Pregnancy-First Time

[AddieandMiaMom]

So DH and I are now expecting our first human child. I took two tests on Wednesday and both were postive. I think I'm about three weeks, so as you can guess, I wasn't "late" yet, but when I started getting teary-eyed over an article in Glamour I thought it might be time to take that test.

I have a lot of questions, and if anyone out there can answer any, I would greatly appreciate it! We haven't told family and friends yet, so I don't have someone to talk to face to face. We will be starting to spill the beans later today at a family party, so I won't be back on until tomorrow.

We're both excited, but a bit nervous. I stopped taking birth control back in August 2009, so we kind of got lax in thinking it's going to happen. We weren't "trying" per se, but we certainly weren't trying not to either.

Anywho, is it normal for your doctor to not want to see you until you are approximately 8-10 weeks into the pregnancy? Is it normal to have cramping/pain, especially after you eat or when you get hungry?

I don't know all the things I should avoid in the meantime (besides alcohol, cigarettes, etc.-the normal bad stuff). I do know I should no longer use anything with aspartame and juice should be pasteurized. Also, my coffee habit has to stop. I used to drink almost an entire pot of coffee by myself. I'm taking a prenatal and increasing my dairy. What else should I be doing/avoiding?

I read on WebMD to avoid laying on your back after the first month. Has anyone else ever gotten this advice? I love to lay on my back so Addie, Mia, or Dany can lay on my chest for massages. I'll have to come up with a plan B I guess.

I get really tired and feel like I'm going to vomit a lot. Haven't yet, but I can't believe the symptoms start so fast.

I really appreciate any advice, especially stuff I should be doing/not doing during the first two months since my doctor's appointment isn't until August 28th.

Thanks!

[tjdmom]

Everyone is different but yes, I would say kick the coffee habit and anything you have ever heard is bad for you is doubly bad for baby so avoid that. Avoid all medications although I believe the one thing I was allowed was tylenol for headaches. I had a pregnancy rash with my first one and was not even allowed benedryl. Don't use the sugar substitutes as those aren't supposed to be good either. Gosh, it's hard to remember it all. No really hot baths or hot tubs or sauna's. No cleaning the cat litter box if you have one. Remember to relax, take a deep breathe and enjoy this. I loved being pregnant and to feel a little one growing inside is the greatest gift but biggest responsibility a woman will ever have! Congratulations!

[Ute White]

I had my kids ages ago....lol...so a lot has changed by today. You already know that you should eat healthy and leave the bad stuff out. Do light exercises and don't eat for 2. If you have morning sickness eat some soda crackers before you get up in the morning. I found hazel nuts helped for heart burn.
But my best advice is to relax.

[MadDeDo]

Originally Posted by tjdmom

Everyone is different but yes, I would say kick the coffee habit and anything you have ever heard is bad for you is doubly bad for baby so avoid that. Avoid all medications although I believe the one thing I was allowed was tylenol for headaches. I had a pregnancy rash with my first one and was not even allowed benedryl. Don't use the sugar substitutes as those aren't supposed to be good either. Gosh, it's hard to remember it all. No really hot baths or hot tubs or sauna's. No cleaning the cat litter box if you have one. Remember to relax, take a deep breathe and enjoy this. I loved being pregnant and to feel a little one growing inside is the greatest gift but biggest responsibility a woman will ever have! Congratulations!

Wow I had never heard the kitty litter one!

OP Congrats on your new family member!!

[Ute White]

Originally Posted by MadDeDo

Wow I had never heard the kitty litter one!

OP Congrats on your new family member!!

Cats can infect humans with toxoplasmosis which is dangerous when you are pregnant.

[yorkie_mama22]

Congrats to you!!! How exciting! I'd love to have another baby any time now my "baby" is turning 4 in two weeks and I can't believe how quickly the baby stage passes!

I had horrible morning sickness from as early on as I could remember, I didn't find out I was pregnant until 8 or 9 weeks when I went into the doctor to confirm after taking a test that said I was positive! So I do believe it is normal to wait until 8 or 9 weeks to see a doctor. My friend found out early on and had to wait a few weeks to get to see the doctor. I had my first ultrasound around 12 weeks and those are so amazing.

For my horrible morning sickness the doctor gave me some medication to help with it. I would be throwing up all day long it was not fun! Make sure to drink lots of water too!! I had baths but not really hot ones.

sounds like you already know what to do for now so take it easy and enjoy the next 9 months, they are wonderful.

[Ringo1]

Congratulations! I would say drink lots of water too. I had cramping early on and was advised to up the water intake and it helped a lot.

Pregnancy is such a fun time; planning the room; purchasing tiny little baby clothes; names . . . ahhh enjoy.

Added bonus - everyone is nice to you when they realize you are pregnant! Even total strangers. Course they also ask to touch your belly but that's a different story.

