It’s true what they say: You’ll only have your first baby, once.
Let’s face it, finding out you are pregnant can bring on a slew of emotions. You might feel ecstatic, thrilled, excited, nervous, scared and uncertain…all at the same time!
That little plastic stick, the one you pee on every month, seems to determine your entire future in a matter of seconds. When I was trying to get pregnant, I held my breath every time I took a test. With one eye closed and one eye open, I would stare at the tiny plastic device. Then, I would walk out of the room. I would walk back in. Walk out. Walk in. Three minutes can seem like an eternity when you’re waiting for good news, but there’s nothing quite like seeing a positive result in the little window.
Welcome to the Moms2B group on Gather. I’m your group moderator, Erin. I’m the mother of two young boys who are about to turn 5 and 3 and the co-host of the weekly podcast Manic Mommies. (I guess this qualifies me to provide my non-expert advice on all things motherhood). I am a huge fan of online communities and believe they can be a great place to connect with others, discuss topics of interest to you, and get the kind of real-world advice you might not find in those popular parenting books.
If you’ve recently learned you’re pregnant, congratulations! And welcome to the club. Being a mom is, by far, the most important and rewarding work you will ever do.
When I found out I was pregnant with my first child I was, more than anything, relieved. My husband and I had been trying to have a baby for nearly a year and I was about to see a specialist when those two pink lines appeared. The second time I got pregnant, I was completely shocked. I just assumed it would take a while, like the first time around. Wrong! I was expecting before I expected.
Both times I told my husband first. And we kept it our little secret for weeks. While I can say that both experiences were very different—the pregnancies, the deliveries, the babies themselves—the first pregnancy was definitely something special. I read every baby book I could get my hands on, visited countless baby websites, took long walks daily and even gave up wine and soft cheeses before I had my first ob-gyn appointment.
So how did you feel when you found out you were pregnant? Who did you tell first?
-------------------------------------------------
Are you trying to conceive or are you in the beginning stages of pregnancy? Do you feel excited, daunted or confused? Join Moms2B, a group to learn about prenatal care and share your pregnancy "firsts" each step of the way. To join, click here.
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 10
Being pregnant as an unmarried mum was pretty daunting as my Mum was very traditional, you know marriage first. However, these things happen.
I ended up with toximea a condition that affects the kidneys. Your feet start to swell with fluid retention but you can feel as good as gold. The thing is it is a danger to the unborn child and possibly to the mum. In the end I had to be induced at 37 weeks and my son was delivered by caesarian section. He was so small 4 pounds to be exact.
He was placed in Scabu which a specialised unit for premature babies. They wheeled me into see him on my bed and I thought he'd have his eyes closed being so small but these two beautiful dark eyes looked straight at me when I saw him. That was it love at first sight. I couldn't really cuddle him and he was intravenously fed but I'd walk down ever so painfully to see him.
I took him home finally after; he's Dad wanting to go to a game of rugby, then I got a high temperature and then I got really nervous, first baby, plus being so small.
Our son is now 6 foot, 17 years old, and apart from suffering from excema he developed well as any fulltermed baby would.
When I fell pregnant the second time I was quite scared because I thought I'd go through the same problems but no my daughter arrived naturally. I hoped the doctor would let me have another c-section but he was very traditional too. It was very painful and I had 100 stitches in and out so not a good experience.
We decided that we'd rather have 3 reasonably well behaved and adjusted children and my husband was going to get the snip well my second daughter had other plans. She's blond, blue eyed and beautiful. Our son and daughter have dark hair and eyes. There's 6 years between her and her older sister. It was awesome having her at that stage. She became my buddy, I had 1 on 1 time with her it was just a special time. I wish I could've had it with my older two I feel we missed out somewhere with each other but never mind thats how they came.
I always felt that being pregnant I was never on my own. My first son I didn't really talk much with him, just fed, dressed him and then tried to get chores done before someone came. My second arrived and I had two to deal with so had to share my time with two. But I tended to spend more time with my first daughter.
Then with our last daughter to hang with the cleaning. I'd sit and chat with her, talked to her all the time, cuddled her lots. I find now that my oldest son is more reserved, the second is alot more open and our last is more open, talkative, expressive, so you just never know.
When I was pregnant I talked to them in the bath, told them my fears, things that happend, funny things, asked how they were doing. Sound strange but that's how you start to make that connection with them.
Now we're at the other end, a 17 year old boy who loves his music, wants to leave school and become a builder. Hasn't a girlfriend that we know of but there is an interest in the opposite sex.
A sixteen year old girl who's going to school Ball's, has a fair interest in boys, I'm happy to say as friends but of course as 'boyfriends. "Ohh the expense of ball gowns, shoes, hair but we get caught up in the excitement too. And our lucky last our nine year old who wants to be like her sister, wants to be a cheer leader, loves hip hop dance and gets on better with boys then girls sometimes.
So that's the next step that one goes through, we've managed so far. We allow our older ones to have a drink at home with us, they take a couple of mixers or beers if they are going to parties. We believe that if they can feel they can have a little drink with us, there's no need for them to sneak around and hide. We haven't sighted any form of drugs so we pray that it will remain that way.
Well, I wish all of you first time Mum's and Dad's best wishes, and good luck for those of you who are deciding and trying for that first blessed bundle of joy.
I always believe that you make a child apart of your life not you apart of theirs as they need you to love and guide them. A child can never have too much good, positive love no matter who it is from, parents, grand parents, aunties, uncles, friends. If they receive love, postive reinforcement, good values, morals then they can cope and live in this world and know how to love, receive love and to give love and goodness to all those who are lucky to come into their presence.
I hope that you will all be blessed with the gift of a child as they will be blessed with parents who obviously want to love and cherish them too.
God bless and all the best in anticipation of the pitter patter of tiny wee feet.
Regards Miriama Corbett.
As I am not yet expecting...just waiting.
I just saw this an read it...an I think that anyone who has a baby is just as brave as anyone who goes to war.
These stories are very nice.
I hope someday when I have a daughter/son that they will know I love them....because with babies I have seen I just fall in love with them, they are precious an just the sweetest God sent gifts.
Blessings to all the mom's or moms to be.
I have 3 children and Hubby and I jave 1 together. He is a wonderful step dad, we have a happy and well rounded family. All 4 of my children have the same eyes, which is fantastic.
I had 4 natural births. 2 with epidurals and 2 with no pain medication at all. Wonderfully easy labors, the 2 without meds went rather fast.
The best advice I can give to anyone expecting thier 1st child. Do NOT listen to the "horror" stories from the woman that had 10 to 30 hour labors and had to get stitches and sometimes repair surgery. It is just stress you do not need to hear, since every birth is different, there is no reason to even think that your delivery could be like that. You never know, you could have a quick simple labor, perfect delivery, and be out of the hospital the next afternoon, wearing pants about the same size as before you got pregnant. (Although I never bet on that one, it did happen to me 1 time out of 4.)
I think it's my age (38 and 3/4 HA!) and being out of shape that has made this pregnancy so difficult for me (and I was mentally unprepared), but I am excited to be having another little girl in about six weeks. I have two daughters (ages 15 and 2) and one son (age 3) already.
My advice to first timers is it's really true that every pregnancy is different. So, don't put too much into what other mothers say about their pregnancies because even my own pregnancies have been vastly different. So different that this time I feel like I've never been pregnant before!
Congratulations! Best of luck with that new little one. It will be an exciting and busy summer for you, huh? I wish I could send you a little extra sleep. That's the one thing every pregnant and new mom can use, everyday, everywhere!
Thanks...