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Congratulations! I'm 40 weeks pregnant right now so here's what my doctor recommended to me food and drink-wise:

Foods to Avoid:
-raw or undercooked meats and seafood (if you eat steak, better to get it medium-well or well done)
-soft cheeses like brie and goat cheese (although it's fine if it's made with pasteurized milk, so just check the package)
-deli meats and cold cuts (okay if you heat them well first, but that was never appealing to me)

• hot dogs and processed meats (they contain nitrates which can be harmful)
  
  Drinks to avoid:
  -alcohol and caffeine (some caffeine is ok but not more than a cup of coffee per day. I switched to decaf since I love coffee so I can still have a couple cups if I want)
  -herbal tea (avoid green tea, licorice root/slippery elm) This one surprised me the most, some tea is ok but do your research, a few kinds can cause contractions.
  
• unpasteurized juice, like you'd find at a fresh - pressed or cold-pressed juice place. Make sure any juice you buy is pasteurized, almost all juices at the supermarket are.
  
  Don't freak out if you slip up and accidentally eat a hot dog or have something from this list every once in a while, just cut them out as much as possible. Just eat as many fresh fruits and veggies as possible and be sure to take your prenatal vitamins (I highly recommend Nature Made prenatal +DHA
  And check with your doctor before taking any medication or supplements. Like a previous post said, stay away from anti-inflammatories like Advil and Aleve.
  It sounds like a lot but after a while you'll get used to it! You got this!

With my first I chose unmedicated and had a very poor support system. This time I have an amazing support system but still worry.

If you have a strong support system it will make all the difference in the world. Attend birthing classes with your partner and/or watch birthing class videos. Commit to practicing the comfort techniques shown in the classes with your partner. Research the hospitals available to you and what they allow. Some hospitals really want you to stay in bed, which makes it harder to perform many pain management techniques. Some encourage a more ambulatory labor approach. Also see what they have available, do they have a shower or tub (birthing centers often have the big birthing tubs that many women swear by if that is an option for you), do they have a birthing ball, will they allow you to dismantle the bed to facilitate a wider range of positions to ease and manage pain. Get your partner familiar with many counter-pressure and massage techniques. Create a soothing playlist for the big day and bring a speaker in your hospital bag to play it. If you have mood lighting that you’d prefer to the harsh hospital lights, bring along led candles or whatever you have that will create the ambiance you want. It’s as much about psychological calming measures as it is about physical comfort measures. Combine the two for your best possible unmedicated experience.

AAAAND...don’t feel ashamed if, even with all of the above measures, you cave and get the epidural. You may check with your insurance, but it may be partially or even fully covered. If not...oh well, you can worry about that later. You do what you need to do to have a calm, fulfilling birth experience. No one will judge you if you choose to manage your pain with technology.

Also a book I see recommended a lot is “The Birth Partner”. Having your partner read this, or reading it with them may give you a lot of insight as to how to manage an unmedicated birth as a team.

Good luck?

I found What To Expect When You're Expecting's chapter on diet really interesting, especially as I don't have any nausea or food aversions yet!

A quick summary is:

1. Calories - no change for your first trimester, then an extra 300 calories in the second, and an extra 500 in the third.
   
2. Protein - 3 servings daily
   
3. Calcium - 4 servings
   
4. Vitamin C - 3 servings
   
5. Green leafy and yellow vegetables and yellow fruits - 3 to 4 servings
   
6. Other fruits and vegetables - 1 to 2 servings
   
7. Whole grains - 6 or more servings
   
8. Iron-rich foods - it just says "some"
   
9. Fats and high-fat foods - about 4 servings
   
10. Omega-3 fatty acids
    
11. Fluids
    
12. Prenatal vitamins
    
    They say to be "efficient" with your choices and pick food items that each count for a couple of different categories, but the chapter is not particularly helpful for comparing those foods. Especially as the food will probably have different serving sizes to meet the requirements of each category. (For example, a slice of whole grain bread is one serving of whole grain, but you need four slices to get to a half serving of protein!)
    
    To make meal planning easier (and as I’m a massive nerd), I put everything into a spreadsheet. It should make comparing "efficient" foods a bit easier. (Summary on the first tab, the big list is on the second.)
    
    Also, I’ve been colour-coding the items I’m using for each meal, then resorting the sheet, so I can see what categories I need to bump up (like this).
    
    There will be tons of other foods that you can use to meet your servings - this is just what the book had listed.
    
