What to do after a positive pregnancy test: Your checklist

Pregnancy is beautiful and exciting. At the same time, it can feel stressful and even terrifying to learn that you’re pregnant, no matter if you’ve been planning it or not. And it’s absolutely normal to get mixed feelings about this news.

Due to the huge responsibility and a variety of big changes waiting for you in the future, it’s okay if you now feel uncertain about what to do after a positive pregnancy test. The first and most important tip is to take your time and do what feels right. Let yourself reflect on your emotions and process the news about pregnancy. Then, follow this checklist:

• Take a second test for confirmation.
• Consider if you are ready to share the news with your partner and others.
• Schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider.
• Focus on self-care and education.

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Pregnancy is a beautiful and very emotional event in every woman’s life. Yet, it can also be incredibly stressful, regardless of whether you’ve been planning it or not.

Due to the natural pregnancy-related anxiety, many women fall into panic once they see a big fat positive (BFP). In this guide, we’ll discuss what you might be feeling at the moment to give you the support and reassurance you might need. Also, we’ll talk about what to do after a positive pregnancy test and give you a step-by-step checklist that you can follow.

Understanding Pregnancy Ambivalence

Before we delve into what to do after a positive pregnancy test, it’s important to take a moment to talk about emotions. We won’t sugarcoat it; emotions can hit you hard as soon as you see a positive test result. And we’re here to tell you that it’s absolutely normal!

There is a strong belief that finding out you’re pregnant should evoke positive emotions because motherhood is wonderful. And it really is. But what many don’t habitually say is that pregnancy is also a big transition that comes with many big changes, huge responsibility, and lots of feelings. So, when you miss your period, take a routine pregnancy test, and see a BFP, you can get mixed feelings.

This is called pregnancy ambivalence. This is an umbrella term used to describe the mixed feelings females may have regarding the news about their pregnancy, pregnancy intentions, and the upcoming decision-making. According to a study, over half (55%) of women report having uncertain feelings after learning they’re pregnant. So it’s not just normal, but also rather common to feel this way.

Getting mixed emotions can result from a variety of things. In women who’ve been trying to conceive, it often arises due to the realization of the changes and responsibility ahead. It might also appear out of fear of the unknown, labor-related worries, and other reasons. In women who are not planning a pregnancy, ambivalence can manifest due to uncertainty about future pregnancy-related decisions, financial worries, and social pressure.

This ambivalence in your feelings can be rather frustrating and put additional pressure on you. In fact, it’s one of the most common reasons why you might panic and feel uncertain about what to do after a positive pregnancy test.

First Things to Do After Positive Pregnancy Test

After you take a test and get a positive result, first of all, don’t panic. We know that learning about a pregnancy can feel like suddenly you have to make a lot of decisions and take care of lots of stuff, such as appointments, prenatal vitamins, and many others. But you don’t have to worry about it all right away. There is no rush. You will have weeks and months ahead to take care of everything. Instead, pay attention to yourself and your feelings in the first place.

Immediately after you get a BFP, take a deep breath and focus on yourself. Take time to reflect on how you’re feeling. Analyze the emotions, fears, and concerns that you have at the moment. Think about whether you have to have some space to yourself or discuss your feelings with someone.

All in all, the very first things to do after positive pregnancy test are taking your time, reflecting, and analyzing your feelings. Get rid of the false pressure like you have to do something immediately. Allow yourself a few hours or days (whatever feels right) to come to terms with what’s happening. Also, consider using self-care rituals and stress-management techniques to overcome the state of shock and uncertainty and feel calmer and more confident.

