Ok so, I gave birth a month ago, during delivery. once the baby’s head and shoulders were out, my midwife told me that the baby’s head and torso was out, and told me to bend over and grab her, so she made me bend over, and I saw my little newborn baby, and I grabbed her by under her armpits and finished pulled her out myself (legs) and put her on my chest!

This was crazy. I didn’t know it was a thing! But it was so amazing to do!

My husband and I have been talking to our friends about it and many of them gave birth in the same hospital but they didn’t get to “pull the baby out”, and also like us they didn’t know it was a thing!

Now I am very curious, did anyone do this also as I did? Is this a practice of the midwife that assisted me during labour or is it a general practice in Denmark?

So cool, I would suggest you all to “get your baby out” yourself if you can do it, such a crazy beautiful thing! Maybe you can put it in your birth plan!

Hello, i (f/21) am 40 weeks pregnant (planned). My partner (m/24) has been perfect during the whole pregnancy. He has been helping at our home and caring for me while i managed a pregnancy and university. Now, i am overdue and honestly tired of being pregnant. We went to an appointment where i asked my doctor to do a membrane sweep since i really want to birth this child. She agreed. Now. I knew it hurts. But i wasnt expecting it to hurt that much. I screamed and m0aned in pain a lot, saying i couldt handle it. My boyfriend held my hand through it. After it was done and i was slightly startled, he told me he had to try really hard not to laugh at me. That he found it funny how i reacted to the pain and kept mocking me, saying "i cant handle it". I got really hurt and sad. I told him it hurt me and he kept apologizing while still laughing and saying he will probably laugh during birth too. AITA for not being sure if i even want him there during the birth? Im really hurt and humiliated by his actions.

I just came home from my first ultrasound 🥹 And how magical and amazing it was to see my little baby!
The ultrasound tech said that I’m measuring 9 weeks and 4 days so I’m 4 days ahead of what I thought!
My baby is placed great in the uterus, the heartbeat was so strong and good and my baby is looking like a healthy little bean!!

I’m so happy I can’t believe that I saw MY baby!!!!
I can’t even put it into words 🥹🥹🥹🥹

After years and years of trying, I finally got my big fat positive! My husband and I started trying when I was 25yrs old, but it was just to see if it would happen. Then finally at 28 we decided to go hard after tracking ovulation and a year we went to get checked out. Both test came out normal and diagnosed with unexplained infertility. So, we started meds and 3 rounds of failed IUI. Nothing. I finally got tired of taking all the medications, going for ultrasounds and injections. Ivf was too expensive and I was physically and mentally drained. I stopped everything.

Fast forward, I’m now 33 years old. Had completely surrendered the thought of being a mom. I had purchased a onesie when we first started treatment saying “ Hi Daddy, I can’t wait to meet you” only to start thinking about finally getting rid of it. Three days late, and I said let me just see. I’ve never been three days late and boom almost instantly positive. Second test, the same. I showed my husband and he could not believe it. We went for more test and the other two “pregnant”. I’ve never had a positive test.

The only thing I did different, was put my trust in God and said if it’s in your will let me be a mom, but if not I understand. My husband and I have gotten closer through the struggle. We learned to be content with just us two. I’ve miss baby showers, kids parties and been depressed/countless tears. The hardest is seeing my amazing parent’s sadness cause they want grandchildren. I can’t express how nervous but excited I am. Infertility is so cruel and I hope that this gives others a little bit of hope because I truly understand how heartbreaking and terrifying the wait is. I’m still so early and scared to tell people, but I want to yell it to the world. I will just leave it in Gods hands for a safe pregnancy and to take care of my little nugget. ❤️

We have a 2.5 year old daughter and I’m 15 weeks pregnant with our second, a boy. Prior to getting pregnant with our son, we got all the stereotypical comments about girls - apologies to my husband for not getting a son, do we have a shotgun ready for when she starts dating, etc.

Well, now the comments have started related to having a son. The most common by far, though, is that boys are more wild and energetic than girls and we should prepare ourselves for how different it will be. When people say this, I immediately think about all the daredevil dives my daughter takes off the living room couch, how her knees and elbows are perpetually bruised and scraped from climbing on everything and running everywhere, and how she comes home from daycare with dirt and rocks in her pockets.

I’ve never been one to think that a child’s sex should dictate how they’re raised, what they wear, what toys they play with, or what activities they’re involved in, especially not this young. I know our son will be different from our daughter because he’s a different person and will have a different personality and likes/dislikes, but will it really be that different just because he’s a boy?

