A few days ago, you had unprotected sex with your boyfriend. You were supposed to start your period on Wednesday, and now it’s Saturday, and you’re never ever late. You head to the store for a home pregnancy test. After waiting a couple of minutes (which seems like an eternity), you check the results – it’s a plus sign. You just might be pregnant.
Even if you didn’t plan this possible pregnancy, there are some important steps you must take immediately. After all, if you are pregnant, you want to ensure your baby has the best chance of developing into a healthy child.
1. Say Goodbye to Alcohol and Drugs
Drinking alcohol or taking drugs (both legal and illegal) during pregnancy can have serious, negative long-term effects on your developing baby, even when done in the very early stages of pregnancy. If you are a habitual or addicted user, it may take multiple tries for you to quit, so you must seek help right away. Be sure to tell your treatment program that you think you might be pregnant. This will help them avoid recommending or prescribing any medications that could adversely affect the baby.
2. Put Out that Cigarette
You probably already know that smoking does terrible things to your body, but did you know it can also harm your unborn child? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have a miscarriage. The CDC also associates smoking during pregnancy with premature birth, low birth weight, birth defects and other issues. If you could use help kicking the habit, Tobacco Free Florida offers free tools and resources to help you quit smoking.
3. Confirm the Pregnancy ASAP
A positive result from a home pregnancy test isn’t enough to be absolutely certain you’re pregnant. While the quality of home pregnancy tests has improved in recent years, false positives are still possible. You should get a medical pregnancy test right away. If that comes back positive, follow up with a limited ultrasound for additional confirmation, and to make sure the pregnancy is viable.
At Sira, we provide free medical pregnancy tests and free limited ultrasounds for any woman who believes she may be pregnant. You don’t even need insurance. We are here to help pregnant women in our community get the help they need.
Contact Sira today to schedule your free appointment.