Hang in there, girls!  The 2nd trimester is the best.  Ususally, the morning sickness is past, and you haven't yet encountered the "joys" of the 3rd.  Plan now to get as much done then as you can.

All of you are in my prayers.

I also suggest La Leche League meetings as a good place for pregnant moms to  for support.  

I think it is important to have another first time mom with whom to commiserate and laugh as well.  I remember my "bosom friend" Kate and I chuckling about our gas issues as we experienced our first pregnancies together.  We're still friends 20 years later (by the way, today is the 20th anniversary of my first conception!  what a day to note and celebrate)

Here is a poem I wrote after the birth of my 7th child.  When he was a newborn, somebody asked me if I was "done".  This poem was my response.

The Response

The Image of God

Born of my body

Stuff of my suffering

Nursed at my breast

Held over my heart for all eternity.

  I humbly present to the Creator
                  My child.
                    A gift,
           Which by His mercy
             Formed in secret
               Out of Love
          And created, my maternity

"Not only do these services help reduce the occurrence of abortion, they also help resolve social, familial and economic challenges many women face that lead to destructive lifestyles and more long-term dependency on government assistance," Bachman says.

Please contact your Representative to support this bill! You can find them here, just click on the state link(ie KS):

http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml

I am so happy for you! When I was young, I wanted a daughter, too. God has blessed me with two sons who I love more than life itself. Now, I can't imagine life with a girl!

Gina,

Thank you so much for sharing this. Pregnancy is hard and scary. Some women sail through pregnancy filled with glow and bliss – this was not me! In hindsight, however, it goes by very quickly. If you are interested, you can download a free copy of my book "Letters to Mary from a Young Mother" from my website at http://www.spiritualwoman.net – the link is right on the main page. It offers prayers to Mary for pregnancy and the first year of life.

Wishing you every blessing,

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur 

I praise you Lord for the struggle during pregnancy/birth, infertility/adoption.  It draws us closer to You.  Praise you Lord for your Mother to show us how Motherhood is a joy filled with uncertainty, loneliness and crushing pain at the loss of a child at any age.

Jesus, I Trust in You!

I can't think of it without crying for them.  They are courageous and virtuous women who, through the power of the Holy Spirit, have given little ole me the privelege of motherhood.  The immense joy of being their Mommy is indescribable.   We always remember them, esp on their birthday with a candle and prayer.  One day I hope to meet or at least speak to them, so that they, too, can be proud of our incredible children.  My sensitive 4 yr old, Matthew Mauricio, told me last week that he loves Mazielle and wants to meet her one day.   If only she knew………..

I have followed your struggles with tears and prayers. I am so happy for you now as your family blossoms with a beautiful little newborn.

May God bless your family with many, many joys.

Guitarmom

Granted we desperately need everyone who does fight for the unborn but we also need people who will walk with the newly pregnant mom and help her through her hard time.  Just knowing there is a baby growing inside you sometimes isn't enough. 

We're expecting our fifth child in two months- at the age of 42 – with six children in heaven praying for us.  When I first found out I was pregnant 18 years ago my first thought was fear.  It surprised me so much but for the first time I really could understand why some girls/women choose abortions.  I too was from a strong Catholic family, married five months and looking forward to filling our home with children.  And yet I was not prepared for all the self-sacrificing that pregnancy would ask of me and desperately wanted a way out. 

What am I saying, this is our tenth pregnancy and I still wasn't ready for the self-sacrificing that goes with being pregnant!  To make matters worse, after the usual morning sickness stage that mercifully didn't last the usual nine months, I'm struggling with gestational diabetes.  Thankfully this is our fifth full term baby and I've grown up enough to be able to put baby first and discipline myself to eat carefully.  I can honestly say I don't know if I'd have been able to do that with any of the others.   If a mother who knows the joys of having a baby and knows the truth of that wonderful gift growing inside her can still have trouble accepting the reality of it, how much more a woman who has never had a child and is suffering, alone, scared, and under outside pressures? 

Sometimes I wonder if we wouldn't get further in the fight for the unborn if the mom's needs weren't addressed more like Gina said.  Thank you for your contrabution, Gina! 

Congratulations Claire!  I'm very excited for you.  God is good.