What a joy! As a midwife, I want to mention that being pregnant and a mother is something everyone in the world feels is fair game to give their opinions about how you prepare to have the baby, how and where you give birth, breastfeeding, circumcision, sleeping arrangements, parenting styles, what schools to send your kids to, how to discipline, etc. etc. etc. I encourage you to build a massive block on all of that and do your own thing. It helps to say, "Thank you for that information, I'll certainly consider it," and move on, especially from loved ones. (Look! Advice even from me!) This is YOUR baby (and your husband's). Everyone gets to parent their own way and so do you. And you are parenting even now. I am so so happy for you. And the precariousness generally doesn't go away, but often amplifies as the baby is born. It's all normal. Your feelings are yours and I am so proud of you for speaking your truth. Congrats again.
Posting this for anyone who *delt* with infertility and IVF past tense and did not come out with a baby. I wish more people would share this, but it is so hard to talk about. Thank you for recognizing this in the video. The Childless Collective is one resource I know of where people share their “childless not by choice” stories and support for each other. ❤
Thank you for the resource, my partner and I are struggling with the results from my latest egg retrieval and I am at a loss on what to do going forward. Just heartbroken.
Love this video. I still feel the pain of infertility and we are lucky enough to have two healthy boys. Those years changed me and I still have lots of feelings that come up randomly. You are not alone.
God bless you all in this thrilling journey! As one who suffered through infertility (unsuccessfully) your sensitivity is so appreciated. I totally rejoice with you in your favor of God! So excited for this beautiful aspect of your life ❤🙏🏻💖
Congrats!🎉 I haven't dealt with infertility, but appreciate hearing stories like yours so I can learn to be a better friend to people who do. It's so common, and knowing what not to say and how to offer support is very helpful.
You are incredible! Be kind to yourself as you've endured so much already. You are already an outstanding mom, thanks for sharing vulnerably and honestly.
Congratulations! That's wonderful news! The only advice I would offer is the advice the physician who delivered our daughter gave me early on. "Don't listen to all the horror stories that other mothers too often 'share' about their pregnancy and childbirth experiences. If you have questions, ask me. Every pregnancy and childbirth is different....even for the same woman having more than one such experience." Wishing you a very harmonious pregnancy and easy birth experience and a beautiful, healthy baby in June!
I'm a hairstylist and I worked in a large salon while pregnant. Talk about lots of women sharing their horror stories with me (& some very rude comments). Your belly is suddenly public property.
I can imagine working in a salon must make it hard to tune it all out...maybe wear ear plugs and just keep nodding and saying uh-huh!? 😊 His advice was so good I'm still mindful of it and only say happy and encouraging things to new moms-to-be! @@brendaamos4523
Congratulations!!! We went through infertility as well. Our baby turned 27 this month. A lot of emotions there for sure. You’ll get tons of unsolicited advice - trust yourself and Andy. You two will navigate all of the decisions together in a thoughtful, educated way. You have a kind, compassionate heart toward other women in the struggle- your our opening was so caring. I personally look forward to more content on your pregnancy, navigating that with MS, and your approach towards simplicity with your bringing a new life into your home!
Elin congratulations to you and Andy.🥰🥰🥰 I’m so very excited for the both of you as you enter this very exciting stage of your lives. My husband and I went through years of infertility due to my Crohn’s disease and all of the scar tissue I had due to previous surgeries. I never expected that we’d have to go on that journey but we did. We had very few options being (1) surgery to try and correct my fallopian tubes which had a small chance of working or (2) IVF. After several attempts of fresh and frozen embryos we just couldn’t try again. I found it very difficult physically and of course mentally. We ended up going the adoption route which was the biggest blessing. We went international and everything went smoothly. We adopted our son many years ago and this year he will be 28.🥰😂 Being a mother has been the greatest blessing and most fulfilling part of my life. Still to this day I can’t believe how lucky I am. I have always suffered with my Crohn’s disease but managed to make things work while raising my son. I know that even with your MS diagnosis you will be the very best mom. Wishing you all the best.❤️🙏
Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉 as someone who struggled with infertility (unsuccessfully) I understand all your sensitivities ❤ wish you a good pregnancy and safe labor and healthy child ❤
Congratulations! 🎉 I appreciate you sharing and opening up about your MS and infertility also! I have a different autoimmune and it's nice to know that we are not alone in how hard some days are for us; and how that affects having kids, parenting, our thoughts/feelings about becoming a parent, etc. So thank you, I do appreciate you talking about all of this!
Congratulations!!! This is such exciting news for you, your family and for those of us who have been cheering you on. I am glad that you talk about your MS diagnosis because I have two family members that have it and a dear friend who has it. Eamon and Bec are two people I follow on You Tube who talked about infertility and also her cancer.She is now healthy and they have a baby! In a World full of bad news lately, this is such a ray of sunshine. It will be awesome for you to talk about raising a minimalist family. The Minimalist Mom talks about that on You Tube, but it will be great to hear your voice about the topic too.
