17 Pregnancy Milestones No One Tells You About
Congrats, Mum! Your pregnancy is underway and there are so many exciting and wonderful changes you are charting and looking forward to. But here is the thing: While you are busily tracking Baby’s growth from the size of a lentil to the size of a watermelon, there are several important milestones that those week-by-week pregnancy guides miss. And that is where we come in! From the silly to the sentimental, here are the unofficial pregnancy milestones that you really need to know about!
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 1: The Positive Pregnancy Test
Maybe it was a late period, or an acute sense of smell, or perhaps you just had a feeling that something (err, someone!) was brewing. No matter what compelled you take that pregnancy test—wow—when you actually see those two lines they will take your breath away. Prepare to experience a combo of feelings, like utter disbelief, shock, joy, shock again, some more joy, and a dash of OMG!
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 2: Your First Puke Session
You have heard of morning sickness, sure. And you figured, How bad could it really be? Then you spend your first morning hunched over the toilet, throwing up last night’s dinner. Chalk this milestone up as a no-fun preggo marker. At the same time—squee!—proof there is a real baby in there!
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 3: Your First Bump Photo
To be honest, the very first bump shot often occurs when there is no actual bump yet. Do not worry, it will come! Just remember: You need that no-bump-bump-picture in order to accurately track your belly growth month after month!
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 4: Finally Telling Someone
Sharing your pregnancy news with someone other than your partner or doctor is exciting...and also kind of nerve wracking and life-changing. After all, once your mum or BFF knows, that means your pregnancy actually exists outside your home!
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 5: The Social Media Announcement
You have known for a while, and your inner circle probably knows, too, but once your pregnancy is Facebook (or Insta or TikTok) Official…bring on the buckets of congrats and advice and love! (Here is some inspo for sharing your pregnancy news.)
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 6: Maternity-Pants Time
Some mums-to-be are So Stoked to transition into maternity clothes, while others desperately hold onto their favourite pre-preggo jeans with a belly band, rubber bands, paper clips, and anything else recovered from the junk drawer. No matter which camp you are in, finally sliding into that first pair of maternity pants will garner a big old sigh of relief. Comfort, at last! (Elasticised denim for the win!)
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 7: Your First Craving
It is not all pickles and ice cream! Your pregnancy food craving may be all about the salty and satisfying crunch of potato chips. You might experience an overwhelming urge to order take out Chinese food…every night. Or maybe you find yourself batting your lashes at your partner for late-night doughnut runs. No matter what food you desire, the craving will likely come out of nowhere! But know that you are far from alone: Research shows that up to 90% mums-to-be in the US, have some type of food craving during pregnancy.
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 8: Water Works Arrive
Real talk: Pregnancy is emotional! So when our fave jeans do not fit, your ankles resemble a pair of sausages, and you are placed on another daycare waitlist…it is totally okay (and expected) that the tears start flowing at unexpected times, like when you realise that you are up-to-date on your streaming binge and have nothing good to watch. Hormones are fun!
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 9: Hello, Breasts!
As your baby grows, so does your bump…and your boobs! The change is slow and steady and then, one day, you will catch a glimpse and—poof!—you will be all Is that me?? And the answer, of course, will be Yes!
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 10: First Weird Pregnancy Dream
Hormones, heightened anxiety, or just an unexplained pregnancy side effect? Whatever the reason, most preggos wind up having at least a handful of very strange and very vivid dreams. Cool factoid: Many experience greater dream recall during pregnancy, so go ahead and grab the neglected journal and start writing them all down!
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 11: Stranger Comments on Your Bump
Whether someone issues you a 'Congrats!,' gives you their seat on the bus, or simply asks you when you are due, a special kind of lightning bolt shoots up your spine when a stranger acknowledges your pregnancy. You suddenly realise that the world outside your world knows your news! Gah!
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 12: Your First Purchase for Baby
The first time you wander into a baby store knowing that you are shopping for your very own baby…well, that is something! No matter if you pick up a cute outfit, a special blanket, or a bassinet, chances are you will remember that precious moment for a long time.
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 13: The Baby Name Drama
Selecting a baby name is rarely a smooth process. You make a baby name list. Your partner makes a baby name list. And all is well and good until…there is zero list overlap or you despise your partner’s top choice. Or you realise the name you have been dreaming of is the name of your spouse’s ex—or your pregnant sister-in-law already called dibs on your pick. Or your mum says she thinks your top baby name select is 'Fine.' Or you cannot find any name that speaks to you. The potential baby name drama list is endless! But in the end, guess what? Your sweet baby will have the perfect name!
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 14: The Nesting Instinct
Even the chillest, least type-A mum-to-be out there will likely be struck with the all-encompassing desire to organise. You might not quite know how to handle this Marie Kondo-like feeling, but garbage bags, donation boxes, and cleaning supplies help.
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 15: 'Where Are My Feet?'
Here is the thing: Your cute bump will eventually reach proportions you could not even imagine. And that means, one day, you will stand up, look down, and notice that your feet have disappeared. This is often followed by the first time you cannot bend over to pick something off the floor.
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 16: The Freak Out
Sure, you know you are pregnant. You fully realise a baby is busily growing in your belly. You have the maternity pants and morning sickness to prove it! But that is entirely different from having a full-blown existential mind-bend about the situation. It will hit you and hit you hard that you—the person who just ate cereal for dinner two nights in a row, who has killed roughly 14 houseplants, and who forgot to pack underpants on their last vacation—will be a parent, fully and wholly responsible for another living being. Ahhh!
Unofficial Pregnancy Milestone No. 17: 'Is This Labour?!'
You can read a zillion pregnancy books and talk to all your friends who have been pregnant, but the truth is, you will never be quite sure when labour starts. Is this gas? Do I have to pee? Maybe it is just a cramp? Did the baby just drop? Wait, is this labour? Wait, maybe it is Braxton Hicks? This parade of questions will likely dance through your head more than once…but just know that the answer will eventually be YES! It is labour!
Curious what unofficial baby milestones lay in store for you and your baby? Find out!
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