Looking back - is there anything you wish you'd done in early pregnancy.

[fruitandbarley]

Hi,
After over 3 years of trying, and 9 days away from our first hospital fertility appointment, we have found out I'm pregnant.
Still both in shock 5 days after finding out.
I really don't want to look back and regret anything if I can help it and wondered if you could do the first trimester again, would you do anything differently, or extra, or change anything.

CONGRATULATIONS. Lovely news.

I'd remember to take my vitamins every day, not just when it occurred to me. But seeing as you've been trying for 3 years I'm thinking you probably have that one covered.

I hope you have a lovely pregnancy.

depends how you feel, I did barely anything in the first trimester over and above the bare minimum because of morning sickness. If you feel ok, then just make the most of it doing things you really enjoy but which aren't so easy with a baby. go on holidays etc. but theres nothing I regret not doing, because I know that I couldn't do it anyway!

Many congratulations! What fabulous news.

My friend kept a diary of her pregnancy, from as soon as she got her BFP, which I thought was lovely and planned to emulate with dc2. I'm a bit short on time/effort after looking after a toddler all day so not got round to it again but still think it would have been a special thing to keep.

I wish you an uncomplicated, ms free, wonderful pregnancy. All the best.

In my first pg we did a photo bump 'diary' where DH took a pic of my side profile every couple of weeks - that can be nice to look back on.

Congratulations! It's such an exciting and worrying time being pregnant so my advice is just try and be as relaxed as you can manage x

With DS1 I didn't find out I was pregnant until I was 12 weeks so pretty much missed the 1st trimester entirely, I never took any folic acid or vitamins and was drinking the whole time, he still turned out just perfect almost a year ago to this day. This time I knew abit earlier so have been taking folic acid and not drinking but been ALOT more worried so I don't think there is much to do other than try and relax enjoy it x

Oh, forgot to say congratulations!! Fabulous news, hope you have a boring next 9 months x

Congratulations!
Def take folic acid - but I'm guessing after 3 years you may be aware of that one!

I'm not doing this but my friends have asked if I'm doing a photo diary of bump, e.g. a photo every week or month of how the bump grows (Personally hate this idea as I have no wish for photographic evidence of my flesh but some may be ok with this!) Similar, I think I read someone on here was doing a measurement record of how their body is changing.

If you are still in early stages and not yet feeling any morning sickness or tiredness then I'd take advantage if you have niggling jobs (like christmas, sort x, y and z out etc) and get them done. You may be lucky, but I feel like I've been wiped out for 6 weeks and am only just starting to come out the other side and there's a massive to do list waiting for me!

If your body tells you to rest because you feel shattered then do it. My nausea is definitely worse on the days where I've probably pushed it too far.

Enjoy your pregnancy!

I wish I'd felt less guilty about not being able to do anything! I refused to read any books because of a worry of a loss, wish I had read it now as it would have been nice to read up on what was happening day by day.

Go to bed when tired, eat whatever you can whenever you can, just get through it.

Once you are through it do lots of spur of the moment things, put your feet up, do things that require brain power, cherish your own time and space, this is what I have been told, I am almost 25 weeks and make sure I appreciate how easy it is to leave the house or shower as I here these become more tricky after!

Congratulations! We were two years eight months!

I definitely agree with vitamins - make sure it's got the folic acid and vitamin D you need. I'd go with sanatogen personally, the pregnacare had more iron and I was constipated enough! Try to get in the habit of having a probiotics daily too, it'll help you stay regular.

We started a bump diary at 12 weeks but I wish I'd started earlier!

In retrospect, I wish I'd kept my mouth shut! Lots of people knew and some people told other people (I did explain it was early days but some people still told other people before my 12 week scan which I resented!).

Mostly I'd just say enjoy it! I'm 20 weeks now and time seems to be going faster! But it's just nice to be pregnant :)

Congratulations: wonderful news!

I'd take photos of the bump every week. We did with #1 but haven't bothered with #2 which I'm now regretting...

Otherwise, be nice to yourself. If you feel poo, give into it. If you feel full of energy, make the most of it.

And don't think about reaching the 40wk mark: it always seem like such a huge challenge. If you do worry about things, just take it one milestone at a time so you only have to get through weeks/days rather than the best part of 10 months! So concentrate on getting to the next scan, or the second tri or whatever. Day by day is the key.

Oh and if you're a worrier, maybe best to stay off pregnancy forums (or at least limit the threads you look at). They are full of often horrible and sad things, which can make you think that these things happen to everyone: they don't, it's just that people suffering with them tend to post about them, whereas people with boring pregnancies rarely post!

And if your fertility clinic was on the NHS, it may well be best to still keep your appointment: that way, at least you're in the system should you ever need it in the future, rather than risk going to the back of the queue again.