Things you would've done differently & things you'd do again

[ThePalindromicOne]

I hope this doesn't come across as a negative post, but as I reach the end of my first pregnancy I think about what I would've done differently but then i also think about what I'm so glad I've done... what makes your list?

[ThePalindromicOne]

Differently:
1) Taken more official bump pics or maternity photos for my personal collection
2) taken a real babymoon as opposed to calling our annual family vacation our babymoon
3) prioritized exercise more
4) prioritized our sex life more

Done the same:
1) weekly massages this last trimester
2) bonded with other June 15 moms
3) eaten the way I have, proud I haven't gone too crazy with indulgences
4) went on maternity leave early to thankfully have time for myself (getting a pedicure as I post)

[billyhorrible]

I would have done practically everything the same (but I have the benefit of being a STM) except two things:

1) I wish I'd worn a black t-shirt in my weekly photos, I wore jeans and a white t-shirt, which was fine early on, but once I got into maternity jeans you could see the panel through the shirt.

2) I wish I'd signed up for the 4 mile race on May 16 and the 5k on May 30. I would have been able to do both of them and I'm super bummed I missed out.

[mcp6286]

Things I'll do differently next time:
1. Get into maternity clothes ASAP instead of waiting till 5 months!
2. Not take grad classes or work my second job while pregnant.
3. Not allow any extended family members to live with us.
4. Not eat like a monster as soon as morning sickness goes away and consequently gain 22 lbs in a 6-week span (OB was not happy with me).

Things I'll do the same:
1. Get bi-weekly massages during second and third trimesters.
2. Use the same photographer for maternity and baby pics.
3. Cuddle with my Snoogle at night
4. Take obnoxious weekly selfies...the bump comparisons are crazy!

[gilder40]

Things I would have done differently:

1. Taken professional maternity photos. Really bummed now that I didnt.
2. Taken weekly bump photos. I think I took maybe 4-5 this entire pregnancy.
3. Made sure I worked out or walked more often.

Things I would have done the same:

1. Connected with you ladies.
2. Eat healthy foods with the occasional indulgence.
3. Stayed on top of my blood pressure and sugars.
4. Chosen to be team green again.

[wink568]

Differently:
-Be better about posting on the BMB. I'm terrible about checking in once, then getting distracted and not coming back for days
-Be better about my weekly bump pictures. I've all but given up this last month or so.
-Start reading my L&D books earlier. I guess that's moot for the second time around since I'll have read them, but they had useful things that I probably should have started with at the beginning.

Same:
-Work from home until the day I pop. I know I haven't gotten to that yet, but it's making these final weeks fly by instead of the extremely long third trimester I so often hear about.
-Team Green again!
-Eat as well as I did. I allowed indulgences, but overall kept everything in check.

[kemdupuis]

Things I'd do differently:
-Allow people, especially DH, to help me more. I am so determined to be independent sometimes that I push myself too hard, and then pay for it afterward.

-Be better about documenting the pregnancy throughout. I've got my HDBD and maternity shots, but I wish I had more pictures of DH and I with my growing bump.

-Take a babymoon. DH and I planned on doing this, but then he ended up not having enough vacation days (using them all for weddings and bachelor parties this summer), and I find myself really upset about it. I think he feels badly about it too, because he's been telling me that we can go anywhere I want to next March.

-Put my foot down from the very beginning and tell my ILs that they need to stay away until we are ready to have visitors. We are still fighting this battle with them, and I feel like it is going to ruin some of the experience I want to have regarding our delivery and the week directly following. I am so passionate about wanting to keep this time private- allowing DH and I to bond with our LO and not having to deal with input from unsolicited sources. I am just praying that I go into labor a week or so late, so that they will be out of vacation time and will have to go home.

Things I'd do the same:
-Eat healthily but enjoy some indulgences once in a while. I haven't been super strict, but have managed to only gain about 20 lbs. My OB seems to be really pleased with this amount of weight gain, and I'm comfortable with it too. I won't freak out if I gain a few more pounds in the next couple of weeks, but feel like I am in a good place to get back to myself in a reasonable amount of time.

-Exercise frequently, but not super high intensity. DH and I have been riding bikes, walking, swimming- lots of low key exercise, and I feel pretty good. I've been doing a lot of yoga and stretching, and I hope it will benefit me throughout my labor and delivery.

-Connect with other ladies on a similar pregnancy timeline as myself. I can't say how much I have loved connecting and bonding with this incredible group of women. You guys are awesome!

-Similar timeline. June is a good time for me to have a baby- I'm on summer vacation, and will still get to stay home in the fall for a few weeks. It's also not a super crazy time for DH at work, which is nice. Finally, my parents are educators, so they will be on summer break soon, and will get to come down for a week to help out without having to take personal days from school.

[erbear]

I'd do pretty much everything the same except I wish I did more yoga and get more massages/pedicures.

[Widget123]

Another with the benefit of being a STM and not planning on having any more kids but overall

[gilder40]

kemdupuis You made some really good points!! I'm in education as well, and having this little one in May was about the best timing. We get out of school the third week of May, so I only had to "use" three weeks of maternity leave. And now I have all summer to figure out breastfeeding, pumping, and spend as much time with little one as possible. Also, being pregnant over the winter and spring was pretty good too. It was an enjoyable time to be pregnant.

@kej0004 We were team green. It was the best decision we made. I didn't want to feel any disappointment over the sex of the baby, and I was afraid I would. But finding out the day she was born was amazing. Being in that miraculous moment of your child coming into this world overpowers any other feelings you might have. It was the BEST feeling ever.

[laurenlou83]

Differently:.
1) had more 'bump' pictures than just my selfies.
2) made sex a priority. We sucked while I was pg.
3) exercised more. It probably would've helped with my back pain.
4) documented more of the pregnancy. DH and I don't have a ton of pictures. I meant to keep a journal of thoughts, cravings, feelings, milestones and it just never happened.

Things I'd do the same:
1) get massages and see the chiro
2) eat healthily. Getting diagnosed with GD helped, but even prior I tried to make smart decisions. I ended up only gaining 18lbs (granted i was higher BMI pre pg)
4) join TD so I could have an awesome support system through it all!