    Feel free to download the sheet yourself. And please let me know if I’ve made any mistakes :)
    
    And don’t beat yourself up about meeting these guidelines – I eat like a teenager who has been left alone for the weekend, so I’m just happy to have some guidance about eating like a grown-up!

I bought my husband the book "the expectant father the ultimate guide for dads-to-be" it is available on Amazon and is really informative.
https://www.amazon.com/Expectant-Father-Ultimate-Dads-Be/dp/0789212137/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542296764&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=expectant+father+books&dpPl=1&dpID=61Qlu9et-vL&ref=plSrch

It is a little different in that it focuses on how the partner can help and not accidently cause a fight, as well as giving a perspective as to how she is feeling and what is happening with the baby. I got myself the book "day by day pregnancy" it is like a massive text book and let's me have a little to read each day with tips and ideas to make the experience more pleasant.

Good luck, most of all you need to let her know that you are in this together.

I found the advice in Expecting Better is super helpful, basically most of the medical literature indicates that you shouldn't stress about it! It's better to gain a little more than the recommended than not gain enough. Plus 90% of women return to their normal weight by 24 months postpartum. As long as your eating mostly nutritious, whole foods, and staying active, you're doing good!

You could be pregnant if you had unprotected sex and you've missed your birth control pill three days in a row, yes.

That said, if you've just finished your period, it's unlikely because ovulation usually happens about halfway through your cycle, or about 14 days after the first day of your period.

I would advise you to inform yourself about how your body works and learn about fertility if you want to continue to have a safe and healthy sex life. I suggest [Taking Charge of Your Fertility](Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 20th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062326031/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_f08AzbRCAP7CJ) as a good place to start. Learning about your personal cycle can help you prevent pregnancy now, and perhaps help you conceive in the future if that is what you want.

For now, you can go to your local pharmacy and buy a "morning after" pill, which can help prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. This can make you feel ill, but it is a good "back up" choice when your first line of birth control fails.

Good luck to you!

Avoid unpasteurized cheese. I know there’s a long list of things pregnant women “shouldn’t eat,” but there’s not a lot of proof for some of those things (e.g., coffee, sushi). However, unpasteurized cheese, which is often used in Mexican cheese dips, should be avoided due to the risk of listeria. If you want to read more about data-backed pregnancy advice, check out this book: Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong--and What You Really Need to Know https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143125702/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_SHe4CbRWQ3VTA

Overall though, you’ll be fine! At 7 weeks, baby is tucked away safe. Have fun!!

Get a prenatal vitamin ASAP- it's critical to make sure baby is getting enough nutrients, especially folic acid. I've found that the One-a-Day Women's Prental One Pill go down well for me.

I also highly recommend the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. It's a chill book that gives you the facts without any fear mongering. I bought a copy for myself before we conceived, but I also got a copy for free from my insurance company when I enrolled in their healthy pregnancies program.

Also, you're going to feel big ups and downs emotionally, regardless of how planned the baby was/wasn't. Our baby is 100% planned/wanted and I still have days where I'm like "OMG. I think this may have been a mistake." It was especially tough for me to have anything resembling a positive attitude during the morning sickness phase. My husband teases me a little bit about that because I went from "baby crazy with a ticking biological clock" to "So nauseous. I regret my life choices. Have we done the right thing?" within about a six-week timespan. Point being, there are ups and downs :)

Yes! I twist it up with a hole in the middle...make sure it’s high enough so I can put my belly in the hole and it not be against the mattress. Then I prop my head up with a few pillows and enjoy :) I’ll link the one I have it’s perfect!

Pillow

Find out what foods you need to avoid while pregnant (including how much caffeine is safe, what herbal teas are off limits, and which fish have high levels of mercury), and what drugs you should not be taking (e.g. ibuprofen is typically not baby friendly). There are different schools of thought around all of this and a lot more.

As far as books, "What to Expect When You're Expecting" is a best seller and not a bad place to start. https://www.amazon.com/What-Expect-When-Youre-Expecting/dp/0761187480/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1525410573&sr=8-2&keywords=maternity+book

Once you get to the buying stuff stage the book "Baby Bargains" is pretty good. https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Bargains-Secrets-Saving-strollers/dp/188939257X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525410646&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+bargains+book+2018

If you're totally lost, you can always reach out and connect with a Doula (even early in pregnancy) - though this can be pricey. Doulas have a wealth of knowledge. The hospital that you will deliver at also probably has resources and links set up on their website.

