12 Questions you have when you get Pregnant
The moment you see that positive pregnancy test, so many thoughts run through your mind. Most of them are questions. If this is your first pregnancy, you quickly realize your whole life has changed and you have a lot to learn. Here are 12 questions you’ll have when you get pregnant.
12 Questions you have when you get Pregnant
When Should I see a Doctor?
With my first pregnancy, I called my doctor right away to schedule an appointment. I was shocked when she didn’t want to see me until I was about 8 weeks along. I thought for sure they’d want to do a blood test, confirm the pregnancy, maybe take a look in there and see how things were going. But, the truth is, there’s not much to see before the 8 week mark and most doctors won’t do much before then. If you want to go into the office to confirm the pregnancy with a blood test, they can probably accommodate you, but a good old at home pregnancy test is pretty darn reliable. Note: If you’re a serial tester, I recommend investing in these pregnancy test strips. You get 50 strips for less than the price of one of the drug store pregnancy tests. It’s the exact same thing, just without the fancy plastic.
RELATED: What to Expect at your Prenatal Appointments
What Shouldn’t I be Doing?
As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I started second guessing every move I made. A slew of crazy questions about what I can and can’t do ran through my mind. Can I paint? Can I dye my hair? Can I get x-rays at the dentist? Am I allowed to carry heavy things? Can I jump on a trampoline (just kidding… I don’t know why, but I remember hearing pregnant women can’t jump on trampolines when I was a kid and it always stuck with me). The truth is, your everyday life isn’t as restricted as you think it will be. Your pregnant self can do almost everything your non-pregnant self can do, but here are some of the biggies to stay away from:
- Don’t drink alcohol
- Don’t do drugs or smoke cigarettes
- Don’t get x-rays
- Don’t sit in hot tubs, saunas, or get overheated
- No heavy lifting
- Don’t change the litter box
- No extreme sports or exercise
- No activities with a risk of falling
If you’re worried about whether or not something is safe to do during pregnancy, just contact your doctor. They’ll be happy to help!
What Should I be Doing?
In addition to being worried about everything I shouldn’t be doing, I started wondering what I should be doing. I had no idea how to prepare for a baby, what I needed for a baby, what I was supposed to be doing at each stage of my pregnancy, and so on and so forth. I think it’s safe to say I have a Type A personality, so I always feel more relaxed and in control when I’m organized and prepared. I really wanted someone to hand me a list of everything I needed to do before the baby arrived so I could start mapping things out on a calendar and crossing things off as I went. I didn’t have anything like this, but this sounds like you, I highly recommend the Oh Baby Pregnancy Planner. It’s packed with trimester to do lists, must have checklists, questionnaires for interviewing pediatricians and child care providers, newborn care sheets, and more. I really would have loved to have had something like it during my first go around.
What Can’t I Eat?
The list of foods you aren’t allowed to eat while pregnant isn’t as long as you might think it is. And honestly, a lot of the foods on that list aren’t things I’m interested in eating anyway (raw meat and raw eggs). Here is the list of foods to avoid that I followed during my pregnancies. But here’s what I really want to say about this topic. If you’re pregnant and you accidentally eat a crumble of bleu cheese or some raw cookie dough, it’s not the end of the world… I promise. You and your baby are going to be just fine. Just do your best, but don’t stress out if you accidentally consume something on the “no-no list”.
If you’re looking for a things you should eat, I love the Perfect Pregnancy Nutrition Plan from Allie Edwards. She’s certified in nutrition during pregnancy and teaches you everything you need to know about how to fuel your body while you’re growing a baby. It also includes over 80 easy and delicious recipes that help you fight crazy cravings!
Can I Drink Caffeine?
