You’re Pregnant, Now What?

A serene moment as a pregnant woman gently cradles her belly, capturing the essence of anticipation and love.

So, you’ve just seen those two little lines appear on a test. Whether you were expecting it, manifesting it, or it’s taken you completely by surprise, congratulations, mama! This is the very beginning of a beautiful (and sometimes overwhelming) journey.

You might already be thinking: Now what? What do I do next? Don’t worry, I’ve got you. Let’s walk through some gentle, practical steps to help you feel grounded in these early weeks.

1️⃣Step One: Dream About Your Birth

Before you dive into appointments and decisions, take a moment to reflect:

• What sort of birth do I want?

• How do I want to feel on that day: safe, calm, supported, empowered?

• What do I need to do to work towards that vision?

These questions become your compass. Every choice you make in pregnancy, your care provider, your education and your support network, can help to bring you closer to the kind of birth you dream of.

2️⃣Step Two: Book in With a GP or Midwife

Your first port of call is usually your GP. They’ll confirm your pregnancy (often with a blood test), talk through your medical history, and give you a referral for your first ultrasound, care provider or blood work.

From here, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is choosing your model of care. In NSW, you have a few different options:

• Public hospital care: You’ll see whichever midwife or doctor is on shift when you give birth.

• Midwifery Group Practice (MGP): Continuity of care with a known midwife or small team of midwives. These spots are very limited and book out quickly, so it’s worth calling early.

• Birth Centre: Midwife-led, more home-like environment within a hospital.

• Private obstetrician: You’ll see the same obstetrician throughout pregnancy and they’ll usually attend your birth in a private or some public hospitals.

• Shared care with a GP: You alternate appointments between your GP and the hospital.

• Publicly funded homebirth programs: Available in some NSW hospitals, where a team of midwives support you to birth at home. (Campbelltown hospital is now one of them)

• Private midwife/homebirth: You can hire an independent midwife for full continuity of care, including homebirth (sometimes with hospital transfer rights).

It can feel like a lot, but think about what kind of birth feels most aligned with you. Wether that’s a medical setting, a midwife-led model, or the comfort of your own home. It's best to do some research around intervention rates, hospital policies ( for example if you want a water birth, some private hospitals don't allow you to birth in the water), if hiring an OB you can ask for their personal stats (c-section rates, induction rates etc). If Hiring a private midwife you can ask about their transfer rates, how many homebirths they have attended etc. You have to feel safe and comfortable with who you invite into your birth space, so i suggest you do some planning and take a list of questions.

A pregnant woman smiles warmly while discussing her progress during a routine check-up with her doctor.

3️⃣Step Three: Know What to Expect in Early Pregnancy

The first trimester can be a wild ride! Some women breeze through with few symptoms, while others feel every single one. You might notice:

• Tiredness that feels like you’ve run a marathon

• Nausea (hello, morning-or all-day sickness)

• Tender breasts

• Mood swings (yes, crying over a TV ad is totally normal!)

• Cramping or light spotting as your body adjusts

• Food aversions or strange cravings

• Heightened sense of smell

Remember: every pregnancy is unique. Symptoms can come and go, and that’s okay. If you're ever concerned about a symptom, please see your care provider. Your body is working 24/7 and doing some incredible work to grow your baby.

4️⃣Step Four: Look After Yourself

Growing a baby is no small feat. Your body is literally building a human 24/7. Some simple ways to nurture yourself in these early weeks:

• Rest when you can, fatigue is real.

• Eat nourishing foods, small, frequent meals can help if you’re nauseous.

• Stay hydrated, even sips of water throughout the day make a difference. ( I love the Hydramama sachets).

• Gentle movement, walking, stretching, or prenatal yoga/pilates can feel amazing.

• Start taking a good prenatal vitamin (chat with your GP or naturopath about the best one for you).

A pregnant woman practices prenatal yoga with guidance from an instructor, focusing on balance and well-being in a supportive environment.

5️⃣Step Five: Begin Creating Your Village

Pregnancy isn’t something you need to do alone. Now’s a beautiful time to start thinking about your support network:

• Your partner, family, and friends

• A midwife, GP, or obstetrician you feel comfortable with

• Allied health practitioner, like a women’s health physio, acupuncturist, or naturopath

• A doula (hello! I’m here for this part 💛)

Building your village early means you’ll feel supported not just in pregnancy, but right through birth and beyond.

6️⃣Step Six: Invest in Birth Education

Knowledge is powerful. A private childbirth education class can give you and your partner the tools to feel prepared, calm, and confident.

As a certified Hypnobirthing Australia™ practitioner, I offer The Positive Birth Program, a course that not only helps you understand birth, but also deepens your connection with your baby and strengthens the bond with your birth partner. Together, you’ll learn techniques for relaxation, breathing, decision-making, and creating a positive mindset around birth.

This preparation is a beautiful way to feel empowered and supported as you step into parenthood.

A hypnobirthing class at The Bare Birth Co. features a childbirth educator and hypnobirthing practitioner, Chloe Blanchard showcasing the advantages of upright positioning.

7️⃣Step Seven: Do Your Own Independent Research

Alongside formal education, immersing yourself in positive, evidence-based resources can really shape how you feel about birth.

Podcasts like 'The Great Birth Rebellion' or 'The Midwives’ Cauldron' offer honest, empowering discussions about pregnancy and birth. Books like 'Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering' by Sarah Buckley or 'Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage' by Rachel Reed are wonderful companions to help you feel informed, confident, and connected to the bigger picture of birth.

Taking in stories, knowledge, and perspectives outside of the hospital system gives you the chance to approach pregnancy with curiosity and confidence.

Final Thoughts 🫶🏼

Those two lines on a stick are the start of something extraordinary. Yes, there will be ups and downs, but you don’t have to navigate it all at once. Take it step by step, lean into support, and trust that your body knows exactly what it’s doing.

You’re pregnant, mama and this is only the beginning of your incredible journey. You've got this!

✨ If you’d love guidance, tools, and support as you prepare, I offer private and group Hypnobirthing classes in the Macarthur Region and Southern Highlands. They’re a beautiful way to prepare for birth while also bonding with your baby and birth partner. You can https://www.thebarebirthco.com.au/contact find out more, I’d be honoured to walk alongside you in this season.

Chloe Xx

The Bare Birth Co

A serene moment as a pregnant woman lovingly cradles her belly while seated on a decorative chair by the window.