I’m so happy to hear the news! ❤ Very strongly and sincerely, feel ya when you are talking about how the journey of IVF-related treatment feels very much lonely and often disconnected. I had to go through a part of this process (stimulation and freezing the eggcells) all by myself, not having a partner to support and share my experience with. This was a necessary step to give myself a chance to have family in future, because I had to go through a complex surgery, which could become the end of my fertility. I feel really lucky and grateful that the surgery went well, but I totally agree with your words about numbing your emotions to survive the stress of being in a middle of hope and fear. You are so strong! Thank you so much for sharing this with us ❤️
I'm so glad I ended up watching the video, thank you so much for voicing these experiences so thoughtfully. Going through infertility is so awful and I have found myself hiding away and refraining from socializing in order to avoid those emotions, wedding season was the worst when all my peers were together talking about their kids and when they would want their next baby, it makes me so sad and angry that the rest of the world can plan the WHEN, when I can't even have a single one. I am going through IVF and I feel very similar emotions, that fear and dread mixed with constant hope and disappointment has been brutal, and I know if I do get pregnant that the fear wont go away that easily.
Hi Elin. I'm absolutely delighted to hear that you are expecting a baby. You have had a traumatic time trying for so long, so it is understandable that you are apprehensive and not fully able to relax. Wishing you a very safe pregnancy journey. Amanda x
Congratulations! What a happy outcome for you. I applaud your sensitivity. As a minimalist, the best advice I can give you in your insecurity about becoming a parent is a) concentrate on what you don‘t need; I see minimalist‘s „essentials“ lists and think you don‘t need 90% of that stuff. Start really small and if there is anything you need going along, it is so easy now to just go and get it. Beyond a car seat, clothes and some form of diaper, you need nothing to begin with! You have towels in your house, right?! You will be given sooo much, too, from well-meaning family, friends, parents‘ friends, neighbours…. they all want to show their delight. Advice b) is to trust your instincts and go with the flow. Just because everyone else‘s baby xyz doesn‘t mean yours will xyz, they are all different, we are all different, no two situations are the same. I had my first at 19 and had no clue, never held a baby before, but I used my common sense, we learned together and that is fine. That baby is 40 in March and has 4 of her own… 😊🤗
😊 So so happy for you! ❤ I think sharing your journey is needed. And you did a wonderful job articulating your thoughts and feelings!! 🫶🏼 Enjoy this new chapter 🌱🌻
Congratulations❤ Elin, here’s the thing, you can read all the books but you will be different to the books - and there’s nothing wrong with that. No baby or pregnancy comes with a handbook. I had similar anxieties with pregnancy - I had a miscarriage and it broke me. I had already had two healthy babies and I tried for a year after. Long story a day after of seeing gynae who could confirmed I had started the menopause, I found out I was pregnant and later it was identical twins! My rainbow babies are a blessing. No book could’ve told me how that would pan out. 😂 Motherhood and parenting is something you decide on. Don’t rely on books. Take parenting classes and talk to other mums. In the UK we have the National Childbirth Trust who run private antenatal classes - 15 years later we are all family now. 7 families and 14 babies between us. There is not a situation in motherhood we haven’t discussed - not a bodily function or fluid that we haven’t discussed. 😂 Find your group and you’ll be just fine muddling through together. ❤
Congratulations !! We have also been struggling with infertility over the last 4 years only to finally get an endrometriosis diagnosis a few months ago ( with no endo symptoms).we are also now pregnant and due in June too! Sending lots of love & blessings
Congratulations! As a new mom who found your channel when I was pregnant (#nesting haha) I'm also excited to see how this shift impacts your views on minimalism. I think the two can coexist!
YAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!! I went through infertility, which is why my son is 16, not 18. I was diagnosed with PCOS. We didn’t do IVF, but Clomid. I understand the frustration and fear of infertility and the absolute excitement when I finally conceived. I will pray for you and baby that your pregnancy goes smoothly. Hugs!!!!
OMG! Congratulations! This journey of pregnancy and motherhood is different for each person… I remember having a group of friends that were married around the same time, and I was the oldest woman in the group. The others got pregnant first and were always telling me to hurry, or it would be too late for me. Little they knew that I wanted to have kids but my then husband wasn’t ready, and after that we experienced difficulties getting pregnant and it took 2 years of trying… I felt so pressured and sad and frustrated and all the things. I ended up having my first son at 37. Despite all that, it all went well, and I now have my two boys (8 and 10), who are the joy of my life! Wishing you and Andy all the best! 🥰
First of all, congratulations! Everything you are feeling might not be quite what you expected at this time, but you are right! There are so many layers and it makes complete sense why you feel the way you do. Thank you for sharing as always. Try to let the good moments be just that. I've heard many experiences with medical professionals not being sensitive to people in general. I am sorry she didn't acknowledge there is more than one "normal" way to get pregnant. Congrats again you will be an excellent mother!
