Those colored lines of the positive pregnancy test are enough to feel like a mother and imagine yourself with a baby in your arms. But it still takes nine months and there are many things to do. Here are the 10 to do now.
Read also: Pregnancy test: false positives and false negatives
In this article
- Choose who to follow you (gynecologist, obstetrician, clinic)
- Take folic acid
- Check your medications
- Eliminate smoking and alcohol
- Take anti-toxoplasmosis precautions
- Avoid intense sports
- No alla sauna
- Drink more
- Protect the skin from the sun
- Schedule influenza and pertussis vaccines
Pregnancy test: false positives
If a test is positive, while in reality the conception has not occurred, it is called a false positive.
I false positives are limited to very rare cases, as
- ovarian neoplasms which produce Beta-hCG, which is actually produced by the placenta and is the hormone read by pregnancy tests
- drugs that stimulate ovulation, usually used for assisted fertilization.
1. Choose who to follow you (gynecologist, obstetrician, clinic)
It can be yours gynecologist always, or a midwife, or you can go to a clinic or obstetrician-gynecological clinic at the hospital where you think you will be able to give birth (or which your friends may have told you well). The important thing is to identify a person or a center that will trust you as soon as possible, because they will be your points of reference for all nine months of pregnancy.
If for some reason you already know that yours pregnancy is at risk, for example because you suffer from some chronic disease such as diabetes, or because in previous pregnancies you have had complications such as preeclampsia or, again, because you have had repeated miscarriages, it is better to immediately choose a gynecologist specialized in pathology of pregnancy or contact a second or third level center
To learn more:
- the choice of the gynecologist and the first visit during pregnancy
- the examinations and visits scheduled after the first visit during pregnancy
When to do the first visit during pregnancy?
Not too early, not too late. According to gynecologist Stefano Bianchi, previously interviewed by mymodernparents.com "the first obstetric visit in pregnancy should be done between the sixth and eighth week".
2. Take folic acid
In fact, the ideal would be to take folic acid too before conception, but if you weren't already doing it it is very important that you start doing it as soon as you discover the positive test.
"Folic acid supplementation is recommended three months (or at least one month) before pregnancy and throughout the first trimester and is very important for the prevention of congenital anomalies, especially those concerning the neural tube such as the spina bifida"says Anna Franca Cavaliere, gynecologist at the Gemelli Hospital in the city." The standard dose is 400 micrograms per day, unless there are specific conditions, such as epilepsy or type I diabetes, which require a dosage even times higher ".
Meaning of folic acid
Folic acid is a vitamin, B9, which belongs to the class of water-soluble vitamins, that is, those that cannot be accumulated in the body, but must be regularly taken through food.
The intake of this vitamin through food is not always enough. Dietary folic acid intake may be inadequate.
3. Check your medications
Not all drugs are compatible with pregnancy.
If you are taking medications for chronic diseases, it is best to consult immediately with your referral specialist: he will decide whether to continue, modify or discontinue the therapy.
Similarly, it is good to ask your gynecologist for advice before taking any drug, even over the counter. It also applies to unsuspected products, such as acne creams based on retinoic acid derivatives, which could cause fetal abnormalities.
If in any doubt, you can call the green number 800883300 of the Information Service on the use of drugs in pregnancy and lactation of the Poison Control Center ofPapa Giovanni XXIII Hospital of the city. It is active 24 hours a day.
Read also: Drugs in pregnancy: which are allowed and which are forbiddenPharmaceuticals in pregnancy:
- Medicines for fever in pregnancy
- Cold medications in pregnancy
- Medicines for cough and sore throat in pregnancy
- Headache medications in pregnancy
- Drugs for nausea in pregnancy
- Medicines to treat anxiety and depression in pregnancy
- Medicines for heartburn in pregnancy
- Medicines in the case of caries in pregnancy
- Medicines for diarrhea in pregnancy
- Aspirin and aspirin in pregnancy
4. Eliminate smoking and alcohol
Lo lifestyle in pregnancy it is very important and some behaviors that could endanger the health of the fetus should be changed immediately.
Between these.
- quit smoking
- stop drinking alcohol
The first thing to do would be to quit smoking, as cigarette smoking during pregnancy is associated with many risks, including
- abortion,
- premature birth
- and low birth weight.
But also alcohol, which easily crosses the placenta and can be responsible for fetal alcohol syndrome, should be avoided. "Among other things, it should be borne in mind that there is no dose of alcohol proven safe in pregnancy, so as a precaution it is advisable to avoid it altogether" says the gynecologist.
5. Take anti-toxoplasmosis precautions
If you do not yet know the state of immunity against certain infections such as toxoplasmosis, it is necessary to immediately take the necessary precautions, such as consuming only cooked meats, washing raw vegetables thoroughly and avoiding contact with animal feces, especially cats. .
During the first appointment with the gynecologist, the toxo-test to check if you are immune or not. Likewise, you'll get tested for rubella, HIV, and cytomegalovirus.
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Read also: Pregnancy, all the exams you can do for freeWhat is the toxo-test
The toxo-test is a blood test that allows you to understand if you are immune or if you are at risk of contracting toxoplasmosis. In particular, it allows to detect the presence of antibodies against toxoplasma.
6. Avoid intense sports
Avoid intense sports or at risk of trauma such as skiing, horse riding, fit boxing, jogging and all competitive activities. But be careful, this does not mean that you have to lie on the sofa for nine months, quite the opposite! Physical activity and sports do a lot of good in pregnancy, it's just a matter of choosing the ones that are most in line with your new condition. Ask your gynecologist or midwife for advice.
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7. No alla sauna
No to the sauna because it increases body temperature and sweating, causing transient hyperthermia and lowering blood pressure. As the National Health Service reminds us very precise indications: "There are few studies relating to the safety of a sauna or bath during pregnancy, but it would be better to avoid, because they expose you to the risk of overheating, dehydration and fainting".
Read also: Spas in pregnancy: when you can go and what you can do8. Drink lots of water
During pregnancy the amount of body water increases physiologically up to seven - eight liters more than usual, which is why it is normal for a pregnant woman to need a greater intake of fluids. In addition, ensuring the right supply of water serves to maintain the optimal plasma volume within the blood vessels, preventing pressure drops.
[Also check out some water to drink during pregnancy]
Read also: What to drink during pregnancy, all drinks allowed and prohibited9. Protect your skin from the sun
In summer, in addition to not exposing yourself to the sun during the hottest hours, remember to always apply a high level of sun protection, especially on the face, where, for hormonal reasons, dark spots (the so-called chloasma gravidarum) may appear.
Read also: Pregnancy: how to protect the skin from the sun10. Schedule flu and pertussis vaccines
Vaccines are generally avoided in pregnancy, with two exceptions. In fact, the vaccine against the flu and the pertussis vaccine, which help protect the health of the mother, fetus and unborn child, are strongly recommended by experts. However, both of these vaccines are to be carried out in second quarter.
MyModernParents services to cope well with pregnancy
- Calculate your pregnancy week and read the advice week by week
- Calculate the estimated date of delivery online
- Calculate the length of the fetus
- Mammenellarete blog: here you can read many stories about pregnancy
- Read our pregnancy dictionary
Watch the video series A look into the baby bump
Questions and answers
When can you take a pregnancy test?
The pregnancy test can be done 4/5 days after intercourse, although it is advisable to wait at least a week to avoid false negatives.
Positive pregnancy test: what to do if the line is light?
In the case of a doubtful answer, if the dashes are very light or if the result is not clear, the test should be considered positive
TAG:
- what to do if the test is positive
- pregnancy test
- weeks 1-13
