Pregnancy is weird. Since reaching the third trimester, I’ve been reflecting a little on the entire experience. And that’s pretty much where I end up – pregnancy is so weird. And terrifying and exciting. Enjoyable at times and super uncomfortable at times. Which is exactly why expecting mamas need all the pregnancy advice they can get. Especially on the first go-around.
Finding out you’re pregnant results in keeping the biggest secret ever. Then, after the announcement, it can get overwhelming and somewhere in-between you have to find out where to get the best pregnancy advice to navigate the entire process. Everyone is different & everyone deserves to find the right source for them. Here’s what I’ve been relying on over the past 34 weeks. So crazy!
The Bump
I downloaded The Bump app after the positive pregnancy & before the doctor would see us. It gives me the chills thinking of that first trimester. Ick. Anyway… I knew I needed something to help me through each day. Something to check in on, read and explain what the heck was going on in my body. I’m a big reader & researcher, so the app was the perfect resource. Easily accessible on my phone & discreet while keeping everything under wraps. My personal favorite features are the weekly “your baby is this big” comparison & the toolkits they offer for checklists & to-dos. There are quite a few pregnancy app options out there, but this one was the best I found.
Our social circle
T and I were becoming the minority in our social circle without kids. A lot of our friends have had babies in the last two years. We’re fortunate to have resources close to us who have been down the exact path we’re on now. That means when in doubt, we reach out. I’ve heard nightmare labor stories, received random (and very thoughtful) gifts I would never have registered for or even known about. Plus real reviews on baby products that I actually trust. No one has been overbearing, offering advice when we ask but knowing we still need to do things our own way.
Books
Like I said, I’m a big reader. As much as the advice & input from real people is much appreciated, I’m also a believer in researching & learning on your own. That way, I can take all the information I have and make the best decision for myself, the baby and our growing family. Three books so far – What To Expect When You’re Expecting, Do Chocolate Lovers Have Sweeter Babies? and The Baby Sleep Solution – all offering something unique and interesting. What I’ve enjoyed most is reading them slowly instead of trying to digest all the information at once. WTEWYE & Chocolate Lovers are both meant to be read in sections or whenever & however you want. Otherwise, both are a little intimidating to pick up all at once. I’ve skimmed Sleep Solution, but plan on diving deeper as our due date approaches.
Doctors
An obvious one, right? I’ve been lucky to have a pretty easy-going pregnancy with no severe issues. T and I also feel pretty lucky with the set of doctors we’ve been seeing. We trust their (non-conflicting) advice, we feel like we can ask them anything and they make us feel confident going into such a scary and exciting time. Find a doctor you love because like I said… pregnancy is weird. And terrifying. And exciting.
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xoxo. B
