I’m pregnant! I took the test the first day of my missed period with a Clearblue test and it was a big fat positive. So happy.
My Pregnancy Vlog
My To Do List
- Book GP appointment
- Self-referral online with Hospital
- Find out about Maternity Pay and Free Dental Care
- Start journal/pregnancy blog
Pregnancy Problems
- Sore breasts
- Back ache
- Bit bloated
Pregnancy Recommendations
Vitamins – This week I immediately went out and bought Pregnacare. (Paid for myself)
Pregnancy Test – A second Clearblue pregnancy test to put my mind at rest test. I took the test four days after my first test which dated me at 2-3 weeks. (Paid for myself).
Tara Lee Pregnancy Yoga DVD – It’s recommended you wait until 12-14 weeks to practice yoga, so I’ve been doing the breathing, relaxation and meditation exercises from the Pregnancy Yoga DVD. (This was a gift from Tara awhile back, but I’ve bought many of her DVDs).
UK Organic Seasonal Veg Box – we have a weekly order of organic fruit and vegetables from Riverford delivered which is great for eating British veg at its peak. It gives us variety and encourages me to experiment with new recipes.
Apps – I immediately downloaded onto my iPhone OviaPregnancy, WhatToExpect and hospital mum and baby app for keeping track of your medical related pregnancy stuff. (Paid for myself or was free).
I’m 1-2 weeks which is 4 weeks pregnant.
I’ll have to read this again. Took this photo to share with my mum (Sarah Beeson).
Exercise
- Walking
- Yoga breathing and meditation
Diet
I couldn’t remember all the things you can and can’t eat from my last pregnancy and some of the recommendations have changed.
YES, to eating – green leafy vegetables (e.g. rocket, watercress, kale), broccoli, red peppers, strawberries, potatoes, two portions a week of oily fish (e.g. salmon, mackerel) and four small cans of tuna, smoked salmon, red meat, milk, eggs, cheese (e.g. cheddar, parmesan, feta, cream cheese, halloumi, sliced) yogurt, bread, dried fruit, nuts, peanut butter.
NO, avoid eating – soft cheese with a white rind (e.g. brie, camembert, goats cheese, soft blue cheese, Danish Blue, gorgonzola, Roquefort), raw eggs, game, pâté, rare meat, haggis, liver, processed meat, cured meats (e.g. salami, prosciutto, pepperoni, chorizo).
How I’m feeling
Feeling calm and excited but trying not to get too excited, it’s very early days. I’m so looking forward to getting the scan and telling close family and friends. I’ll have to talk to Takie (my husband) and Sarah (my mum) about how we tell our daughter Ava she’s going to be a sister. It’s been a busy week at work but I’m already thinking I need to make self-care and keeping calm, eating well, sleeping well and keeping in the moment a priority. I want to enjoy this pregnancy as much as possible.
Pregnancy Questions
This week my question for my mum (Sarah Beeson) was…
Q: I already feel like the centre of my world has shifted. My partner is excited and supportive but I’m aware that he gets none of the physical changes that I’m going through. How is pregnancy different for mums and dads and how can we understand each other better?
A: It’s all new exciting territory but can cause apprehension and anxiety about the pregnancy, labour and delivery and health and well being issues for mother and baby. Mums-to-be are aware of the many changes in their bodies and their feeling in preparing to give birth. They experience a gradual build up and realisation of impending parenthood and therefore, have opportunities to adjust and prepare. Some early signs of pregnancy may confirm to a mum-to-be that it’s all real, whereas, a dad-to-be has none of the physical symptoms to adjust too but may be very aware of changes in you.
You may be experiencing:
- Enlarged and teander breasts (an early sign that confirms changes are happening and makes the pregnancy feel ‘real’)
- Nausea and sickness affects many expectant mums and can range from mild to really severe. Talk to you GP or midwife if you’re really suffering. A cup of peppermint tea or ginger ale with toast or a plain biscuit/cracker might help easy that queasy feeling
- Feeling anxious, stressed or a down. Talking to your other half, family, friends or health professionals may give you the opporutnity to open about your feelings and be reassured
Dads-to-be often experience moments of feeling out of their depth in responding to their partner’s needs and concerns.
- Dads-to-be often feel the need to work, work, work to provide for their family, perhaps when being around more and not working long hours is the support you’d prefer.
- Dads-to-be are the most concerned person about the welfare and health of mother and baby. They have feel that their feelings and fears are not so relevant and may hang back. This can give the impression they’re disengagement or disinterest when that’s not the case at all.
- Support for dads is more scarce as naturally the emphasis is on mother and baby but talking to other men about their experiences of parenthood may give them the opportunity to open up.
- Worries about how pregnancy and parenthood will affect your life including your sex life are real. It may seem self centred but picking the right moment to talk about any concernsin a sensitive way may help you both open up to each other and strengthen your relationship. Sarah Beeson.
Pregnancy Tip
Nausea and morning sickness affects many expectant mums and can range from mild to really severe. A cup of peppermint tea or ginger ale with toast or a plain biscuit/cracker might help easy that queasy feeling #4WeeksPregnant #5weekspregnant #morningsickness #pregnancyproblems
About Amy
Amy Beeson runs Wordsby Communications and has a successful writing partnership with her mum Sarah Beeson MBE. Their latest memoir Our Country Nurse is set in a country village in 1975 and is bursting with stories of mums journeys during pregnancy and motherhood. They’ve also written nursing memoir The New Arrival and first year parenting guide Happy Baby, Happy Family. Amy is currently writing her first solo novel set in Wartime Staffordshire while Sarah pens advice for new parents on baby sleep, weaning and building a strong emotional attachement.