Hey everyone!!! My name is Ashley, I am 18yrs. old and I am now pregnant with my first child. I thought that joining this site would help me to gain more insight into the pregnancy process and a little advice on when it comes to that big day. I have just recently told my family about my pregnancy. Needless to say, my mother was not exactly thrilled. She also was pregnant at a young age but I'm sure it wasn't what she wanted for her only daughter. I am currently going through a little trouble with the father as well. He was ok with the thought of me being pregnant and says that he will help but recently I have been feeling otherwise. He hasn't exactly been living up to those promises that he made. I'm okay with that; I'm just hoping that when it comes down to it he is there to help out financially with our child. Well that's a little about me and my story. I am completely open to any advice about motherhood and what I should look out for so please, feel free to message me.

Jan. 20, 2008-

Lately Ive been having a bit of pressur in my lower abdomen and I am not entirely sure what it could be. Im assuming from what I have been reading that it is just the rearranging and expanding of my uterus but I just want to be sure. Any one else have this feeling? Im at my 19th week and 2 day mark. Pretty excited to almost be at my half way mark. =] Any others at their 19th week??? Oh yea and btw; I am NO LONGER worried about my stupid boyfriend. Its not about him or me anymore. Its about my baby... and that is ALL I am worried about. =]

Feb. 6, 2008- So I went to the doctors on monday for my first ultrasound and guess what everybody...IT'S A BOY!!!!!!! Im so excited to finally know what I'm having. Even though i pretty much knew already its nice to have a for sure answer. I also found out that Im not as far as my doctor originally thought I was. Im only 18 weeks. So now my due date has changed to July 5th. Thats a week before my birthday. Im so happy. I cant wait to finally see my son. He looked so cute on the U/S. He was jumping and flipping all over the place. Just couldnt sit still. lol. Everytime we got a clear view of him he would move or turn around. lol. Hopefully this isnt a sign of whats to come. lol.

Pregnancy Survey

About You
Name: Ashley

Age:18
Height: 5,1
Pre-pregnancy weight: 135

About The Father
Name: Brian
Age: 23
Height: 5,9

Are you still together: seperated

About Your Pregnancy
Is this your first pregnancy: yes
When did you find out you were pregnant: I knew right away. Just had a feeling. Didnt even have to take a pregnancy test. I just knew.

Was it planned: no
What was your first reaction: I was happy but I didnt tell anyone.
Who was with you when you found out: Nobody I was at home alone.

Who was the first person you told: 1 of my best friends
How did your parents react: My mom was not happy at first. She isnt now either but she doesnt mind.

How far along are you: 18wks
What was your first symptom: tender breast
What is your due date: It was June 12th but now its July 5th
Do you know the sex of the baby: IT'S A BOY!!!!!
Have you picked out names: yes - Jacob
How much weight have you gained: around 15 lbs
Do you have stretch marks: yes but I had them in other parts before.
Have you felt the baby move: Sometimes I do
Have you heard the heartbeat: yes I have
About the birth
Will you keep the baby: Of course
Home or hospital birth: hospital
Natural or medicated birth: no drugs till I think I really need it - wanna experience labor a lil
Who will be in the delivery room with you: My Aunt who is more like a mother to me. My birth mother has never liked me so I dont want her to be there.
Will you breastfeed: yes,

Do you think you'll need a c-section: I pray that I dont.

What's the first thing you might say to him/her: I have no idea.
Would you let someone videotape the birth: yes
Are you excited about the birth, or scared: anxious but im still nervous to actually go into labor. Im excited though

Feb. 17, 2008 - 20 WEEKS!!!! im so excited to be at my half way mark. Ive been feeling the baby too now. Pretty much all thru out the day. I absolutely love that feeling too. Cant wait til it gets stronger. I've got my next appt. next week. Love hearing his heartbeat. Cant wait til I can finally see his little face. Even tho I'm scared of the pain I cant wait til that time comes.

Feb. 27, 2008- Have to go to the doctors in a couple hours. Glad this appointment finally came. The past couple days it hasnt seemed like the baby was as active as he was before. Like he still moves around, but im not feeling him as much as I was a few days ago. I know they say that is nothing to worry about since he coule be just kicking in a different direction and maybe he just doesnt feel like moving as much but it still worries me a little bit. Im sure he's fine tho.

Feb. 28, 2008- Everything went well at the doc. yesterday. glad it was a short visit too. . . I had to go to class last night and i didnt want to be stuck there for too long. The baby is doing very well and I was very happy to hear that. I have decided on a name too. Im gonna name him Jacob Brian Edwards. I gave him his fathers name for a middle name, but Im not gonna give him his last name. Im almost 22 weeks now too. Just a few days short. Ive got 2 more days.

