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My Pregnancy so far at 8 1/2 Months

I didn't expect to get pregnant at all, especially at eight-teen without a stable lifestyle. I switched on and off between adoption and motherhood for the first few months but now I know I'm going to keep Amoura, my daughter.

I've had so much help, I never thought I'd have everything I needed! Between yard-sales, church donations, friends, and thrift stores I've succeeded in obtaining everything I'll need for the first year. Everyone has really pulled together for me and now I have an income-based apartment as well with dishes, toiletries, and all! I'm very grateful to my baby for giving me all of this, even in the horrible neighborhood.

When I hit about five months I started to increase in size, which REALLY had me freaked. I've always been the perfect weight for my size so I bought a bottle of stretch-mark cream right away and have been using it ever since. I've found a few stretch-marks ever since eight months or so and I rub some of the Palmer's cream on for a few days and they slowly disappear again.

I get fatigued everyday. I understand MSG, Fluoride, High Fructose Corn Syrup, and Aspartame are especially unhealthy for me at this time so I try to stay away from these as much as possible. Yet, the only energy drink my doctor said is okay is Crystal Light and it does contain Aspartame (an artificial sweetener that damages your nervous system and causes brain disorders.) I have decided that, since I drink bottled water and eat healthy, that this is still the most harmless remedy for my sleep-walking (or lying!) I encourage EVERY pregnant woman to read up on MSG, Aspartame, etc. risks for the safety of their child. If it helps the bottled water I get is Nestle Pure Life and is mass produced for Wallmart so I know everyone can find that brand. Fluoride is NOT recommended for anyone with a developing mind because it DOES cause brain damage, especially in younger years. The only ways to get Fluoride out of tap water is Reverse Osmosis and Distillation. Other filters do NOT treat fluoride!

So, along with the many things I'm grateful for having a child for, I'm excited to finally raise a baby free from television, poisons, drugs, verbal abuse and more! Now that I've hit my third trimester I have this feeling that I'm going to enjoy teaching her everything WAY before the average child. My expectations are high for myself as well, though, seeing as how I do come from a home of much yelling/fighting, drugs, and neglect. I understand most children are raised in such ways and I complexly just cannot stand by and let Disney raise my innocent daughter!

Her baby room is finally set up now and I have all kinds of decorations to help her learn the alphabet, numbers, shapes, and more! I'm pretty proud of what it looks like now that I've added some love :). The whole room may have cost my boyfriend and I fifty dollars so I'm also enjoying being helpful to the planet and re-using many baby items (except of course the re-usable diapers I bought, binkies, etc.)

I have had impossible sleep for a few weeks now and it takes me over three hours to fall asleep. I try to sip on some milk half an hour before bed, go to the bathroom, and if all else fails sleep in the huge, green, comfy recliner I am re-using from a yard-sale. I only have one pillow right now and cannot afford more so I use an extra blanket when I'm not boiling hot. I try to remember to turn the thermostat down to 60-63 instead of the usual 70 in the winter. I have a fan on at all times which helps with noises from my upstairs neighbors as well! Also, I try to have things ready like a bottled water next to the bed and a night-light leading to the bathroom.

I'm such a nerd about being a parent, I am a part of over ten different newsletters and mailing lists! I love hearing about what I'm going through and what helps, it makes me feel smarter when someone else is asking about my pregnancy! Which is good seeing as how some studies prove that pregnant women are more forgetful.

My back has never hurt and throbbed like this either! I have a problem with my SI Joints from injuries in my teens as it is, so having a baby's skull stuck in that spot is a killer when I try to do much of anything. I'll go out for a walk and I'm crippled once again cooped up with my heating pad and nice hot baths (which I'm amazed at how well that actually works!) I put lavender scented salts in my bath, though, to help relax.

Well, that is just about all I can think of and it is past my bedtime. Thank you for reading my story, I hope it helped other first-time mothers like myself!

-Alisha D.

Alisha DePreste

waiting impatiently

This is baby #5 for me. People said I should be an old pro by now..I wish. Every pregnancy has been so different that they have all seemed like a new experience. My first came at 27weeks 1lb10oz and I never wanted to do that again..but between God and my body rejecting every birth control method here we are again #5. I have 3girls and this one makes 2boys. My son is 4 and all he can do is talk about his brother. He will bring me a blanket and say this is for my brother. I am definately done this time making a permanent decision was really hard. But necessary. My body has not yet recovered from any pregnancies and Iam afraid that one time I wont pull through. I love kids though so Feb 3rd needs to hurry I am too excited as are my other kids.

Gina

Maverick****

Well I am 24 years old just got married in febuary and am pregnant with our 2nd son! Our oldest,Gavin, is 2 and we wont even have our first wedding annivesery before Maverick will be here. I have had the best pregnancy this time around with the acception on my blood pressure going up and down. I am so excited for the birth,i cant wait to see and hold him and compare him to gavin and see if they look alike or not... see gavin is blonde and blue eyed and my husband is dark haired and green eyed..thats what i am hopeing maverick will look like..his daddy..lol.. i will have another c-section witch i am not excited about at all, It is so painful and very resricting as to what i can do after the surgery. I am due febuary 3rd and cant wait to be the monmmy of 2 boys...even though i wanted nothing more than a little girl ..lol...he is my last i am shutting my baby factory down!!!!

Tiffany <3

Got pregnant @ 19

I found out I was pregnant wen I was 19. My boyfriend and I were very careful but Bhaam, a baby. I wasn't much stresses 4 me but was worried about my parents. My boyfriend was supportive. I didn't know how to tell my parents until the 4th month. My mom was anrgy as hell, but now she is the most supportive, caring, understanding person I've ever seen. She loves my unborn child so much she can't wait 2 be granny. Im due 11 Jan 2010 and can't wait.

Thando

33 weeks and counting

My name is Ashleyy. I'm 18 years old and I'm 8 months,1 week, and 3 days pregnant with my first child and its going to be a little boy.We are going to name him Tyler Adam. For the most part my pregnancy has been ok,but everyone keeps telling me that this last month or so is the worst part.I have a 23 year old wonderful fiance named Brent who has been there for us 100%. He is also so excited. For the first four months I was soooo sick with morning sickness, but thank goodness that it passed. Now I just can't wait for my little man to be here so I can finnaly see his little face.It seems like I have been pregnant forever.I can't even remember what it feels like to be normal.I know I have to be driving my fiance bonkers with all my emotions and mood swings, but I keep reasuring him that things will get better and he will have his level headed girlfriend back lol.I am having my baby shower this sunday.I have felt little cramps here and there but nothing to be alarmed about.I'm actually really scared to go in to labor,only because I don't know what to expect. I guess the only thing that matters is its all going to be worth it in the end, or that's what everyone keeps telling me. Little Tyler is due January 3rd 2010. Wish me luck! <3

Ashleyy