July 2021 - Forget Me Not Journals

21 Weeks Pregnant – Positive Affirmations

Posted on July 18, 2021April 28, 2022 by Megan Hutchison

At 21 Weeks Samantha is over half way there! After sharing a previous journal entry earlier on in her pregnancy, she is back to share more of her journey, read on to hear how her pregnancy is going since we heard from her last.

21 weeks pregnant

Baby is the size of a: Large Banana

Cravings: all of the cake

Symptoms: general physical discomfort, constipation, congestion, fatigue

I’ve been feeling: kind of weird about my body this week. I noticed I have been putting myself down a bit, so I need to work through some stuff.

My partner has been stressed with work, but pretty lovely with me.

I am happiest when I am at home.

My partner and I disagree on middle names. Andrew want something beginning with S because the first name begins with a, but I don’t like many S boy names.

Something I need to get done is to book antenatal class.

Something that surprised me has been how I self deprecate my pregnant body.

My favourite part of pregnancy so far is feeling him moving.

This week I have a real sense that everything is going so quickly. I keep thinking I’m still in the early stages of pregnancy, but I am over halfway there! I have an obvious bump, my posture is hard to maintain, I can’t move the same way I normally can. Work is getting harder, sleep is less comfortable, hips gets sore if I sleep too long on one side, baby is moving so much more obviously. With this realisation of time ticking, I’m finding much more anxiety creeping in. Getting the house finished and in place, labour and delivery, work (how will I make it till the end of November, should I go mid-November?) Getting everything we need for baby, money, how will the rest of pregnancy go?

I definitely need to work on trying not to be Superwoman right now. It’s okay if I need a rest. It’s okay if I can’t do something. I am pregnant and that is reason enough. I am enough. I am doing enough. I am enough.

If after reading this you’d be happy to share your own experience of pregnancy, please email me at megan@forgetmenotjournals.com to send you one of the pages (or you can send a photo of your own pregnancy journal)

7 Weeks Pregnant – Growing Family

Posted on July 18, 2021March 24, 2022 by Megan Hutchison

Another beautiful Mumma shares her made with love pregnancy journal entries at 6 & 7 Weeks pregnant. Read on to hear more about her journey and her feelings towards soon having two little ones under 2.

6 weeks pregnant

Baby is the size of a blueberry

Cravings NIL

Symptoms Morning Sickness

I’ve been feeling I’m getting morning sickness this time around it is not fun, and I’m noticing that even after a good sleep I’m still very tired.

This week I talked to some good friends who are also parents, it’s been nice sharing our fears and excitement.

Advice I’ve been given that it’s only going to get harder from here (not very helpful).

What I’m doing to relax looking back of old photos of my last pregnancy and Georgia as a newborn remembering that time brings a lot of peace.

I’m most excited about I’m still adjusting to the idea of baby number two so nothing yet.

I’m most nervous about what being a mum of two under two is going to be like and how I will cope.

How I’m going I could always make improvements but I’m okay with my imperfections

If I could say anything to my baby right now it would be

“Dear Baby, I want you to know you are so loved. When I think about you my breath is still a little taken away. It’s crazy to think that in 34 short weeks I could be holding you in my arms, smelling your sweet smell and hearing your little sounds. I hope for you great things, you can be anything you dream of so dream big baby. Lots of love, X0 mummy”

6 Weeks Pregnant – Morning sickness & feeling anxious about miscarrying

Posted on July 18, 2021April 28, 2022 by Megan Hutchison

A brave Mum to be in early pregnancy shares her fears and feelings at 6 Weeks, whilst anxiously awaiting her next ultrasound appointment.

6 weeks pregnant

Baby is the size of a: Sweetpea

Cravings None

Symptoms Morning Sickness, fatigue, pelvic cramping, spotting

I’ve been feeling quite anxious. The blades I have had of been nerve wracking. I did feel a little better once I met with a midwife Gina.

This week I talked to GP, urgent care and midwife.

Advice I’ve been given If I miscarry, it’s not my fault. It’s something that happens and it sucks but there’s nothing I can do about it.

I’m most excited about Nothing yet because I’m so nervous

28 Weeks Pregnant – Baby Number 2

Posted on July 18, 2021March 24, 2022 by Megan Hutchison

28 Weeks Pregnant

Baby is the size of a: Eggplant

Is this pregnancy similar to your first and will you be finding out the gender? Yes indeedy, number two for us – Paige will be 18/19 months when her brother arrives…EEEK! This pregnancy took us by surprise and freaking the F out about two under two but nevertheless really getting excited now that we’re getting closer to meeting him. Much different experience this time having found out the gender at the request of my hubby – I personally love a good surprise. I started this pregnancy at 62kg so at 27 weeks that’s a gain of 9.6kg and 28 weeks 10kg. With my first pregnancy I gained a total of 9.8kg…interesting, but also who really cares. I’m running around after a toddler this time and choccy biccies are too hard to say no to, haha!! Hoping most will fall out with the baby and some more to melt off with the breastfeeding, right?

33 Weeks Pregnant – babies close in age

Posted on July 18, 2021March 24, 2022 by Megan Hutchison

Beautiful Mum Sophie shares her pregnancy journies, now pregnant with her second little one she shares parts of both pregnancies to show comparison and also shares what she’ll do different this time around, read on to find out more.

