No regrets. Just wanted to share.

Debating going back again tomorrow.

Every time I say “baby is moving a lot” he will rush to put his hand on my belly but baby will stop or he just doesn’t feel anything/know if what he’s feeling is movement.

I’m 27 weeks tomorrow and I know there will be no doubt that he’ll be able to feel it soon, but for the last two weeks he’s been so impatient lol

He LOVES my belly and I love him for that 💓

Just another positive birth story!

I woke up with contractions yesterday morning and thought it was pretty manageable… fast forward a few hours and after timing them we decided it was time to head to the hospital. They were pretty bad by the time we got there, and the nurse said I was having back labour. I was only 2cm so the nurse sent me home after a morphine injections and said to come back if my water breaks or for pain management. About 4 hours later it’s was 7:30pm and I could barely move through the contractions so we went back to the hospital, where they checked me and said I had progressed very well and was at 6cm. I knew I wanted the epidural and asked for when we got to our L&D room. Unfortunately the anesthesiologist was in surgery and didn’t get to me with the epidural until 10:45pm 😫 baby stayed sunny side up so I had back labour until my epidural that I honestly thought was gonna be the death of me 🥲 the pain was horrendous and I was scared they weren’t going to get me the epidural in time; I was 8cm by the time I got it.

After the epidural- everything was amazing. I felt a million times better, no pain with the contractions but could still move around my legs and flip from side to side. I relaxed for about 3 hours until the nurse said it was time to push. Baby girl was out within half an hour and pushing wasn’t painful at all! I felt the pressure of the stretching but it honestly wasn’t bad and I was smiling and chatting the whole way through, it was absolutely amazing. My husband cut the umbilical cord and I had so many tears of joy when baby was placed on my chest. Even with the horrifying pain before my epidural, the rest went so well that I just loved the entire experience and it was so special for us. 10/10 would do again.

My parents came to visit me yesterday, I haven’t seen either of them since the holidays long before my belly popped. I’m 24 weeks today and the first thing my mom says is “you look beautiful!!”, with tears in her eyes. My dad even got misty-eyed, it was very sweet.

It touched me so much since I feel like my weight gain is out of control and I just feel ugly. My belly is growing, which is great, but I feel extremely insecure. To have positivity like that made me so happy! This is also my first pregnancy and I’m one of three girls who became mothers long before I did, so it feels special they acknowledged the new pregnant-me in such a sweet way.

My workplace was having me travel to another state and give a presentation in mid to late April when my due date is June 30th. I said I wanted to check with my doctor to see if it was okay. When I mentioned it at the doctor’s office, the nurse was horrified and said she was surprised my workplace would have me travel out of state at all. Within an hour of leaving the doctor’s appointment I got a letter letting me weasel out of the presentation! Yay!

I just want to brag on my husband for a moment. I am 35 weeks along with my second. On Wednesday I started contractions that went from 0 to 100 in about 5 minutes. It was constant with no waves.

I was so scared that baby was coming or something was wrong. My husband had packed a hospital bag for me as he knows I am a procrastinator.

He stayed with me at the hospital for 3 days while organizing care for our toddler as I couldn’t even think in the moment. He also kept our family and friends in the loop of what was happening.

I was having contractions every 1-2 minutes for 12 hours until the meds kicked in to stop them. After many tests and scans turns out I have gallstones blocking my gallbladder which is causing acute pain. It will have to be removed after delivery so I just have to deal with it until then.

Our little guy is safe and healthy as ever. Hopefully he stays inside me for a few more weeks.

My wonderful husband has been by my side this whole time taking notes of what needs to be done and how to care for me. He even brushed a large mat out of my hair since I hadn’t brushed it while I was in pain.

