Help, I'm pregnant!

I am pregnant – these are monumental words to say out loud, because they change everything. And maybe they don’t need to be said out loud just yet. Maybe you can keep the secret for a little while longer as you process the fact that your life is going to change. But once you’ve grown accustomed to the idea of this impending change, and when the person growing in your tummy no longer feels unreal, it may be time to think about what to do now.

Things to think about when you’ve just found out you’re pregnant

Because it feels like your whole life has changed all at once, you will probably want a concrete plan for what needs to be done. Thankfully, your body will take care of most things! Of course, there is a lot of information to read: the importance of folic acid, good foods to eat while pregnant, tips for soothing nausea or foods to avoid, for example. You’ll also want to read up on foetal development, week by week. That’s all doable – you’ve got months ahead of you. But perhaps most important of all, once you’ve absorbed the news, is to contact your doctor or midwife to schedule an appointment, or contact your IVF clinic if you’ve gone that route.

Appointments with your midwife or doctor

You can schedule an appointment at any time. The doctor or midwife will answer all your questions and can help with a pregnancy test. You will also schedule an appointment with your doctor or midwife for a time a bit further down the road, around week 6-8, though that could vary from one clinic to the next. The midwife or doctor will be part of your entire pregnancy, so it’s best to find someone you like and who you feel you can talk to.

Help, I’m bleeding!

It’s not particularly unusual to have some bleeding early in your pregnancy. This will look like discharge mixed with blood. There’s no reason to be concerned if you see a streak of blood on your toilet paper; it is probably your hormones acting up or minor spotting, which can happen when the egg embeds in the uterus. If you are concerned about the bleeding, just talk to your doctor or midwife and they can check things out and make sure all is as it should be.

Expecting a baby – every time a baby is born, a parent is born too

At the beginning of your pregnancy, you might feel like everything is happening all at once – and also like you won’t get to meet your child for ages! Your hormones are going haywire, your body doesn’t feel normal and everything seems like it’s upside down. Maybe you’re not quite as happy as you thought you would be. And maybe you’re a tad worried about everything that’s to come? All of your feelings are valid and most of us have surely felt them all. Becoming a parent is a huge mental challenge. But for most people, these feelings pass, are replaced, and become clear. Becoming a parent – expecting a baby – is a moment of transition. Suddenly, you’re getting well-intentioned advice from expected and unexpected parties, pats on your growing belly, and considerate disapproval that the bags you’re carrying are too heavy, or that you should have another helping, now that you’re eating for two...
Try to find your voice in all of this, and trust that your body knows what it’s doing and that your feelings are worth feeling. If you want to talk, the parent chat forum is available for Libero Club. Here, you can read, discuss and exchange experiences. If you aren’t super keen to share your feelings or read good advice from others, that’s okay too – making your pregnancy your own is important. It’s a very personal journey!

Please note that all information above is based on Swedish recommendations.