Yay! You are pregnant. Now what? Do you feel a little overwhelmed with what you are supposed to do after you pee on that stick? Let me help you get started with three important things to focus on.
- Nourishment
- Vision
- Team
While I believe nourishment should be a priority before a positive pregnancy test, most people aren’t thinking about preconception. If you don’t have a solid foundation of nutrition, now is the time to start. Nourishing your body can truly make a difference in how your baby develops and how you feel (and function) in your pregnancy. Adding a quality prenatal vitamin, getting 80-100 grams of protein every day, and daily mineral support is where it’s at. These tools can help ease your first trimester symptoms and set you up for a healthier pregnancy. Your body needs nourishment as you are growing another human! I often wonder if my pregnancies would have been different if I knew this back then.
One of the biggest questions you can ask yourself is what do you want your birth to look like? You might already know what your birth vision is, but if you don’t you should consider how and where you want to give birth. You might feel the safest at home, or it might be in a hospital. There is no right or wrong answer, but it’s important to know what feels right for you. Do you want to use pain medication? What do you want immediate postpartum to look like? My friends at Beautiful One Midwifery have a great worksheet to get the vision juices flowing if you aren’t sure yet.
Once you are clear on your birth vision, building your team will help you get there. Choosing the right care provider is one of the best ways to support your ideal birth experience. While having the right team doesn’t ensure everything will go perfectly, they should honor your values and respect your wishes. It’s vital that you feel safe and cared for by your team. If they aren’t giving you these vibes, keep looking! It’s never too late to switch, but taking your time to hire the right people will give you consistent care from the start.
In addition to your medical team, you obviously need a doula. Having a doula come alongside you when you are pregnant, in labor, and in postpartum is like having a guide to help you through it all. We are here to answer your questions, to prepare you for labor, and to encourage you in the process.
There are many providers, including myself, that can only take a small amount of clients per month. It’s never too early to start building your team. Reach out of those care providers you may want to work with and schedule consultations to see if they are right for you. You will know when you meet the right people.
Once you find out you are pregnant, start working on your nutrition, get clear on the type of birth you want, and build your team so we can walk with you through the journey. You may be feeling a lot of emotions once you learn that you are expecting. Take your time to feel those things. It’s okay to be excited, nervous, overwhelmed or scared all at the same time. Whatever you are feeling, know that you don’t have to do it alone.