New Chapter: A BIG Step!

Congrats on the decision.

Do what you feel is right for you and that pregnancy. Every pregnancy is different. With my first, it was easy and labor was medicated and easy. With my 2nd, the pregnancy was rough and labor was supposed to be medicated, but the epidural didn't work. Even so, it was NOT that bad. If I was to do it again, I'd do it unmedicated. For sure.

Research labor and find a good hospital to do it in. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS as a woman in labor. They try to push induction and c-section like it's in style. DO NOT let them talk you into it. Let your body labor on its own time frame. I labored at home as long as I could. Know your body. Do your homework. Tell your doctor what you want and tell your husband to hold up what you want. My husband was AWESOME. When I couldn't speak (contractions), he was my voice. Well, until the baby was coming, then he just looked like this O_O :rofl:

Talk to your doctor about nutrition and weight gain. Just drink tons of water and don't overeat. You are NOT eating for 2. You are eating for 1...the baby will take the vitamins it needs from you. Be healthy.

Take a labor class when it's time. It is beneficial. Read up on the types of labor you want. There are many options.

Watch birth videos on Youtube. The make me cry every time

Since you just came off birth control, monitor your cycle...figure out when you ovulate. It's usually 14-20 days after the first day of your period. I ovulate on day 19. I then get my period 14 days later...that is when a pregnancy test will be accurate.

Sperm lives in ideal conditions for 4-7 days inside a woman. You will probably be able to tell ovulation from a certain cervical mucus called 'egg whites'. It looks just like egg whites and is OPTIMAL for sperm to travel up into the uterus. The egg lives for about 24 hours so have sex the week before ovulation and the day of and after, for SURE. I conceived on the day I ovulated--- both times. I knew when I ovulated.

Congrats and if you have any questions, you can always PM me. I love fertility and pregnancy

Congrats!!! Being pregnant was the best I've ever felt, well once the morning sickness was gone, that is. That was the worst part!!

That girl says it best .....do what feels right to you. And take more advice from you doctor than anyone else. And remember.....there's no such thing as a 'stupid' question. I went natural with both my first and second (twins) pregnancies. Experienced no complications with either. My very healthy twins were 15 days early (6lbs 4 oz and 7 lbs 3 oz), my first was born on his due date @ 7lbs 6oz.

If you breast feed, watch out for chocolate! No one warned me about this until it was too late.......poor baby was up all night with a belly ache. It was the darn snickers bar I craved while carrying him. Thinking it would be healthier for him if I wait until after delivery to have one....yeah I didn't make that same mistake the 2nd time. 1st one breast fed until 10 mos, he went from that straight to a cup...no bottle to break him from. Did it for 4 mos with the twins, just couldn't keep up with their nutritional needs.

Exciting news for you!!!!! Best wishes to you both!!

Thanks all! My mom had natural births for both of her pregnancies, and she said she is so glad she didn't do the epidural. My mother in law is the exact opposite. She hated childbirth, and wanted drugs, but waited until it was too late to ask. She didn't have another baby.

From what I've read, I really don't like the sound of the epidural. I'm not fond of needles, and I(think) I'd like to do it naturally. Bragging rights and all. Just kidding. I have a fairly good tolerance to pain, so we'll see. If it's a long labor though...I may reconsider. lol.

Thanks so much for all of the advice though! I'm like, a sponge. And my mom hasn't been very supportive of this decision. When I mentioned wanting a baby she laughed and said, "Oh dear", like I was silly or something. So I'm having some emotional issues right now. I'd always imagined my mom would be excited, when hubs and I made this step but...apparently not. And I know my dad isn't. Anytime I've had anything to tell him that was important, he's always started with, "You're not pregnant are you?" DH's family s ecstatic, especially his mom. She heard we'd started trying and called me and asked if it was true. I said yes and she screamed for like five minutes. lol. Love that woman. So, a time that's supposed to be happy has been...not as happy as I'd like.

Anyway, I gotta run. Thanks again for the great advice and the congratulations. I appreciate it.

Trying to control your weight while pregnant is almost impossible, you will likely have insane cravings... Morning sickness is horrible, I preferred Dry Heaves - so I would wait every morning to eat breakfast after those horrible spasms came over me .

I was never much around babies growing up.....might have only held one baby in my lifetime....so when we had our 1st, it was all so very new....I read so many books while pregnant, between that and natural instinct... it all flooded so very naturally...I was always a beaming Mom after that baby arrived. On top of the world.

I smiled through every C-section...all of them. Labor was the worst pain I ever felt in my life, mine was simply not progressing -after 24 hrs in the hospital. Had no desire to try that again -when I had a choice with #2.

All mothers will have different advice... might feel like you are being pulled & prodded between your Mother IN Law & your Mom's way of doing things. .... Be your own Mom.

Congratulations - it's a new journey ...one of the greatest there is.