March 28, 2008- Hey everybody, I had no idea it had been that long since i wrote last. lol. . . Im doing alright tho. I guess Im pretty lucky when I hear other peoples stories. Im 6 months now. Glad im getting closer to my due date. Can't wait to see my little man. lol. . . I went shopping today and I got him the cutest little outfits. Gonna go again pretty soon. Saw some other things I wanna get for him. He is gonna be sooooooo spoiled!!!!

April 9, 2008 - Im feeling SOOOOOOO much better today!!! I have been sick for the past couple weeks and let me tell you, IT SUCKED!!! I didnt want to take any meds. either so I had to just stick it out. Went to the doctors today too. Everything is still going well and my little man is still growing strong. Ive been thinking about changing his name though. I like the name Jacob Brian Edwards but my aunt gave me another idea [my family donest think that I should give him his fathers name as his middle name] and I think its really cute. Ashton Jacob Edwards. Ashton Jacob sounds really good to me. Sounds like he will be like a designer or something. lol. Like yea girl dont u like my new Ashton Jacobs bag!?!?! lmao. . . Either bags, clothes, or shoes. I could see it. lol. . . Guess I need to hurry and make up my mind. Im gonna be 28 weeks this weekend. Getting closer to that date. Im getting a little nervous too. Worried about the pain. I know I want to have him vaginally because I absolutely refuse to have a c-section unless its like absolutely necessary but wow. . . I'm sure this is gonna be something. Im sure I will be alright though. Just keep reminding myself that it will be over soon enough and then I will have my beautiful baby w/ me.

April 27, 2008 - So Im 30 weeks now. OMG!!!!!! Im getting a little nervous. Cant believe its almost time. Its so crazy because I want him here sooooo bad, but im soooo scared to go into labor. I know i'll have my mother and my aunts there with me but still. They cant do anything to make the pain stop. Oh well. . . I know it will be worth it in the end.

May 1, 2008 - Went to the doc. yesterday. I told her about how Ive been in so much pain lately but she said its just ligament pain and nothing to worry about. I dont feel like it is though. Ive felt that in other places and it didnt hurt this bad. She said its just everything stretching and moving around and that if I got one of tho's support belts it should help take some of the pain away. So I might try that. Other than that everything is going well. He has been moving around a lot lately and he had a strong heartbeat yesterday. So yea, just have to wait a few more weeks and he'll be here. Its so crazy to think that too. I feel like it was just yesterday I was complaining that it was taking so long. Now its like right around the corner. Im still really nervous tho. I hope i can take the pain because right now I'm definately expecting it to be horrible. . .at least i'll have my baby after that.

May 11, 2008 - 32 WEEKS NOW!!! It's so crazy to think back and see how far I've come now. I'm glad its almost over tho. He's starting to kick me in my ribs now too. lol. . . I remember a while ago when he was just starting to kick and I was so excited and happy about it and someone, I cant remember who, said yea ur happy now wait til later on when he's in ur ribs. . . lol. Now I kno wat they were talking about. Its alright tho. Its all for a better cause. One more thing before I go. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all the soon to be mommies out there!!!!! and thanks to everyone who sent me the mothers day comments =].

May 23, 2008 - So i havent been checking up on here for about a week. Had a fall a few days ago and of course, I landed belly first. Made the pains I was already having hurt even more. So I stayed in bed for a couple days. Im feeling a bit better now tho. Starting to get back on my feet. Still in a little pain but its not as bad as when I fell. Ashton is okay too. He's still kicking around and everything so no worries about that. Im glad this is almost over. Ready to get back to normal. Even though Im sure its gonna be weird at first. Seems like Ive been pregnant for a life time. Wont even know what to do with myself. lol. Well I hope all the other mommies are doing well too. WE'RE ALMOST THERE!!!!!!! =]

June 3, 2008 - I cant believe Im in my 9th month now. AHHH!!!!!! pretty soon it will all be over. Its so crazy to even think I wont be pregnant anymore. Ive gotten so use to it. Kinda wish I could just stay like this forever. lol. I cant wait to see my baby tho. Sometimes I dream about him being here and what it will be like but more often than that Im always still pregnant in my dreams. No matter what I dream about Im always pregnant. Guess its just my mind tryna hold onto it. I wonder if I will still have tho's dreams after I deliver. I hope so. Been dreaming about my stupid ass ex too. Dont know why since i hate him so much. I always see him coming back and being there 4 the baby. I do hope that happens but I dont want to be w/ him anymore. NEVER AGAIN!!!!! He makes me sick. I wonder if he thinks about us. Probably doesnt knowing him. All he thinks about is who he's gonna have sex w/ next. He's such a whore. lol. I dont care tho. Even if he doesnt come back and help out, I will still be alright. I dont need him.

