How did you plan your children? Were you scared?

[theSurlyMermaid]

Yeah, I've been taking prenatals for about a year now....Wow, has it been that long? I was taking them well before TTC because they do very good things for hair and nails.

One thing about prenatals....I was taking ones from the drug store but then I started hearing all this stuff about excessive Vitamin A. I finally had my doctor write me a prescription for prenatals...which doesn't include Vitamin A at all because we get so much in our diets. The vitamin I had been taking before had 6000 IUs of vitamin A (2500 of which were beta carotene, which is considered safe).

Anyway, there's alot of conflicting opinion on it, but you may just want to discuss your vitamins with your doctors...just to make sure you are both on the same page!

Oh, and good luck to everyone who is TTC!!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

How did you plan your children? Were you scared?

Very scared. Didn't want to have a child just because everyone else was having them. Nervous about being pregnant. Worried about finances. Concerned about childcare and work issues. No experience with babies. Kids with snotty noses and ill manners scared me. Thought maybe we should just get some more puppies. You get the picture...

Were basically pretty happy with our lives as they were, but knew we would someday like a child (as in one, LOL). Waited about 6 or 7 years after marriage to start trying, then ran into infertility issues (even though I was only 31). Became pregnant with twins and had a difficult pregnancy and birth.

Our babies were born just after our 10 year wedding anniversary. Had some rough days in those first few years with them. In our state of sleep deprivation, I even remember once when they were about three weeks old, thinking, "what have we done"? They are 8 years old now, and truly the lights of our lives. I thank God every day for granting me the priveledge of being their mother and can't remember what our lives were like without them (quiet, I imagine ).

I know some people are "naturals" with babies, and can't wait to have children. I was probably on the other extreme. You are probably somewhere in the middle. I think it is perfectly natural to feel nervous about such a major life change, but it sounds as if you are taking the right steps and working your way up to it. I always used to remind myself that most of the people I knew with children seemed pretty happy with them.

The only thing I might suggest you give lots of thought to (and I'm sure you already have) is if you really want to stay where you are when you have children (because your family is elsewhere). Will you miss your family and having them be a part of your children's lives on a regular basis? My sister lived across the country when her children were small and even though we saw them on vacations we felt like they never really got to know us, or we them. I know you said you don't have to work, but what if the situation changes and you have to? Just some things to consider (and playing devil's advocate here). Would it be easier to move now then it would be when the kids are in school and developing friendships, real estate is involved, etc? I know it can be done without family nearby but from what I've seen it makes it just that much harder. Being a parent 24hrs/day is harder work than most of us before children can ever imagine, and even though you won't be working, you still will need a break now and then, have shopping to do, appointments to keep, responsibilities to attend to, and you might even like an adult night out here and there. Will you have people you trust to watch your child where you are? Will you feel comfortable asking them on a regular basis, or will you feel as if you're bothering them? Hope you don't mind this angle, I just don't know how I ever would have managed myself without my mother who helped me so much.

Best of luck to you!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

crap we were suppose to plan it

I never even THOUGHT about kids or if I was going to have them or not, then BAM! got dd.

I knew nothing and had a very sick baby and I did OK. She is 14 now. I also have another BAM, and she is 9.

Was I scared? Only all the time. I wish I could have been more relaxed back then.