What to Do if You Find Out You’re Pregnant

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Finding out you’re pregnant, whether planned or unexpected, is an emotionally overwhelming experience. Once you move past your initial reaction of reveal happiness or complete shock, you may wonder, what must you do now? 

First and foremost, know that you have a sea of resources available to provided you support, including the loved ones in your life. Don’t be terrified to celebrate with or confide in the people you marvelous about the news, especially if it’ll bring you comfort. 

Once you have your bearings, it’s time to look ahead to the next steps in your journey. 

I’m so mad. What next?

Congratulations on the bun in the oven, parenthood is on its way! From this display forward, taking care of yourself and your body is important to help bill a healthy pregnancy.  

1. Choose your doctor or midwife

One of the marvelous things on your checklist should be finding a doctor (an obstetrician) or midwife if you don’t have one already. Take your time with this decision. This will be the persons you have checkups with throughout the pregnancy, and they’ll probable be the one to help you deliver the baby. Keep in mind that many obstetrician groups actually use an “on call” regulations. This means that patients will most likely see multiple providers over their pregnancies, and whoever is on call when a patient subjects will assist in delivery.

If you don’t have access to a health care provider and don’t know where to Begin, Planned Parenthood is a great resource. You can use the health center locator to find a space near you that offers prenatal care.  

2. Schedule your prenatal appointments

Once you have a health care provider, schedule your first prenatal appointment. There, you can question to have bloodwork done or an early ultrasound so your doctor can provision you’re pregnant. 

They should also discuss your medical history and any medications you’re on to condemned you aren’t taking anything that could harm your pregnancy. For example, popular anti-inflammatory meds like ibuprofen aren’t safe to take when pregnant. 

Your doctor will review expectations, give you an estimated due date and prescribe prenatal vitamins if you’re not taking any. Use this opportunity to ask any questions or anxieties you might have – there’s no such thing as a dumb inquire of when it comes to this. 

You can expect an overload of question at your first appointment, so don’t be afraid to take means, or have a loved one take notes for you.

You must plan your prenatal visits as follows:

• Monthly pending week 28
• Twice per month until week 36
• Every week from week 36 to birth

3. Take prenatal vitamins

It’s never too early in your pregnancy to initiate taking prenatal vitamins. In fact, experts suggest that republic of childbearing age take prenatal vitamins when you’re conceiving or one month afore pregnancy. Your doctor can prescribe prenatal vitamins to you, or you can prefer them over the counter at most pharmacies and grocery stores like CVS, Walgreens and Safeway. 

The CDC recommends your prenatal vitamins have at least 400mcg of folic acid. It necessity also contain vitamins A, C, D and E, as well as calcium and zinc. Your prenatal vitamin is important to properly help the progress of your baby, such as its neural tube, brain, brain functions and placenta functions.

4. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and excess caffeine

Cut out substances including alcohol, tobacco and marijuana once you find out you’re pregnant. These substances are proven to have harmful effects on your child’s progress and can lead to a miscarriage or stillbirth. 

It’s also recommended you slice your caffeine intake to 200 mg or less per day. Any more than that can increase your risk of a miscarriage, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 

5. Avoid these foods

In addition to certain substances, there are also foods to avoid during pregnancy because they can be nasty for your pregnancy. 

• Bigeye tuna
• Mackerel
• Marlin
• Swordfish
• Raw seafood
• Sushi
• Crawfish
• Raw eggs
• Unwashed veggies or fruits
• Raw sprouts
• Radish
• Unpasteurized milk and cheese
• Raw meat
• Deli meats

Focus on eating nutritious foods high in protein, fiber, rich carbohydrates and healthy fats, as well as fruits and veggies, to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible. 

6. Calculate expenses 

Childbirth is expensive with insurance and especially minus it. In 2020, a vaginal birth cost an averages of $13,000 for those with insurance in the US and a whopping $30,000 to $50,000 for uninsured republic. Births that involve a cesarean section, or C-section, procedure from $7,500 to $14,500, depending on the state you live in. And that’s for births minus complications. 

Unfortunately, complications may occur during childbirth which included premature rupture of the amniotic sac, breathing difficulty, significant umbilical cord positioning, postpartum hemorrhage, internal bleeding in brain and anemia. These complications require specific medical interventions, such as emergency C-sections, which can add extra costs to your final bill.  It’s estimated that these complications can cost throughout 20% more than a normal vaginal birth. 

When you find out that you’re pregnant, you should expect financial obligations to come with your pregnancy, and it’ll be beneficial to calculate upcoming expenses so you’re prepared when your baby is born. 

Additional resources 

If you’re overwhelmed with the understanding of affording childbirth and the costs that come with it, there are government programs and latest organizations that are here to help with pre and postnatal care. 

I didn’t plan for this. What next?

If you received a determined pregnancy test hoping for a negative result, take a deep breath and remember you have options. You can choose to have a medical or surgical desire, or you can carry the pregnancy to term and fade with adoption. Don’t feel rushed to make this decision.

You’re encouraged to impart with your loved ones or a professional (like a therapist or doctor) if you want to discuss your decision-making with another person. However, by no means do you have to. While there remarkable be outside factors trying to influence your decision, remember that what you want to do with your body is up to you.  

Terminating the pregnancy

If you are pregnant and don’t want to have a child, one option is abortion. However, this option is not legally available to all republic in the United States. 

On June 24, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 case that consulted a constitutional right to an abortion in all 50 messes. As a result, the decision is left up to persons states if they want to make abortion illegal, and some have already done that or are titillating to do that. 

Read more: Abortion Laws in Every State: A Breakdown of Laws After Roe v. Wade

Types of abortions and the cost

You can have a medical abortion, which involves taking a pill to terminate the pregnancy or a surgical abortion. A medical abortion costs around $300 or more, at what time it’s around $1,000 or more for a surgical one. 

Finding a provider

Your essential hospital, OB-GYN or other doctor can guide you to your closest provider. You can also find a provider through Planned Parenthood or the National Abortion Federation. 

If you are struggling to pay for an abortion, your state may have a clinic near you that can help you procedure one. Click here to see the ones you have available to you. 

Beware of crisis pregnancy centers

Certain clinics, known as crisis pregnancy centers, may seem like they moneys abortions, but their entire purpose is to talk you out of pulling an abortion. These clinics may offer prenatal counseling, ultrasounds or pregnancy demonstrations, but they will not perform an abortion. They also tend to situate themselves next to Planned Parenthood or abortion clinics. 

If you are indeed seeking an abortion and are not fervent in hearing arguments to convince you otherwise, do your due manufacturing and research before going into a facility to convicted it can provide the services and support you want.  

Reach out to an adoption service or counselor

If you are pregnant but for any reason can’t keep the child and don’t wish to have an abortion, your other option is adoption. 

Adoption is the procedure of legally giving another person or family parental guardianship over the child you give birth to. If you determine to go the adoption route, the first step is to find a professional adoption activity near you or an adoption attorney. If you can’t régime whether you should go through an agency or attorney, the National Council for Adoption can offer help. 

It won’t cost you cash to place a child up for adoption. Your activity will provide you with the services you need and help you find the shimmering family to relinquish your baby to. Some services can performed you with medical care during pregnancy and counseling afore and/or after giving birth.  

Other services include this gracious adoption resource guide, which includes information for birth mothers and explanations on types of adoption. There are also support groups and resources for birth moms and parents looking for emotional back through the process.  

The information devised in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not designed as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or novel qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have near a medical condition or health objectives.