I used this one and love it. I loved it so much I got the baby book version and then the birthday book now that my kid has turned one. I'm getting another Belly Book for my current pregnancy so my kids have the exact same book but different answers.

The book has a lot of joke questions, questions about the parents, pages for every week of pregnancy, charts and polls about cravings and other cliches... I'm usually very picky when choosing planners or journals and this one was just perfect for my needs. (The photos in the reviews show lots of sample pages.)

The Belly Book: A Nine-Month Journal for You and Your Growing Belly (Potter Style) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307336182/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_bm7RAb0AW0YPB

I’m 24 weeks and I’ve been on the road for work since Day 1 of my pregnancy. Reading these posts has been super comforting, I’m sure many of you have read this book but I thought it would add a little extra comfort for anyone worrying about a lot of the topics covered here. I really enjoy reading “Expecting Better” as my pregnancy progresses, I hope you do too!

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00AEBEQUK/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

I absolutely love the Birth Partner Guide. It's incredibly informative and easy to digest with evidence based information specifically designed for partners. It's written and set up to be a resource you can have on hand and easily find what you need throughout pregnancy, birth and post-partum.

Future dad, wife is due in March, checking in. These books have helped me:

The Expectant Father

We're Pregnant!

The Birth Partner

and for a nice laugh: Man Vs Child

Also, your doctors understand that you are not an expert, and there are no such things as dumb questions at any doctor's visit. Yes, go to every visit, be in the room, take notes for your partner, and ask questions. A good rule of thumb for everything is "ask your doctor."

And... like, I understand that you don't want to stress your partner out, but at the same time open communication is really important. Take the time to listen to her concerns, make her ginger tea, and share ideas. It's OKAY to be anxious, as long as turn that anxiety into productive energy and not needless worrying.

I did temperature measurements and as long as you are consistent (setting the alarm to wake up at the same time every day and temping before getting out of bed, and using a thermometer that goes to 2 decimal places), you can get a good feel for usual monthly pattern and it gives a lot of information (i.e. for me I ovulated later than expected), so I think its a great tool.

From what I recall about it, yes, the dip on the chart on the 13th corresponds with ovulation. I used fertilityfriend website to track mine though its sometimes off on its guess of ovulation, so that's why you need a human to do the final interpretation of the graph. This book is also great for learning about charting.

I really love the c-shaped PharMeDoc pillow I got on amazon. Super versatile and has held up well so far. Easy to wash and replace the cover!

PharMeDoc Pregnancy Pillow with Jersey Cover, C Shaped Full Body Pillow - Available in Grey, Blue, Pink, Mint Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KIQH2VU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_WgVuDbNSMTZ6Y

The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy is my favorite pregnancy book, and Happiest Baby on the Block is great for the newborn stage.

Mayo Clinic Guide

Happiest Baby

Congratualtions!

I'm in the home stretch (38 weeks 5 days!) and my husband has loved reading /r/predaddit and /r/daddit

He also got a ton of helpful information from Be Prepared and the Prepared Childbirth class at our local hospital.

As for your wife, just be patient, don't hold anything against her, and try to limit your strongly scented foods if she's feeling nauseous.

I thought The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook was super helpful. Goes over basic skills to manage anxiety in a very detailed and helpful fashion and baby steps you through basic cognitive behavioral therapy to do on your own. My local library had a copy, but I would highly recommend purchasing it. It's a little time intensive to work through the anxiety, but I would say certainly worth it.

I am not vegan so not sure if these would work for you, but my prenatal is the Garden of Life Raw Prenatal:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005JAT3TU/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It says vegetarian and I'm not sure what in it would keep it from being vegan. However, it has 350% daily D3. I have taken them for well over a year and never had any issues with them. They don't make me constipated or bother my stomach. I can't answer your original question, so trying to offer an alternative option if you are interested. Good luck finding what works for you!

I have been itching so much during the 3rd trimester! I scratched my legs hard enough that my thighs were bruising. They checked my liver and bile via blood work twice, and there were no issues. Definitely bring it up at your appointment but it also just happens! I also recommend warm oatmeal baths and Eucerin cream and constantly reminding yourself that it won’t last forever 😂

This sounds like normal pregnancy to me. First tri in particular has a lot of symptoms.

Set up your doctor's appointment with an OB. They will do an ultrasound to confirm that a) there is a baby in there, and b) that it's not an ectopic pregnancy. They will also provide you with information and help you set up your next appointment.

