Over the weekend, I celebrated my 26th birthday, and Pete planned the perfect day. We went out to breakfast, spent the afternoon at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and ended the day with presents and dinner at this excellent restaurant in town, The Margarita at Pine Creek. I couldn’t have wished for a better day! This birthday felt a little more special because it’s the last birthday we celebrate before Baby LeMaster arrives…
Today I am 30 weeks and 6 day pregnant!
I wanted to reflect on everything I’ve learned so far. Pregnancy is truly amazing, but it can have some lows. The hard days will pass, but it can be challenging to remember that when your hormones are surging. As each week ticks by, the transformation your body and your baby go through is mind-blowing. I have a newfound admiration towards all previous generations before us because being pregnant is also scary. You constantly worry if you are doing something “wrong” or if something is “safe.” So, here are seven reflections I have learned over the last seven months that have kept me sane…
7 Things I’ve Learned While Pregnant:
1. Stay away from Google, put TikTok down, and stop listening to the uneducated opinions of others!!!
Being a first-time mom is overwhelming. At first, I felt behind because I had no idea how to handle being pregnant or caring for a baby. I looked up everything but caught myself going down a dark rabbit hole. Mentally, I was spiraling. No matter what I searched, the internet would tell me 10 reasons something was “safe” and then 10 reasons why that exact thing was “not safe.” I couldn’t get a straightforward answer. This habit was difficult to break.
The best opinion will come from your doctor. They know you, your baby, and the reputable medical evidence. Your mental state will thank you. 🙂
2. I am so happy we decided not to find out the gender.
It truly feels like the last real surprise in life. The funny thing is this decision has been harder on our family than on us. They groan that “they don’t know what to buy.” Despite my best efforts to remind them that my baby registry items work for both boys and girls, I still have to deal with a few gripes. Oh well!
To me, no matter how hard you try or what you do, that baby will become who they are meant to be. I thought it would be hard not to know, but I love all the guesses between me and my husband.
3. Don’t be afraid to show off that belly!
The other day, I chatted with my grandparents about our Hawaiian Babymoon. Jokingly, my grandpa commented, “Back in my day, pregnant ladies covered up and didn’t wear bikinis.” Then, my Grandma chimed in and said, “Times have changed! Wear that bikini!” We all laughed, and I couldn’t agree more. Don’t be ashamed of your pregnant belly! Live your life, mama! If you feel good in a bikini or a one-piece swimsuit, don’t feel the need to diminish what your body is doing. You are creating human life. Honestly, I love when someone notices I’m pregnant and offers a seat or a free drink.
4. It’s okay to miss your pre-pregnancy life.
During my first trimester, adjusting to the new lifestyle was hard. I felt frustrated that Google would tell me everything was not pregnancy safe. Once I put Google down and talked with my doctor, I felt much more excited than stressed about the next nine months. However, significant life changes are needed, and it is okay not to love every aspect of pregnancy. I know those topics are the hardest to discuss openly, but it’s okay, and it doesn’t mean you love your baby any less. Now, I don’t even miss that glass of red wine or worry whenever I put a piece of food in my mouth. You will get there too.
5. Buy maternity clothes a size bigger than you think you’d need.
That’s another hard pill to swallow, but your body will change. Ha! It seems obvious, but I didn’t realize how much I would grow. If I hadn’t gotten hung up on not being my usual size anymore and planned more for future trimester growth, I would have saved money and been way more comfortable. Luckily, I’ve been able to work from home, so I haven’t had to make too many maternity purchases. Next time, I wish I had sized up initially. Those items will last you so much longer if you do.
6. Some days will be hard.
Despite how it is advertised, pregnancy isn’t all magical. Either mentally, physically, or situationally, you will experience some tough times. If you have experienced some already them, then you know. There is only so much you can do while pregnant. Most things are out of your hand, and what is meant to be will be. But remember, brighter days are in your future. 🙂
7. Share the news with immediate family or those you are closest to early on.
This may be controversial since most people recommend announcing at the end of your first trimester but let me explain. We were at eight weeks over the holidays and with our immediate family for the first time since moving to Colorado. It felt like the perfect time since we didn’t know when we would see them next. More importantly, we decided only to tell the people we would equally like to share the happiness or the sadness. If something happened, I would want to talk to those same people about our loss. A few weeks later, we had a scare, and I am so happy I could talk about it freely.
We still asked those people not to tell others and wait to post on social media until we were ready. Unfortunately, my father made a slip-up on Facebook… (Arghh. I hate Facebook!) but it was still mostly a secret until 20 weeks or so.
Those are my seven lessons by seven months! xx
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