What to Do After a Positive Pregnancy Test: A Full Checklist

After the initial surprise and shock fade, you can start taking specific steps to address your pregnancy. To help you reduce anxiety, we’ve prepared a comprehensive checklist that covers the key things to do after pregnancy test is positive:

1. Think About Taking a Second Test

Most at-home pregnancy tests are fairly accurate. Yet, there’s a good reason why it’s typically recommended to do a follow-up test regardless of the first result. Sometimes, a test can give you a false-positive, false-negative, or a faint-line result due to a test failure, incorrect testing time, or other reasons. Although such instances are rare, they aren’t impossible, which is why it’s usually recommended to test multiple times to confirm pregnancy.

Ideally, wait a few days before taking a second test. At-home tests work by detecting human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. hCG is known to double every 72 hours. That is, waiting a few days can give you a more accurate result.

Also, carefully read and follow the test instructions to ensure maximum accuracy.

2. Consider If You Want to Share the News With Someone Just Yet

If the second test confirms pregnancy, the next step you should take is to decide whether you want to talk to someone about your pregnancy right away.

If you’re in a relationship, it’s generally advised to communicate with your partner openly about pregnancy and further decisions. However, there are no strict rules that you have to follow. At this point, it’s important to focus on your comfort and do what feels right for you. So, if you need more time to process it yourself before you talk to someone, it’s also okay.

When you decide to have the talk, it’s important to pick a comfortable moment in which you two will have enough privacy to discuss your pregnancy in detail.

3. Plan a Doctor Appointment

If you’ve learned that you’re pregnant very early, let’s say around 15 DPO, which is just around the expected start of your period, it can feel too early to see a doctor. However, it’s never a bad idea to seek professional advice when you have a few positive test results.

Calling your healthcare professional and making an appointment can give you multiple benefits. Firstly, a doctor should be able to confirm your pregnancy via medical testing. Also, a professional will check if you’re feeling well emotionally and physically. They can provide you with the information and support you need to process everything.

Also, a healthcare provider will collect information about your medical history, cycle, past pregnancies, and other details to provide personalized care recommendations.

4. Focus on Education and Self-Care

After you confirm pregnancy and see your doctor, the primary thing you should focus on is taking good care of yourself and your baby. Your healthcare professional should discuss with you the general recommendations about the positive things to do during pregnancy, such as following a healthy diet,  maintaining physical activity, and taking proper care of your emotional well-being. They may also recommend that you start prenatal vitamins.

Start by following your doctor’s recommendations. At the same time, consider taking some time to educate yourself on what is waiting for you. Self-education has been shown to increase health literacy in pregnant women and significantly improve their self-care status.

FAQ

How soon will a pregnancy test read positive?

The answer depends on a number of factors. In particular, the time of implantation and the current level of hCG play a decisive role in when a test will be able to detect your pregnancy. This can be as early as 10 days after conception or slightly later, after 14 DPO, which is when you should already miss your period.

What do I have to do immediately after testing positive for pregnancy?

Nothing really. When you take a routine pregnancy test and see a big fat positive, this can be a very emotional moment, and it’s normal if your emotions are mixed. That’s why, immediately after taking a test, you only need to take a breath and do what feels right. For some of you, this could mean celebrating and sharing the news. For others, this could be taking some spare time to reflect. Everything is okay as long as it feels right.

What are the main things to do after pregnancy test is positive?

After you take as much time for yourself as you need, start by taking a second pregnancy test to confirm the result. Next, consider if you want to talk to your partner or someone else right away or wait. Finally, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to receive the final confirmation and personalized tips. When you take the basic steps, focus on self-care and educate yourself on what’s waiting for you in the future.

Conclusion

Pregnancy is a huge event. And it’s also a huge responsibility. Thus, it’s absolutely normal to feel uncertain about what to do after a positive pregnancy test, regardless of whether you’ve been trying to conceive.

After reading this article, you have a complete checklist with the first things to do after positive pregnancy test. Follow these recommendations to approach your pregnancy the right way and eliminate the uncertainty and stress. But, most importantly, remember that every pregnancy journey is unique and there are no specific rules on how you should feel and what you have to do. The best piece of advice we have for you is to take your time and do what feels right.

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