Are You Pregnant? Or Trying? 12 Posts for You…

We just started trying last month. I’m having major anxiety about infertility, even though the rational part of me knows it’s only been ONE month! Part of me wanted to be on of those people that got pregnant right away (patience is a virtue I do not possess). I would love to see a post that discussed people’s experiences with trying to conceive :)

Hi Joanna,
I wonder if you or your lovely commenters could speak to your feelings about having babies all of one gender. I have two beautiful girls and just found out, we have a third baby girl on the way and I’m having very mixed feelings about it. I didn’t really care what the first baby was, and I dearly wanted my 2nd to be a daughter (for the power of that sisterly bond). I love the idea of having another baby but I’m disappointed that I might never have a son (we are still toying with the idea of having 4 or potentially adopting one day). It feels silly to even care since about gender given the two girls are so different and I wouldn’t have traded them for anything. How did you feel about it having all boys? Or your readers?

How fortuitous! I am 6 weeks pregnant with my second bubba and am already hungry like the wolf for anything salty and savory. Makes me think I’m having another delicious little lad! Joanna, may I just say you are glorious, honest, beautiful and real. Your posts make my day, every day. Keep up the great work.

Whoa, those breastfeeding in public post comments, jeez. “Your breast is a sexual organ…” Makes me want to breastfeed my boyfriend in public just to insult people who think breastfeeding is an issue. I am going to try and keep an open mind but struggle with this one.

Joanna, I really like what your friend said: that you are growing a soul during the pregnancy. In my view you continue growing it after the birth and that’s the most challenging and the most important thing of all. How do we make sure our little ones become good, kind, confident, strong, fulfilled and altogether happy people? Can we discuss in this online community more issues related to the challenges of being a parent (e.g. discipline, tantrums, asserting your authority, siblings’ relationships, choosing schools, etc.)? At times I feel so unprepared for the heavy task of being a mom and parenting books only scratch the surface (if that). My experience shows that the best parenting advice comes from other moms. So I’d love it if you’d write more posts on that and spark meaningful discussions.

I would love to read a post on children’s privacy and social media. I had my daughter 4 months ago and can’t help but post photos of her milestones and cute things she’s done, but I also am trying to determine where the limits are for her safety and privacy. I’d love to hear your thoughts (and others!) since you share Toby and Anton with us fairly regularly. What have you determined in terms of boundaries? Is there an age in their future where you think you’d stop? Do you and Alex ever disagree on how much of their lives to share?

Thanks Joanna!

Thank you so much for this post! So timely. I’m 23 weeks pregnant with my first and the registry post is especially helpful. xo

I’m 21 weeks and have looked to your blog for advice several times already, so thank you for all of the tips. First of all, I took your advice and bought the Bump Nest, and I agree that everyone must have it! I also read that in your birth story, your husband was nervous about being in the room during delivery. My husband is very nervous/queasy in any medical environment (I’ve seen him turn green during a blood draw) and I was wondering if anyone has any advice so I don’t end up in labor BY MYSELF with him passed out in another room. I’ve thought about having a back-up friend there with me just in case but I’d really like to get my husband to rally and make it through.

Thanks for posting. I am 22 weeks pregnant with my first child, a baby girl! I am a pediatrician, and I am so excited to be a mom. I’ve noticed feeling more vulnerable throughout my pregnancy, and I appreciate hearing about how you and other strong women dealt with these feelings rather than reading about all the should and should not do pregnancy posts online.

Perfect timing! I’m newly pregnant with my first baby…can’t wait to re-read all of these!

I’m 35 weeks pregnant with my second so this could not have been more timely – thanks for the compilation.

I think distilling the “best of” motherhood around the world series parenting tips and wisdom could be a great entry – and you can solicit feedback from mother readers around the world to add to it. That series is the favorite of many readers judging from the comments, so why not get more out of it?

Eesh, I’m hoping this timing couldn’t be more perfect for me. I’m taking a test in the morning. Fingers crossed!!!

Love! I am 12 weeks pregnant with my second. I always reference your post about feeling disappointed at first that Toby was a boy. I felt just the same when we found out about our darling son. Now that we are on to number two, I feel like a girl would be fine, but oh how I love having a son! I could just keep having boys for all eternity. ?

We’re expecting our first in about a month and your pregnancy posts have been incredibly helpful to me; many thanks for that! One topic I’d love to see covered is how having kids affects your marriage. I cherish alone time with my husband and love our little twosome. I’m so excited to become three, but I also worry about our marriage getting unintentionally pushed to the side, at least for awhile. It’s very important to both of us to maintain what has been a pretty blissful relationship so far, and I’d so appreciate insight and tips on how to do that. Thanks again for your wonderful, thought-provoking content.

Yay for your breastfeeding posts! I didn’t have friends or family who had done it, but the “breastfeeding in public” post normalized the idea for me and helped me feel comfortable feeding when out and about in the earliest days. Of all the wonderful things that your blog introduced into my life, this was by far the best.

Here’s a topic on which I’d love to get your/your readers’ perspective: the process of ADDING motherhood to your existing personhood. In many cases, I see new mothers around me losing touch with who they were before the baby arrived. They get sucked into baby world and seem to misplace the ability to discuss other things or maintain other priorities/interests (and not just at the all-consuming newborn stage, but way beyond, sometimes throughout the rest of their lives). That loss of identity scares me – I will still be ME after children, but maintaining that identity as a woman/wife/worker/creator/etc. after baby seems quite difficult to navigate.

Joanna, from what I’ve read on the blog, you seem to have done this process well. I’d really enjoy hearing yours and others’ ideas on how to add “mother” to the list of what makes you you without it become the only part of who you are.