portions of oily fish a week (such as salmon, mackerel, herring or trout). You should also limit tuna, because of its amount of mercury, that could be harmful for your baby.
• Blue cheeses, mould-ripened soft cheeses, and any food made with unpasteurized milk.
• Cold cured meats like salami or prosciutto, unless cooked thoroughly.
• Raw and undercooked meats, shellfish or eggs.
• Liver and all types of paté (even vegetarian ones).

One of the biggest myths about pregnancy is that pregnant women must “eat for two”, while it’s true that you’ll most likely be more hungry than usual, it is not necessary to double the proportions of your meals. It’s important to listen to your body, but if you’re hungry avoid eating foods that are high in fat and sugar.

How to Prepare and Store Food if You’re Pregnant 

Now that you’re pregnant, you have to be extra careful not only of what you eat, but also of the way that it’s prepared. Make sure to follow these dos and don’ts to keep yourself and your baby extra safe:

• Thoroughly wash your hands and food, especially fruits and vegetables.
• Store ready-to-eat foods away from raw food; also use different knives and cupboards, as ready-to-eat foods such as bread might absorb bacteria that won’t be eliminated by heat.
• Keep the fridge temperature under 41°F (or 5°C). For both you and your baby’s safety and to reduce waste, only take out of the freezer the food that you intend to consume within the next 24 hours.
• Always check the “use by date” label (and make sure you don’t cut it off or make it unreadable when opening the packaging). 
• In regards to leftovers, try to heat and eat them as soon as possible, ideally 2 hours after taking them out of the fridge.

When preparing your meals while pregnant, remember to cook your food thoroughly to kill all bacterias, being extra careful with the following:

• Poultry
• Pork
• Liver
• Burgers and sausages
• Rolled joints of meat
• Kebabs

How to Avoid Stillbirth

Going to all your doctor’s appointments and check-ups is fundamental in monitoring your pregnancy; here are some advice for a healthy pregnancy and to avoid a heartbreaking stillbirth:

• Eat healthily: chances of having a stillbirth significantly increase when going through a pregnancy as an overweight person. While this is not the right time to lose weight, it is highly recommended to eat healthily and not put on more weight than you should.
• Keep active!
• Not only stop smoking (if you already haven’t), but also avoid being around smokers (passive smoking can also have an impact on your unborn baby).
• Sleep on your side, especially after 28 weeks of pregnancy.
• Inform any use of drugs to your midwife or OB/GYN, even if it occured before getting pregnant.
• Avoid being around ill people, especially if they have chicken pox or streptococcus B: said infections could have negative effects on your pregnancy.
• Take a flu vaccine: flu in pregnant women can cause complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis. The protections will also pass onto your baby up until his first few months. Win win!
• If you have pets or farm animals, be extra careful: toxoplasmosis can be passed onto humans by cats (which can not only cause miscarriages, but also has the potential to damage your baby’s brain and other vital organs); and you can get chlamydia from sheep or hepatitis from pigs (though there is no risk in eating well-cooked pork).

Immediately call your doctor if your baby is moving less than usual, or if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Blurred vision
• Severe headache
• Itching hands and feet (while itching is one of the ailments that come with pregnancy, it could also be a symptom of a liver disorder called intrahepatic cholestasis).

Other Important Things to Decide on the Early Days of Pregnancy

Although it might seem somewhat irrelevant, it’s really important to decide early on with your partner on who to tell the great news. Do you want to keep your pregnancy within your small circle of family and friends or do you want to scream it to the world as soon as possible? We advise waiting until the end of your first trimester of pregnancy to announce the big news, but that’s totally up to you.
What’s most important is to determine it early on, to effectively have your boundaries respected and so that your pregnancy experience is a serene one.

It is also key to start thinking about your baby proofing plans. You’re probably thinking “isn’t it a bit early?”, but now is the best time to do it: time will definitely fly and sooner than later you’ll find yourself with a huge bump and no time in your hands!
Read our Baby Proofing 101 post for a thorough guide and download our free and printable checklist.

And last but not least, document your pregnancy by taking pictures or journaling. Trust us, you won’t regret it! It will be so nice and heartwarming to go back and show the encapsulated memories of your pregnancy to your sweet baby!

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