Don’t let fear take away your joy and the ability to connect with your baby that you are carrying. A lot of medical procedures and the process of infertility seems to make things very mechanical. Don’t forget the only thing you really need to be a new parent, which is to love your baby and nurture to the best of your ability.
I have heard the infertility process is very hard, and congratulations. Here’s to a happy healthy baby. BTW I was a June baby. Good month to be born in.
Congratulations on the happy news! A baby wanted and loved by two parents is such a blessing. I pray for an easy delivery and a healthy baby for you and Andy. You will be great parents! ❤
I appreciate this so much I had 3 healthy pregnancies with no complications, then had a lot happen and my life and have now had 6 losses in a row. I often think of my first 3 and how it didn’t even cross my mind about those who struggled with fertility issues and I worry that I was I knowingly not compassionate or thoughtful just out of ignorance. I am very aware now of what I say, my natural assumptions of family sizes, etc. I wish you the best and hope you allow yourself to be beyond happy for you and your husband. I’m so excited to watch your journey to motherhood ❤
Congratulations! thanks so much for sharing this. I think it is helpful for people out there who went through similar experience with you to know that there is a community who care and support them, and most importantly understand them. Good luck with your motherhood journey and all the best wishes!
Yes! I didn't have the excitement during my pregnancy. I felt fear. I used to track the reducing miscarriage rates every day to make myself feel better. I had three miscarriages during my journey (including an ectopic pregnancy). I got the nurse to ring my husband with the results of our transfer, not me because I felt i couldn't tell my husband any more bad news. I wanted him to have to tell me. But the news ended up being good! I fully get how you feel. I kind of lost my innocent, naive joyfulness about pregnancy after all we'd been through to get there. Oh and "the club". That just added to how hard infertility was. I was the last of my friends to have a child. I remember one day we all went out for lunch and every topic of conversation managed to end up about being a Mum. And being told i didn't like children because I didn't have any?! I just felt judged and not safe to tell anyone about the struggles I was going through. I'm shocked the nurse said "the normal way". That's just awful. I'm sorry you had to put up with that
Congrats and best wishes for a smooth pregnancy!! I was at “advanced maternal age” when I started trying. I was asked, “was it a spontaneous pregnancy?” which sounded really funny! That was the way the nurse worded the question about whether we used IVF or not (we did not). I had a devastating ultrasound at 10 weeks with no heartbeat. I remember feeling so confused, as if I should have known deep down. I felt like a fool that I was walking around thinking I was pregnant but it was already lost. That was hard. And then a week later, a nurse called me with my blood test results from that day and happily shared that it was a boy. 😬😳 She was so embarrassed when she realized. Then I got pregnant again just a couple months later, which was amazing news. But I couldn’t enjoy it. I was so afraid. The 20 week anatomy scan went well and I started to feel more positive about things then, but I didn’t feel fully comfortable until I could feel my baby kick. Then I had that assurance every day and it helped a lot. Now I have a beautiful 18 month old son. To think that if my first son had lived, my son now likely would not be here. Hard to imagine something like that, that his brother died so he could live. Thank you for sharing your experience. I relate to being left out of the “parent club” for so long, by the time I was having my son, all my friends and family members couldn’t remember what it was like, it had been so long. Now the moms I meet are like 15 years younger than me.
I had that same experience, a missed miscarriage is just brutal. I also never feel secure in my pregnancy since then until I feel baby kick. Thankfully it's been happening quite early at like 17 weeks and I can finally feel comfortable sharing the news
I have never heard having to fake being happy about your pregnancy when you were going through IVF. You are really pregnant. It’s ok to be happy and let people know you’re happy
A huge Congratulations! I am so happy for you and your husband. Our daughter and son in law struggled for years to have a child. After treatments we have two grandchildren today. How we love these blessed little ones. Please don’t worry and stress about having to feel a certain way or the overwhelming feeling that there is so much to learn or fear that creeps in. You can do this and you will make a beautiful mother. Just relax, take care of yourself and focus on one thing at a time. There is no right or wrong way to feel as each depends upon circumstances. In the end it will all come together. When you see that little one and hold your new baby, all the joy and happiness will be there and suddenly all the pain and difficulties become so minimal. I believe that the love God puts in our hearts for our children cannot be explained or fully comprehended, but it will be there for your little one and you will understand more and more.
Being a caregiver is responsibility to care for and nurture their body and mind. You already do that for the minds of your community here. I think you'll do fantastic. Wishing you all the best!
I related completely to everything you said about your experiences and the isolation, etc; you articulated it so well. Best wishes for a smooth delivery and healthy baby. Sincerely, A mom of two amazing young women, now 28 and 26 years old, both conceived after multiple rounds of IVF
I became a mother by adoption through foster care before having biological children as we had tried unsuccessfullyfor 4 years. Our adopted children are of another race to boot. Those feelings and responses by others are also complicated. While not the same situation as you, the difficult journey to motherhood at the heart can be much the same. Despite all that.... enjoy, savor the moments.
