To Do List

for the First Trimester of Pregnancy

1. Make sure you are eating right. Your baby is being built from protein, which it cannot get from extra fat stores on your hips. You need to be eating good quality lean proteins every day to ensure your baby has the tools with which to build bones, organs and other body tissues. In addition, you need to be sure you are eating adequate amounts of carbohydrates to fuel your body and the work of growing a baby. Unfortunately, many women find it difficult to eat well during the first trimester because they feel tired and sick to their stomach. The irony is, eating healthy may actually help relieve some of those symptoms.

2. Find your health care provider. You may have many choices in your area, look into all of them. You want to find someone who shares your philosophy about childbirth, not someone you are going to have to convince to do everything you would like. Interview doctors and midwives before signing up with the practice.

3. Check your insurance coverage. You may find you have more options than you thought. Depending on the laws in your area, your insurance may cover a birth center birth, a home birth or a doula. Your insurance may cover the entire birth and prenatal visits, or you may be responsible for a co-pay or co-insurance. Make sure you know ahead of time how much money you will need to pay for the services you want to receive. If you don't have insurance, check into state aide programs. Generally, maternity care will be covered in some way.

4. Continue your exercise regime, or begin one. Women who exercise during pregnancy feel more comfortable and have more energy. It will also help you prevent problems with weight gain and prepare you to return to a healthy weight after pregnancy.

5. Begin looking at your finances so you know how to plan for postpartum. Do you have the ability or desire to stay home? Do you have the means to pay for day care and return to work? It may take time to find the right plan for your family, so start looking at options early.

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You May Also Be Interested In: Learn about epidurals so you can make an informed decision. Explore the list of Recommended Childbirth Books and other products. Find out about childbirth in other cultures and explore how culture changes your perceptions of pregnancy and childbirth. Find out ways to keep a pregnancy journal. Assess your pregnancy weight gain to see if it is healthy.

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