next steps after BFP?? « Back to Group Discussions

[wantabeanbrat]

got a BFP yesterday :))

as per the online Due date calc....i am 4 weeks and 6 days today and due in mid-november!

as a step 1 - I called the doc and setup an appointment for next week.

step 2 - I joined this group and read all the posts :))

What next ????

This is my first time and as much as I wanted to be pregnant all along during my TTC phase....i dont knw what should one do after having a positive HPT....i am so overwhelmed :)

DH is super excited and has been researching all the time abt what should I eat/drink, how should I sleep and what is good / whats bad during pregnancy etc etc....he is going crazy with so much info !!!!!

I knw once I meet  the doctor next week....I may have more clarity on this...

but is there any info on.....how and when should I have u/s?, how often should i see the doctor?, any procedures i should follow in the coming 9 months of pregnancy ?

any help, views, experiences .....are welcome :)

thanks!

[finnegansmom]

Congrats!  Have you chosen a care provider for your pregnancy?  If you have a primary care doc, they might just refer you to an OB.

A lot of women chose to seek care from midwives.  Whomever you decide to see, they will set up a schedule for you re: visits (usually monthly for the first 6 or 7 months), then every other week then weekly at the end.

I would kind of take it easy on reading too much over the internet about "what not to do/eat" when pregnant.

You will drive yourself crazy.  Just take things in moderation and obviously cut out the smoking/drinking if that's something you do normally.

Just sit back and enjoy the ride... :)

[Dealea86]

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Basically just take extra good care of yourself.  If it's good for you, it's probably good for the baby. There are some exceptions, and your doctor might go over some of those with you at your appointment.

Aside from that, now's the time to start thinking about what kind of birth you want. If you decide that your doctor is the perfect care provider for you, that's wonderful. But sometimes a doctor who is great before pregnancy is not a good fit for your ideal birth. Many women prefer to see midwives, others would rather stick with their OB. It's whatever works best for you. And really, there's tons of time. I didn't switch to a midwife until about 10 weeks with my daughter, and I know women who've waited much later. 

[greenmamato2]

The best thing you can do is relax. :)  So easy to say, so hard to do!

I'm going to be 6 weeks tomorrow and I am on the edge of my seat wondering "what should I do next" myself, but this is my 6th pregnancy, and I know from experience with it that all I can do is just sit back and wait, and take good care of my self to the best of my ability. 

Things I'm doing that are helping me feel like I am being proactive: 

* drinking lots of water (20 oz more than I normally would each day)

* drinking an Odwalla or Naked Juice smoothie every day

* taking prenatal vitamins

* eating more fresh fruits and vegetables

* resting, resting, resting

* not lifting over 30 lbs, and no more than 5-10 lbs on a regular basis

* not having caffeine of any kind (i don't smoke or drink so i don't have to make any changes with that)

* weaning off of my Celexa under dr. supervision. 

Not all of those may be things you need to do (like weaning off of Celexa for example), but try to be as healthy as you can with what you put into your body, and make sure to rest. :)  

[MadTown16]

Congratulations! I found out I was pregnant the first time at 4 weeks and my doctor didn't want to see me until 8 weeks. At first I was shocked that they'd just take my word that I was pregnant and let me be for a month.

At this point the only thing I would worry about is taking prenatals and avoiding medications unless you've checked with a Dr./midwife and know it's safe.

I also like reading weekly development updates in my pregnancy book. It helps me feel connected to what's happening. Especially in the beginning when it's hard for me to believe there's really a baby in there.

[wantabeanbrat]

thanks for all the responses ladies :)

thats very helpful...

I moved to this state (MA) only a year ago and so far have seen our primary care physician only once for my annual checkup.

My appointment next week is with a nurse practitioner who had done my annual gynaec (pap test) exam last yr.

When I asked if I can see a specialist/OB for my first visit during my pregnancy....I was told....for the first few visits the nurse will see me and arrange for any lab work whenever required. The OB will start seeing me sometime during second trimester. I had no choice...so I said ok.

So far....I have not decided which hospital, OB / midwife, should I finalize. I think I will wait till my first appointment is done....to start thinking about all this.

meanwhile....some of the things i have already started are....

• drinking more water than usual
• taking prenatals everyday
• reduced cardio and weight exercises (trying to keep heart rate under 140)
• eating more fruits, veggies, drink a glass of milk....basically trying to keep a balanced diet
• i dont smoke or drink....so no changes on that front
• i dont have any other medications....so nothing changes there as well
• and as greenmamato2 said....trying to relax :))

[Julieee]

Congratularions!!!! I briefly skimmed through what the other women said and I don't think I saw this... Take fish oil too (with your prenatal vitamin). Spend the extra buck or two to get the kind that say "no fish burps" lol. Trust me on that one!!! Also, if u do need a pain reliever, no ibproufen. Acitemetephin (sp?) is recommended. If I were you, I'd also buy stretch mark lotion... I got the palmers brand and loved it.

If i remember correctly, You'll have an appt once a month for the first 8 months then one every two weeks for month 8 and once a week for week 36 & on. Does that sound right ladies?

Do your kegels every day!!!

Get a body pillow! It was so helpful for me!

Budget extra $$ if you work and will be on a maternity leave! I got paid 70% of my salary for 6 wks and took 9 wks off so I had to budget and save the other 30% and 3 wks! We saved that money every pay period so when baby came I had enough money!

Sorry if that's a lot... I was in your place last year so I know what it's like to have a ton of questions! Write questions down to bring to your first apt. Be ready for a pap if you haven't had one in a year.

Yeah that was a lot, sorry!!!

[finnegansmom]

I'm from Mass as well, and I think it is in your best interest to start looking for a midwife now if you think there is a chance you will want to see one for your pregnancy.

There are not a lot of midwives who work in hospitals, some only do homebirths.  My insurance here in Mass does not cover homebirths, it might be that way across the board for the state.

Since there are not a lot of midwives, and some are better than others, you want to make sure she can accept you as they only accept a certain # for each birth month.

I actually called my midwife before I even told my dh I had a BFP....

There is a "Finding your tribe" forum here and you can find some great referrals for midwives and even some more hands-off OBs.

I think I've read about some good midwives in Cambridge?  Not sure if you live in the city or outside?

I'm down on the south coast and go to Wareham (which is a 40 minute drive for me) just to see Louise at Tobey.

ETA - here's the link to the Mass Finding your tribe forum....here