Mydouladoc

You saw the two little pink lines.

Now you’re waiting weeks for your first appointment, wondering:

Is this normal?
What can I eat?
Should I be worried about this symptom?

You don’t have to spend early pregnancy piecing together answers from Google and social media.

Join Dr. Alecia Fields, board-certified OB/GYN, trained doula, and mom of three, for a free webinar designed to help you navigate those first weeks with confidence.

Register free today at the link in our bio.

One of the hardest parts of pregnancy can be figuring out when to call your provider and when to give your body a little time and support first.

Not every symptom means something is wrong, and sometimes simple things can make a big difference.

If you are dealing with mild headaches, cramping, dizziness, or general discomfort, start with the basics:
• hydrate well and consider adding electrolytes
• eat something with protein
• rest if your body is asking for it
• try a heating pad for muscle soreness or back pain
• ask your provider which over the counter medications are safe for you during pregnancy

A lot of common pregnancy symptoms are made worse by dehydration, exhaustion, stress, and not getting enough support.

The important thing is learning what feels manageable versus what feels persistent, intense, or outside of your normal.

And if you are ever unsure, it is always okay to call and ask questions. Reassurance is part of care too.

Inside The Pregnancy Companion we meet for monthly live Office Hours, where we talk through real-life pregnancy questions like these so you feel more confident navigating symptoms and understanding your body between appointments.

Learn more through the link in bio

Lesson 2: Set boundaries. And be SPECIFIC about them. My mom meant well …..

I didn’t fully understand how powerful this was until I became a mom, but here’s the thing: the practice starts in pregnancy.
Boundaries to protect your stress. Your mental health. Your energy. Your peace.

Who’s in the delivery room?
How do visitors show up postpartum?
What gets posted about your family on social media?

These aren’t small questions. They’re acts of self-advocacy. And the sooner you start asking them, the better equipped you’ll be to show up for yourself AND your kids.
Boundaries feel uncomfortable at first. Do it anyway.

You just found out you’re pregnant. Now what?

First, take a deep breath. You do not need to have everything figured out today.

Those first few days and weeks can feel exciting, overwhelming, emotional, and honestly a little surreal. That is completely normal.

Start by focusing on the basics:
• manage your symptoms as best you can
• stay hydrated and nourished
• begin looking for an OB GYN or midwife you feel comfortable with
• and tell someone you trust who can support you through this season

You do not have to navigate pregnancy alone or know everything immediately.

Pregnancy is a process, and support matters from the very beginning.

That’s exactly why I created DoulaDoc, to help bridge gaps in healthcare. Starting from the time you find out you’re pregnant, I want you to feel informed, supported, and confident in what comes next.

Learn more through the link in bio about our webinars and programs.

Lesson 1: You cannot pour from an empty cup.

When I was 32 weeks pregnant, I was working long hours as a resident and pushing myself harder than I should have been. Eventually, I ended up admitted to the same high-risk unit where I had been taking care of patients.

And while I was admitted… my chief resident asked if I could still help out and do some work.

I said yes.

Now, looking back, it sounds absolutely unhinged. Tiny violin playing in the distance. Hospital bracelet on, contractions looming, and somehow my brain was still like, “But what if I inconvenience someone?”

But in the moment, I was not thinking about myself. I was thinking about my team. I felt guilty about letting people down. I wanted to help. I wanted to prove I could still handle everything.

A lot of us move through pregnancy and motherhood this way.
Especially the people-pleasing perfectionists.
Especially the “I’ll do it myself” crowd.
Especially the only children who learned early how to overfunction and keep everything running smoothly for everyone else.

We talk a lot about advocating for yourself in healthcare, but the truth is that self-advocacy is really hard when you have spent your whole life minimizing your own needs.

Taking care of yourself is not selfish.
Rest is not weakness.
Needing help does not make you a burden.

And honestly, we need to do better at taking care of each other too. But learning to care for others in a healthy way starts with learning how to care for ourselves first.

This is one of the biggest lessons pregnancy and motherhood have taught me, and it is something I want to continue sharing here moving forward.

To everyone out there struggling with guilt, overworking, perfectionism, or feeling responsible for everyone else all the time: I see you. And you deserve care too.