I’m pregnant – What do I do now?
Congratulations on your pregnancy from all of us at Mid North Coast Health Maternity and Newborn Services. Your pregnancy journey is undeniably one of the most significant and important events in your life and we’re here to support you to get the most out of your journey to parenthood.
Most commonly women discover their pregnancy when they skip or miss a period or experience other symptoms. It’s recommended at this stage to make an appointment with your GP. During this appointment your GP will confirm your pregnancy, recommend a range of tests normally done at your stage of pregnancy and make a referral for you to your local hospital for a booking in appointment. Your options for antenatal care will also be discussed.
These tests may include:
- urine test (to confirm your pregnancy and check for any signs of urinary tract infections)
- blood tests (to check pregnancy hormone levels, iron and red blood cell levels and check for any signs of infection)
- dating Ultrasound to check how many weeks pregnant you are to help calculate your estimated due date
- screening for chromosomal abnormalities which may include ultrasound and blood test.
We understand that the journey to becoming a parent is a time of great excitement and joy, however it can also be a time of confusion, uncertainty, and fear. It’s normal to feel uncertain about your pregnancy at first and often these feelings pass.
However if you feel like you’d like to talk to someone about your pregnancy options, you can call the NSW pregnancy options hotline on 1800 131 231. They’ll be able to provide you with non-judgmental, un-biased information and counselling on your pregnancy options – no matter how many weeks pregnant you are.