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So, you just found out your pregnant, congratulations!! Our pregnancy was a surprise and it took a while for “congratulations” to feel exciting haha so maybe you feel like me or maybe you've been trying for a while and it's finally happened for you, then a huge gigantic congratulations!! Now you're thinking what do I need to do when I find out I'm pregnant?
I remember when I became pregnant I literally learned something new every day.
When I found out I was pregnant and thought, I should go to the doctor next week right? WRONG! The doctor likely won't even take you for A MONTH!
I wanted to make this blog to tell you all the things you want to know when you first find out you're pregnant.
First, here is a video I made about some funny parts of the first trimester you'll be enjoying soon!
This blog is all about what you need to know when you first find out you're pregnant.
1. How many weeks pregnant am I?
Fun fact, you start counting weeks on the first day of your last period.
BEFORE YOU'RE EVEN PREGNANT!!
You likely conceived at “week two” and by the time you find out you're pregnant, you're at least 4-5 weeks!
The good news? You're already 4 weeks into your first trimester, which in my opinion, was the trickiest, morning sickness (more about this below), not telling anyone, trying to figure out all the things (also below).
2. My doctor will see me right away when I find out I'm preganant… right?
Nope! You typically have to wait until week 8 which could be an entire month from when you find out you're pregnant. However, some doctors may see you at week 6 to do a scan to estimate what week you are! Those few weeks can be HARD to wait! Try and distract yourself with… anything, but likely it's all you can think about 🙂
3. Pregnancy symptoms can start right away
A women's hormone specialist told me once when you become pregnant your body immediately flips a ton of hormonal switches. So yes, it's very possible that you already notice symptoms!
Like I said above, my nausea was from about week 5 or 6 until week 13!
My cravings were one of the things that tipped me off that I was pregnant.
I was CRAVING tahini, I wanted it in EVERYTHING.
Emotional, yep, this starts early too. Seth literally asked me “Do you think you could be pregnant?” like no… what? wait. Idk! I like to think I'm a fairly level headed person most of the time. These emotions are GNARLY. I even recognize when I'm being a wild woman and cannot stop it!!
4. Foods you should avoid during pregnancy
- Deli meat (microwave it first if you must have it)
- Sushi (with raw fish… I always just chose the veggie ones or the ones with cooked fish)
- kombucha (up for debate)
- Raw or partially cooked eggs
- Raw or partially cooked meat
- High mercury fish
The pregnancy app I used, Ovia Pregnancy App, had a place to check food and medication safety!
5. Grab some prenatal vitamins!
- Prenatals: I used prenatal made from whole foods like this one or this one.
- DHA: A naturopathic friend of mine recommended this brand. Find out more about how DHA can help with eye, brain, and nervous system development with baby in this article.
- Probiotics: I work closely with a probiotic company, LoveBug Probiotics (use code HEYSHAYLA and get 15% off your purchase) And since working with them I learned waaaay too much about probiotics and specifically the benefits for baby and mom during pregnancy (and loved every min). I summarized it in an easy to digest (pun intended) video here (or click on the video below, same same). I started taking these right when I got pregnant with my first in 2019, took them all throughout postpartum, and now, in 2022, am taking them again in during my second pregnancy!
I brought all of these to my doctor to make sure it was okay that I took them all together.
I AM NOT A DOCTOR, AND MY DOCTOR IS NOT YOUR DOCTOR, so double-check with yours.
6. ALL DAY SICKNESS not just morning sickness in the first trimester
It's mistakenly called “morning” sickness.
No. this can be an ALL DAY sickness, an afternoon sickness, a hungry sickness, a full sickness, a strike at any time sickness! Sometimes you need to eat to stop feeling sick, but also you cannot get up because you feel sick.
However, some people don't even get nauseous… so I wouldn't say run out and get these things unless you're one of those over-prepared people (kudos). Here are a few things to help me with my nausea:
- Sea-Bands: These acupressure bracelets helped me A TON with
- Peppermint: Essential oils, gum, hard candy, any way you want to get it
- Ginger Chews: I used these but anything you can tolerate should be great
- Saltine Crackers: I just bought a giant box and kept them in my car and in the kitchen obviously
- Peanut butter toast… yep. Once I found a breakfast that worked I had it EVERY morning
- Berry Protein Shakes: I don't know why this worked but it did for me, again bring your protein to your doctor and ask if it's okay to take!
7. Weekly updates when you're pregnant:
Once you find out your pregnant you may want to keep up and learn what is going on in there every week.
Apps: They likely got this info from a pregnancy app, I downloaded a few, my favorite was Ovia Pregnancy App.
YouTube videos: BUT my FAVORITE thing to do was watch Channel Mum's weekly update. They don't even know I exist but I always YouTube'd “Channel Mum Week X” and would find the video for whatever week I was in! They're fantastic. They tell you what's going on in there, and then have other women come on and tell you what their experience is like during that week!
8. Maternity clothes when you're pregnant
I was adamant about not buying maternity clothes, and I really didn't until the third trimester. However, I have a VERY long torso so I didn't really start showing until week 25+, and yoga pants did the trick!
If you're someone, again, who wants to be prepared or begin showing sooner, my FAVORITE leggings are Blanqi, I'm not even an affiliate or ambassador with them (yet) but I LOVE them. The material is very thick tightS that is squat proof through at least one pregnancy.
The maternity leggings are compressing on the legs and SOOO much stretch in the belly. I bought 2 pairs and basically lived in them.
I also bought the postpartum leggings which are nice because they go very high, so you don't have to worry about your tummy being exposed when you breastfeed!
9. Working out
Lady, you are quite literally BUILDING ORGANS! I couldn't do much from week 6-12 because of how I was feeling. I just took that time to rest, and I'm glad I did. Your body is in overdrive until that placenta takes over the hormonal load.
Also, there are a ton of exercises you want to avoid to prevent Diastasis Recti, Expecting and empowered has an article about it here.
If you do want to work out I cannot recommend Expecting and Empowered enough. It is a pregnancy and postpartum workout guide broke up week by week to show you what you can do to be safe and to prepare your pelvic floor for labor!
I am an ambassador for them and have an Expecting and Empowered discount code for you: $10 off if you use code HEYSHAYLA
Hot tip: I learned that hot yoga is a no no throughout your pregnancy.
I hope this helps make you feel just a little more prepared for this wild journey. By the end nothing will surprise you and you will be incredibly proud of yourself.
it's one of those things that you take it week by week, step by step instead of trying to learn everything at once. YAY!
xo Shay
