I'm pregnant: Now what?

You're pregnant? Congratulations! Whether this took you by complete surprise or you have been planning ever since you found the perfect partner, you're pregnant. And as such, we want to ensure you start and finish the wonderfully new journey as healthy as possible. So here are a few tips to get you going. We call it a checklist. You can go ahead and rename it to something cooler, like ... MY BABY STEPS!

1. Know your due date

You could always go ahead and calculate this using pencil and paper or an online 'due' calculator, but we figure it's safer and easier to get this from your doctor.

2. Choose a prenatal caregiver

You'll be seeing a lot of your obstetrician, family physician, or midwife over the coming months, so it's important to find a good match. Once you've made your decision, help get your pregnancy off to a healthy start by scheduling your first prenatal appointment. Prenatal care providers typically schedule the visit for when you're at least eight weeks pregnant.

3. Prime your body

A healthy lifestyle is always important - but when you're living for two, it's that much more vital. So make sure you're getting enough folic acid, start taking a prenatal vitamin; your health-care provider can recommend one for you, eat a healthy pregnancy diet, consider a pregnancy-friendly exercise routine, and try to get plenty of sleep.

4. Avoid the no-nos

You don't have to live in a sterile bubble, but some things are harmful during pregnancy and should not be mixed. These include certain foods, alcohol, cigarette smoke, too much caffeine, some medications, drugs and various toxins, as well as certain activities and behaviours. Talk to your caregiver to find out more about what you may personally need to steer clear of.

5. Be prepared for early symptoms

Not every pregnancy symptom will happen to every woman, but educating yourself ahead of time can prevent you from being blindsided. You might experience nausea and vomiting, jaw-dropping fatigue, odd food cravings, sore breasts, and maddeningly frequent bathroom trips. And those are just the more common complaints. A host of other symptoms could lie ahead, too.

6. Decide when to spill the beans

There's no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of when to share your good news. Some women wait until after the first trimester, when the risk of miscarriage drops, while others announce it from the get-go. Some wait to tell their co-workers or boss to avoid 'separate treatment' at work, while others want their workplace buds to understand why they're a little green around the gills.

Give some thought to what will work best for you. And while you're at it, consider how you'll make the news public - whether in person, by phone, in writing, or by picture or video. Come up with your own unique approach or get creative inspiration from other parents. Of course, this should be a joint decision. After all, you don't want to opt for secrecy only to discover that your partner's already announced the news to 400 Facebook friends.

7. Brace yourself for body changes

You're probably already expecting the amazing expanding belly and 'va-va-voom' breasts, but other body changes are in store that you may not know about. Be on the lookout for things like thicker hair, darkened skin, and breakouts - then, later in pregnancy, swollen ankles, stretch marks, and varicose veins. You might notice other body and beauty changes, too. Pregnancy affects every woman differently, but knowing what might happen can help you take your particular physical changes in stride.

8. Follow your baby's development

Your baby is growing and changing at an incredible speed. Taking a peek at your baby's development every week can keep your spirits up in the face of those less-than-pleasant pregnancy symptoms.

9. Figure out your finances

They're worth every penny, of course, but babies cost money. Try to calculate how much you will be spending on the essential baby items each month so you can better prepare for the road ahead.

10. Get your pregnancy app

OK, OK, maybe this is not a definite to-do. But there are some apps that track your pregnancy and send you updates on your baby's supposed development. It's not necessary, but it's way more fun than agonising about your swollen feet.