Pregnancy Guidance
You have had a positive pregnancy test
What’s next
You are likely to be really excited and happy about the news but you may also feel quite anxious and this is completely understandable, especially after fertility treatment.
Take it day by day. Try to stay positive, enjoy yourself, find activities that make you happy and don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with someone else.
Contact the fertility nurses for advice at nurses@now-fertility.com, we are always here to support you.
Medications
- Keep taking your medications as instructed by your NOW-fertility medical team.
- Most of your medications will continue for the next few weeks so make sure you request another prescription from us if you see that you are running out soon.
- Continue taking your folic acid 400 micrograms until you are 12 weeks pregnant, or otherwise recommended by your midwife or obstetric team.
- Consult your doctor in case you need to take extra medications for pain, fever, constipation, nausea or heartburn, or if you were already on regular medications for any underlying medical problems.
Your next appointments
Blood-test
- We recommend to confirm your pregnancy by doing a blood test to measure the levels of beta-hCG and progesterone.
- Depending on your levels, the NOW-fertility medical team will let you know when/if you will need to repeat the blood test, and you will also receive instructions regarding your medications.
Ultrasound scan
- The first ultrasound needs to be scheduled about three weeks after your positive pregnancy test, which would be about seventh week of pregnancy.
- This scan is usually performed trans-vaginally, but in some cases can be performed trans-abdominally.
- The scan aims to:
- Confirm the pregnancy is inside the uterus, and rule out early pregnancy complications
- Check for single or multiple pregnancy
- Evaluate the early development of the pregnancy and confirm fetal heart activity
- Send the report of your viability scan to your NOW-fertility team.
- Further ultrasound scans might be arranged based on the consultant’s advice.
We will support you as best as we can during the early pregnancy journey, however, you will need to contact your GP/midwife/obstetrician soon to schedule your care during the pregnancy.
Diet / Lifestyle
Do’s
- Try to maintain a healthy balance in nutrients. You do not need to achieve this healthy balance in every single meal but try to maintain it right over a week.
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables for vitamins, minerals and fibres. Be careful to wash everything thoroughly.
- Eat some protein-rich food every day and starchy food.
- You might feel hungry more often so try to cut down on snacks that are high in sugar and fat and choose a healthier option.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- You might feel a bit nauseous in the first trimester so try and eat in small portions and keep well hydrated.
- Your doctor might also recommend to take extra vitamins or food supplements during your pregnancy.
Don’ts
- Do not drink any alcohol.
- Do not smoke.
- Avoid caffeine or limit yourself to maximum 2 cups a day.
- Avoid any unpasteurised cheese or milk; any blue cheese or any mould-ripened one with white coating on the outside.
- Avoid raw or under-cooked meat, liver, pâté, cold cured meat, and game meat such as goose, partridge or pheasant.
- Avoid smoked fish, raw fish or shellfish, marlin, swordfish or shark and try to limit yourself to a cooked portion of 2 oily fish a week such as salmon, trout, mackerel or herring. Same thing for cooked tuna which contains more mercury than the others.
- Avoid raw or partially cooked hen, duck, goose or quail eggs.
- Do not take any unnecessary multi vitamins or any with vitamin A in them.
Exercise / Physical activities
- You might feel a bit tired and still uncomfortable from your recent fertility treatment so make sure to listen to your body first and take it easy. Take the time to rest and have naps if needed.
- You may start exercising again after you have had your viability ultrasound scan.
- Exercise is not dangerous for your baby but you might need to slow down as your pregnancy progresses or if your medical team advises you on that.
- Keep up with your normal daily physical routine for as long as you feel comfortable. Do not suddenly take up strenuous exercise if you were not active before. Walking a bit each day can be enough.
- Avoid exercises where you have a high risk of falling or being hit and always make sure to tell your trainer that you are pregnant if you take part in some classes.
- Swimming might be recommended especially after the 1st trimester as it can help with back pain and the water will support your increased weight.
- Jacuzzis and saunas should be avoided because of the risk of overheating and dehydration.
- Hot baths are also not advisable as it raises the body temperature and might make you feel dizzy, light headed and unwell.
Sexual activity
- Sex can be resumed after your pregnancy test. It’s perfectly safe to have sex during pregnancy. However, it is better to avoid sex if you experience vaginal bleeding or discharge.
Travelling
- As long as you take the right precautions, travelling should be completely safe.
- If you are flying long distance, make sure to drink plenty of water, walk on the plane quite often and you can use compression socks to prevent the risk of blood clots or reduce leg swelling.
- If you need to continue some injectable medication, be sure to ask your doctor for a letter to carry the medications with you on the plane.
- If you are traveling by car, try to stop often to stretch and move around. You can also use compression socks for long distance driving.
- Most women prefer travelling between 4 to 6 months of pregnancy because they feel unwell during the first trimester and more tired towards the last few months.
Early pregnancy symptoms
- You might experience some vaginal spotting or light bleeding.
- You can get lower abdominal twinges and cramping too.
- You can take paracetamol, as it is safe during pregnancy. Make sure you take 1 gram every 4-6h with a maximum of 3 grams per day only if necessary.
- If you experience strong pelvic pain or heavy bleeding, contact your doctor straight away.
- You may also experience normal regular white discharge during your pregnancy. However, contact your doctor if you feel a burning or itching sensation.
- Nausea and vomiting are quite common especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. You can take vitamin B6 (10-20 milligram, three times daily) to help with nausea, vomiting and/or morning sickness.
Ready to start your journey?
Our commitment is to make fertility care accessible, successful and stress free for patients.
If you are ready to start your journey, book a consultation with one of our experienced fertility consultants.
