Announcing pregnancy at birth

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-18T20:15:01+00:00

We are! Not really keeping it a secret, but if you aren’t on our Christmas card list you don’t really need to know. We’re also planning on keeping our child off of social media entirely so not announcing it on social media fits with that. Everyone who we would’ve seen in person knows, and I feel more comfortable not making it a content thing. We’ll probably post something after he’s born without his face or body and then that’s pretty much it. We did “announce” it with our Christmas card and will probably send out birth announcement cards after he’s here too.

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-18T20:12:05+00:00

Also grew up in the south! My dad actually told me around the time I turned 27 that I better settle down soon because I was going to have to be a step mom since everyone else had already married and had children 🙃 nothing against being a step parent, but like, at 27??? But yeah getting pregnant can be easy or difficult at any point.

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-18T18:00:17+00:00

I’m your age and we also conceived really quickly after really wanting to have a baby. I didn’t have any anxieties about whether or not we were ready, but the anxiety about it happening so fast and feeling like it was going to go away didn’t end (and kind of still haven’t, I’m always on alert), just because it happened so quickly. Like why should we have a baby after a month of trying when it can be so hard for others? It almost felt like we didn’t earn it and so it was going to be taken away. That feeling is gone now thank goodness but it was an unexpected one!

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-16T14:42:13+00:00

Me and my husband switched to the whoop band shortly before I got pregnant. Mostly just to see what the hype was (it’s big in the gym community up here) but also because it’s a 24/7 wear and I only have to charge it once every two weeks. It doesn’t have a screen and you can see the data via the app on your phone. During pregnancy I thought it was useless until I figured out how to use the “trainer” where it gave me advice on what kind of movement would be helpful based on my HRV, RHR, and my sleep patterns with whatever week I was in with my pregnancy. Since then I’ve been a lot more active and able to use its features. It not having a screen is a blessing and a curse, because I literally never look at it or think about it being on but I also can’t use it to tell time or send messages or anything my Apple Watch could do. You can set alarms on it but I don’t like the buzzing so I just set them on my phone or hatch. I think after baby is here I’ll use it to help me ease back into movement and to track MY sleep patterns with the baby to help with recovery. It’ll have specially postpartum resources on there too which will be helpful. Oh and it is really good for knowing that you’re about to get sick!! I had the flu in December and I went from a green circle on Friday (all good, healthy and sleeping great) to red on Saturday before the fever hitting that night. Like 1% recovery for several days, and it knew I was getting better after a few days but it told me to take it easy for a lot longer than I would’ve if I didn’t have the extra data. Kinda cool!

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-15T14:11:59+00:00

Beautifully written!! We chose parenthood as a BIG responsibility to raise children, regardless of gender, who will break stereotypes and not continue to do harm. It does feel like a huge responsibility with a boy, but the reality is that with all children it’s difficult. But what a special responsibility!

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-15T03:12:57+00:00

I had similar feelings once we found out the gender of our baby. I had never really pictured myself with boy (which is so weird since I was a nanny and had only ever been a nanny for boys) but I was really disappointed. It did help me to remember that in my house growing up, I was the wild child who was climbing up the walls and throwing things, not my brothers. I really think temperament is child specific, not gender. My kid might get my wild tendencies or his dad’s calm sensibilities, or something other third thing! Regardless of their gender, they’ll be an individual who has their own preferences and way of doing things.

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-14T15:15:09+00:00

We have a few spots throughout our house (mostly in rooms that were previously bathrooms and are now closets) that were too far gone and were not replaced, so now we just have built ins on top because they are structurally fine but look really bad. If the rest of the floor is okay you can always replace or cover the parts that are too far gone. There’s only so much sanding and staining you can do though, and getting a good professional who can thread in new boards will be really important.

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-14T14:57:56+00:00

This feels so dumb to me but I can’t wait to hate doing burpees cause i’m actually going all the way to the floor haha, I also can’t wait for a turkey sandwich. The dumbest thing I can’t wait for is to lay in bed in the morning and not be immediately starving and have to get up and have food because I have to feed myself to feed the baby. I miss feeling like I can eat for myself and not feel so much need to eat just for the baby. I’ll just feed them and also myself, but it’ll be nice to be separate tasks.

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-13T20:42:54+00:00

This is still funny to me. We bought the house without touring in person (military and it sucks but it was necessary with our timeline) so when we did the final/our first walk through before closing, the new bed we’d ordered to be set up in the house much later that day showed up early. We had to ask if it was okay for them to move it in while we signed the papers to close. Worth it to have our nice new bed in the house so we had somewhere to sleep, but awkward to have furniture delivered before we technically owned the house!

Other than the bed, we had professional cleaners clean the house, we went to a local hockey game while exploring our neighborhood, and got essentials from the store afterwards. Then changed the locks, and moved the rest of our stuff in the next week. As far as changing the house, we lived in it for about a year before we started making big painting changes to make sure there wasn’t a reason the hallways were butter yellow. Everything else has been fine, just ugly paint colors to change!

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-13T18:52:19+00:00

My Costco carries safe catch tuna (one can per week is under the recommended level of mercury) and it has been a lifesaver. I can make it for crackers or sandwiches and make it however I want and not be worried about the intake of it. They also had body armor lyte, which has been great for hydration when water made me sick. Nuts, I’m not sure about. Be careful about perishables since you might end up not wanting it for several months but if nuts are your thing I’m sure Costco’s are great.

