When your worst fears are confirmed and your pregnancy test comes back positive, your feelings will likely run the gamut from shock to terror and everything in between. In fact, you’re definitely likely to have one or all of these thoughts somewhere along the way.
- “OMG, is this accurate?!” If it’s an at-home pregnancy test and you weren’t actively trying to conceive, one of your first reactions will likely be to question whether or not the positive results are accurate. Although false negatives are common with at-home pregnancy tests, false positives typically are not. If you’ve taken more than one at-home test and the results have been positive each time, you’re most likely pregnant. Of course, you should make an appointment with your doctor to confirm the pregnancy.
- “How am I going to tell _______?” Obviously, there are a lot of people you’re going to have to share your news with, starting with your partner, your parents, and your best friend. Depending on your situation, this could be a happy occasion and something you can’t wait to reveal or it could be an absolute nightmare that fills you with total and utter dread.
- “What am I going to do?” Whether or not you’ve ever considered what you would do if you got pregnant, it’s a completely different can of worms when you’re actually in that situation. You may feel differently than you once did or you might feel the same, but you’re most likely considering the important decision you have to make either way. Luckily, you can take some time to figure out exactly the best option for you and your life. Things only have to change if you want them to.
- “There’s an actual human life inside of me.” After finding out you’re pregnant, you kind of feel amazed and bewildered that there’s an actual human growing inside of you (or there soon will be). The fact that a little clump of cells can one day become a person that you made is kinda mind-blowing. Whether or not you decide to move forward with the pregnancy probably informs whether or not you find thinking about this as awesome or devastating, but it’s interesting either way.
- “This is absolutely terrifying.” It’s normal to feel afraid after finding out that you’re pregnant. Whether you’re scared thinking about making a decision to end the pregnancy or worried about your ability to be a parent and raise a child, being scared and nervous are universal reactions to finding out you’re pregnant, especially if it’s the first time it’s happened. It is scary but it’s a fear that you can face.
- “Maybe that’s why I’ve been feeling nauseous/tired/cranky lately.” Suddenly, any strange or unusual ways you may have been feeling or symptoms you’ve been experiencing start to add up and you wonder why you didn’t realize what was going on earlier.
- “How am I ever going to be a good mom?” It’s normal to doubt your ability to be a parent after finding out you’re going to be one (if you choose to be). Feeling anxious or unsure is completely common and doesn’t mean that you won’t be a good mother. The truth is, most people think the same thing when they’re pregnant with their first child. Most of the time, parenting is a learn as you go kind of thing, which means you don’t have to know everything or have the answer to every question going in. You learn on the job, so to speak.
- “There are so many changes in my everyday life I have to make in order for this baby to be healthy.” It can seem intimidating or impossible even when you first find out you’re pregnant. You have to be mindful of what you’re eating, cut out caffeine, alcohol, and prescription medications, and take precaution when it comes to participating in some activities. You may have to change a large part of your current lifestyle, but it’s easier to do so when it’s for the benefit and the health of your baby. On the flip side, you may decide that you like things just as they are and that this isn’t the right time for a child.
- “I need to call my doctor ASAP.” You may want to verify that you’re pregnant, make sure that the baby (and you) are healthy, and see how far along you are as soon as you take a test. Calling your doctor the next day is definitely a good idea, as well as taking prenatal vitamins and making a plan for your pregnancy if you’re going to continue with it.
- “I feel like this isn’t real.” Especially if the pregnancy is extremely unexpected, it may take some time to adjust to the idea of it and to really let it set in. You may feel like you’re dreaming or that this couldn’t possibly be happening. It may feel absolutely unrealistic and unbelievable in the beginning, but you’ll adjust eventually.
- “I’m not ready for something this huge.” Whether you’re ready or not, it’s happening. Of course, there are decisions that need to be made and what’s right for you is something you have to figure out and decide for yourself. Whatever the choice you make, you’ll be able to handle it.
