First Time Moms

kristimh80

Calling all First time mom's! 
Being a FTM has it's own anxieties and I feel like we could use a place to get together and gain our own little support system  
Feel free to ask and talk about anything your heart desires! There are no silly questions as we are all experiencing this for the 1st time!

How far along are you?
How are you feeling this week?
Rants/Raves/Questions?
Any upcoming / recent appointments?
GTKY: What's your favorite thing so far about being pregnant? 

kristimh80

How far along are you? 18 weeks
How are you feeling this week? Feeling pretty good overall. Anticipating when my belly will finally "pop"! After my long road trip this week, I felt like it was, but realize it was just water retention lol
Rants/Raves/Questions? Rave: Loving maternity clothes...I never knew they could be so comfy!
Any upcoming / recent appointments? Nothing til next weeks AS. 
GTKY: What's your favorite thing so far about being pregnant? So far the clothes and idea of getting to be pregnant during the winter time. Along with it falling during all the good holiday food times!

GApeaches

How far along are you? 18 weeks
How are you feeling this week? Pretty good, but in that weird stage in between looking chubby and baby bump! I'll be relieved when the baby bump is obviously a baby! 
Rants/Raves/Questions? We just found out on Saturday that we are having a GIRL! So excited, so many ideas for decorating the nursery and gathering some necessities, but have made zero progress whatsoever. I keep joking with my husband that we've only done one thing, and that's make the baby. 😂 I have about 15 windows open in my internet browser with ideas, haven't purchased or decided on even one thing.
Any upcoming/recent appointments: In a couple of weeks we will have our anatomy scan. I'm trying to not really worry about it and think positively. Worrying isn't going to change anything, so I keep trying to remind myself of that.
GTKY: What's your favorite thing so far about being pregnant? My husband is being extra sweet and caring, which I'm really enjoying. Our families seem to be really excited too, so it's nice to enjoy this happy time together.

kristimh80

@GApeaches Congrats on having a girl! That's what I'm having too Don't feel bad, I've known I was having a girl since July and haven't made too much progress either. My grandma made me a baby quilt that I picked out ages ago, so I only know is It'll be grey / white with one of the 10 colors in the quilt  Thank goodness for Pinterest and Pottery Barn lol

mayoduck

I think it's nice to have a thread that brings all FTMs together across the due date week.
How far along are you? 21 weeks
How are you feeling this week? Pretty good. I was fighting a cold earlier this week but I'm feeling better so hopefully the threat of that is gone!
Rants/Raves/Questions? Rave: Both MH and I took today off work and went on a day date to a local conservatory and out to lunch. It was such a nice way to break up the week!
Any upcoming / recent appointments? Prenatal checkup this morning and everything is ok. I have an ultrasound scheduled for 7 weeks from now because I have a low lying anterior placenta so they need to monitor that to make sure it moves away from the cervix because at the moment it is too close.
GTKY: What's your favorite thing so far about being pregnant? I love feeling the baby move as a daily reminder that everything is going ok. I also loved seeing my baby's face in a 3D ultrasound image. It makes him seem so real and I just love his little face so much already!

kristimh80

@mayoduck Love that you guys took the day off together! MH told me yesterday that he will be off Friday, so we are looking to do the same. Your 3D image sounds wonderful! I'm praying next week's AS they will do that as well. Glad you're feeling better! I just ordered some elderberry stuff just in case something tries to sneak in!

applesandbananas23

How far along are you? 21 weeks! 
How are you feeling this week? Pretty good, although a little tired today as I got sucked into a book last night and planned to sleep in this morning, but got woken up earlier then I wanted by my dog needing to go out. 
Rants/Raves/Questions? Rant: I had two new patients yesterday, one was 10 min late, and the other was 22 min late and didn't bring the new patient paperwork that they specifically requested to have emailed instead of printed out waiting at the office. Rave: DH let me pick out all 3 pumpkins that we got this week  although we haven't carved them yet! 
Any upcoming / recent appointments? I had my anatomy ultrasound last week, but the baby was hiding his face and heart so I am going back 11/2. Everything else looked healthy  though! 
GTKY: What's your favorite thing so far about being pregnant? Taking as many naps as I want! It's for the baby  

mayoduck

@kristimh80 Thank you! Taking the day off together was such a nice little break! I hope you both are able to enjoy a nice Friday together as well!
I have never heard of elderberry warding off colds! Have you found this to be very effective?

navete

@kristimh80 Thanks for taking initiative on this thread, great idea.

How far along are you? 20 Weeks, woo!
How are you feeling this week? Pretty energized which is helping me be more productive and positive overrall.
Rants/Raves/Questions? Do any of you still feel like it’s not real just yet? It’s just hard to believe there’s a human being actually growing and living inside us.
Any upcoming / recent appointments? Not for another 3 weeks or so.
GTKY: What's your favorite thing so far about being pregnant? I like the moments when I suddenly remember I’m pregnant and then instinctively rub my belly to say hello to the baby   

kristimh80

@mayoduck My order should be here tomorrow, but I researched it and many people swear by it during cold / flu season.