Congratulations! What a wonderfull news. I hope you and the baby are well and I wish you all the best with the pregnancy. You will be a great mom! Thank you for sharing your story! I would love to hear more about how you are preparing for and dealing with chronic illness and pregnancy/being a mom (to be). Congrats again!
Congratulations 🥳! You are so deserving of this wonderful life event! Take care of yourself…. You will certainly be an amazing mom ❤. Bisous de Montreal!
Congratulations, this is exciting news! Once my baby (now have 2) came along, the pain of infertility lessened a bit and once the second came l now feel more connected with the “mom club” rather than the infertility club- I say this to example that the pain of infertility can lessen and sometimes the whirlwind of being engrossed in parenthood pulls you into the now rather than the then. The one time I do feel the lingering pain is pregnancy announcements, I still get pangs of jealously. Congrats again and you are not alone in your feelings !! ❤️
To say congratulations doesn’t really cover it but; congratulations to you and your husband! 🙏 I’m at 21 weeks now after several years of infertility and ivf and I resonated with a lot of what you said. Especially how were inserted in the healthcare system with no extra though of the bagage. For me that was a huge contrast to the IVF-clinic where people actually cared about the emotional part of it all. I also like what you said about this parent club. So many of my friends just expect me to join it now but I’m still hurting from their inability in the past to be sensitive about the subject when my husband and I were struggling. It’s like they’re relieved because now we’re “normal”. I actually recategorized many friendships due to this. Anyway- THANK YOU for this video and I think you’re such a cool person for talking so openly about this and your life in general. You’re an inspiration and once again / congratulations! 🌺
Thank you for sharing this wonderful news!! Congratulations to you and your husband! 🎉 I'm sorry this journey has been hard at times for you. You are helping people feel less alone by sharing your journey in a public way. Pregnancy and motherhood can be overwhelming at times and there is no "right way" to feel about it, regardless of how easy or difficult it has been to get there. Everyone will have an opinion, welcomed or not. Ultimately you know your body, and will know your baby, better than anyone. Trust yourself. There are also times for mourning and times for celebration. Enjoy this time and celebrate it. (P.S. enjoy your sleep while you can lol) 🤗🎉🥳 thank you again for sharing. It's ok to feel your feelings and it's ok if they are not the "normal" feelings either.
Congratulations Elin! And thank you for that really thoughtful acknowledgement at the start. I'm a Mama of an almost five year old after going through seven years of infertility. Pregnancy announcements still sting. I think they always will because they take me back to that really difficult time in my life. I'm so happy for you, especially after everything you've been through. Thank you for being so open about your journey and so excited for you and your husband! What a lucky baby 😍
What a joy! As a midwife, I want to mention that being pregnant and a mother is something everyone in the world feels is fair game to give their opinions about how you prepare to have the baby, how and where you give birth, breastfeeding, circumcision, sleeping arrangements, parenting styles, what schools to send your kids to, how to discipline, etc. etc. etc. I encourage you to build a massive block on all of that and do your own thing. It helps to say, "Thank you for that information, I'll certainly consider it," and move on, especially from loved ones. (Look! Advice even from me!) This is YOUR baby (and your husband's). Everyone gets to parent their own way and so do you. And you are parenting even now. I am so so happy for you. And the precariousness generally doesn't go away, but often amplifies as the baby is born. It's all normal. Your feelings are yours and I am so proud of you for speaking your truth. Congrats again.
Posting this for anyone who *delt* with infertility and IVF past tense and did not come out with a baby. I wish more people would share this, but it is so hard to talk about. Thank you for recognizing this in the video. The Childless Collective is one resource I know of where people share their “childless not by choice” stories and support for each other. ❤
Thank you for the resource, my partner and I are struggling with the results from my latest egg retrieval and I am at a loss on what to do going forward. Just heartbroken.
Congratulations Elin! I wish all the women who are trying to get pregnant get the good news for them too!!!
I'm sooo HAPPY FOR YOU GUYS❤️🙏❤️🥹🥰
Love this video. I still feel the pain of infertility and we are lucky enough to have two healthy boys. Those years changed me and I still have lots of feelings that come up randomly. You are not alone.
God bless you all in this thrilling journey! As one who suffered through infertility (unsuccessfully) your sensitivity is so appreciated. I totally rejoice with you in your favor of God! So excited for this beautiful aspect of your life ❤🙏🏻💖
❤
Congrats!🎉 I haven't dealt with infertility, but appreciate hearing stories like yours so I can learn to be a better friend to people who do. It's so common, and knowing what not to say and how to offer support is very helpful.