I also remember that RIGHT AFTER I had my baby and was home ~ someone asked me when I was due. Guess I needed to lose that baby weight a little faster.

[RachelandSadie]

you will also want to avoid any type of processed meats. hot dogs, lunch meat. ext. and decrease your sea food intake due to mercury. you'll want to eat freshwater fish and limit things like shrimp, tuna.

CONGRATS and best of luck. i can't wait for the day when we are financially and mentally ready to have children. i really am excited to be pregnant someday nad know what that feels like. i'd love it if you'd share on here your pregnancy experience.

[jmdt]

Congratulations. My best advice to you is to relax, enjoy every second. Use your instinct and your common sense. Write down every question you think of. Keep a pad in the kitchen so you con jot them down. So when you go to the doctor you have these questions handy. It truly is a miracle. Oh and stay clear of people who want to scare you. It does you no good to worry about everything. Just remember you don't necessarily have to have every symptom. I never had a moment of morning sickness.I have 4 children and I remember every pregnancy like it was yesterday. Before you know it your baby will be turning 21 like my "baby" Slow down all you need is common sense and you will be fine. Remember what you put in you, goes into the baby also. People are having babies in the jungle for goodness sake. You will be fine.

God bless you and your family.

[RachelandSadie]

Originally Posted by Ute White

I had my kids ages ago....lol...so a lot has changed by today. You already know that you should eat healthy and leave the bad stuff out. Do light exercises and don't eat for 2. If you have morning sickness eat some soda crackers before you get up in the morning. I found hazel nuts helped for heart burn.
But my best advice is to relax.

Crackers!! yes. mom said that you should have them on your bedside table and eat them before you ever even get out of bed in the morning to avoid terrible morning sickness...hope that will help you.

[AddieandMiaMom]

Thanks everyone for the wonderful advice! I'm trying to just relax and let things happen as they come, but sometimes the cramps and whatnot make me think "nine months!?" - lol. I have increased my water intake, so ended up getting up three times last night. I thought the bathroom habit only started when the baby was bigger and pressing on your organs.

I'll have to get some hazel nuts. I'm getting pretty frequent heartburn. Something I ate at the family party really did me in last night. My family was thrilled when we told them-they've been waiting a few years for us to start having babies.

Crackers, too. I just have a feeling the morning sickness is going to be pretty bad considering how often I feel ill now.

RachelandSadie: I totally don't mind sharing my experience. In a way it's kind of cool that I found out so early. I still can't believe I got teary-eyed over an article in Glamour.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I think Addie knew before we did that there was a human kid on the way. She started looking at me with a betrayed expression (I would have been about a week pregnant) and started going to DH more. I was really hurt at first, but now I understand. Plus, she seems to have gotten over it and is now coming to me again.

[AddieandMiaMom]

Originally Posted by Ringo1

Congratulations! I would say drink lots of water too. I had cramping early on and was advised to up the water intake and it helped a lot.

Pregnancy is such a fun time; planning the room; purchasing tiny little baby clothes; names . . . ahhh enjoy.

Added bonus - everyone is nice to you when they realize you are pregnant! Even total strangers. Course they also ask to touch your belly but that's a different story.

I also remember that RIGHT AFTER I had my baby and was home ~ someone asked me when I was due. Guess I needed to lose that baby weight a little faster.

I would love to hear pregnancy stories, too! I've had friends who mentioned that strangers would come out of nowhere to rub their bellies. A couple of them said it made them feel like Buddah.

[Ringo1]

Here's a good pregnancy story ~ at the office where I worked, there were five women pregnant at the same time and we were all due within weeks of one another. In the dead of winter, the manager gave us all parking spots right beside the entrance and if it snowed that day - the guys we worked with would all go out and clean the snow off our cars. That was so sweet.

When we all went to lunch together - we raised quite a few eyebrows!

It was sooo fun.

PS: Have you gotten the book ~ What to Expect When You're Expecting? Great book for first-time Moms.

[AddieandMiaMom]

That is really sweet.

I was wondering what kind of books to get. I also heard the Jenny McCarthy book is good as is the Girlfriends Guide. I hope I don't overload myself with information-I do tend to over-research.

I'm getting used to my body no longer being just my own. At least I crave the healthy stuff. I tried to eat some fried food yesterday, and ICK! I felt so sick afterwards, I don't think I'll be doing that again.

[yorkie_mama22]

Frequent pee breaks during the night!! ughh I don't miss those! lol I hated it, I would lay in bed until I couldn't hold it any more because I was too fat or lazy to go pee hehehe. But it did start early on, I remember that. My morning sickness which really was all day sickness lasted until I was about 19 weeks. After that if I ate my food to fast I would throw up. I didn't experience heart burn until later in my pregnancy which was like every day. I can't remember which side it is now, but I believe it was sleeping on your left side that helps with heartburn. I ate tums like candy