@navete Yes, some days I have to remind myself that I'm pregnant. Still waiting on the day I actually "pop" and can look in the mirror for a reminder lol 

mayoduck

@navete I definitely have times where it doesn't seem real! It's like even though the concept of making babies is not new to me, it still seems bizarre that there's essentially this fruit-sized parasite growing in my abdomen with the potential of eventually becoming my size or larger. So weird!

valentynsi

@navete I don't really forget because my belly is definitely big enough to remind me. But it still doesn't quite feel real.... I've even had multiple ultrasounds and obviously the lack of period is a great indicator. But I barely ever feel him move so it really just feels like I'm fat. Haha!

How far along are you? 20w 
How are you feeling this week? I feel OK. Kinda tired because I haven't been sleeping all that well. But overall not bad. 
Rants/Raves/Questions? My biggest rant is that MH is still gone! And not only that but we barely get to email because his ship is having really crappy email server issues. 
Any upcoming / recent appointments? My AS was Monday this week. That was cool to see him wiggling around in there. Especially since I can't really feel him. But I didn't get an answer to that, I have an anterior placenta so it makes sense why I haven't felt him much. 
GTKY: What's your favorite thing so far about being pregnant?  Honestly I'm really not a fan. I'm not hating it as much as I was a couple of weeks ago, but I'm still not in love with it. I guess my favorite thing is that MH and our neighbor are kind of catering to me. They won't let me move anything that's heavier than a gallon of milk. Haha! 

kristimh80

@valentynsi Good to hear you had a great AS this week!! So sorry you're having issues communicating while your husband is gone. FX they fix that soon and he will be back soon as well! 

lalalauren15

@navete I definitely have moments where it doesn't feel real. I feel super connected to this little being growing inside of me, but have a hard time picturing her as a real baby. It feels so surreal that MH and I have actually created life. Haha.

How far along are you? 21 weeks today!

How are you feeling this week? I feel fine. Would be GREAT to get a good night's sleep, but it is what it is.

Rants/Raves/Questions? Rave: MH and I have started using the Babyname App and we are having so much fun swiping left & right on names. Haha. We did it for like 1.5 hours last night then reviewed and discussed all of our matches. I think finding out the gender and seeing the AS has made everything more real for him.

Any upcoming / recent appointments?  Just had my AS on Tuesday. Everything looked great with baby. Next doctor appointment on 11/6.

GTKY: What's your favorite thing so far about being pregnant?  I have really enjoyed how connected MH and I have been throughout the pregnancy. And all the chocolates he brings me. Lol.

scimomma

I also completely understand feeling like this isn't real. I'm barely showing - some days I sort of look pregnant, other days I can barely notice. Right now I'm wearing pre-pregnancy jeans (they've got a decent amount of elastic in them, but still..) and it makes me feel like I'm not really pregnant. There were a few days earlier in the week where I was feeling a crazy amount of movement which was awesome, but yesterday it felt quiet in there which, of course, had me worried even though I know it's normal. 

How far along are you? 22 weeks tomorrow 

How are you feeling this week? Feeling OK physically, just tired and stressed with work/life/etc. 

Rants/Raves/Questions? I've been doing nothing but ranting lately... My partner has also been traveling a lot and this is new for us (he just took a new job). I've been working from the second I wake up until right before I go to bed just trying to get my work done while taking care of the dog, the house, and myself, all by myself.

We've also had a bonehead contractor here getting our old house up to code and we had our "final inspection" this morning. The inspector is making the contractor re-do half of the work because it wasn't done correctly. I'm so sick of having a bunch of dudes in my house making dust and peeing all over the toilet. I just want my space back!! 

Any upcoming / recent appointments? Nope, got through the anatomy scan and all was good (except apparently my kid has a big head... ugh) and nothing else on the horizon. 

GTKY: What's your favorite thing so far about being pregnant? It is fun feeling the baby move now and it makes me feel less crazy. Everything else about pregnancy is pretty gross and weird. 

Edit: Just wanted to add that being pregnant feels like I'm going through a weird form of puberty again that nobody else around me is going through. Most people know I'm pregnant now and I can tell they look me up and down when I walk into a room checking to see how my body has changed. I would probably do the same thing, but it doesn't make it less awkward! 

mayoduck

I'm completely with all the people who aren't loving the pregnancy experience. All things considered, my pregnancy has been pretty easy so I can't really complain but it is a means to an end. I definitely much prefer feeling and looking like my normal self but I try to look on the bright side as much as I can since I'm looking at 19 more weeks and I anticipate each one to get increasingly more difficult as the baby gets bigger.

lucysmom2016

Thanks for starting this up again!