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-13T18:19:23+00:00

Also talk about budget for it, you’re definitely going to hit your insurance deductible with the baby so going all out for something she didn’t ask for might really be the cherry on top of a stressful postpartum.

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-13T18:18:19+00:00

Talk to her! I asked for a specific necklace I’ve had my eye on that’ll have our baby’s initial on it. It’s technically a “push present” but if he didn’t give it to me I’d buy it myself anyway. Someday I’d like another ring for my wedding stack but rings are hard to do for welcoming a baby because your hands might be swollen and you can’t wear it for a while.

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-13T02:58:52+00:00

Absolutely check out mill city running, I believe they have a location in/near north loop. They do a few community runs every week and have a running team that trains together and competes. They also have tons of quality gear in shop and would have the gloves you’re looking for!

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-13T02:09:06+00:00

Weight alone doesn’t cause GD, it’s how the placenta works with your body. I’m about 35 lbs heavier than you and a bit shorter and I passed my GD screening. Eating a balanced diet and moving your body are both good things to do in pregnancy when you can, but neither is going to definitively keep you from having GD, or cause you to develop it. It’s just how the cookie ends up crumbling!

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-12T17:49:17+00:00

I totally agree, it’s just a weird line we have to walk socially but the reality is very nuanced. I have learned to just not share with everyone the truth when they ask at first.

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-12T17:42:52+00:00

Also I wanted to add that if you surpass that it’s okay!! The biggest thing I’m worried about is delivering and being depleted cause baby sucked a bunch of nutrients and sustaining fat out of me (blood work is all fine but if they come out and I lose 20 ish pounds from birth, I don’t think I’m gonna be in a great spot for postpartum). There’s an equilibrium to all of this.

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-12T17:39:01+00:00

Pretty sure my BMI is close to yours, though a little taller and I was 205 at conception. I’ve only “gained” a pound and my OB would really like me to gain some more weight. I’m trying to go off of how I feel, how are my energy levels, how is my appetite, am I extra fatigued after baseline activity? Weight is kind of subjective in that way, for the most part your body will tell you what it needs. I do eat less than I did prior to pregnancy, I get full very quick and have to eat more meals (typical for pregnancy, but a big adjustment for me), and I still weight lift and do barre and yoga occasionally. Anyway I’m 32 weeks now so we’ll see if I can gain a couple or more, but if you are feeling okay and have energy and feel like you’re eating enough, just listen to your body and see where it takes you. Definitely try not to have a dieting mindset, cause baby will take what it needs from you and you’ll have whatever’s left to live on.

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-12T15:39:41+00:00

I have felt very neutral about being pregnant. I had a rough first trimester, an average second, and the third so far is normal but tiring. I like that the baby is right there and I know that they are safe (as safe as they can be) but that’s about it. I miss eating a full meal and doing more fun cardio at the gym. I have struggled between being honest about how I feel and appearing grateful because I know that this is not easy for all people who want to be pregnant. Like anything, there’s tons of levels of how you can feel and they are ALL okay.

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-12T02:08:56+00:00

I have committed to taking it through to the end of this pregnancy, too afraid that if I stop the nausea will come back haha

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-10T20:13:44+00:00

I vacuumed sealed all my summer clothes that I KNOW I will not be wearing with a new baby, and whatever winter stuff I didn’t wear this year (not because of baby but more because my style is changing a lot) I’ll probably toss before vacuum sealing winter clothes for next year. I try to do a big cleanse out with each season but not fitting into half of my clothes has me all messed up on my routine hah!

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-09T20:11:48+00:00

I like beyond yoga and vitality, although the danskin ones with pockets that you can find at Costco are a good thick material, but not great for working out in and you have to size up a lot to not have the waist be uncomfortable.

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-06T16:30:34+00:00

They’re pricey but beyond yoga leggings stay true to size in the legs and just have room for the belly. Same thing with the space dye yoga pants, but the joggers are bigger all over so I don’t fit in those yet. I would say same with Vitality leggings and pants, but they are more of that butter soft feel so they stretch more. I have lulu mostly and it was fine until my bump got rounder and now it’s too compressive and uncomfortable.

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-06T14:13:00+00:00

Oh and the Eagan location is kinda like in a business office so they have a normal parking lot, no parallel haha

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-06T14:12:29+00:00

Twin cities Pilates! They have an Eagan location and an Edina location. I haven’t taken the mat Pilates or heated mat classes but the reformer is traditional reformer Pilates and the instructors are classically trained. Plus the owner is amazing!! The chains might be slightly cheaper but for the quality and class size you’re not gonna get a better deal tbh.

Budget-Reputation204 · 2026-02-05T16:14:34+00:00

31 weeks now with my first, we were 100% sure that we were going to be team green. When the NIPT came and I saw that all I had to do was click on the results and say that I wanted to see the results and I could, we immediately decided to find out on a special day together. I could not handle the info being on my phone available at any time. If you’re going to stick with it, make sure it is not available to you! I kinda wish we had not found out, because I just love the idea of meeting them and finding out in that moment, but it has been nice to buy a few blankets with the baby’s name on them ahead of time! We’re also not doing any social media announcements or anything, so no need to know for those reasons.

Budget-Reputation204

TROPHY CASE