First: Stop drinking and smoking and start taking prenatal multivitamins as soon as possible, says Linda Murray, author of The BabyCenter Essential Guide to Pregnancy and Birth (Rodale, $15, www.amazon.com). In most cases, when you realize you’re pregnant, you have been carrying the baby for a couple of weeks, so it’s important to get on the right track quickly.

Then: Call your health-insurance company, says Nihara K. Choudhri, the author of Parent Savvy (Nolo, $20, www.amazon.com). “Figure out what kind of coverage you have,” she says, “and find out details, like if you need to choose a network obstetrician or if you are limited to delivering in certain hospitals.” Next, decide what kind of health-care provider you’re going to use, whether it’s an obstetrician, a family-care physician, or a certified nurse-midwife. “And be sure to do your homework, because this person is going to have a major impact on your life for the next nine months,” adds Choudhri.