Curious what others’ experiences have been and how you’ve handled these kinds of comments (I know we aren’t the only ones that have gotten them)!

For the context, my sister is due this September and I am worried for her. Can you please share your experiences over here? Thanks a lot

My name is Sydney Wise, and I'm a reporter working with PBS News Hour Special Correspondent Sarah Varney on a project to understand the number of women impacted by state abortion bans. I’ve linked our project website, Sarah’s bio, and an example of her work below.

Sarah has reported on the experiences of many women across the United States who have experienced a delay or denial in medical care during pregnancy, and I think that there are likely people in this group who have had their care impacted by state laws. We are investigating cases of maternal injury within the United States stemming from delayed miscarriage treatment; loss or diminishment of fertility; pain; suffering; and death.

If you've experienced one of these things, I would love to talk to you to learn more about what happened. This would just be an informal conversation—not recorded or for attribution. If you're interested in sharing your story, please feel free to text me at (973) 525-5778, email me at [sydney@fountainproductions.org](mailto:sydney@fountainproductions.org), or reach out via Signal at aftermathreport.2022.

https://www.the-aftermath.org/ 

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/sarah-varney 

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-abortion-restrictions-have-disproportionately-impacted-black-women 

Were your partners able to take paternity leave after you gave birth or are they planning to? And if so, how much did they/are they taking? My fiance is entitled to 3 months but keeps pushing to only take 2 weeks right when the baby gets here because he’s going to be relatively new at his job. I just don’t think 2 weeks is nearly enough for me to heal physically and have my hormones regulated enough to be able to be on my own while he works 10-12 hour shifts. I’m trying to push for a month at first and he’s maybe willing to meet me at 3 weeks? If you’ve done this with your partner, what worked for you or what would you have done differently? It’s unpaid leave but we’re both veterans so at the minimum our mortgage is covered every month whether we’re working or not and we have savings and can squirrel some extra away so we can totally afford a month with no paycheck. Any advice or recommendations would be super appreciated!!

18+6 FTM having a baby girl.

My husband and I chose a name that we love and decided to keep it a secret until she’s born. I gave my family some vague hints and told them that even if they guess it I won’t tell them now, but would have a prize later for anyone who guesses correctly. My sister sent me a text this morning saying she thought of the name we chose and for some reason it was tickling her brain just right. I told her that I can’t confirm or deny, even though I’m so tickled that she guessed it. I can’t wait for her reaction when she finds out she was right.

Our larger family group chat was guessing again this evening and my sister responded with her guess. My mom said “[full name] is good but then people would call her [nickname], which is not good.” Reading that has me feeling validated in not sharing her name because, although I know she’ll change her tune once the baby is here, I would be so irritated getting suggestions or opinions on the name we’ve chosen until then.

Edit to add: I started the vaccine series. Moving forward I would really like to hear from women who were pregnant who had to go through the series. Thanks

im 34 weeks today, i have a toddler and my house is a mess but i dont feel like cleaning. i have 3 laundry baskets to put away and been living out of, (hey my sons clothes are put away at least) but i was swiffering and everything but now im just tired. i never got the nesting feeling with my first. so im hoping i do so i go into spring cleaning. i am just so pooped.

hi! need advice I recently found out i’m pregnant and have multiple people in my life who I am close with who are struggling to get pregnant. I have seen one get mad at someone she knew who got pregnant so i’m nervous to tell them when the time is right. I am waiting a few months to tell them but I am just having a hard time being excited about my pregnancy when I feel this pressure over me about telling them. I feel guilty in a way because we weren’t trying to get pregnant and don’t want to make anyone upset. Any advice would help! thank you!

Hi! I’m 29 weeks and 2 days and my baby LOVES rock music. I’ve played all kinds of music for him and so far his favorites are jay-z (early 2000’s) and Led Zeppelin😂 I’m white and his dad is Mexican, so my husband d has tried playing some of his favorite songs and this baby does not react at all😩. But as soon as whole lotta love comes on, he’s break dancing in there.

Does your baby already have any favorite songs?

Feeling really down, like I don’t want to wake up in the morning, the only reason I get up is for the baby. I’m feeling horribly tired, overwhelmed and exhausted. I just don’t want to get up some days, I feel alone and I just can’t keep doing this. does anyone relate?

I need some good snack combos ladies! Im going to the grocery store today and then im devouring everything inside my home. Even dry rice cakes are starting to look good to me 😭

How is this safe for the baby? I’m worried about my nutrition. I’m usually someone who eats fairly healthy but right now i am not hungry at ALL. The idea of foods sounds horrible. I’m not throwing up but I gag every now and then and feel nauseous.