June 15, 2008 - 37 weeks now!!!! OMG i cant believe it. Almost there. Went to the doc. last wed. and she checked me for any labor progression (w/ by the way was VERY uncomfortable. . . lol). She said Im not dilating yet but I am starting to soften. So she said that its probably gonna be another few weeks. I dont mind though. Im def. willing to wait. lol. Im seeing her every week now though, so I wonder if there will be much of a change when i go and see her this wed. Guess we'll just have to wait n see.

June 26, 2008 - I HAD THE BABY!!!!!!! I changed his name tho. lol. . . [once again] Here's my birth Story:

So i went to the doctor on the 18th and i was almost 38 weeks. i wouldve been 38 weeks on that coming friday. When i got there i went through the appointment as usual and the put me in the room to check my blood pressure. It ended up being sorta high so they told me to come back on friday and if my pressure was still high then i might have to be admitted to the hospital. Of course that friday when i went back my pressure was still high and i was sent to Hutzel Womens Center. I got to the hospital at 2:00pm and went up to labor and delivery. It was kinda slow when we got there so we had to wait in the hallway for a room to clear so i could be examined. Finally after like 2 hours, they put me in a room and hooked my to the monitor and to a blood pressure machine. The machine checked my pressure every 10mins. and it still didnt go down the whole time. The highest it went up to was 195 over 98. So finally they said that i wasnt gonna be able to go home and that i was gonna have to deliver. The took my too my room and got me all set up in bed [and started my catheter since they didnt want me getting out of bed for any reason] by 8:00 and then they started me on my magnesium drip. Luckily it didnt burn too bad like my nurse said it would. They kept me on that for a while and then they put in my cervical catheter to help my diolate and let me tell u, it was NOT PLEASANT in ANY way. Hurt soooooo bad i thought i was gonna die. It started to hurt me even more around 10-11pm and it got to the point that i just couldnt take it. I tried to get my epidural then but they said that i have to wait til i was at least 4 cm. and at the time i was still getting diolated to 3cm. So to ease the pain they put me on another pain reducer and it helped enough so that i could finally get to sleep. The next morning I woke up around 6:30-7:30 and they told me that after my cervical catheter came out they would break my water and start me on my pitocin drip. A few hours later it finally came out and they started me up. It was pretty painful but i was still only at 3cm. so i had to wait still for my epidural. I finally got to 4 around 3pm and the anesthesiologist came in and gave me the best epidural i could have asked for. lol... i def. wanted to take sum of that home. With that i diolated 2 more cm. to get to 5 and then for some reason I just stoped. They kept checking me and it just wouldnt get passed it. So they gave me til about 8:30 and told me that i was gonna have to go in and have a C-section. I was so upset i started crying and my friends and family tried to make me feel better but there was just no helping. I was gonna have to just face my fears. 9:00 they took me and put me on the streacher and my mom came in and stayed w/ me through the operation. They said that it takes about an hour but really it seemed like i was only in there for like 5mins. I didnt even kno when they cut me open. All i kno is one min. i was looking over at my mom and the next i was feeling a lot of `pressure` [as they like to call it but really it was pain]. Finally I heard my baby cry and it sorta snapped me back into it and i was trying to look around and see him but i couldnt get a glimps. I looked back and my mom was gone. Then all of a sudden i got really sick and started to puke. The doc. said it was because they were messing w/ my uterus and that usually causes women to get sick. I dont even remember what happend next but i woke up in this room behind a curtain and then the nurse came over to me and started to clean me up. She told me that everything had went fine and to get sum rest. I went back to sleep and then woke up a few hours later around 2am. The cleaned me again and then took me to my recovery room. I went back to sleep best that I could but still woke every few hours. The next day I finally got to eat. I thought i was gonna have a bigger appetite but i really didnt feel like eating at all. At around 12:30 they finally brought my baby down to visist. That was the first timeI got to see my baby. I couldnt believe how beautiful he was. I couldnt help but cry. I spent my time w/ him but eventually an hour had passed and hospital rules are that babies cane only be in the MICU for an hour a day for visits. Luckily that night they took out my catheter and got me walking again and my doc. said i could be taken to the 2nd floor to the normal recovery. They gave me a suite and my baby was able to room w/ me. I was so happy to have him w/ me all the time. I spent 2 more days there and the kept monitoring my blood pressure w/ was still high but luckily tuesday afternoon i was able to come home. So Elijah James Edwards was finally brought into the world on June 21, 2008 @ 10:26pm by ceasarean section. He was 6lbs. and 1 oz. He was pretty small but healthy as ever. Im so glad that we are finally home. Im still in a lot of pain but Ive got my meds. to take away some of the edge. Next week I get to go and get my stapples taken out and they are gonna check my blood pressure again to see if its still high. Hopefully all goes well. Congrats to all the new mommies and mommies to be. Its truely a gift to have a little one come into your life. Never feel love as strong as you will feel for your child.