Congratulations! What wonderful news for you and your husband. Take care of yourself and enjoy it all. From a mom of 2 from IVF.
Aw, thank you!
You are incredible! Be kind to yourself as you've endured so much already. You are already an outstanding mom, thanks for sharing vulnerably and honestly.
Congratulations! That's wonderful news! The only advice I would offer is the advice the physician who delivered our daughter gave me early on. "Don't listen to all the horror stories that other mothers too often 'share' about their pregnancy and childbirth experiences. If you have questions, ask me. Every pregnancy and childbirth is different....even for the same woman having more than one such experience." Wishing you a very harmonious pregnancy and easy birth experience and a beautiful, healthy baby in June!
I'm a hairstylist and I worked in a large salon while pregnant. Talk about lots of women sharing their horror stories with me (& some very rude comments). Your belly is suddenly public property.
I can imagine working in a salon must make it hard to tune it all out...maybe wear ear plugs and just keep nodding and saying uh-huh!? 😊 His advice was so good I'm still mindful of it and only say happy and encouraging things to new moms-to-be! @@brendaamos4523
Congratulations Elin!
Congratulations Elin!! ♡♡♡
Yay, such wonderful news! ❤
Congratulations!
Congratulations!!! We went through infertility as well. Our baby turned 27 this month. A lot of emotions there for sure. You’ll get tons of unsolicited advice - trust yourself and Andy. You two will navigate all of the decisions together in a thoughtful, educated way. You have a kind, compassionate heart toward other women in the struggle- your our opening was so caring. I personally look forward to more content on your pregnancy, navigating that with MS, and your approach towards simplicity with your bringing a new life into your home!
Awesome! Congratulations!
I am so happy for you & Andy. Congratulations! 🎊🎉
Elin congratulations to you and Andy.🥰🥰🥰 I’m so very excited for the both of you as you enter this very exciting stage of your lives. My husband and I went through years of infertility due to my Crohn’s disease and all of the scar tissue I had due to previous surgeries. I never expected that we’d have to go on that journey but we did. We had very few options being (1) surgery to try and correct my fallopian tubes which had a small chance of working or (2) IVF. After several attempts of fresh and frozen embryos we just couldn’t try again. I found it very difficult physically and of course mentally. We ended up going the adoption route which was the biggest blessing. We went international and everything went smoothly. We adopted our son many years ago and this year he will be 28.🥰😂 Being a mother has been the greatest blessing and most fulfilling part of my life. Still to this day I can’t believe how lucky I am. I have always suffered with my Crohn’s disease but managed to make things work while raising my son. I know that even with your MS diagnosis you will be the very best mom. Wishing you all the best.❤️🙏
Congratulations!!! 🎉🎉
Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉 as someone who struggled with infertility (unsuccessfully) I understand all your sensitivities ❤ wish you a good pregnancy and safe labor and healthy child ❤
What a great news💕
Congratulations to yous both❤️
Thanks for sharing 🙏💡
Congrats! So happy for you!
This is SO FANTASTIC! I am so happy for you Elin ❤❤❤
Massive congratulations to you both
Congratulations!!!
So very happy for you - congratulations! 🥰
Awesome news🎉❤and take care!
Congratulations! 🎉
I appreciate you sharing and opening up about your MS and infertility also! I have a different autoimmune and it's nice to know that we are not alone in how hard some days are for us; and how that affects having kids, parenting, our thoughts/feelings about becoming a parent, etc. So thank you, I do appreciate you talking about all of this!
Congratulations to Elin, Andy, & Ginger!!! ❤❤❤
So, so overjoyed for you and your husband. Enjoy every moment of phase. 🩷💙
Congratulations!! This is wonderful news, and I hope for all the best for you and your husband and your little one!!
Many many congratulations ! ❤❤
Congratulations my dear
Wow, thank you for sharing your long and complicated journey! And congratulations and wishing the best for you!
I'm so happy for you Elin! I'm sorry that this has been a hard journey for you. I pray that you'll have a smooth pregnancy and feel peace.
Congratulations! I'm so happy for you and your husband. You're going to be a great mom!
Congratulations Elin 🎉. So excited for you and Andy!
Congratulations!!! This is such exciting news for you, your family and for those of us who have been cheering you on. I am glad that you talk about your MS diagnosis because I have two family members that have it and a dear friend who has it. Eamon and Bec are two people I follow on You Tube who talked about infertility and also her cancer.She is now healthy and they have a baby! In a World full of bad news lately, this is such a ray of sunshine. It will be awesome for you to talk about raising a minimalist family. The Minimalist Mom talks about that on You Tube, but it will be great to hear your voice about the topic too.
So very happy for you both!!