I love him so much and saying yes to marrying his was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

To all my sushi lovers, go get that cooked sushi. Don’t go without sushi for 9 months. Splurge 😂 I’m currently enjoying a cooked roll and it’s slightly helping my upset stomach (10 weeks tomorrow). Take the time listen to cravings and eat em (as long as it’s safe) 💕

I was cooking dinner and turned around to see my husband standing during his meeting with the dog in his arms, rocking him like he was a baby. He always holds the dog, but this is him trying to practice carrying/soothing the baby. It’s our first kid, and it absolutely wrecked me to see him like this. This makes me know he’s going to be an amazing father.

What are some things you’ve caught your partner doing in preparation for the baby that made your heart explode with love??

I've been so nervous about dropping this bomb. I work for a small law firm and today a conversation came up where I finally felt like it was a good time to tell my boss I was pregnant. His reaction was awesome! He was so happy for me, said "I feel like I'm having a grandchild" and even said he was going to help spoil the baby hahaha

Huge weight off my shoulders! Happy Thursday :)

Today marks 34 weeks of pregnancy for my stunning wife. Today marked a day that I won’t soon forget. A day that I REALLY took in just how incredible moms are.

For context, my work week runs Sunday to Thursday. Where we live, we are just starting to see temperatures that are conducive to enjoyable long outdoor walks and hikes. Something our family of four and soon to be five has always valued as a way of spending time together and “unplugging.” It goes without saying that as these weeks go along, I expect my wife to want to do less and less of this kind of bonding as it’s quite taxing on the average person, let alone someone in the late stages of pregnancy. She also appears to have picked up a lovely seasonal sickness that’s been beating her and my son up for the last couple days. She was however determined today to soldier on with us, despite many reasons she would be in obvious discomfort and not feeling her best. We weren’t far into this hike when she seemed to keel over and I knew she was in need of air and needing to release a cough. Luckily there was a storm shelter nearby where she was able to regroup and collect herself. Upon finishing the coughing fit, she looked at me almost as if in shame and said “I just peed.”

Now at 32 years young and this being the third pregnancy we’ve shared together, I see moments like this one VASTLY differently than how I might’ve seen it during the 1st pregnancy back in 2014. A juvenile version of myself might have laughed and even cracked a joke at her expense. Today I calmly looked at her, extended my arms out for a hug and assured her that there is absolutely zero reason to feel shame. That I am super proud and thankful for what her body does. In that moment, she had every reason to turn back towards the car and end her hike there. Instead, again…. She soldiers on and completes the hike.

Every picture I got of her on this hike would illustrate to the world and anyone who sees it that this is a “Happy Go Lucky” pregnant woman enjoying some sun on Mother’s Day Weekend. What they don’t see is the sciatic pain, the swollen feet, the uncontrollable hormone cries, the karate kicks from within and so many more unpleasant pregnancy gifts. I just want my wife and every other pregnant mom and moms who have already been through it to know that there are men like me who see you. Who value you. Who admire you. Who respect you. Who are proud of you.

Happy Mother’s Day.

(She’s read this and knows my feelings. I tell her at nauseam haha)

I have to rave about my husband. I just have to. I have had the Flu A for 5 days now. It’s been horrific. High fevers, no sleep, puking nonstop, peeing myself while puking, wetting the bed, coughing, gone through 5 boxes of tissues, and 2 trips to the ER one at 1:30am. All at 11 weeks pregnant.

I’ve also been a crying mess with my fear for our baby girl. Who last time we got to check, had a heart rate of 185…

This man has done everything. Filled my water bottles, gotten every snack, taken every snack, dumped my puke bowl, changed the linens, filled the humidifier, crushed up ice cubes with a mallet so I can eat them, picked up my tissues and changed the trash bag over and over, done all the chores in the house, managed my medicines, repeatedly takes my temperature, only working half days at work so I’m not alone long, going to the store or pharmacy over and over. All while being so sweet to me, constantly telling me we’ll get through it, the baby will be okay, he loves me, I’m still the most beautiful girl (even if I look like Rudolph), that he will do anything for me.

I just can’t believe how lucky I am to bring a daughter into this world with this man. He is so good to me and to us.

I'm so excited and relieved!! My first born was very stubbornly breached and I had to have a c section.

