Pregnancy and Childbirth for Idiots

The First Weeks

So…… You’re Pregnant, you’ve done the test and that second line has appeared as you’ve watched….. but what now? Well, youre probably still in denial, so, a couple of tests later (and still with the second line!) your wondering what to do now! You can’t just go blirting information like that to friends and family, especially considering you’ve only known for 3 minutes yourself…. Best to sit down and read this instead!

If you still Need to Confirm this to yourself more, then heres some signs and symptoms that you may be feeling! )A liitle like describing the water your drowning in I know but, read on!

No Period (Normally the tell-tale sign!)

Nausea/Morning Sickness (bit of a dead give away this one!)

Swollen and/or Tender Breasts (no different to every month?!)

Frequent Urination (Yes, do get used to this one will happen for a while!!!)

Higher BBS ( You will probably notice this if you were using the Charting method to conceive)

Fatigue (This will probably last most of the first Trimester!)

Strange Taste? (Sometimes a ‘Metal’ taste is experienced in some pregnancies!)

Constipation (Could last the whole 40 weeks or maybe not at all!!!)

There are many other signs but most are only applicable in ‘hind-site’ as are not proven signs of pregnancy



Contacting your GP

Firstly although you know that you’re pregnant, your doctor doesn’t, and may not even believe you if you say you are, so, you’re probably going to get another test! Now you have to wait for the doctor to tell you that you’re pregnant before you can even move on any further!



Your Midwife and your ‘Booking in’ Appointment

This is where you’ll meet your Midwife for the first time, if your lucky, she’ll be nice and you will get on with her, if not, then your probably not going to be that keen on this part of your pregnancy!

Your booking in appointment will be between week 8 and 12 depending on your surgery (sometimes depending on who you speak to! I spoke to 1 receptionist on a Tuesday and was told 10 weeks yet later the same day was told 8 weeks …. So you can only ask!)

This first appointment will probably be the longest appointment you have (until you’re in labour anyway!) at this appointment they will probably do the following tests…



• Blood Pressure (We only pay attention to the low number in this which shouldn’t be above 90!)

• Weight (This is just so they know at what rate you’re gaining weight so as to spot any problems early on!)

• Palpation (Poking you in the Bump (She will feel your tummy to make sure baby is growing properly!!! )

• Listening to Baby’s heartbeat! (This may or May not happen, it really depends how far gone you are at the appointment it’s normally 12-13 weeks before you can hear baby’s heartbeat)

• Urine Test (You will be asked to take a sample of Urine, Get used to this one, This is normally to test a, gestational diabetes, b, early signs of pre-eclampsia c, whatever else they feel like testing for!)

• Questions (you will be asked lots of Questions about previous pregnancies ond you medical history etc)

• Just Ask! (ask the midwife anything that you are unsure about, it will probably be about another 4-6 weeks before your next appointment!)