What to Do After Getting a Positive Pregnancy Test?

For months, some of us have fantasized about that + symbol (sometimes years). Pregnancy comes as a complete surprise to others. In any case, if you’re thinking, “I received a positive pregnancy test – now what?” you’re not alone. Finding out you’re pregnant is a life-changing event that brings with it a slew of emotions, including excitement, joy, relief, terror, and potentially even more anxiety about what to do next.

Baby steps are the best way to know about a positive pregnancy test. “Once you’re pregnant, you don’t have to settle everything,” explains Rebekah Wheeler, a midwife from Napa, Calif., CNM, MPH. “Pregnancy is a process, and part of that is knowing if you’re going to be a good mom and learning to trust your gut.” So what are the key actions to take—and when? To summarize, it’s quite natural to receive a positive pregnancy test and wonder, “Now what?” Must say the least, focusing on all of the major and tiny to-dos on your ever-growing list (not to mention the changes happening in your ever-growing body) can be difficult. Fortunately, we’re here to assist you with streamlining and simplifying. We’ve put up a thorough guide that explains everything you should do following a positive pregnancy test, from booking your first prenatal visit to making healthy lifestyle adjustments. Continue reading to feel knowledgeable and prepared in the early stages of pregnancy.

Consider Taking a Second Test

If your initial inclination is to rush to the drugstore and purchase every possible pregnancy test, take a deep breath and slow down. However, there is no risk in taking a second exam. Human mistakes and misreadings are possible, so a little confirmation might provide some piece of mind. True, a pregnancy test that has expired or, more typically, human mistake can result in a false positive. This is why, while taking a pregnancy test, it is critical to read the label and carefully follow all related directions. If you wait too long to review the findings, you may see the emergence of a faint evaporation line and misinterpret the results, interpreting it as positive when it is actually negative.

Keep in mind that, while false positives with pregnancy tests are extremely rare, there is a slight risk that an at-home test will detect the pregnancy hormone, hCG, even if you lost shortly after conception—a condition known as a chemical pregnancy. “You wouldn’t even know you were pregnant if you hadn’t taken the pregnancy test,” says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. If you had a chemical pregnancy, your period will most likely be delayed. According to the Mayo Clinic, a pregnancy test could also read positive if you’re taking certain medications, including fertility drugs, and in the event of an ectopic pregnancy. For this reason (and others), it’s important to schedule a doctor’s appointment or a pregnancy scan after getting a positive pregnancy test result.

With so much on your mind, it’s difficult to know what to do following a positive pregnancy test

But one thing you’ll probably want to know is when the kid is due. Conception normally occurs between 11 and 21 days following the first day of your last period, but because it’s difficult to predict when conception occurs, doctors instead base their predictions on the first day of your last period, but you can also try using due date calculator by ultrasound. This will assist you in determining how far along you are in your pregnancy. Are you further along than you anticipated? Remember, your progress is tallied from the first day of your last period, so the two or three weeks before you ovulated are still counted, even though you technically weren’t pregnant yet.

Schedule a Doctor’s Appointment

When you notice a positive pregnancy test, you should consult with a doctor. Your first prenatal appointment is generally during the ninth week of your pregnancy. Even though you won’t see the doctor for a few weeks, phoning to book an appointment is one of the first things you should do after learning you’re pregnant—depending on the practice, wait periods might be lengthy. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, have had past miscarriages, or are experiencing unusual discomfort or other unusual symptoms, your doctor may want you to come in sooner. In the meantime, please contact them with any and all queries or concerns.

You might feel a bit less terrified and a lot more powerful now that you know what to do following a positive pregnancy test. You have time, so be patient with yourself and take it one step at a time. Make your health and happiness a priority, and everything else will fall into place. You can do it.