Switch your vitamins to a prenatal that contains folic acid. It will ensure that you are getting the right amounts of everything your body needs now. If you don't usually eat much fish, then you may want to consider one with DHA. Mine are a two pill combo; one with DHA and one is the regular prenatal vitamin.

Get a pregnancy/baby book from the store or the library. It will answer a lot of the questions you've been asking and reassure you about what's normal. I recommend the Mayo Clinic book because it gives a lot of great information without fearmongering.

As for diet, don't skip meals and make sure you are drinking a LOT of water throughout the day.

Here is a list of foods you should avoid during pregnancy. It's from the American Pregnancy Association.

As for what your SO said about waiting to tell, it's pretty common to wait because of the risk of miscarriage early in pregnancy, but it's really up to you. We told our parents right after our first appointment when the doctor confirmed that the pregnancy was viable. Your decision.

This book talks about emotions and pregnancy.

My husband has read some of it, but he says he prefers this book. He said he thinks it talks about hormones and emotions and I think I saw in the description that it does in fact talk about the support pregnant people need during this time. Hopefully your boyfriend is open to reading a bit so he can understand what’s going on. The books are written by men, for men so I would hope he will believe the information haha

For you:

• Show Dad How
  
• The Baby Onwer's Manual
  
  For Her:
  
  
  
• The Mayo Clinic Guide To a Healthy Pregnancy. Has a monthly pregnancy break down with what is going on, along with a "When to call a care provider" check list per month.
  
  Also you might get some more input over on /r/predaddit. This subreddit is for pregnant folks. :)

My OB recommended this prenatal - which I like -

Vitafusion Prenatal Gummy Vitamins, 90 Count (Packaging May Vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003IP8BC8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jol2DbKQEYCDP

I also liked this book the first time I was pregnant -

https://www.amazon.com/Mayo-Clinic-Guide-Healthy-Pregnancy/dp/1893005607

Call an OB to schedule your first appointment - which may be 8 weeks out or so. Ask them if there is anything they recommend before your first appointment.

Have you heard of fertility awareness? I love this book: http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Charge-Fertility-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0060881909. I got pregnant when I first started trying after having been on hormonal birth control (the pill) for ten years. I started reading it because I was just interested in how my body worked without hormones once I decided to stop taking the pill, and we decided we wanted to try for a baby shortly thereafter. What I loved most about the book is that it helps you determine if you really need (expensive!) fertility treatments or not without going to the doctor, and what kinds you might need. It is a huge learning curve, I thought, but it is so well worth it. It was really liberating to learn all of the clues about when I was fertile and when I wasn't. I feel like women should be learning this stuff in high school - knowing these things is really, really empowering.

I literally LoLed! I bet many dads to be could use that!

My husband read this book. It had a whole section on what mom is going through and how to show empathy and support. Hope you find something similar.

I found this book, which has been helpful to me:

The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook: Practical Skills to Help You Overcome Anxiety, Worry, Panic Attacks, Obsessions, and Compulsions https://www.amazon.com/dp/1572245891/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-J0JBbZSGH6B3

Maybe something like that would be helpful for you too? Also, I’ve talked with my OB about what level of anxiety/worry/fear/sadness is normal at this stage (I’m in the second trimester now, but I’ve been dealing with this since early on!), and what level is beyond normal/needs further intervention. It was good for me to realize that a LOT of pregnant women go through this, and that some degree of being freaked out right now is normal. Hugs!

I love my wedge!!! 2 people an a large dog in a queen size bed... I don't have room for a maternity pillow.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N06ZFIX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_3xg1DbGXY93WY

So, I used a pregnancy body pillow at first, which worked until I hit third trimester-- then it didn't offer enough support, as they tend to be pretty soft. What has been working for me (37 weeks) is a high/firm bamboo memory foam pillow under the neck / just above my shoulders (seriously, make sure it hits above the shoulder and wedge your shoulder under it a little bit if need be), a Boppy pregnancy wedge under my belly to keep it from overbalancing me, and a soft standard pillow that I can just hug in front of me (keeps chest expanded and shoulders from curling too much. It's unwieldy and rolling over in the middle of the night is a bit like playing tetris (you def have to rebuild your setup), but it's alleviated so much pain.

You're fine. I didn't have my first visit until about 10 weeks, and then another 4 weeks until my first ultrasound.

Read some books, starting with Expecting Better. That one will help you cut through a lot of the crap you're going to hear from people in the next few months. Good luck!

