I'm about 15 weeks along! Couldn't be more excited! Here's the baby from a week ago!

My pregnancy has been kinda rough. We've had issues with a subchronic hematoma, a risk that my baby and I would have incompatible blood types, and now they're running even more bloodwork to see if I have some genetic condition that causes blood clots. If any of these tests come back, then it's gonna be a good time. I'll officially be high risk in that case.

Any advice to spare? :)

EEEEEEEEEE congrats on your little gummy bear!

Oh gosh, I had so much fun doing a baby registry but after all the showers and gifts I ended up with a lot of things I didn't use! Diaper genie? Pass on that. Ultimately, all you'll need is lots of diapers and wipes. Don't spend a lot on clothes neither!

Hmmm, what else? Take everything people says to you in stride (even my advice!), a lot of the time they are wrong or just repeating a superstition. You don't need to put any of that extra stress, just be polite and thank them for whatever.

If you work and you can afford it, take your full FMLA (3 months off work). It makes it a little harder to go back to work but by then you have gotten used to living your life with a new baby as opposed to going back to work after only a few weeks. It's a major adjustment for everyone and it's good if you give yourself time to transition.

Do not let anyone talk down to you. If you have the child and end up not breastfeeding for whatever reason, do not let someone make you feel bad or call you a bad mother. Just because someone does not agree with how you raise your child doesn't mean you're a bad mother.

I'm not going to press hard on this subject because it's often debated, but get your child vaccinated. Doing your research will help you make that decision.

You're pregnant. If someone offers to do something for you, thank them and LET THEM DO IT. Take advantage of this time because once that kid comes you'll have a lot more to do and no one will offer to help. Sometimes letting someone carry that extra bag for you can make a world of difference.

I could go on about random things but I can't think of anything else!

My son just turned 2 in May btw :D

Thanks for the tips! The biggest problems for me right now are the opinions from others. A lot look down on me because I am young (18) and chose to have a kid instead of getting high. And then there's some who are trying to tell me I am basically all kinds of screwed because I want a natural birth, no epidural.

I don't understand why my age is a problem when I am still going to college, still working. I have my own apartment with boyfriend (we've been together 1.5 yrs). I have my own car. I don't rely on anyone for help. I just don't know why they're more disappointed in me than others who decide to live off their parents' money and do drugs/get drunk/party all the time.

FMLA is not going to be an option for me, unfortunately. I am switching jobs. My last job, I got demoted shortly after they found out I was pregnant. My pay rate got cut and so did my hours. Since she cut my hours, I was not going to be eligible for vacation time and I doubt I would have met the required hours for FMLA. So I got a new job. I'll be there for about 4 months before baby comes. After baby is here... I am not too sure what will happen. I'll have to play it by ear. :)

Well, see the thing about the age thing is... You won't be able to do the things you'd be able to without a kid. A child is a huge responsibility and sometime down the road you might think to yourself.. should I have waited a little longer? You are only 18, you still have a lot to experience if you so choose. It's not just about drugs/drunk/party. You won't be able to do a lot because a kid is hard to plan around, and that includes traveling or going out - not to party but for whatever reason - on a whim. A kid is going to bog down a lot of experiences you could have. And on top of that, you have a job and are going to school. Also, you might have friends who won't choose the same path that you'll find you start losing common interests and less time for yourself. I mean, I really could go on about it... It really is a big decision for someone to make at this age.

On the flip side, however, you'll have a whole new set of experiences with your little one! First smiles, first laughs, first rollover, crawl... It's an amazing thing to watch someone you brought into this world develop into a functioning individual.

So when someone is telling you you're too young it's because you are pretty young. It's not necessarily a bad thing by any means but someone may want you to "live to the fullest" before you take on something so permanent such as a child.

And a little background about me, I'm currently 27. Got married at 20, has my son at 25.

I suppose that's the weird thing about me. I was never one for going out. I never had interests in travelling to far away places, I would much rather stay home and spend time with my boyfriend and baby.

Since finding out I was pregnant, I reconnected with an old friend and found out I wasn't alone- she's pregnant too! She's about 3 months ahead of me. I guess some friends may distance themselves away, but it is nice to know there is another person who is going through the same thing.

