Find a health care provider that you trust to deliver your baby. You probably already have someone who does your annual pap smears, prescribes birth control and so on. But this person may or may not be qualified or the right person to care for you during pregnancy and to deliver your baby. If you want to switch providers, the first trimester is the best time to do that. If you want to switch, talk to friends, talk to your insurance company, search care provider reviews online and schedule consultations to find someone (and see this article, “How to Tell if You Have a Good OB/GYN or Midwife”).
Schedule your first prenatal checkup. Most health care providers will schedule the first exam at around 8 weeks or after.
Eat a well-balanced diet and consider taking prenatal vitamins.
Try to get some exercise every day. Unless your doctor says you shouldn’t, take a 30-minute (or longer) walk, swim or a prenatal exercise or yoga class at least five days a week. Exercise is associated with huge benefits, including shorter labors, fewer complications during labor and delivery, and even smarter babies! And best of all, the exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous for you to get benefits. Consistent, moderate exercise will do.
Think about who you will tell about your pregnancy, how, and when. Once you hear the baby’s heartbeat over Doppler, you have a 90 percent chance of carrying a healthy baby to term. But that doesn’t mean you necessarily want your boss, Facebook acquaintances and everyone else in the world to know right away by text message, and sometimes a dramatic reveal to friends and family can be fun. Consult with your significant other and come up with a plan before you spill the beans.
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