Congratulations, you’re pregnant! Whether it took you a long time to get here or this was a complete surprise, this is where our journeys converge as Mamas.
But wait…now what? What should you be doing to ensure a healthy pregnancy and how should you prepare for the journey ahead?
#1 Start popping those prenatals
If you’ve been trying to conceive, chances are you’re already on prenatal vitamins. But if not, now’s the time to start taking them. Why do you need prenatal vitamins? Neural development and other important processes begin even before you realize you’re pregnant. Prenatal vitamins provide the important nutrients needed to support your body and growing baby at this stage (and every stage).
P.S. Did you know we’ve formulated healthy prenatal vitamins that won’t break the bank? Yup, and we can deliver them right to your door each month – shipping costs are on the house. Are we crazy? Nah, we just want to make sure all moms get the nutrients they need for a healthy pregnancy, no matter what their budget is.
#2 Find and make an appointment with a doctor or midwife
Finding a healthcare provider you feel comfortable with for your pregnancy is crucial. They’ll help make sure your pregnancy is on track, monitor any possibilities of complications, make sure you’re doing well, watch baby’s growth and development, and eventually deliver your little one.
So, what should you look for in a doctor? Make sure they:
- take your insurance
- deliver at the hospital you’d prefer to have your baby in
- have a good reputation in your community
- vibe with your birth preferences
- make you feel comfortable.
You may want to look into their cesarean rates as well.
Planning to have a midwife deliver your baby at home? Again, you’ll want to find someone with experience who makes you feel comfortable and understands what you would like from your birth. Don’t forget to ask about financials, as well as how they prepare you and your home for birth and what they do in an emergency.
#3 Get healthy
Ultimately, the baby is going to get first dibs on all nutrients. So, while your prenatal vitamins will take care of a lot of baby’s needs, you’re only going to get what’s left over. That’s why it’s so important to eat healthy during pregnancy. The healthier you eat, the more good stuff you’ll get to keep for yourself and the better you’ll feel. Adding things like lean protein (poultry, fish, beans, cheese) and whole grains to your diet can help provide both of you with nutrients you need.
Now is also the time to up your daily water intake! You are now growing a human and making extra blood. The process of pregnancy requires a lot of water, so stay hydrated. Start working your water intake up to 90 oz a day. It may seem like a lot to drink (and a lot to pee) but it’s so important.
P.S. A note on healthy eating: Don’t panic if you can’t keep much food down in the first trimester. Your prenatals will take care of baby.
P.P.S. Now is definitely the time to nix any alcohol or nicotine and cut back on caffeine. If you’re having trouble with this step, reach out to your healthcare provider. They can provide support or put you in contact with someone who can help.
#4 Start a pregnancy journal + take bump pics
Pregnancy is a beautiful chapter in life, and while it may seem like you could never forget a thing, you will. But journaling in pregnancy and taking lots of bump pics can help you capture the process and the progress. What should you journal about? Anything and everything. What you’re feeling, what you’re looking forward to, what you’re struggling with, your first time hearing baby’s heartbeat…capture it all. And definitely capture the bump progress. While taking a bump pic every day may seem excessive, trust us, you’ll look back and be glad you did it.
#5 Use that stretch mark cream
Your bump may be small (or seem non-existent at this point) but staying moisturized throughout pregnancy will do wonders for your skin and help you avoid stretch marks. Try to make it a habit early on to slather some stretch mark cream or a super hydrating lotion on in the morning, at night, and after showers. Check out some of our most loved stretch mark creams right here.
#6 Get your free breast pump
It might seem a bit early, but if you plan on breastfeeding or bottle feeding, one thing you’ll definitely need once baby is here is a breast pump. There are a lot of options out there, but one thing you might not know is that your insurance should cover a free breast pump for each of your pregnancies. Best of all, you don’t have to talk to an insurance rep or sit through 30 minutes of bad hold music to get it. We can actually take care of everything for you and make sure your pump is delivered right to your door. Just fill out our breast pump application and we’ll work with your insurance on your behalf.
Get your free breast pump in the works!
#7 Relax
Speaking for all my Type A Mamas out there, relaxing + letting go of control is freakin’ hard. But here’s one thing you need to accept early in your pregnancy: you are not in control. The only thing you can control is how much you let yourself stress and worry.
So do what you can to the best of your ability, let go of the rest, and trust your body. If you ever feel your mind heading down the worry rabbit hole, stop it in its tracks. Thank anxiety for keeping your ancestors alive in real fight-or-flight situations, and then kindly tell it to f*ck right off as you take a doodle break, go for a gentle walk, pet your pup, listen to some ASMR, play Mario Kart, or do whatever else makes you feel zen.
Sending you alllll the good, healthy pregnancy vibes. We’re here for you + with you. 🙂