Oh coffee. If you can’t tell by the name of my blog, coffee is a big part of my life. When I got pregnant, I knew it was going to be something I had to cut back on. The second time around, I missed my multiple cups of coffee more than I missed my Friday night glass of wine. A good rule of thumb to follow during pregnancy is to drink no more than 200 mg of caffeine per day. Here’s a great post about caffeine during pregnancy from my friend, Liesel, who’s a labor and delivery nurse! She breaks down how much caffeine is in a lot of common beverages.
Am I allowed to Workout?
This is another question you should ask your doctor about, but generally, pregnant women are allowed to workout and even encouraged to workout. If you have a normal, healthy pregnancy, getting exercise can do wonders for you and your baby. It can help with nausea, fatigue, weight gain, endurance (for labor), and your overall mental health. My favorite pregnancy workout is the Belly Only Pregnancy Program. It includes video workouts for all three trimesters, a nutrition guide, and information about protecting your core and pelvic floor (you know… so you don’t pee your pants when you sneeze).
Can I still have Sex?
Again, if you have a normal, healthy pregnancy, it’s perfectly fine to engage in sexual intercourse. Your doctor will let you know if you’re high risk and sex is off limits. Here are some things I’ve learned about sex during pregnancy:
- You might see some spotting after sex. While it’s normal, it can still be scary, and it’s one of the reasons I was afraid to do the dance during the first few weeks of my first pregnancy.
- Some men are weirded out about having sex during pregnancy. This is also very normal, so don’t go thinking your partner doesn’t find you attractive anymore. If it becomes an issue in your relationship, make sure you address it.
- On the other hand, some men are wildly turned on by their pregnant partners.
- Your sex drive will probably change a lot during pregnancy. Some women can’t stand the thought of sex, and some women can’t get enough of it. You can thank those wonderful hormones.
What are Common First Trimester Symptoms?
Depending on when you find out you’re pregnant, you may or may not have already experienced some pregnancy symptoms. As much as this is not what you want to hear, you better start getting used to it now, because you’ll hear it a lot for the next few months: NO TWO WOMEN OR TWO PREGNANCIES ARE THE SAME. You may experience tons of symptoms, or you may not feel like you’re pregnant at all. Both cases are totally normal. Below is a post I shared on Instagram about the topic. Generally speaking, this is a great list of first trimester symptoms. And here’s a fun post where 40+ women share their very first pregnancy symptom.
When does Morning Sickness Start?
A big concern for any pregnant woman is morning sickness. It’s one of the most commonly experienced pregnancy symptoms and one of the most disruptive. Regardless of its name, morning sickness can affect pregnant women morning, noon, and night. Nausea and morning sickness typically start around 6 weeks and for most women, subside by the end of the first trimester.
What are the Chances of a Miscarriage?
While finding out that you’re pregnant is a wonderful feeling, it’s typically accompanied by another feeling… fear. Because the rate of miscarriage is so high, and women are finally talking about it, it’s completely normal to be worried during the first weeks of your pregnancy. I was completely overcome with the fear of miscarriage during my first pregnancy. Luckily, I learned a lot of coping strategies the first time, and was much more relaxed during my second pregnancy. Because the fear of miscarriage played such a large role in my first pregnancy, I wrote an entire post on how to manage your first trimester fears.
When will I Start to Show?
Another question you have when you get pregnant is “when will I show?” I bet you can guess what I’m going to say here. No two women or two pregnancies are the same. There are so many factors that play into when your baby bump will start to make an appearance. Things like number of previous pregnancies, height, weight, age, and genetics, all play a role in how quickly you will start to show. I didn’t start to show until about 12 weeks with my first, but I felt like a had an instant bump with my second!
If you’re newly pregnant, I hope you found the answers to some of your newest questions. As your pregnancy progresses, you’ll continue to find yourself with a whole new set of questions. Pregnancy is a crazy journey full of unknowns, but it’s so exciting to learn about your body and your baby as you make your way to motherhood.
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for more information on pregnancy, breastfeeding, and baby!
DISCLOSURE: Coffee and Coos is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. Always consult your doctor for medical advice.
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