Congratulations Elin. Wishing you a very healthy pregnancy and delivery. 🎉❤
I’m so happy to hear the news! ❤
Very strongly and sincerely, feel ya when you are talking about how the journey of IVF-related treatment feels very much lonely and often disconnected. I had to go through a part of this process (stimulation and freezing the eggcells) all by myself, not having a partner to support and share my experience with. This was a necessary step to give myself a chance to have family in future, because I had to go through a complex surgery, which could become the end of my fertility. I feel really lucky and grateful that the surgery went well, but I totally agree with your words about numbing your emotions to survive the stress of being in a middle of hope and fear.
You are so strong! Thank you so much for sharing this with us ❤️
I'm so glad I ended up watching the video, thank you so much for voicing these experiences so thoughtfully. Going through infertility is so awful and I have found myself hiding away and refraining from socializing in order to avoid those emotions, wedding season was the worst when all my peers were together talking about their kids and when they would want their next baby, it makes me so sad and angry that the rest of the world can plan the WHEN, when I can't even have a single one. I am going through IVF and I feel very similar emotions, that fear and dread mixed with constant hope and disappointment has been brutal, and I know if I do get pregnant that the fear wont go away that easily.
❤🤗
Congratulations Elin and Andy. I am so happy for you both.
Hi Elin. I'm absolutely delighted to hear that you are expecting a baby. You have had a traumatic time trying for so long, so it is understandable that you are apprehensive and not fully able to relax. Wishing you a very safe pregnancy journey. Amanda x
Congratulations! What a happy outcome for you. I applaud your sensitivity.
As a minimalist, the best advice I can give you in your insecurity about becoming a parent is a) concentrate on what you don‘t need; I see minimalist‘s „essentials“ lists and think you don‘t need 90% of that stuff. Start really small and if there is anything you need going along, it is so easy now to just go and get it. Beyond a car seat, clothes and some form of diaper, you need nothing to begin with! You have towels in your house, right?! You will be given sooo much, too, from well-meaning family, friends, parents‘ friends, neighbours…. they all want to show their delight. Advice b) is to trust your instincts and go with the flow. Just because everyone else‘s baby xyz doesn‘t mean yours will xyz, they are all different, we are all different, no two situations are the same. I had my first at 19 and had no clue, never held a baby before, but I used my common sense, we learned together and that is fine. That baby is 40 in March and has 4 of her own… 😊🤗
😊 So so happy for you! ❤ I think sharing your journey is needed. And you did a wonderful job articulating your thoughts and feelings!! 🫶🏼 Enjoy this new chapter 🌱🌻
Congratulations❤ Elin, here’s the thing, you can read all the books but you will be different to the books - and there’s nothing wrong with that. No baby or pregnancy comes with a handbook.
I had similar anxieties with pregnancy - I had a miscarriage and it broke me. I had already had two healthy babies and I tried for a year after. Long story a day after of seeing gynae who could confirmed I had started the menopause, I found out I was pregnant and later it was identical twins! My rainbow babies are a blessing. No book could’ve told me how that would pan out. 😂
Motherhood and parenting is something you decide on. Don’t rely on books. Take parenting classes and talk to other mums. In the UK we have the National Childbirth Trust who run private antenatal classes - 15 years later we are all family now. 7 families and 14 babies between us. There is not a situation in motherhood we haven’t discussed - not a bodily function or fluid that we haven’t discussed. 😂 Find your group and you’ll be just fine muddling through together. ❤
Congratulations !! We have also been struggling with infertility over the last 4 years only to finally get an endrometriosis diagnosis a few months ago ( with no endo symptoms).we are also now pregnant and due in June too! Sending lots of love & blessings
Huge congratulations to you both. Looking forward to watching your journey to motherhood . X
I’m so happy for you! Such a joyous event
Congratulations! As a new mom who found your channel when I was pregnant (#nesting haha) I'm also excited to see how this shift impacts your views on minimalism. I think the two can coexist!
Congrats to you and your family! Thank you for using your platform to help others who are going through the same thing:)
YAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!! I went through infertility, which is why my son is 16, not 18. I was diagnosed with PCOS. We didn’t do IVF, but Clomid. I understand the frustration and fear of infertility and the absolute excitement when I finally conceived. I will pray for you and baby that your pregnancy goes smoothly. Hugs!!!!
Wishing you a healthy gentle pregnancy and everything beyond! ❤
OMG! Congratulations! This journey of pregnancy and motherhood is different for each person… I remember having a group of friends that were married around the same time, and I was the oldest woman in the group. The others got pregnant first and were always telling me to hurry, or it would be too late for me. Little they knew that I wanted to have kids but my then husband wasn’t ready, and after that we experienced difficulties getting pregnant and it took 2 years of trying… I felt so pressured and sad and frustrated and all the things. I ended up having my first son at 37. Despite all that, it all went well, and I now have my two boys (8 and 10), who are the joy of my life! Wishing you and Andy all the best! 🥰
I am so happy for you!! Congratulations! ❤
First of all, congratulations! Everything you are feeling might not be quite what you expected at this time, but you are right! There are so many layers and it makes complete sense why you feel the way you do. Thank you for sharing as always. Try to let the good moments be just that. I've heard many experiences with medical professionals not being sensitive to people in general. I am sorry she didn't acknowledge there is more than one "normal" way to get pregnant. Congrats again you will be an excellent mother!
