The pregnancy test is positive – you’re going to be a momma! Now, what? You must be so excited and giddy with the idea of finally being a mom, and there’s so much stuff to prepare for. From making sure that you’re getting the vitamins you need for a healthy pregnancy to staying on top of your health insurance, here are things that you have to do after finding out that you’re pregnant:
1. Ask your doctor for vitamin prescriptions.
The general rule for pregnant women is to get their daily dose of folic acid, which is crucial to the proper development of the baby’s brain. It’s recommended to have at least 400 milligrams of folic acid every day. Omega-3 is also recommended. If you’ve been trying for a while, you most likely are consuming vitamins and supplements. If you picked them out yourself, it’s time to take them to a pregnancy doctor in Provo so that she can check if they have the right amount and kinds of vitamins that you need for a healthy pregnancy.
2. Get a rundown on what you’re allowed and not allowed to eat.
Eating healthy before and during pregnancy is key to having a healthy baby. During pregnancy, a woman’s required amount of energy, vitamins, and minerals increase to accommodate both your and the baby’s needs. For instance, pregnant women need an additional 240 calories of energy per day in the second trimester. Ask your doctor what kinds of food will give you the required amount of macro and micronutrients. You also have to avoid certain kinds of food and beverages. Wine and any alcoholic drinks top the list. Any undercooked or raw food, such as meat and eggs, are also a no-no. Any food or beverage high in caffeine should also be avoided.
3. Plan your expenses.
The next thing you want to do is to plan how you’re going to budget for your pregnancy-related expenses. If you have health insurance, call your provider and find out what’s covered and what’s not based on your plan. You want to find out the portion of hospital bills they’ll cover, including the fee for delivery and medical tests. You also have to check if your doctor is in the network. Create a draft budget with all the predicted expenses. Examples of anticipated expenses are vitamin and milk supplies, regular hospital checkups, delivery operation, baby dresses, and baby supplies.
4. Learn more about your company’s maternity leave policy.
If you’re an employee, find out what your maternity leave options are early on so that you can plan. If you have a copy of an employee handbook, it should be spelled out in there. Otherwise, you can email HR and casually ask about your concern. This conversation is confidential, so you don’t have to worry about the premature spread of the news about your pregnancy in the office.
Carrying a baby in your womb is one of the most exciting and trickiest parts of a woman’s life. Try to celebrate and document every milestone so that you can have something to look back on later on.
