The excitement of finding out you are pregnant is the most indescribable feeling in the world, however after this comes the worry over making sure everything is ready in time for baby’s arrival.
If you are at the stage where the initial rejoice has quieted down and you are now looking for practical advice, a month by month strategy of how to prepare is just the thing you need. Get comfortable as you are taken through how to get ready for your baby with ease.
Here is a run-down of what to expect as your pregnancy proceeds from month to month, beginning with the second month:
Month Two
As many women do not know they are pregnant until month one has passed, starting at month two seems appropriate. This is excitement/shock/elation month and aside from ensuring alcohol and cigarettes are avoided as well as booking a doctor’s appointment to confirm the pregnancy and schedule your first scan, use this month to simply let the news sink in.
Month Three
By this point you may be looking to get a little more practical; if you and your partner live in a tiny one bedroom flat, perhaps you will be picking up the local paper on the day of the property listings to start thinking ahead to something a little bigger. Morning sickness is a possibility at this point; ginger biscuits are often a great way of reducing nausea. At the end of month three you will be having your 12 week scan, a chance to meet baby on screen and check everything is as it should be. It is often after this that people begin to tell friends and family the great news.
Month Four
Every woman is different, but it is commonly around the weeks of month four that you will start to notice your growing baby bump. Get ready to accommodate this by hitting the high street for a few maternity clothes before you simply don’t have the energy to shop! You have probably already familiarized yourself with one or two of the many pregnancy books available, but this is the month where you might want to start reading them a little more often.
Month Five
Preparing the babies room is always a special time, so after pondering over color charts and furniture catalogues it’s time to bring it all to life before bump gets too big for you to decorate easily. For those who are finding out the sex of their baby, you may wish to wait until the second scan at the end of the month as this is where you will have the opportunity to find out, therefore you can paint the room in accordance if you wish.
Month Six
Healthy eating is something that should be on your radar from the moment you find out you are pregnant, but month six means you are now over half way through your pregnancy and both you and baby need the right vitamins and minerals more than ever as you prepare for the third trimester. Iron is really important for your baby’s development, so tuck into spinach and pumpkin seeds on a regular basis! Another important thing to remember now is those pelvic floor exercises, so make sure you are doing them often from now on.
Month Seven
This is the month where you will enter the third trimester and tiredness as well as discomfort can start to affect you more than before. Take the time to rest outside of working hours, if you are having trouble getting comfortable at night try a pregnancy pillow. This is also the month where labour thoughts are probably starting to get more and more frequent. Getting a birth plan in place will help to calm you enormously so make sure you are meeting with your midwife who can take you through your options.
Month Eight
Appointments with the nurse will be getting more frequent as they will be checking all sorts of things on a regular basis such as your blood pressure and the size of the baby. These checks are vitally important as they can pick up signs of pre-eclampsia which can lead to complications if left untreated. A bag should now be packed and ready to go containing everything you need for your stay at hospital including a dressing gown, toiletries, nursing bras and nappies to name just a few things in a long list.
Month Nine
This last little bit is really just about making yourself comfortable as you await the start of your journey towards meeting your little man or lady. Make sure you have all the phone numbers you need close by and try to avoid going far from home when alone as it really is any day now!
By understanding those important steps to take month by month, you can help yourself have a relaxed and enjoyable pregnancy from start to finish.
About the author: Vicky has written numerous guides on what to expect in pregnancy and believes that the key to an enjoyable pregnancy is organization together with understanding of what to expect throughout each trimester. She works with www.pregnancy.co.uk.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Gosia Lachucik.