I have a body pillow (Snoogle), AND a wedge. The wedge is a lifesaver, it just exists to support my bump lol. This is the one I got:
https://www.amazon.com/Boppy-Pregnancy-Wedge-Petite-Trellis/dp/B01N06ZFIX?th=1

I broke my back when I was 16 by slamming my left hip into a pole sledding, so I've ALWAYS had hip pain sleeping on my left side. The wedge and snoogle help so much with taking the weight off my hips I've actually had less pain/numbness than pre-pregnancy.

Sounds like having ezcema. My husband uses Eucerin for his dry skin.

Eucerin Skin Calming Cream - Full Body Lotion for Dry, Itchy Skin, Natural Oatmeal Enriched - 14 oz. Tube https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000YGDRIW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_rS2PCbC94Y4DT

There's one specifically for ezcema, but it's just dry skin, this works quite well.

I got this pillow off amazon and it’s been great for sleeping and sitting

Edit: I swing the bottom part up and make a little cushion for me to sit in. I just realized the photos don’t really show that as an example. But you can do a lot with it

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KIQH2VU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ciOMDbQTG0PDP

I’ve heard it usually ends around the end of the first trimester, but I’m not 100% sure. This is my first pregnancy and the nausea is hitting me like crazy.

I’ve found relief with ginger chews, Preggie Pops (I got mine from amazon here), B6 and unisom together, and peppermint tea.

I got this book for my husband and he loved it!:

​

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1939754682/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

PharMeDoc Pregnancy Pillow with Jersey Cover, C Shaped Full Body Pillow - Available in Grey, Blue, Pink, Mint Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KIQH2VU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_k9bvDbAFVZREQ

I use this one! I think it’s super soft, especially compared to other options available.

I've found The Expectant Father to be useful and informative, as well as Expecting Better.

Can your wife do smoothies? With the prenatals I take they are in one of those openable capsules. You can open them up and pour them into a smoothie to hide the taste. This is the one I use, I'm sure there are others like it.

I did the flinstones gummies until I found Vitafusion gummies. They saved me!!
these

I got this book for my husband and he really likes it! He always brings up little facts and tidbits he learned from it.

https://www.amazon.com/Expectant-Father-Ultimate-Dads-Be/dp/0789212137/ref=dp_ob_image_bk

I liked this one - https://www.amazon.com/Mayo-Clinic-Guide-Healthy-Pregnancy/dp/1561487171

woah, rude. everyone has the right to do what makes them feel comfortable. there's actually research that 1-2 glasses a week in first trimester and up to 1 a day after that is safe. there's a good book that talks about how these risks are likely wayyy overblown.

I'm in the UK, but just searched amazon, is it these? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Lollies-Preggie-Assorted-Sickness/dp/B005AYE8UE

PharMeDoc Pregnancy Pillow with Jersey Cover, C Shaped Full Body Pillow - Available in Grey, Blue, Pink, Mint Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KIQH2VU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ze-LDb1RM46CZ


Life saver

This Pregnancy book written by a female economist who had children and decided to actually take a look at data vs. what we are “told”.

The Expectant Father: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0789212137/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_l7zGDb87JH4XY

Here are two, one for pregnancy and one for the first year.

https://www.amazon.com/Expectant-Father-Ultimate-Dads-Be/dp/0789212137/

https://www.amazon.com/New-Father-Dads-Guide-First/dp/0789211777

My husband wanted this book.

://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0743251547/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522387283&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=be+prepared+a+practical+handbook+for+new+dads&dpPl=1&dpID=51JUh%2BuvTOL&ref=plSrch

For your husband :

https://www.amazon.com/Be-Prepared-Gary-Greenberg/dp/0743251547

37 weeks here and the body pillow is LIFE.

https://www.amazon.com/PharMeDoc-Pregnancy-Pillow-Jersey-Shaped/dp/B01KIQH2VU/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?crid=25Y48N6UH0CLW&keywords=maternity+pillow&qid=1556810642&s=gateway&sprefix=maternity+pil&sr=8-6

I use this one: https://www.amazon.com/Vitafusion-Prenatal-Gummy-Vitamins-Packaging/dp/B003IP8BC8

Ask him to come to your appointments, it helps with processing. It's especially helpful during ultrasound appointments.

Many, many men have expressed that they don't feel connected to the baby until the birth. So don't get upset if he's having difficulties. Additionally, it's difficult for men to learn about pregnancy and it's processes because the material is all targeting women. Books often put dad in a backseat, and make them feel excluded or helpless. It's important that he reads books written for men, and not books with a single 'dad chapter'. I highly reccommend this book series, The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide for Dads-to-Be