When and how should we announce the pregnancy?
We're pregnant!
Most of the time the joy is great and the expectant parents can hardly wait to tell family and friends the big news. When you announce the pregnancy and who should hear it first is ultimately up to you. But remember that the news will probably spread quickly.
Partner and children:
Usually your partner is the very first person to find out about the baby. If you already have children, it depends on their age: with small children it's better to wait until the belly has grown. That way the situation is more understandable and your child doesn't have to wait too long until their brother or sister arrives.
Friends and family:
For example, you can use a family gathering or a shared meal to announce the baby news to everyone at once. You can also meet friends and family individually or call them. More and more expectant parents are also sending original cards or photos to announce the pregnancy.
Employer:
It's up to you when you inform your boss about the pregnancy. However, you should do it in time so that maternity protection, parental leave and any replacement can be planned.
Health first - what you can do for your baby's health
Is my baby healthy? That's the question around which everything in pregnancy revolves. The monthly check-up brings certainty. However, uncertainty can sometimes arise in the four weeks between appointments. The typical rules of behavior are of course 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 creation of a new life is based – 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. At the beginning of pregnancy these are primarily folic acid and iron, later especially iodine and magnesium. Your doctor will probably inform you about nutrient supply and prescribe folic acid supplements and possibly iron tablets.
Avoiding risks:
Not only toxins like nicotine and alcohol can harm the baby, but also bacteria, pathogens in contaminated food, certain chemicals and medications and of course accidents, falls or extreme stress situations. It is impossible to eliminate risks completely. The best protection for your baby is to be informed about dangers and, ideally, to avoid them in the first place.
Take care of yourselves!
Your body will be your baby's "home" for ten months. All the more important is that you feel well – even if pregnancy symptoms sometimes get to you. Pregnancy is hard on the body and it needs plenty of reserves for labor and the time afterwards. Therefore you should pay even more attention to your health now and treat yourself every now and then: if you are relaxed and balanced, this will also have a positive effect on your baby.
Perfectly organized: What do I need to take care of during pregnancy?
Ten months is a long time? Not when you consider how much needs to be prepared for life with a baby. Ideally you will check off all "to-dos" before birth so you can relax and focus entirely on your baby in the first months.
Prepare applications:
Once the birth certificate is available, applications for child benefit, parental allowance and any subsidies can be submitted. You can, however, fill out the applications during pregnancy and gather all necessary documents so that everything goes smoothly. Recognition of paternity and joint custody (for unmarried couples) can also be applied for in advance.
Get the initial essentials:
A stroller and, if necessary, a baby car seat, plenty of baby clothes, lots of diapers and a handful of burp cloths — these are the things that are really indispensable for the first time with a baby. A changing table, a bedside crib, a baby carrier and a baby bathtub also make everyday life with a baby much more comfortable. But don't let yourself be unsettled when it comes to the initial equipment.
Choosing a hospital:
Whether you want to give birth in a clinic, a birthing center or at home, you need to register for the birth accordingly or organize the home birth. If you like, you can visit different maternity wards or birthing centers beforehand. You should also find a midwife as early as possible – either for birth support or just for postnatal care.
Pack the hospital bag:
When labor starts, the hospital bag should be packed with everything needed and desired for the birth and the maternity ward. You should start packing no later than four weeks before the due date so there is no last-minute stress.
Can I do this? Fears and doubts during pregnancy
It would be nice if pregnancy were only anticipation and sunshine for ten months. But as with major changes, they are not only exciting but can also be challenging. Many women therefore experience fear or feel uncertain at times during their pregnancy whether they are up to the new life.
Worries and doubts during 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—women all think about childbirth and the future as a family. That is completely normal and shows that you are dealing intensively with the changes in your life.
Talking with others in the same situation can ease fears
A childbirth preparation course helps many women to reduce fears and approach their role as a mother with more confidence. On the one hand, birth is discussed there and women learn what to expect and what options they have. On the other hand, childbirth classes also offer a lot of space for questions and conversations among "peers": now you can say everything that weighs on your mind and may find that the other women feel the same way.
What does prenatal diagnostic testing mean?
If there is a health risk for the baby during pregnancy, for example due to hereditary diseases or if the mother is older, prenatal diagnostics can help detect genetic defects or malformations early.
Optional prenatal diagnostic tests include:
Nuchal translucency measurementto detect chromosomal abnormalities, possible from week 11–14
Combined testto detect chromosomal abnormalities, possible from week 11–13
Chorionic villus sampling(if the combined test is abnormal)
Organ screening, detailed examination of the organs, possible from week 20–24
Doppler ultrasound, to examine the baby's blood and oxygen supply, possible from week 20
Triple test, similar to the combined test, possible from week 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. This is often not an easy decision. On the one hand, prenatal diagnostics usually do not provide one-hundred-percent results, so there remains some residual uncertainty.
On the other hand, the decision to undergo such testing also always involves dealing with the possible consequences: Do I want to give birth to a child who is not fully healthy anyway, or do we terminate the pregnancy? Some prenatal diagnostic methods are criticized by experts. On the other hand, prenatal diagnostics gives many parents a bit more certainty regarding their baby's health.