How far along are you? 20 weeks

How are you feeling this week?
Not too bad. Just stretchy, achy pains in my belly and trying to figure out the altered rhythm of my GI tract. 

Rants/Raves/Questions?
I know there's a separate thread for both of the things I want to ask, but is anybody getting serious anxiety over choosing baby's name or picking out the right baby gear for the registry? I mean, naming a human is a huge responsibility. And despite doing an obnoxious amount of research, I still feel like I'm going to get the wrong baby stuff...

Any upcoming / recent appointments? 
Anatomy scan on Monday, but then we don't get to meet with the doctor for another week. I'm starting to get weirdly nervous about the whole thing...

GTKY: What's your favorite thing so far about being pregnant? 
Feeling baby move! I feel like my heart is going to explode every time I feel a little wiggle 

scimomma

@lucysmom2016 I understand baby name anxiety. I am drawn to less popular names but I don't want the kid stuck with something totally bizarre that we'll all regret one day!

I'm also torn between asking advice from others compared with just going with something I like. I feel like people are always going to find a problem with a name and will ruin it for me over something stupid, but they could also point out something valid that I hadn't thought of. Naming a human definitely feels like a big decision!!

applesandbananas23

@lucysmom2016 for the baby gear, I asked my cousin who had a baby in June for advice. She said the only thing baby really needs is you. Then she said they get used to what you have and use with them, so if you don't get a rocker or a bouncer or a swing it's fine because they will be used to what you do use! This was honestly the most helpful advice I've gotten.

kristimh80

Don't worry too much about what others think about your baby name. It seems the trends vary so much anymore and it doesn't mater as long as you love it My MIL already told us not to tell anyone our baby name until the baby is born because everyone will always have their opinions. 

As for baby gear, I'm trying to go with the less is more thing especially when it comes to having a lot of random items floating around the house. I think for something things, like rockers, etc...you can get them later on when you feel is right. My SIL already gave us a walker...needless to say it's still in the trunk of my car because I know I won't need it for a pretty good while. I think I'm going to do like others said not he registry thread. Register for stuff I don't want then mark them as complete so no one tries to buy me things I don't want / need right away. 

lucysmom2016

Great advice all around ladies. 

I haven't really looked through the registry thread yet, but the product spotlights have been super helpful, so I'll make sure to browse through advice & suggestions there too. 

As for names, I think I'm just nervous because I've already changed my mind a few times and once the ink's dry on the birth certificate, that's it! We're planning to go to the hospital with a few names for each gender, and DH being the calming voice of reason, assures me that when we meet baby we'll know which name is meant for him/her. 

kristimh80

@lucysmom2016 I feel like when the right name comes about you both agree on, you just know. Least that's how it has been for us. We will still bring up another name but it never compares  

shannonc-2

How far along are you?  19 weeks
How are you feeling this week? Uncomfortable, and worried that it's just going to get more uncomfortable. Where are my organs moving to?!
Rants/Raves/Questions? I'm wondering when the right time is to start looking into birthing classes or mommy groups. That's what got me here tonight, actually, I think I need some community!
Any upcoming / recent appointments? I *think* AS stands for Anatomy Scan, and I just had that last Friday, and all looked really good, which was a HUGE relief!  
GTKY: What's your favorite thing so far about being pregnant? valentynsi on this - I'm honestly not loving being pregnant and feel bad that I don't. My mother is crazy bananas and constantly asks me how I'm feeling... it's weird. I don't want all the ga-ga attention... but like I said, I think I do need some community.  Feeling kinda low energy and low enthusiasm. Is that normal?

mayoduck

@shannonc-2 Welcome to the boards! Always nice to see a new 'face'. There's a lot of short-handed used in these boards and you can find a link to a pretty comprehensive guide in the Read this First Board Organization thread. I leaned on that for awhile when I first started.
But maybe you don't need it; AS does stand for anatomy scan and congratulations on yours going well!
If you're worried about how you have been feeling, I would mention it to your doctor just in case but I'm sure you'll find folks here with similar emotions. I have definitely been feeling tired all the time and for certain things (like work) it's been more difficult for me to muster up some motivation.

valentynsi

Anyone else already having issues with their feet and ankles swelling a lot? I've been dealing with this for a few weeks now. I finally had to break down and buy some compression socks. I felt super old doing that. I know I'm AMA, but dang... I don't want to feel any older! But I did manage to find some cute ones. The ones I have on today are black and have bright red lip/kiss prints on them. Haha! Here's to being cute but old. 

kristimh80

@valentynsi I had that issue last weekend. It kind of freaked me out because wasn't expecting it until later on. I found it was a day I was doing a lot of walking and just on my feet a lot. Haven't had it since, but good to know there's good cute compression socks out there!

Kenneylynn3

@valentynsi I haven't had any swelling yet, but I bought compression socks at 25 because of the job I had where I was on my feet all day. I'm only 26, but I have a few cute pairs to wear when I feel like I need to.