What To Do When You Find Out You’re Pregnant | First Steps Guide

What To Do When You Find Out You’re Pregnant | First Steps Guide

Pregnancy Guide | First Trimester

What to Do When You Find Out You’re Pregnant

The moment you find out you’re pregnant can feel overwhelming. Whether your pregnancy is a complete surprise or long-awaited news, it’s completely normal to feel excitement, fear, disbelief, joy and anxiety — sometimes all at once.

If you’re wondering what to do next, take a deep breath. There isn’t a long, complicated checklist. The most important thing is to slow down and take care of yourself. Here’s a simple, clear guide to what to do when you find out you’re pregnant.

1. Confirm Your Pregnancy

If you suspect you’re pregnant, take a home pregnancy test as soon as possible. These detect the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which is only present during pregnancy.

In early pregnancy, hCG levels typically double every 48–72 hours. If you would like further confirmation, your GP can arrange a blood test to measure your exact hCG levels.

If you’re in the 6–9 week window, you may relate to:

2. Book Your Midwife or Lead Maternity Carer (NZ)

In New Zealand, pregnancy care with a midwife is publicly funded and widely regarded as world-class. Unless your pregnancy is high risk, you generally do not need a private obstetrician.

It’s advisable to contact a midwife within your first trimester to secure availability.

You can read more here: How to Find a Midwife in New Zealand

3. Stop Drinking Alcohol Immediately

There is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Alcohol passes directly through the placenta to your baby.

If you could be pregnant, are pregnant, or are trying to conceive, the safest choice is to stop drinking completely.

4. Review Your Diet & Supplements

Early pregnancy is the time to prioritise nutrition.

  • Begin or continue folic acid
  • Consider iron if recommended
  • Avoid high-risk foods (unpasteurised dairy, raw meats, certain seafood)

Balanced meals help regulate blood sugar, which also supports mood stability during early hormonal changes.

5. Continue Exercise — Safely

If you were exercising prior to pregnancy, you can usually continue with modifications. Avoid starting anything dramatically new without guidance.

Discuss your routine with your midwife or a pregnancy-trained personal trainer.

6. Prepare for Emotional Changes

Many women are surprised by the emotional intensity of early pregnancy. Rising levels of oestrogen, progesterone and hCG influence neurotransmitters in the brain, which can result in:

  • Mood swings
  • Anxiety
  • Tearfulness
  • Fatigue

If you’re feeling fragile or overwhelmed, you’re not alone. You may find comfort in reading:

7. Rest More Than You Think You Need

Early pregnancy exhaustion is real. Even if you “don’t look pregnant”, your body is working incredibly hard.

Sleep. Nap. Cancel plans if needed. Growing a baby is enough.

8. If You Do Not Wish to Continue the Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be complex and emotional. If you are unsure or do not wish to continue, speak to your GP, midwife, or a qualified health professional about your options.

You are entitled to compassionate, confidential support.

Want to Capture These Early Weeks?

The first trimester is often a blur of emotion, fatigue and quiet hope. Writing things down can be grounding and therapeutic. Our guided Pregnancy Journal is designed to help you record both the beautiful and complicated parts of this journey.

Start Recording Your Own Pregnancy Journey

Pregnancy is filled with emotions — excitement, anxiety, tears, hope — sometimes all in the same day.

 Made With Love Pregnancy Journal is designed to support you from pre-conception through to birth and beyond.

It’s a complete week-by-week pregnancy journal to 40 weeks, including fertility planning, pregnancy reflections, and postnatal chapters — thoughtfully structured with prompts, checklists, and space to document every movement, milestone, and memory.

  • Pre-conception and fertility planning
  • Complete pregnancy journal to 40 weeks
  • Weekly pregnancy prompts for every week
  • Trimester checklists
  • Antenatal appointments, scans, and screenings
  • Midwife or lead maternity carer notes
  • Partner’s notes
  • Birth plan
  • Hospital bag and baby shopping checklists
  • Records, milestones, and postnatal reflections

A lasting keepsake of your pregnancy — beautiful enough to treasure, structured enough to guide you, and meaningful enough to pass down one day.

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