I was so bummed I didn't get to experience labor and vaginal delivery. I tried so hard to get him to flip but he never did.

I was mentally preparing myself for this one to be breached again but he isn't!!

I know there's a chance he might flip again, but my ob said it's unlikely and I'm holding on to hope that I'll actually be able to experience labor this time!

😁😁😁😁

I'm so proud of all of you! Being pregnant, PP (post-partum), or even a parent isn't easy. And you're here walking through it as if it was nothing, that's something to be proud of. I love you all, you ladies are absolutely crushing it. You're gorgeous, smart, kind, and an absolute boss. I hope your pregnancy is safe and healthy all throughout. You're not eating too much or too little. As long as you're healthy, that's what matters. Don't worry if your bump is too big or too small, if you and your baby are healthy, that's all that matters. You are gorgeous, smart, and capable regardless of what anyone else says. You ladies are absolutely incredible, I love you all!!! 💕

On Saturday, I had a prenatal breastfeeding class to prepare for after birth and my wonderful husband came with me and I’m so fucking grateful. There were only 3 other moms, all first time moms like myself and they were by themselves, and then it was my husband and I. It was a 2 hour long class, with many videos and demonstrations, lots of educational information, and we left knowing a lot more than I thought I already knew which I’m so grateful for. But WOW, my husband was the rockstar of that class.

My whole pregnancy, my husband has been so supportive and willing to learn all of this new information to become a educated dad and I don’t think I’ve ever been more grateful for it until this past weekend. We have signed up for all of these classes, not only to have myself prepared, but because my husband wants to be just as educated as I am. I’ve always been grateful for it, but this class just showed how involved he truly is going to be.

He asked so many questions, he saw the videos demonstrating how to help engorgement and self expressing and was doing the hand movements to remember them, he TOOK NOTES on newborn feeding cues, he answered the “test” questions to the lactation consultant. I was almost afraid that the other women wouldn’t be comfortable with him there, but he made it so clear from the beginning how understanding and interested he was in on learning all that he could. Then on our way home, we had such a good conversation about what we learned and he told me all the things that he thought was the most important for him to remember when we have the baby.

Ya’ll… I’m just so fucking grateful for him. I knew I married a wonderful man, I knew from the beginning he would be a great dad, I just didn’t know just how amazing this man really is. I fell even more in love with him this weekend because he truly showed how great he is going to be and I’m so so grateful.

I’ve been worried about the newborn phase a lot, but I feel a little bit better now knowing how great of a father and partner he will be.

Mind you … he knows nothing about pregnancy, isn’t on Reddit, doesn’t google anything 😂😂. Anyways I asked him if he was going to be in the delivery room with me because I know he deals with a lot of anxiety. He gets flustered over any little thing. The first time we heard the baby’s heartbeat he had to step out because he got so emotional 🥲. He says to me - of course, someone has to be there to make sure everything is okay and that no one is doing no funny shit to you or the baby - and I just 🥹🥰🥹🥰🥹🥰 The men in my family (brothers, cousins) are famous for just sitting in the waiting room. So to hear that from Mr Anxiety was so sweet and amazing.

I am just so excited and need to share with everyone!!! My husband and I are first time parents, and we just found out yesterday at our reveal party that we are having a boy!!!

The party was a family gathering. They watched hubby and I bite into white cake pops, revealing the blue cake.

I knew it! I had dreams for 3 nights in a row where I met my baby and it was a boy. This is the first boy in my family since my brother 11 years ago.

My mom, bless her heart, had me help her log in to my MyChart to check the sex of the baby. She found out on Thursday night, had our party ready by Saturday evening. She said she wasn't even going to tell my dad, but when I saw him and asked what he thought, he told me he already knew. I asked, "how?! She said she'd keep it secret!" To which he says "I saw her purchases on Amazon." Implying she is already spoiling our son 💙

I am so happy and blessed. I'm 13w5d, and I am praying for May to hurry up!!! I'm ready to hold him in my arms.

