Congratulations! You have become pregnant, and are about to embark on one of the greatest journeys of your life. There are a few things you can do during this first few months to make sure your pregnancy is a healthy and happy one:
_____ CELEBRATE!!! Plan an announcement party with family and friends, or a romantic dinner with your partner to celebrate this exciting event.
_____ Schedule your first prenatal visit with your physician when you're about nine weeks along. Discuss how often you will need to visit her for checkups.
_____ Discuss any medications you are taking with your physician.
_____ Start taking a prenatal vitamin that contains folic acid.
_____ Begin reading books about pregnancy. While each woman is different, a goal of at least one good book a trimester is a good start.
_____ If you haven't already, quit using recreational or illicit drugs, and stop smoking.
_____ Start drinking lots of fluids, particularly water. Set a goal of 8 glasses a day.
_____ If your family has a history of genetic disorders, consider prenatal testing.
_____ Decide where you want to have your baby, whether at home, a birth center or a hospital.
_____ Consider starting a pregnancy diary and having someone take a picture of you (and your expanding belly) each month.
_____ Start getting a good night's sleep every night.
_____ Listen to your body's signals, such as morning sickness and exhaustion.
_____ Establish a support system of friends, family and caregivers.
_____ Enroll in prenatal exercise classes.
_____ Have someone take a photo of you every month so that you will have a record of how your body changed during pregnancy.
_____ Register yourself and your partner for a pregnancy class.