It is a momentous occasion for a woman when she receives a positive pregnancy test. She may feel excited, anxious, or uncertain about What to Do After a Positive Pregnancy Test? Regardless of whether it’s her first or fourth pregnancy, discovering that she is pregnant is a significant and life-changing moment. Someone who has been planning for this for a long time may suddenly feel overwhelmed by the impending changes. If the pregnancy comes as a surprise, she may feel a mix of emotions, including happiness and fear. There are no “correct” or “incorrect” next steps, just as there is no right or wrong way to feel after receiving a positive pregnancy test.
What to Do After Positive Pregnancy Test?
Upon discovering that you are pregnant, the first step you should take is to schedule an ultrasound. This will not only confirm the pregnancy, but it will also provide essential information about your pregnancy.
Through an ultrasound, you can determine not only the gestational age but also the location of the pregnancy. Although uncommon, pregnancy can sometimes implant outside the uterus, typically in the fallopian tubes. This is called an ectopic pregnancy, and it is not viable. An ectopic pregnancy poses serious health risks that require immediate attention. Therefore, one of the most critical reasons to undergo an ultrasound is to ensure that the pregnancy is within the uterus.
Who Needs to Know You Are Pregnant?
During the early stages of pregnancy, it is relatively easy to conceal a baby bump. Therefore, take advantage of this opportunity and use this time to decide who needs to be informed about your pregnancy. While it is true that eventually, everyone will know, at least anyone who sees you, you still have several weeks before this becomes an issue.
When selecting who needs to be informed, create a shortlist of individuals who should know as soon as possible. This may include immediate family members, other children, close friends, your boss, or co-workers, particularly if you are experiencing symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, or frequent bathroom trips while working. After a positive pregnancy test, some individuals may share the news right away, while others may wait until the 12-week appointment. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to announce a pregnancy, so only do so when you are ready.
6 Steps for What to Do After a Positive Pregnancy Test
Being pregnant for the first time is a significant and momentous step that can even make you feel lightheaded and overwhelmed. It’s crucial to take a step back and consider what will happen next because there are many sources of information and external opinions. After a positive pregnancy test, you need to take some steps for confirmation.
Take a Second Test
Although false positives are rare with pregnancy tests, medical professionals say that there is a small possibility that an at-home test could detect the pregnancy hormone hCG even if you had a miscarriage shortly after conception, which is known as a chemical pregnancy. If you had a chemical pregnancy, you might not have realized you were pregnant if you hadn’t taken the pregnancy test. If you did have a chemical pregnancy, your period may be delayed slightly. To confirm your pregnancy, you should take a second pregnancy test at home.
Find a doctor or a midwife
If you receive a positive pregnancy test, it is important to promptly schedule an appointment with a doctor or midwife. Not all family doctors provide pregnancy check-ups. Your first medical appointment is typically between weeks 8 and 11 of pregnancy.
During the appointment, your healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination and ask questions about your last period, pregnancy history, family medical history, the father’s health, your current condition, and lifestyle habits.
Assuming everything is progressing as expected, subsequent appointments will be regular but shorter – once a month until the 30th week of pregnancy. Appointments will become more frequent as the pregnancy progresses towards its conclusion.
Compare Blood Pregnancy Test Results
Pregnancy can be confirmed by a blood test at your healthcare provider’s clinic. If your doctor ordered a qualitative pregnancy test rather than a quantitative test, your at-home pregnancy test may show positive while your blood test shows negative. Unlike many early at-home pregnancy tests, a qualitative pregnancy test typically requires a higher level of pregnancy hormone and only provides a positive or negative result. In detecting pregnancy hormones, quantitative pregnancy tests sometimes outperform at-home tests.
If your blood test shows a very early positive, it may indicate that you had an early miscarriage, and a few days later, you may get a negative test at home. In this situation, your period will likely begin shortly. In either scenario, talk to your doctor about why the results may differ.
Get Educated
You will want to know what to expect each week during your pregnancy. Register for an early pregnancy class to get answers to your questions in person. You can learn the information you need to start making the right choices for you and your baby from both in-person and online resources. Additionally, books are an excellent resource for learning about pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period.
Decide on the type of care
The return of that positive pregnancy test is undoubtedly the start of a very exciting period. However, it can also be overwhelming, and some forms of prenatal care may seem invasive. Fortunately, you can personalize your prenatal care with a variety of options.
Eat healthily and have good lifestyle habits
A balanced and varied diet, rich in folic acid, iron, calcium, and vitamin D, usually provides the essential elements for the baby’s development during pregnancy. Eating well improves growth and reduces fatigue and lethargy.
You are more likely to have a worry-free pregnancy if you adopt good habits such as getting enough sleep, staying moderately active, eating a healthy diet, drinking enough water, and avoiding harmful substances such as alcohol and tobacco.
What to Do After Positive Pregnancy Test for Baby and Yourself Care
Fitness
If you were physically active before becoming pregnant, you should be able to continue with your routine in moderation. However, if you were not very active before pregnancy, now is a good time to start getting active.
Medical professionals recommend engaging in low-impact aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes every day during pregnancy. Regular exercise has been found to improve posture, reduce backaches, and alleviate fatigue. Furthermore, evidence suggests that exercise can help build up stamina for labor and delivery and reduce the risk of gestational diabetes.
Diet
What you might consider a “healthy” diet does not differ significantly from a pregnancy diet. Whole foods, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein are all essential. There are certain food types you may need to avoid. Unpasteurized cheese, meat, raw fish, and some other types of seafood are not allowed. In addition, stop drinking alcohol and limit your caffeine intake to 200 milligrams per day.
Sleep
You will feel your body working hard to grow your baby, trust us. Individuals who have just received a positive pregnancy test result may already be experiencing a slight increase in fatigue. However, between weeks 8 and 12, you will start to notice it more. Get adequate rest each day, and take breaks when you need to.
Start saving up
Talk to your partner or a financial advisor about your finances and options for maternity leave. Can you take a 12-month leave of absence while pregnant, or do you need to return to work earlier? What options does your workplace provide? When and how can you add your baby to your health insurance plan? Plan, as newborns may not be eligible for enrollment until 30 days after birth.