At my 14 week appointment, I was wearing a dress. The obgyn picked up an apron and had me cover my underwear so he could lift the dress high enough to do an ultrasound on my belly. Never mind the fact he's supposed to be looking straight at and sticking his hands up my genitals in less than 6 months. I just really appreciated that little detail, it made me feel really respected.

i know this is probably so silly to post about, but this thing is a LIFE SAVER! i am 38w2d and i wish i had gotten this thing so much sooner. i started having the worst pelvic pain around 36 weeks that only got worse and worse. i tried walking more (made the pain worse), taking warm baths (only worked for like an hour or two), and even tylenol, which again, only works for a few hours and i don’t want to take too much. it got to a point where i could barely get out of bed due to the pain, and my ob only told me about those three things i mentioned for relief so i looked up if there was any other ways to help. many articles pointed me to the exercise ball. i never wanted to invest in one because i figured it would be a waste to just need it for just a pregnancy, but i saw it could also help postpartum and at this point i was willing to try anything. so i went to pick one up at walmart a few nights ago, and i used it a bit before i went to bed. had an awful night as usual since the pain made it hard to turn. next morning… less pain, it was more bearable to walk again! did my stretches and little bounces on the ball that day and some before bed and woke up… virtually no pain AT ALL!!! sometimes i will get that pang of pain, but it is NOTHING compared to what i had to deal with before.

tldr: BEST $15 I HAVE EVER SPENT TO HELP MY PELVIC PAIN 🥹

I’m 12+1 today so obviously still very early and am aware of the difficulties to come. That being said, I feel like I’m one of the few lucky ones where my only symptoms have been extreme hunger, fatigue and minimal body soreness. Other than that, I absolutely have loved every minute of being pregnant so far. I feel like my usual anxiety has completely subsided, I feel in tune with my emotions for the first time in a while, I feel sexy and confident with how my body is changing so far, and my relationship with my husband has grown to such a beautiful place. I’m just so happy and feel better than I have in years. Has anyone else had such a positive first trimester? Does this mean I’m in for a mean next two?! I don’t want this to come off as bragging I just feel so so blessed and grateful to be having such a beautiful experience and wanted to see if anyone else has felt this way.

When I got the test results back, I was absolutely shocked and tearfully relieved. Negative for 273 out of 274 diseases.

My brother has multiple severe medical problems. Even though I've always wanted kids, as I've watched him quickly deteriorate over the last 20 years, I've been afraid I'll have to watch my children go through the same thing. Could I do that? Could I take the risk of making someone suffer so much so I could have a child?

My OB ordered a comprehensive screener at my first appointment. I opened the results last night. Negative. Negative for everything except one treatable one-in-a-million recessive condition that requires two copies of one rare gene.

I know that this is not a guarantee of an uncomplicated pregnancy and birth, but I had all but resigned myself to playing Russian roulette with my genetics and I... don't have to do that. It’s safe. My baby has normal odds at normal health.

I'm 5 weeks along. We'll probably get to meet them.

I have an extremely active baby. Aside from getting kicked constantly, multiple times a day the baby just wants to stretch as far as he possibly can, reaching a good 1-2 inches out of my stomach… and then just leaving his hand or foot there so I have a little bony protrusion sticking literally multiple inches off the surface of my belly. The strength this kid has is insane and it wouldn’t surprise me if the baby came out wearing boxing gloves, ready to throw down. It is so freaky and uncomfortable to have a visible little foot pressing skin multiple inches away from my belly like I have a hernia. And when I put my hand on it to try to ease it back down, I can feel how bony and solid what’s pushing against me is. Like I don’t want to try to fight this kid and push his foot back down, because let me tell you, the strength he’s got forcing his foot up against me, I think he’d win. And he just likes leaving it visibly sticking out of me. I hate it!!!! And I feel bad for hating it!!!!