I would suggest joining babycenter's website, they have groups set up for people who are pregnant around the time you are who can also provide support! Also reach out to other's here, I made a friend on Neopets who had the same due date as me :D

I, too, reconnected with my old best friend with whom I had a fallout with. Her daughter is 6 months older than my son. Funny how things turn out.

This very well may be the right time for you to have a child, but expect people to be concerned for you for being young.

It really is! But I wouldn't have it any other way. I am a member of BabyCenter, it is beyond entertaining! I like how snippy the women get with each other.

I am hoping to start being more social. I am terrible with new people though, so this is gonna be exciting.

sooooo, is your gummy a boy or a girl? You should be far along now to get find out the gender... unless you wanted it a secret? If not, do you want a boy or girl? AND DON'T GIVE ME JUST A HEALTHY BABY you know you have a preference XD

My baby has not been wanting to participate at all! I am pretty sure it's a girl. Just a gut feeling. I recoil a bit everytime someone tells me it is a boy. I just don't believe it. I don't really care if it is a boy or a girl, but yes, I would prefer a girl. :)

I told my boyfriend that when they reveal she is a girl, I am going to go on a major shopping spree and he can't stop me. He's already accepted I will become a monster ;)

do you have names picked out? Was it a planned pregnancy or an oopsy?

I had such a strong desire to have 5 kids but then I had my son and now I'm kinda like.. huh, I don't really NEED another kid like I thought I did. I'd love for him to have a sibling but I don't have the same urge I did for him. it's weird, I always dreamed of having a big family because mine is so small. I wanted to live the life like on the NBC show Parenthood lol

I wouldn't say the pregnancy was planned, but it wasn't an accident. We were comfortable enough with our situations that we decided we weren't going to try, but we weren't going to prevent. I guess that I had no problem conceiving, because the month we decided was the month I missed my period. Whoops.

I completely understand that urge! I wanted SO badly to have a child. I still do. I wanted to have 2, not too many, not too few. But this pregnancy has given me sooo many problems, I may just stick with my one.

As far as names, we decided on Victoria Marie for sure. Oliver Antonius (I'm gonna fight to change that to Anthony if it is actually a boy) for a boy.

What's your son's name?

My husband didn't want children for a long time, and I kinda pressured him into our son but it was time. And it was a good decision because it changed him, too. It's funny because in our first 2 years of marriage we were trying not to get preggo... but we didn't use protection. Luckily, no kid! Finally decided to stop trying to having one and we instantly got pregnant. So, I guess we dodged bullets or were extremely lucky at the beginning XD

Our son's name is Calvin Rhys. It took a long time to come up with a name that hasn't been muddled by someone else. I'm kinda sad now because I really like the name Rhys and would use it for a first name lol ah well.

You picked very classy names! My son wanted to use a name from either one of our grandfathers... but the choices were Hubert or Walter, and, well, I think I'll spare my son the bullying for a really old fashioned name lol. Victoria Marie is better than all the Sophias and Olivias.. though when i was younger there were a LOT of Jessicas!

I was sooo tempted to fight for Sophia. I love classy names. I am now debating between Gennevieve as well. But I can't even spell that, so probably won't do it. Victoria is great because it has those great nicknames too. Tori is probably what we'll use.

How is Rhys pronounced? It looks like it'd be cute :) Those are kinda old names... I am going to fight tooth and nail to change Antonius to Anthony, but I am not sure how well it would end. My boyfriend is Dutch and very proud of his heritage.

my best friend's daughter whom I was talking about earlier is named Sophia XD

Rhys is another spelling for Reese :D Got it from that actor from the Tudors actually LOL

That is awesome that your boyfriend is Dutch! One of my best friends is Dutch and my mom currently lives in the Netherlands!

It is kinda cool, but I feel so awkward sometimes. Unfortunately, with his pride comes an instilled hatred of Germans. Apparently that is normal. Guess whose ancestry is a majority German? :P Plus I don't know anything about Dutch culture. Just that they have wooden shoes.

Such a cute name! I like that. I can guarantee he won't be made fun of with those names. MY main concern as far as kids being made fun of is that baby will take my last name, Troutwine. Awful name. I was made fun of for ages. It wouldn't be safe to give the baby its dad's last name, so I guess it is okay. His biological family on his dad's side is nuts. I honestly think the baby would be in danger if it took that name.

I have zero experience but congratulations! I hope the rest goes very smoothly :D