Steps to Take After Determining You're Pregnant

Once a woman has found out that she is pregnant she may be in shock. An unwanted pregnancy can be a huge shock but there is help for a woman. These are some steps she should take after determining that she is pregnant.

Call the Doctor

A woman should give the doctor or her OBGYN a call to get checked out. This will help her determine how far along she is and where to go from there. It is important to know how far along the pregnancy is to determine all of the available options. The doctor also needs to know about any health conditions the woman has or any medication she is taking. This will help determine proper care for the baby.

Tell the Father

Even if the woman is not in a relationship with the father she should let him know she is pregnant. There are some exceptions if the man is very abusive. Most men will be in shock and it is normal if they do not know what to do. If the man wants nothing to do with the baby it is his loss. Once the shock wears off he can help determine the next step.

Decision

A woman needs to decide if she is going to have the baby, put it up for adoption, or have an abortion. There are different abortion laws from state to state but she will have a very short time to decide. If she is putting the baby up for adoption, the search for parents can begin. If a woman is keeping the baby there will be a lot to prepare for.

Begin Prenatal Vitamins

A woman needs to take prenatal vitamins as soon as she as a confirmed pregnancy. The vitamins should have at least 400 mcg of folic acid. This will reduce the risk of birth defects in the baby. The earlier the folic acids get into the system, the better it is for the baby.

Stop Unhealthy Habits

If a woman smokes or drinks alcohol she needs to stop right away. There is a risk that the baby has already been exposed to these items before a woman knew she was pregnant. Now that she knows it is time to stop. She can see the doctor for help to stop smoking if needed.

Be Healthy

Pregnancy can be exciting and stressful especially if a woman was not trying to get pregnant. If a woman is very stressed or has a feeling of depression she should tell her doctor or another mental health professional. A woman will need to make sure she is getting plenty of sleep. She needs to eat healthy since she will be eating for two. It is important to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated. A woman should not overdo things. The body will get tired easily and she should not overexert herself.

Avoid Cat Litter

If a woman has a cat she can no longer change the litter box. This may seem silly but it is very serious. Litter may contain a parasite that is known as toxoplasmosis. This can hurt the development of the fetus. She should not give up her cat but find someone to help care for it.

Get Information

If a woman is still not sure what to do she should read books, search the internet, and find out information about pregnancy and babies. They will help make things less scary.

These are some things that a woman should do when she finds out that she is pregnant. Even if she was not expecting to get pregnant it is important that she take measures to make sure she is healthy and that the baby is healthy as well.