Congratulations!! This is wonderful news! 💚💚
Don’t let fear take away your joy and the ability to connect with your baby that you are carrying. A lot of medical procedures and the process of infertility seems to make things very mechanical. Don’t forget the only thing you really need to be a new parent, which is to love your baby and nurture to the best of your ability.
I have heard the infertility process is very hard, and congratulations. Here’s to a happy healthy baby. BTW I was a June baby. Good month to be born in.
Congratulations on the happy news! A baby wanted and loved by two parents is such a blessing. I pray for an easy delivery and a healthy baby for you and Andy. You will be great parents! ❤
Congratulations! Great news! All the best to all 3 of you.
Congratulations! Enjoy this sweet time- it truly is such a special time.❤️
Congratulations to you and Andy. I'm thrilled for you both.
I'm so happy for you! Congratulations!
I appreciate this so much I had 3 healthy pregnancies with no complications, then had a lot happen and my life and have now had 6 losses in a row. I often think of my first 3 and how it didn’t even cross my mind about those who struggled with fertility issues and I worry that I was I knowingly not compassionate or thoughtful just out of ignorance. I am very aware now of what I say, my natural assumptions of family sizes, etc. I wish you the best and hope you allow yourself to be beyond happy for you and your husband. I’m so excited to watch your journey to motherhood ❤
Congratulations 🎉 you got this ! I am happy for you both .
Such happy news, congratulations to all of you (husband, family, etc)!!
Congratulations!!!!
❤❤❤
Congratulations! thanks so much for sharing this. I think it is helpful for people out there who went through similar experience with you to know that there is a community who care and support them, and most importantly understand them. Good luck with your motherhood journey and all the best wishes!
Congratulations Elin. I wish you and Andy the best with your little blessing ❤
Yes! I didn't have the excitement during my pregnancy. I felt fear. I used to track the reducing miscarriage rates every day to make myself feel better. I had three miscarriages during my journey (including an ectopic pregnancy). I got the nurse to ring my husband with the results of our transfer, not me because I felt i couldn't tell my husband any more bad news. I wanted him to have to tell me. But the news ended up being good! I fully get how you feel. I kind of lost my innocent, naive joyfulness about pregnancy after all we'd been through to get there. Oh and "the club". That just added to how hard infertility was. I was the last of my friends to have a child. I remember one day we all went out for lunch and every topic of conversation managed to end up about being a Mum. And being told i didn't like children because I didn't have any?! I just felt judged and not safe to tell anyone about the struggles I was going through. I'm shocked the nurse said "the normal way". That's just awful. I'm sorry you had to put up with that
Congrats and best wishes for a smooth pregnancy!! I was at “advanced maternal age” when I started trying. I was asked, “was it a spontaneous pregnancy?” which sounded really funny! That was the way the nurse worded the question about whether we used IVF or not (we did not).
I had a devastating ultrasound at 10 weeks with no heartbeat. I remember feeling so confused, as if I should have known deep down. I felt like a fool that I was walking around thinking I was pregnant but it was already lost. That was hard. And then a week later, a nurse called me with my blood test results from that day and happily shared that it was a boy. 😬😳 She was so embarrassed when she realized.
Then I got pregnant again just a couple months later, which was amazing news. But I couldn’t enjoy it. I was so afraid. The 20 week anatomy scan went well and I started to feel more positive about things then, but I didn’t feel fully comfortable until I could feel my baby kick. Then I had that assurance every day and it helped a lot. Now I have a beautiful 18 month old son. To think that if my first son had lived, my son now likely would not be here. Hard to imagine something like that, that his brother died so he could live.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I relate to being left out of the “parent club” for so long, by the time I was having my son, all my friends and family members couldn’t remember what it was like, it had been so long. Now the moms I meet are like 15 years younger than me.
🧡
I had that same experience, a missed miscarriage is just brutal. I also never feel secure in my pregnancy since then until I feel baby kick. Thankfully it's been happening quite early at like 17 weeks and I can finally feel comfortable sharing the news
@@beans4853 Here’s hoping your days and nights are filled with healthy kicks and minimal heartburn!! 💕
@@babajayne thank you!
I have never heard having to fake being happy about your pregnancy when you were going through IVF. You are really pregnant. It’s ok to be happy and let people know you’re happy
Congrats to you❤️We have been trying for several years too, hopefully the 2024 will be lucky for us😍
❤ Prayers for you and Baby
Congratulations!! Thank you for sharing the news.
