I am a renowned worry wart.  And now that I am pregnant, I heard that from now on, it will only get worse.  I was certain that the first doctor’s appointment would be the most nerve-wracking…and it was nerve-wracking, believe me.  I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I mean, what if I wasn’t really pregnant.  Granted, I took the pregnancy test twice at home and then went to the doctor to take another test so the “professionals” could tell me.  So the first appointment–questions, hoping to hear the heartbeat, and the dreaded blood test.  I hate needles!  Luckily, everything was normal and I didn’t pass out.  But I thought the worry would subside!  Now each time I go to the doctor, I’m just as nervous.  I worry that our baby is still breathing and growing healthy and strong, I worry when I don’t have certain pregnancy symptoms or when I seem to have abnormal symptoms.  When will the worrying stop?!  Probably never.  Once the baby is born, I’m sure it will only worsen.  I’ve always been nervous holding newborns.  But taking care of one!  They’re so small and fragile.  I worry about being a good mom, about doing things right.  I feel like I know nothing!   Someone please ease my worries.

Rhiannon owns and operates a website that sells baby sling carrier.

I am now almost 15 weeks into my first pregnancy.  My husband and I are counting down the weeks until we find out the sex of our baby.  When I told my parents that we were going to find out before the baby was born, they seemed sad or disappointed, like I was really missing out on a huge opportunity or something.  Needless to say, I think that deep-down, they both are very curious and excited to find out early as well.  They just can’t show their excitement yet (since it’s not what they did when they were new parents).  I’ve heard it being described as “opening your presents before Christmas.”  I am definitely an advocate in waiting until Christmas morning to open presents, but it seems to me that finding out the sex of our baby will be just as exciting and surprising at 20 weeks as it would be when I actually deliver the baby.  So whether you are a fan of
finding out or waiting, I’m sure that special day will be a happy one for both you and your spouse.

Rhiannon owns and operates a website that sells baby sling carriers.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I have been going through a rollercoaster of emotions with my first pregnancy. Don’t get me wrong, I am so excited and grateful to be pregnant! In fact, I was already reading parenting books before I saw that
“positive” on the test. But now that the time is here and motherhood is nearing, it’s like I just don’t want to think about it at all. I guess the responsibility of it all just scares me to death! I mean, me, being in charge of a miniature person. It seems so weird. And my whole life will change: less sleep, less “me activities,” less dates with my husband, etc. Do I sound selfish yet? I know we will find so much joy in this new step in our lives, but I am scared. Okay, I said it. But why don’t I start preparing in overdrive? Am I just coasting through this pregnancy because I know it will be the last time I’ll be able to relax? Who knows. I guess I need to just take everything one thing at a time. Yes, I should prepare–I mean, this is only the most important thing I’ll ever do. But I also know that there are just some things I will have to learn as I go along. I have to trust myself and the decisions I make for our baby. Luckily, I have a wonderful husband who will be a support to me and has every confidence in my abilities, even more than I do in my own.

Rhiannon owns and operates a website that retails baby sling carrier.

I am a first-time pregnant woman and I have mixed feelings about all the advice out there.  I tend to overly prepare for big events in my life, so naturally I’ve read my fair share of books, articles, etc.  Yes, some information is crucial to know, but when I compare advice with fellow pregnies, it’s almost as if I was reading from some mysterious and obscure location…Like did you know that some “professionals” say that you should refrain from eating deli meat unless it is heated up in order to kill a bacteria known as listeria?  Yeah, I told this to my sister-in-law who was chowing down on a
delicious sandwich.  She had never heard of it!  And this is her third pregnancy!  It wouldn’t be as big a deal if I wasn’t craving just that.  Deli meat…mmmmmm.  On top of that, I hear that you’re not supposed to sleep on your back after the first trimester.  Conflicting information said that it doesn’t matter until later on, when it’s not comfortable to sleep on your back.  Again, not a problem except the fact that I am a back sleeper and I’ve been struggling the past week to sleep on my side, and I wake up with really sore hips!  I’m not even showing, so is it necessary this early?  Anyway, I do know there is useful information out there, but there is also a lot of conflicting information too.  I’ve decided to not read as much and to listen more to my instincts rather than those out there who claim to have all the answers.  Good luck to the rest of you pregnies and I hope you know more than I do.

Rhiannon owns and operates a website that sells baby sling carrier.