Pregnancy First Trimester: To-Do Lists

Once a pregnancy has been fully established, smart care needs to be given by pregnancy owners in terms of taking healthy care and monitoring of the fetus. There are certain steps recommended by medical personnel for pregnant women to strictly observe throughout the 3 trimesters of pregnancy. The to-do lists of actions steps for the first 13 weeks of pregnancy commonly tagged the first trimester shall be discussed exhaustively below in the main article. Use the list below to keep track of the tasks that must be done during the first trimester. [nextpagelink][/nextpagelink] Make sure you're really pregnant Most home pregnancy tests can accurately detect pregnancy in the week after your period is normally due – two weeks after you ovulate. If the test shows a negative or a faintly positive result, wait another few days or a week and try again if you still haven't gotten your period. Take your prenatal vitamin If you haven't started taking a prenatal vitamin yet, now's the time to start. It's particularly critical to get enough folic acid while trying to conceive and during your first trimester. Folic acid greatly reduces your baby's risk of developing neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida Investigate health insurance Make sure you know what your health insurance plan covers as far as your prenatal care and delivery costs, as well as care for your new baby. Get answers to these questions by calling your health insurance provider or talking to your company's benefits department. If you don't have health insurance, find out where you can get help. [nextpagelink][/nextpagelink] Choose a caregiver If you already have a caregiver you love (who cares for pregnant women and delivers babies), you're set. If not, you've got some homework to do. Talk to friends and relatives, ask one of your other healthcare providers to recommend someone, check out the preferred providers under your health insurance plan, or search online. Make a prenatal appointment: Many caregivers won't see you until you're at least 8 weeks pregnant, but you'll want to get on their calendar well before this since appointments can fill up fast. To prepare, jot down the first day of your last period so your caregiver can determine your due date and start making a list of any questions that arise. Talk to relatives on both sides about your families' medical histories. Your caregiver will want to know whether any chronic conditions or genetic abnormalities run in either of your families. If you smoke, quit: Smoking raises your risk of a host of problems, including miscarriage, placental problems, and preterm birth. It also slows fetal growth and increases the risk of stillbirth and infant death. Some research has even linked smoking to a greater risk of having a baby with a cleft lip or palate. It's never too late to quit or cut back. Every cigarette you don't light gives your baby a better chance of being healthy. [nextpagelink][/nextpagelink] Stop drinking alcohol As little as one drink a day can raise the odds of low birth weight as well as your child's risk of problems with learning, speech, attention span, language, and hyperactivity. No one knows exactly how harmful even the smallest amount of alcohol may be to a developing baby, so skip the booze altogether. Cut Down On Caffeine : Studies have linked high caffeine consumption to miscarriage and other pregnancy problems. That's why the March of Dimes advises expectant moms to limit their caffeine intake to less than 200 mg per day (that's about one 12-ounce cup of coffee). Go To Bed Early: In early pregnancy you may be more exhausted than you ever imagined you could be. Get more rest by turning in early – even if it makes you feel like a grandma. Have Sex If You Feel Up To It : In your first trimester, you may feel too tired, moody, or nauseated to make love. But if you're feeling amorous (and you don't have any complications that may make sex dangerous), go ahead – you won't hurt the baby. The amniotic sac and the strong muscles of the uterus protect your baby, and the thick mucus plug that seals the cervix helps guard against infection. Read More, Check Here image Source: Danyle Foor