A huge Congratulations! I am so happy for you and your husband. Our daughter and son in law struggled for years to have a child. After treatments we have two grandchildren today. How we love these blessed little ones. Please don’t worry and stress about having to feel a certain way or the overwhelming feeling that there is so much to learn or fear that creeps in. You can do this and you will make a beautiful mother. Just relax, take care of yourself and focus on one thing at a time. There is no right or wrong way to feel as each depends upon circumstances. In the end it will all come together. When you see that little one and hold your new baby, all the joy and happiness will be there and suddenly all the pain and difficulties become so minimal. I believe that the love God puts in our hearts for our children cannot be explained or fully comprehended, but it will be there for your little one and you will understand more and more.
Wow...I am so happy for the both of you! 🎉💕
Being a caregiver is responsibility to care for and nurture their body and mind. You already do that for the minds of your community here. I think you'll do fantastic. Wishing you all the best!
Congratulations 🌸
I appreciate hearing your honesty in life.
So very happy for you and Andy! You're going to be a wonderful mom!!
I related completely to everything you said about your experiences and the isolation, etc; you articulated it so well. Best wishes for a smooth delivery and healthy baby.
Sincerely,
A mom of two amazing young women, now 28 and 26 years old, both conceived after multiple rounds of IVF
I became a mother by adoption through foster care before having biological children as we had tried unsuccessfullyfor 4 years. Our adopted children are of another race to boot. Those feelings and responses by others are also complicated. While not the same situation as you, the difficult journey to motherhood at the heart can be much the same. Despite all that.... enjoy, savor the moments.
Congratulations! What a wonderfull news. I hope you and the baby are well and I wish you all the best with the pregnancy. You will be a great mom!
Thank you for sharing your story! I would love to hear more about how you are preparing for and dealing with chronic illness and pregnancy/being a mom (to be).
Congrats again!
Congratulations, you're gonna be a great mom❤
Grateful to God for this beautiful blessing! Your transparency is refreshing. I’m happy for your great news!
Congratulations! I felt in your last video that you might be pregnant. I’m so happy for you both!
Congratulations 🥳! You are so deserving of this wonderful life event! Take care of yourself…. You will certainly be an amazing mom ❤. Bisous de Montreal!
Congratulations, this is exciting news! Once my baby (now have 2) came along, the pain of infertility lessened a bit and once the second came l now feel more connected with the “mom club” rather than the infertility club- I say this to example that the pain of infertility can lessen and sometimes the whirlwind of being engrossed in parenthood pulls you into the now rather than the then. The one time I do feel the lingering pain is pregnancy announcements, I still get pangs of jealously.
Congrats again and you are not alone in your feelings !! ❤️
I am so happy for you :) I smiled with tears looking at your happy face. Wish you all the luck ❤
Congratulations! Just take care of yourself and enjoy every moment ❤️
To say congratulations doesn’t really cover it but; congratulations to you and your husband! 🙏
I’m at 21 weeks now after several years of infertility and ivf and I resonated with a lot of what you said. Especially how were inserted in the healthcare system with no extra though of the bagage. For me that was a huge contrast to the IVF-clinic where people actually cared about the emotional part of it all.
I also like what you said about this parent club. So many of my friends just expect me to join it now but I’m still hurting from their inability in the past to be sensitive about the subject when my husband and I were struggling. It’s like they’re relieved because now we’re “normal”. I actually recategorized many friendships due to this.
Anyway- THANK YOU for this video and I think you’re such a cool person for talking so openly about this and your life in general. You’re an inspiration and once again / congratulations! 🌺
What a joy. ❤ Delighted for you, your husband & family. I wish you a safe pregnancy journey. God bless. 🙏 May the Lord be near you.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful news!! Congratulations to you and your husband! 🎉
I'm sorry this journey has been hard at times for you. You are helping people feel less alone by sharing your journey in a public way. Pregnancy and motherhood can be overwhelming at times and there is no "right way" to feel about it, regardless of how easy or difficult it has been to get there. Everyone will have an opinion, welcomed or not. Ultimately you know your body, and will know your baby, better than anyone. Trust yourself. There are also times for mourning and times for celebration. Enjoy this time and celebrate it. (P.S. enjoy your sleep while you can lol) 🤗🎉🥳 thank you again for sharing. It's ok to feel your feelings and it's ok if they are not the "normal" feelings either.
Congratulations to you and your husband!
I am happy for u! 🎉❤ I think you will be an amazing mom for sure! Your baby is very lucky to have you and vice versa❤
Congratulations Elin! And thank you for that really thoughtful acknowledgement at the start. I'm a Mama of an almost five year old after going through seven years of infertility. Pregnancy announcements still sting. I think they always will because they take me back to that really difficult time in my life. I'm so happy for you, especially after everything you've been through. Thank you for being so open about your journey and so excited for you and your husband! What a lucky baby 😍
Congratulations. Ya'll are going to be great parents! I will keep you in my prayers.
Congratulations 🎉🍾
What wonderful news ! A gift ! ❤