I Am Pregnant! Now What Do I Do?

So you just found out you are pregnant. Were you expecting to see two lines on the test? Pregnancy can be a surprise and a blessing to most people however, if it is not expected it can be a time filled with stress, doubt and confusion.

There are many important things that you will have to do after getting that positive pregnancy test. There are a lot of decisions that will have to be made. The first thing you will need to do is contact your doctor to get a blood test to confirm the pregnancy. You will also want to start taking a pre-natal vitamin. If you are keeping the pregnancy, you will need to contact an OBGYN to monitor your pregnancy's progress.

So you are pregnant and keeping the baby, now what? You will need to discuss how to notify people. The first person who should be notified is your partner. After the two of you have discussed what you will do, you will want to notify family and friends. Many people opt to wait till after 12 weeks when the incidence of miscarriage lowers. This saves them the problem of explaining to others why they suddenly aren't pregnant. This can be very practical if you have experienced miscarriages previously or have a condition such as PCOS that elevates your risk for miscarriage. Some people would rather have the support system in case a miscarriage should occur so they opt to tell their family and friends.

So, you've decided who you are going to notify family-wise. Do you tell your work? There are pros and cons to telling your boss you are pregnant and will vary with each person's circumstance. If you have a physically demanding job, you will probably want to notify them of the change in your condition. If you suddenly find yourself suffering the negative side effects of pregnancy such as extreme fatigue or morning sickness, you may have to tell them to justify sick days or constant running to the bathroom. Do you have enough sick or vacation time at work for doctor's appointments? You will want to look into Family Medical Leave Act if you do not. If your employer meets the requirements of FMLA it could save your job.

The most important thing you can do right now is take care of yourself. Eat right, rest often and keep stress to a minimum. It sounds easier said than done, right?