GTKY: Pregnancy traditions

DDRRT1982 · August 2017

Do you have any traditions you participate in with each pregnancy? Do you do anything special to celebrate or make the pregnancy special?

For FTMs, do have any ideas of something special you want to do with this pregnancy? Maybe if you are planner each pregnancy? For example, maternity photos?

justkeeptrying · August 2017

DH and I read this book during every pregnancy. We read it the evening before my "Ticker Change". It's a prayer book for baby. It's so we can pray specifically for whatever parts are developing that week. It also goes through what mom might be noticing that week as well.

We also take a weekly progression photo. Although this time around I am starting my pregnancy much heavier than with DS. So I just feel fat at this stage.

We plan on doing maternity photos and newborn photos when the time comes

DDRRT1982 · August 2017

I have two...

1. I keep a journal with each. I got The Pregnancy Journal with my oldest 14 years ago and have gotten the same one for my other four pregnancies. Some are more filled out than others, but it's cool now to read the differences and similarities. I hope one day my kids will be able to read through them and learn a little about what life was like pregnant with them.

2. My second tradition is related around my son's premature birth. He was born at 25w5d and so with each subsequent pregnancy I have him make his siblings that I am pregnant with a bear from build-a-bear on the day I am 25w5d pregnant. It's kind of a cheesy tradition, but one day I hope they understand the significance. My due date is three days prior to what my oldest's son's due date was, so this time it will be very close to his birthday.

I am hoping you guys can give me a unique idea of something to do special for this baby. I have done newborn photos, maternity photos, birth photos, and maternity boudoir photos with my pregnancies. I need a new idea!

garnetmama · August 2017

@justkeeptrying what is the name of the prayer book? I love that!

justkeeptrying · August 2017

@garnetmama, hopefully this link works. Sorry it's the Canadian Amazon, not sure where you live. I love this author. She's written books on different stages of women's life (marriage, sex, pregnancy). I think she has a parenting one too but I haven't read it.

https://www.amazon.ca/Expecting-Praying-Your-Childs-Development_Body/dp/1501139878

Gingermom15 · August 2017

@DDRRT1982 the Build A Bear tradition is so sweet!

chasingroygbiv · August 2017

I take weekly pictures once I'm showing enough. That's really about all I guess. Never really thought about starting traditions!

pettycrocker · August 2017

Take a million HPTs, and roll a dice to see if it's a baby or an ectopic pregnancy

50/50 so far

bettyvonsomethingstein · August 2017

pettycrocker said:

Take a million HPTs, and roll a dice to see if it's a baby or an ectopic pregnancy

50/50 so far

Have you had an appointment yet? This is a very sad statement to make. I'm sorry you're feeling this way.

pettycrocker · August 2017

@bettyvonsomethingstein oh yes. They monitor me very closely with my history. I'm 8wks and some days and I've had about 6 u/s already. It's a baby

bettyvonsomethingstein · August 2017

pettycrocker said:

@bettyvonsomethingstein oh yes. They monitor me very closely with my history. I'm 8wks and some days and I've had about 6 u/s already. It's a baby

Oh, good ❤️

DUDE, though, you're playing my emotions. That sounded like a cry for help! DONT DO THAT I AM A DELICATE FLOWER, DAMNIT!

ishmoney · August 2017

You gotta get to know @pettycrocker. I'm not an online board kinda person but the longer I'm on here, I read the personalities coming out.

DDRRT1982 · August 2017

justkeeptrying said:

@garnetmama, hopefully this link works. Sorry it's the Canadian Amazon, not sure where you live. I love this author. She's written books on different stages of women's life (marriage, sex, pregnancy). I think she has a parenting one too but I haven't read it.

https://www.amazon.ca/Expecting-Praying-Your-Childs-Development_Body/dp/1501139878

This is honestly one of the sweetest ideas.

chasingroygbiv said:

I take weekly pictures once I'm showing enough. That's really about all I guess. Never really thought about starting traditions!

I think I might do this. I have always enjoyed those progression videos. Maybe this is my idea for something special, too.

pettycrocker said:

@bettyvonsomethingstein oh yes. They monitor me very closely with my history. I'm 8wks and some days and I've had about 6 u/s already. It's a baby

I know it's rough after what you've experienced. I am really glad to hear that things are going well this time.

vflux33 · August 2017

FTM here... I think I'm gonna skip even private baby bump photos, and def not doing professional maternity photos. But I am thinking of doing some kind of scrapbook type thing, which is something I have never done before but think it would be cute for them to look at when they're older. Has anyone done that, and how did it work out? If your kids are old enough now to look through and understand it, do they like it?

bookishbaker · August 2017

@vflux33 I don't have any experience with that, but I can say that I would've loved having a scrapbook to look at when I was a kid!

On my end, I don't really have anything specific planned but it's important to me that my second child doesn't feel like my first pregnancy was more important than theirs. Not really into photos, so I may end up doing a scrapbook/journal thing. I did a more structured pregnancy journal with my first (with writing prompts and whatnot) and don't really want to do another one- kinda over that idea.

vflux33 · August 2017

@bookishbaker I agree on not wanting to do a full on journal. Have you found any good scrapbooking stuff? I just started poking around for it on the internet this morning and haven't found anything good yet that isn't too journal-y.

HappyMonkey817 · August 2017

Barfing is my only pregnancy tradition.

heatherdubrow · August 2017

@vflux33 I highly encourage you to take a couple pictures of your growing bump. It is so fun to look back on, and the babies will love to see those pictures when they're older! You don't need to post them but definitely take some!

JamieK1882 · August 2017

This is my third, and I guess my only "traditions" are bi-weekly belly photos, and I do a Shutterfly scrapbook. We also do maternity and newborn photos.

hullabalou · August 2017

Once we found out my son was a boy and had his name picked, I created him a gmail account. I emailed ultrasound photos, bump photos, and general updates. Now that he is born I send occasional emails with life updates, notes on holidays and birthdays, and cute stuff if I remember. I also upload photos to the Google drive for his account. I am not the type to keep up with a journal or baby book so this was easier for me. We will do the same thing after we know this baby's name.