When and how should we announce the pregnancy?
We rexpecting!
Most of the time there is great joy and the expectant parents can hardly wait to share the big news with family and friends. When you announce the pregnancy and who you tell first is ultimately up to you. Bear in mind, however, that the news is likely to spread quickly.
Partner and siblings:
In most cases your partner is the very first to hear about the new arrival. If you already have children, it depends on their age: with young children it's better to wait until the bump is visible. That makes the situation easier to understand and means your child won't have to wait too long for their brother or sister to arrive.
Friends and family:
For example, you could use a family gathering or a shared meal to tell everyone the baby news at once. You can also meet friends and relatives individually or call them. Increasingly, expectant parents are also sending out original cards or photos to announce the pregnancy.
Employer:
It is up to you when you inform your boss about the pregnancy. Still, you should do it in good time so that maternity protection, parental leave and any necessary cover can be planned.
Health first what you can do for your baby's health
Is my baby all right? That's the question that everything in pregnancy revolves around. Monthly check-ups provide reassurance. But in the four weeks between appointments, uncertainty can sometimes creep in. The usual rules of behaviour are well known: no alcohol, no nicotine, no raw meat and so on. But how do I know, for example, that my baby is getting all the nutrients it needs?
Nutrients for healthy development:
The formation of a new life relies as banal as it may sound on cell division, cell growth and cell maturation. For these processes to take place, your baby needs vital nutrients. Early in pregnancy these are mainly folic acid and iron, later especially iodine and magnesium. Your doctor will probably advise you about nutrient intake and prescribe folic acid supplements and, if necessary, iron tablets.
Avoiding risks:
Not only toxins such as nicotine and alcohol can harm the baby, but also bacteria and pathogens in contaminated food, certain chemicals and medicines and, of course, accidents, falls or extreme stress. It is impossible to eliminate all risks entirely. The best protection for your baby is to be informed about dangers and, where possible, to avoid them altogether.
Take care of yourselves!
For ten months your body will be your baby's "home". All the more reason that you should feel well even when pregnancy symptoms sometimes take their toll. Pregnancy is demanding for the body and it needs plenty of reserves for giving birth and the time afterwards. That's why you should pay even more attention to your health now and treat yourself from time to time: if you are relaxed and balanced, this will also have a positive effect on your baby.
Perfectly organised: What do I need to arrange during pregnancy?
Ten months sound like a long time? Not when you consider how much there is to prepare for life with a baby. Ideally you will have ticked off all the "to-dos" before the birth so you can relax in the first months and focus entirely on your baby.
Prepare paperwork:
Once the birth certificate is available you can submit applications for child benefit, parental allowance and any possible grants. You can, however, complete the forms during pregnancy and gather all necessary documents so that everything runs smoothly. Recognition of paternity and joint custody (for unmarried couples) can also be applied for in advance.
Buy the essentials:
A pram and possibly a baby car seat, plenty of baby clothes, lots of nappies and a handful of muslin cloths these are the things that are really indispensable for the early days with your baby. A changing table, a bedside crib, a baby sling and a baby bath also make everyday life with a baby considerably more comfortable. But don't let yourself be unsettled when it comes to the initial equipment.
Choose a hospital:
Whether you plan to give birth in a hospital, a birthing centre or at home, you must register accordingly or organise a home birth. If you wish, you can visit different maternity wards or birth centres beforehand. You should also try to find a midwife as early as possible either for birth support or just for postnatal care.
Pack your hospital bag:
When labour starts, the hospital bag should be packed with everything needed and wanted for the birth and the postnatal ward. You should start packing at the latest four weeks before the due date so there is no last-minute stress.
Can I do it? Fears and doubts during pregnancy
It would be lovely if pregnancy were ten months of nothing but anticipation and sunshine. But as with any big change, it is not only exciting but can also be challenging. Many women therefore experience fear or feel uncertain from time to time during pregnancy, wondering whether they are up to the new life.
Worries and doubts in pregnancy are normal
The timing for a baby is rarely perfect. But regardless of a pregnant woman's life situation whether financial, personal or spatial circumstances are perhaps difficult all women give the same thought to the birth and the future as a family. That is perfectly normal and shows that you are engaging intensively with the changes in your life.
Talking to others in the same situation can ease fears
A antenatal class helps many women to reduce anxiety and to approach their role as a mother with more confidence. On the one hand, the class covers the birth and women learn what to expect and what options are available. On the other hand, antenatal classes also provide plenty of space for questions and conversation among "like-minded" people: now you can say everything that is on your mind and you may find that the other women feel the same as you do.
What does prenatal diagnosis mean?
If there is a health risk for the baby during pregnancy, for example due to inherited diseases or if the mother is older, prenatal diagnosis can help to detect genetic defects or malformations at an early stage.
Optional prenatal diagnostic tests include:
Nuchal translucency measurement to detect chromosomal abnormalities, possible from weeks 11 11 14
Combined test to detect chromosomal abnormalities, possible from weeks 11 13
Chorionic villus sampling (if the Combined test is abnormal)
Organ screening, a detailed examination of the organs, possible from weeks 20 24
Doppler ultrasound, to examine the baby's supply of blood and oxygen, possible from week 20
Triple test, similar to the Combined test, possible from weeks 16 17
Amniocentesis (amniocentesis) to detect chromosomal abnormalities, possible from week 16
The decision to undergo a prenatal diagnostic test usually lies with the parents. It is often not an easy decision. On the one hand, prenatal diagnostics generally do not provide one hundred per cent results, so there remains some residual uncertainty.
On the other hand, opting for such a test always involves confronting the possible consequences: do I want to bring a child who is not healthy into the world, or do we terminate the pregnancy? Some prenatal diagnostic methods are criticised by experts. On the other hand, prenatal diagnostics gives many parents some additional reassurance regarding their baby's health.
