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Planning for Baby Number One
As a young adult, I dreamed of one day becoming a parent, but I knew that my chronic illness, Crohn’s disease, would make it difficult, if not impossible. When I received the news about our expected bundle of joy, I was ecstatic, but also a little terrified about the implications.
Since I began developing symptoms of Crohn’s at the age of 16, I had experienced numerous difficulties resulting from my illness, including various flare-ups. Doses of Remicade every 8 weeks have allowed me to maintain remission, with the exception of a few issues and an eventual resolution. By the time I turned 30, I had been relatively stable for a few years.
My doctors said that I was healthy enough, so my husband and I decided in the fall of 2017 that we would try for baby number one. We discovered we were expecting in early December, just one month after my 30th birthday.
The First Trimester
I had little to no symptoms initially and for a while, I wondered if I was actually pregnant. Three pregnancy tests later and I still had my doubts (as did my husband), until a 9-week ultrasound confirmed that baby was there. It was hard to believe, but we would become parents roughly 7 months later.
Shortly after that first ultrasound, I became sick with the flu and nausea hit hard. I lost my appetite and had trouble keeping things down. My husband panicked when I lost 10 pounds and insisted that I drink meal replacement shakes. I begrudgingly agreed. I was sick off and on for the next month, missing roughly half of December at work due to a mix of sick time and vacation time.
Around the end of January, shortly before the beginning of the second trimester, I finally kicked what I hoped would be the last of flus, colds and morning sickness. I began eating and gaining weight again, much to my husband’s relief.
The Second Trimester
Trimester number two started with a bang: a cruise to Mexico. We had planned the trip ahead of time in November, not knowing it would be our baby-moon. To hear about our adventures in Mexico see the post *coming soon.*
The second trimester was considerably easier than the first. I had little to no nausea and little other symptoms. I started showing a baby belly in about the sixth month of pregnancy.
The Third Trimester
New symptoms abounded in the third trimester, although it was nothing like the first trimester. I have what my doctor called a short waist and as baby became bigger, the rib pain started. I gathered that this is an uncommon symptom from asking others and some basic research online. The back pain is a more common occurrence, however. My appetite continued to grow and so too did my ankles.
A chiropractor helped with the back pain, although there wasn’t much I could do about the rib pain. For my ankles, I purchased compression socks (a lifesaver for me!) and kept my feet up when I could. A nice cool dip in the pool was another good way I was able to keep the swelling down.
Preparing for Labor and Delivery
My husband and I took a Lamaze birthing class in the third trimester and we began preparing the nursery during this time.
I would recommend that any first-time parents take a birthing class. I had already learned some of the information from talking to friends and family or reading books and articles online, but regardless, it made me feel more prepared. We learned about the signs and stages of labor, comfort positions, packing a hospital bag, preparing a birth plan, natural and modern pain management methods, infant care among other relevant topics.
We began putting the nursery together and setup the crib, changing table, cleaned up and organized baby’s room and put up some cute decorations. We decided not to paint and opted instead to place stickers on the wall (we purchased some from Amazon that were easy to remove and wouldn’t damage the walls).
The Baby Registry
I’ll admit that I was honestly overwhelmed when I began researching all of the various baby gear. Car seats, high chairs, cribs, and more, and there seemed to be 1,000 options and too many brands to choose from. Therefore, I did what any new mom should do and I asked for help. My aunt has been my go-to for baby-related questions, but I also asked some co-workers and friends that recently had babies. It was immensely helpful.
I started by following a registry from another expectant mom that had already done a good deal of research. It wasn’t quite a copy and paste effort, but I used what she listed as my foundation. I found various checklists online and found that to be helpful as well. I will say this, however, checklists are great, but they also go beyond what any newborn should actually need. See below for a pragmatic list of baby essentials.
“Baby Essentials: Just the Basics”
- Something for baby to sleep in (Crib, Pack ‘n Play or otherwise)
- Car seat (for instance a Travel System or Grow With Me car seat)
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Protection from the elements (clothes, blankets or otherwise)
- Baby wash and lotion
- Basic infant care supplies
- Diaper rash cream
- Stroller (like a Travel System or Light-weight Stroller)
- High chair
For more information about the items on this list, check out the related post: “Top 10 Baby Products: Recommended Newborn Essentials”
Upcoming Posts *coming soon*
“Beyond the Basics Baby Shopping Checklist”
“Top 10 To-Dos for Expectant Parents”
*Special message regarding this post*
Deciding to become a parent for the first time is a major life-changing decision. Managing a chronic illness and pregnancy is not a decision to take lightly and expert advice (i.e. your doctor) should always be considered before you decide to take the plunge. Above details Angela’s personal experiences, but please remember that all pregnancies are unique.
Cute read Angela!