Well, hi! It's somewhat strange writing to the nothingness that is no one and everyone at once, but I'll persevere nonetheless in the hope that one day, people will want to read the post that 'started it all' (right, so I'm seeking fame and fortune). To begin I guess I'd better tell you why we're all here.
I've recently discovered, much to my absolute delight and terror, that I'm pregnant. I'm currently 10 weeks, actually, 10 weeks today. It's taken me this long (approximately 5 weeks) to buy just about every pregnancy book there is, sign up to every online pregnancy newsletter that circulates, and collate as much information as possible relating to what is happening to my body and my baby. And it's taken me this long to realise that there really isn't that much information out there for young women.
So, I'm 24. Once the standard baby making age, it's since become young. My mum was 22 when she had her first child. My grandmother - 19. These women are two of the best mums I know, and seem to take it all in their stride. So why is 24 now seen as 'young' to have a baby - maybe even looked upon as too young?
I've dealt with this before. Not only am I a sprightly 24, I have the added bonus of looking about 18. Sporting an engagement ring was never a comfortable experience for me. Instead of the usual "Show me your ring!"'s and "Ohmygod when are you getting married?"'s it was "Wow, how old are you?" It was something I got used to, but never something I totally came to terms with. I felt jipped, somehow - shouldn't I be allowed to be happy in my own decision to get married at 23, without all the questions?
Now that I'm pregnant, I'm prepared for the same thing as soon as I start to show. In the meantime though, I'd love a book or a newsletter that targets, or better yet is written by, young women. There are unique challenges and bonuses of having a baby young, none of which are addressed in their own forum. As such, I've decided to take the reigns and document my journey - what I'm struggling with, what I'm finding fascinating, and what my body's up to. Hopefully this will provide some insights into what pregnancy is like for a young lady like myself.
That said, here's a wrap up of how things are looking at the moment:
1) Stomach - Still flat. Often starving (not unusual). Very temperamental (sudden dislike of tomatoes). Prone to swelling after a large meal, which it never used to be before - guess there's more going on in there now!
2) Mood - Also flat, but with extreme fluctuations. Again, not unusual (am Cancerian). Husband not enjoying mood - often makes grumpy remarks about how it's meant to be even worse when the baby arrives.
3) Friends and family - Close friends and family know. Friends are not entirely understanding, but happy - many don't have boyfriends, few are married. But friends are supportive. Family are happy - mother is obsessed.
4) Hubby - An absolute gem at this stage. Dealing very well with a flatulent, hungry wife who spends half her time on the toilet urinating and the other half either stuffing her face or whinging about feeling sick (50/50 depending on the day really).
5) General freak out factor - Changes depending on day. Generally feeling excited and happy about bub, freaking out at least once a day about something I eat/feel/do (Am I harming the babyyyy?), occasionally experiencing overwhelming feelings of "OMG I'm having a baby...my life will never be the same!"
I think these five pretty much sum up how life is going baby wise at the moment. In the coming weeks and months, I hope to share my experiences with you, as well as share cool buys/books/events I discover about all things baby.
In the meantime, stay safe and happy!
xx NotJustZoe