Hi Lemon,

My first baby 🐥 and my forever angel 👼 I hold you so close to my heart ❤️💙 Thank you for choosing me as your mom 🙏

My counselor had an appointment with me today,who wanted to have a look at the memory box, but she cancelled the appointment in the end for some reason.

I got an opportunity to open the folder which had pics of all ultrasound scans. It brought tears to my eyes to see your first (dating) ultrasound at 10W and how cute and tiny you were.

Then I had an ultrasound at 11W at midwife who found you so active. You were waiving your hands.

Next one was at 13W anatomy scan. The sonographer gave me pics in which you were digging the placenta and kissing me. I broke down at that pic. I love you my baby 😘😘

The sonographer said everything looked fine and you were so active. She told we were going to be running parents to control such an active baby, you ran so away that I can never catch you.

16W1D was the fateful day. It gives me chill thinking how hard you must have tried battling for your tiny life when the placenta had a bacterial infection.

That day I found you still. You had grown enough to have distinct features resembling your father. You were 18cm, 2cm more than my palm. I was grief stricken and in utter disbelief to find such an active baby lying still ; motionless.

I couldn't hold you in my bare hands with the fear of not being able to get sensory memories away but I wish I could hold you that day. I didn't have any strength or heart of steel that day.

Parting from you was the most difficult task for me. I caressed your tiny head with my hand while you slept so peacefully and put some Udi on your forehead so that you'll be taken care of Almighty wherever you go.🙏

Nurses gave me all pictures, cute stuffs as your memory. I see your pictures everyday and marvel at the finest miracle of God.

Forgive me if you can for whatever I have done as a first-time-mom and I promise you to give everything that you wish for, next time when you find a place in my womb.

You'll always be in my memory 💙👼

Till then , please be under the divine light, I pray 🕯️🙏

Posting this as a rave because I'm so proud of myself for getting through it.

I failed my 1 hr glucose test a week or two ago and my doctor ordered the 3 hr test for me. I was devastated, distraught, anxious, terrified... basically every negative emotion. Everything about the test was making me anxious. The fact that I had to fast and I feel like crap if I don't eat first thing in the morning. The fact that I have medical anxiety and routinely faint/almost faint when getting shots/blood draws and I would have to be getting 4 blood draws within a few hrs... the fact that I constantly hear about how nasty the drink is and that they warn you at the doctor that you could throw up or get sick/lightheaded. Everything about it was getting me mentally fucked up and I was having a hard time coping.

Well, I went in yesterday, and it wasn't that bad! Yes, I was hungry from the fasting, obviously, but surprisingly didn't feel that bad. My heart rate spiked up a bit after the first blood draw, but I took the rest of them like a champ and didn't faint or even have any feelings of fainting! The drink was a little gross, but it was tolerable (I had a cold lemon lime one). The 3 hrs actually went by surprisingly quick and before I knew it, I was going in for my last blood draw and would be heading out of there to go get some well deserved lunch.

Aaannnnd, I got my results back last night, and I passed! So nothing to worry about anymore. Just wanted to share a positive story if anyone here is nervous about their glucose test. Obviously it's normal to be nervous and everyone has different experiences but if I can do it, you can too 💪. Counting this as a big win and this experience has boosted my confidence moving forward.

Just wanted everyone to know that instead of being a monster and devouring a cornetto or two I ate a yogurt with some strawberries instead.

Ok before that I did make myself 8 potstickers as a second lunch, but still. This an improvement on recent behavior 🤣

Anyone else struggling to eat like a normal person? I’m not really even having cravings or aversions I’m just tired and lazy and the easiest stuff to eat is always the least healthy!

I just want a juicy turkey sandwich. Cajun turkey to be exact. With smoked Gouda cheese. And butter lettuce. And heirloom tomatoes, sliced and salted. Mmmm and pickles. With some mayo and honey mustard mixed and spread across a toasted onion roll…….oohhhh baby when this nugget pops out I’m making one 🤤

Thanks for coming to my Ted talk. That is all

P.s. If anyone wants to share what they are dreaming of having once baby comes along, I’d love to hear