Are you pregnant? Grab your free pregnancy pack now – details inside!
I met with the doctor and registered my pregnancy by filling out a quick form (MAT B1). Even as I was sitting in the doctorβs office and going through the form with hubby, it still hadnβt sunk in that I was pregnant. I wasnβt even sure that I was as I hadnβt received full confirmation from the doctor and I was worried that I had misread the pregnancy test somehow.
The doctor asked me some health questions and advised me to take 400mg of folic acid in the food supplements to prevent the baby from developing Spina bifida. The doctor also said that he would send a referral letter to the hospital, who would then arrange appointments for my antenatal blood test, nuchal translucency scan and midwife booking. It sounded like I was in for an exciting ride of appointments and tests.
The initial registration appointment flew by and I was surprised the doctor didnβt test me to make sure I was actually pregnant. No blood tests? No urine tests? Were they just going to take my word for it and assume I tested correctly? Although, you can’t get false positives, right?
I took a detour to Boots to buy Pregnacare Plus before I went home and, as soon as I got back, I immersed myself in all the pregnancy websites that were available on the internet and registered my details to receive regular pregnancy emails. Some of the websites even offered free pregnancy/baby stuff when registering, so I looked forward to receiving a cuddly toy, a changing mat, a soft football and lots of money off vouchers. I had even ordered a super-duper baby book online called, Your Baby and Child, and got started reading the first chapter.
A fun fact β Your baby is the size of a small bean and the heart is beating about 150 words a minute!
Table of Contents
The Science Part
Your baby
- Your baby has grown to the size of a pea
- There is now a large bump where the heart is and a bump at the head end of the neural tube.
- The embryo is now curved and has a tail, like a small tadpole
- Limb buds are now developing and little dimples on the side of the head will become the ears
- There are thickenings where the eyes will be
- The embryo is now covered in a thin layer of see-through skin
- The heartbeat can now be identified easier during an ultrasound scan
You
- You might start to feel sick
- You need to start taking special care of yourself
- Itβs still safe to exercise if you have done so before
- You can still have sex unless your doctor has told you to avoid it
- Take care when using any chemical product as they may contain toxic chemicals which could harm your baby.
- Try to get as much fresh air as possible as Vitamin D is crucial for your babyβs development.
- A simple 15-minute walk in the sun can do wonders!
Your next steps
- Get fitted for a maternity bra to support your changing body shape
- Read up on your abbreviation notes in your maternity folder, so you know what they all mean
- If you haven’t done so already, give up smoking and alcohol to improve yours and your baby’s health
- Invest in maternity jeans for a more comfortable fit as you may start to feel bloated
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Note: These are just general ideas of how you and your baby are getting on. Donβt forget that every baby develops differently. If you are concerned about your babyβs development, please consult your midwife.
If you have any questions about her work, please contact Charlotte via her website, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn*
*Illustrations by Charlotte Watkins.
Are you pregnant? Grab your free pregnancy pack now – details inside!
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