What to do if the Test is Positive
The confirmation
that you are about to become a mother heralds a new stage in your life,
and now is the perfect time to start planning and preparing for the
changes ahead. You may be experiencing mixed feelings about the news,
and that’s entirely normal. Beginning the preparations can help you to
come to terms with your new status.
Take a second test—although modern pregnancy tests are very accurate, they can sometimes be wrong
Make an appointment to see your doctor—he or she can confirm the pregnancy and answer your questions
Let your doctor know if your immunizations are not up to date
Avoid taking new medications, and consult your doctor if you need to take any regular medication
Calculate your estimated delivery date
If you aren’t already taking folic acid, start now, since this is essential for your new baby’s development
Cut out alcohol and cigarettes, which have been linked to health problems in babies
Develop a healthy eating plan , with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, good-quality carbs, and foods rich in iron and folic acid
Exercise moderately—staying in shape helps to ensure an easier pregnancy and birth
If you usually drink coffee, cut back
or try decaffeinated coffee or tea instead; a little caffeine won’t
hurt your baby, but caffeine has been linked to miscarriage in some
women
Listen to your body—if
you are tired, take a nap; if you are hungry, have a snack; the very
best way to overcome and cope with the symptoms of pregnancy is to
listen and respond to your body’s signals
Share the news—some
women like to wait until they’ve had an ultrasound or passed the
12-week mark, but there’s no reason why you can’t tell a few people your
good news now
Make sure you have a good support network
of friends, family, and your partner, as well as your doctor and/or
midwife, who can answer the multitude of questions that are likely to
crop up during the coming months
Join an online community of pregnant women and new moms who can share advice and stories
Start a pregnancy diary,
writing down how you are feeling, what symptoms you are experiencing,
and any hopes or plans you have for the months to come; ask your partner
or a friend to take a photo of you every month to keep track of your
changing body
Invest in a few pregnancy books to keep tabs on what’s happening to your baby—and you!
Look around for good prenatal classes—although you are unlikely to begin these for several months, they may get booked up well in advance
Enjoy your pregnancy
Your estimated due date
This date is calculated
by adding seven days to the first day of your last menstrual period, and
then subtracting three months. So, if your last period was on February
1, your baby will arrive somewhere around November 8. Some experts
believe that caucasian first-time moms should add an extra 15 days to
this date; however, your first scan will pinpoint an accurate date.
Appointments and Tests
Once your pregnancy is
confirmed, you will be monitored to ensure that you and your baby are
healthy. These are exciting times, full of anticipation—and huge
changes. Prenatal appointments provide you with a chance to ask
questions and get the reassurance you need.
Routine prenatal appointments
For a first baby, you will have an appointment with your doctor or midwife at:
Blood tests
Over the course of your pregnancy, samples of your blood will be tested for:
Your blood type
Anemia
Your rhesus status—whether you have a positive or negative blood group
HIV
Hepatitis B
Syphilis
Rubella immunity
Your glucose level
Red blood cell abnormalities, such as sickle cell disease
Ultrasounds
Most women have two
ultrasounds, but you may be offered more if you have a high-risk
pregnancy; you may have an ultrasound later in your pregnancy to check
the size and position of your baby or placenta. Normal scans occur at:
7–9 weeks—this
is routine for some practitioners; others use it only if there is a
risk of miscarriage, uncertainty about dates, multiple babies, or to
check for ectopic or molar pregnancy
10–14 weeks—Nuchal
Translucency (NT) screening to check for chromosomal abnormalities,
such as Down’s syndrome, and congenital heart problems; this is done
during an ultrasound but may not be offered everywhere. You may be given
other tests to check for these abnormalities
18–20 weeks—to
confirm dates, check the baby’s heartbeat, confirm the baby’s location,
measure the baby, detect twins, check location of the placenta, assess
the amount of amniotic fluid, check for abnormalities, and determine the
baby’s sex
Screening tests
Diagnostic tests
If screening tests suggest your baby has a high risk of Down’s syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities, you may be offered:
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS),
in which tiny samples of the chorionic villi (finger-like projections
on the placenta) are taken to check the genetic information they carry:
Transvaginal CVS is done at 10–12 weeks, when a small tube or a pair of forceps is inserted through your cervix
Transabdominal CVS is usually done at 10–12 weeks, when a needle is inserted through your abdomen into your placenta
Amniocentesis, in which a needle is inserted into your womb and amniotic fluid is removed for testing; this is done after 15 weeks
Urine tests
will be done at every appointment to check for the presence of protein
(which could indicate pre-eclampsia), urinary tract infections, and
sugar (which could indicate gestational diabetes)
Blood pressure is checked at every appointment to ensure that it doesn’t rise significantly, a sign of pre-eclampsia