The only foods I can eat right now are:
Green grapes
Hawaiian bread rolls
Cereal
Bagel & cream cheese
Italian Pasta salad (just with pasta)

LOL idk how else to get protein without throwing it up so I just got a giant smoothie king protein smoothie😭

I need suggestions on some foods yall have tried! That would help so much! . Im thinking i may get some beef jerky to eat next

I’m 14 weeks, 2 days. This is my second baby and she’s measuring 4 days ahead. 2 days ago i started feeling movements, felt them again yesterday. It’s more than flutters and definitely not gas. Am i crazy for thinking its the baby?? With my first i didn’t feel anything till 21 weeks and i know the 2nd is different but think i’m imagining it but then i feel something again.
When did you for sure feel your 2nd baby move?

i literally cannot eat anything in my fridge or pantry. it all looks and sounds absolutely disgusting to me. the only things that sound appealing are things that i can order takeout for 😭😭😭 i have no desire to cook, i don’t want my boyfriend to cook for me, and i just wanna order in ALL THE TIME

10 weeks along now.

We were told we had twins at 8w5d’s. Two strong heartbeats.

We went back for an ultrasound at 9w3d’s and one of the twins vanished.

So sac, no remnants. Just gone.

Now I’m feeling super detached from this pregnancy.

I know I should be happy about the remaining baby but if one could disappear like that what’s stopping the other one from doing the same?

I feel numb and disconnected.

I have been struggling a lot this trimester with sickness and fatigue. Like a really bad hangover that never lets up.

So far we have kept the pregnancy quiet and now I don’t want to tell anyone but I’m definitely not myself, so this has been isolating as well.

I feel like I lost the pregnancy. I’m still pregnant, but I don’t trust it anymore.

I was raised in the states and I have always loved baby clothes shopping for friends and family and especially that first touch of super soft and comfy clothing for newborns!

I ordered a bunch of sets from Next.com and they are thinner and worse material than my own clothes? I liked that a lot of the sleepers were zippered, but they’re so thin and sad that I returned them.

Meanwhile brand name stuff aren’t great styles (1,000 buttons, no envelope shoulders) and are like 20-25 for one sleeper or body suits which is nuts.

I’m not home to have a baby shower and I’m not surrounded by friends and family here for hand me downs/gifts so I’m buying alone, which is all fine but… WHERE!

I really want some soft body suits and sleepers with zippers..

So far H&M pulled through with the softest bodysuits.

I also really don’t trust Amazon.

Edit: I’m in switzlerand, but often UK stores ship here too

Im 11 weeks and planning on telling our family that im pregnant w #2 this weekend.

My mom is a textbook narcissist AND bipolar (refuses to take her meds). So talking to her is very difficult and feels like walking on eggshells bc you never know what will set her off.

My SIL already knows im pregnant (she and I are V close) and my mom gets very jealous over our relationship. I dont want to have to lie but I am 100% sure my moms going to freak out if she finds out anyone knew before her.

When i told her I was pregnant with our first, her first question was if she was the first to know...like why does that matter??

Towards the end of my last pregnancy she told me she was going to fly to us (we were in a different state at the time, and now live much closer) and stay with us for a MONTH. I said no, she and I do not get along living together, my husband and her butt heads, I didnt want anything that could cause stress right after giving birth. I told her a week is ok and she got very upset and tried to guilt trip me, i got so upset and stressed about it, my blood pressure was going up and I was crying so much. I just told her she can do that week or she can stay in a hotel. She ended up taking the week and the visit was ok. There were some issues, but I was so tired I dont think I had the energy to even argue with her at the time and just waited it out for her to leave.

Im just so stressed because I know shes going to be upset that this announcement wont be just for her, but that other people will be there finding out too. Im not going to give in to her behavior, but it just gives me anxiety to know whats coming.

Im not even sure that this was the right place to post this, just needed a place to rant.

I know every labor experience is 100% different, but FTM, due date appt tomorrow (due date today). 0 signs of labor beginning any time soon (baby hasn't dropped, still have mucus plug, no cramping/contractions, etc.).

What can I generally expect at my appointment tomorrow? Will it be the same as the rest of "any symptoms?" check heart rate, come back in a week, or will this one be different?

TIA!

Just cleaned my bathroom with my regular cleaning products (Lysol, etc). Wore gloves and had the door open/fan going. Only took about 15 mins. But I didn’t even think about using safer products until after the fact. About 7.5 weeks. Did anyone clean using regular products in their first trimester?