To discuss: Who to tell, and when
When should I tell people that I’m pregnant?
You've got the positive pregnancy test in hand, and the secret is tormenting you? Have a quick conversation with your partner. The things to discuss are WHEN and the WHO - you don't need to decide on the HOW yet.
When do you both want to share the happy news? Many people wait until after the first doctor appointment, which confirms pregnancy (more on the first appointment soon). If you're a more private person and wouldn't want to share news of a chemical pregnancy or miscarriage, even with close family, then you should wait until the 12-week point, when the liklihood is lower. Honestly, when you share the news is up to you - but make sure you and your partner are on the same page! If you’ve had any slips on being a “united front” in front of friends and family, now is the time to rededicate yourself to the cause, before bebe is around!
When it comes to the WHO, I recommend a tiered approach, and you can have the discussion about the tiers now.
Tier 1 = close family/friends who you'd also be willing to share news of something going wrong.
Tier 2 = your next layer of friends/family - people who were (or would be) in your wedding is a good starting point, extended family, anyone who would be offended to hear the news from anyone else. Your employer likely falls in this group.
Tier 3 = Everyone else, including people who you won't go out of your way to tell, but who might find out from an aunt, for example.
Discuss this with your partner, and make a check-list (I recommend making a note in your phone). Save the check-list because you'll need it again when it's time to alert people that your little bundle has arrived!
To do: Download apps
A quick search of the app store and you already know there are tons of pregnancy-related apps, everything for monitoring your pregnancy to timing contractions. Trial-and-error will reveal your favorites, but in the interest of time, let me just tell you to download Ovia. It’s comprehensive, the interface is pretty and intuitive, and it has the ability to give you a download of the data you have stored, which is helpful for future pregnancies if you want to look back to remind yourself when you felt that first kick. The calendar is super clear, and it doesn’t annoy you with too many ads or bizarre social content. Give it a try and let me know what you think in the comments!
To buy: Pregnancy nausea cures
You may not need it, but if you do, it's nice to have a few things on hand for when/if the feeling hits - and it’s not just morning sickness, it can be any time in the day, and even all day. If you’re looking for more info, here’s a quick and comprehensive read. I recommend a tea (get used to tea - it's going to be around a lot throughout your pregnancy), some hard candies, and honestly, trial and error to figure out what makes you feel better and what your triggers are. For me, the tea and sucking on the ginger candies does the trick, along with having a bowl of Cheerios in the morning to have some food in my stomach. I've had friends swear by the wristbands, but I've never needed to use them - but including in case you want to give it a try! A few additional favorites for tea, candy, and what appears to be the big daddy of wristbands may be useful to have ready so you’re not waiting for stuff to arrive, and to figure out what works best for you - but you may be one of the lucky ones who doesn’t have morning sickness, so you can also wait to see.
Serious morning sickness - throwing up, losing weight, inability to function - obviously warrants a chat with your doctor, and there are stronger remedies available through your care provider.