33 weeks pregnant

Baby is the size of a: Pineapple

How was your first pregnancy? My first pregnancy was horrible!! I was 5 weeks when I found out I was pregnant (I found out for my 21st birthday) and around 8 weeks I started getting the worse morning sickness. By the next week I was in hospital getting diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum and it was so bad I lost a whole bunch of weight and kept going back to the hospital because I couldn’t even drink water without vomiting and that lasted for around 25 weeks, then I managed to start vomiting once or twice a week till like 30 weeks. So, you could say I didn’t really get to enjoy my pregnancy at all considering it was full of hospital visits, IV lines, strong nausea medication that made me feel worse and just overall very lonely and not what I had seen on social media or heard others talk about. I never got to experience the “pregnancy glow” quite the opposite I always had red rashes all over my face from my veins popping from all the spewing, I didn’t get to get all glam and enjoy it because I lived in pyjamas in hospital. Which made me really depressed and not really grasp how amazing my body actually was for going through all of that.

Did you always hope to have babies a couple of years apart, and did everything go according to plan this time? I always did hope for my babies to be close in age, maybe because I’m an identical twin and I obviously shared life with my sister which was amazing growing up with a best friend! So, when my husband and I talked about having another baby it was always in the near future. Everything has been according to plan this time around, everything that I experienced first pregnancy has not been an issue at all this time around, quite the opposite! I have had an amazing pregnancy which I thank God for! I could not imagine going through the same thing with a toddler.

Can you briefly describe your birth, and has that informed your birth choices this time? This question is always bittersweet for me just because I’m so aware that there are situations so far from mine but I had an amazing birth! I started getting contractions at 5:30am on Sunday 22nd of December and I was all day just chilling, waiting, sleeping, bouncing on my exercise ball just letting my body do it’s thing and around 9pm my midwife came to see me at home, I was 2cm dilated and not in a whole lot of pain. Within the hour I was crying on my husband’s chest because the pain escalated from like a 2-7 real quick. My water breaks and we make our way to the hospital, we got there at midnight my midwife checks me again and I was only 3cm by this point I was inhaling the gas like my life depended on it.

My midwife realised that my contractions were really strong and close together so she decided to give me a muscle relaxer that way I wouldn’t be so tense from the pain and within 20 mins I was 8cm dilated! Before I knew it we welcomed our little girl into the world at 2:32am just 3 hours after my water broke so that was amazing for me considering I decided to not get an epidural and just try to give birth as natural as possible. I think that I never had a “birth plan” I was really open to doing whatever it took in the moment and whatever was safest, I also didn’t expect anything out of it or didn’t set the bar so high for myself because honestly I had no idea what I was going into and I have the same mentality this time around.

Have you found out what you’re having this time? Yes, we did find out what we’re having and this time around we’re having a boy

What will you do differently now that you’re a wise and experienced Mum? Oh, I will bottle feed (pump) I kind of just let my daughter breastfeed and didn’t introduce her to a bottle till like about a month in and she hated it!! We tried everything under the sun for her to take a bottle and she never budged which was so hard because exclusively breast feeding is something else! I’ve never had such a challenging job as breast feeding was! Lots of tears shared, lots of lonely times as I couldn’t even leave the house which caused a lot of separation anxiety that I struggled for the longest time to overcome.

5 Weeks – First pregnancy appointment & scan

Posted on July 17, 2021March 24, 2022 by Megan Hutchison

Beautiful mum Samantha shares the details from her made with love journal about her First pregnancy appointment and scan. Read on to hear about how she was feeling early on in her pregnancy.

Week: 5

Baby is the size of a: Apple Seed.

If after reading this you’d be happy to share your own experience of pregnancy, please email me at hello@shesaidyes.co.nz to send you one of the pages (or you can send a photo of your own pregnancy journal)

23 Weeks Pregnant -Heartburn, nausea & dairy cravings

Posted on July 17, 2021March 24, 2022 by Megan Hutchison

Another Mum to be shares her journal entry with us at 23 Weeks Pregnant, refer to the image below to hear how she has been feeling this week.

Week: 23

Baby is the size of a: Grapefruit.

Weight: 80kgs

Symptoms: Heartburn, feeling sick, tired, frequently catching colds

12 Weeks pregnant, Third baby

Posted on July 16, 2021March 24, 2022 by Megan Hutchison

Week: 12

Baby is the size of a: Plum

I’ve been feeling: A lot better as of late the symptoms have died down and I have managed to put some weight back on… my husband is now getting back into work and now that stress is also gone…. feeling the excitement of having a third coming along wondering what/who they are going to look like… my first born is a spitting image of me while my daughter is a spitting image of her dad pretty scary really Lol! Been able tonnage my anxiety and just getting better sleep and eating has really improves my moods.

How have your family and friends reacted to news of baby #3? My family have been the most supportive ever… the occasional I told you guys to wait a bit till the other 2 were older from my dad but that cones from a place of genuine concern as he knows our situation. At the moment we’ve only told my immediate family and my husband’s mum, and all have been extremely supportive… I’ve only told my closest friend so far as she Is my greatest support can rely on her all the time… that one friend u know u can rant to at 2 in the morning and she will be there.. what’s also beautiful is that she is also pregnant, and we have had similar experiences… it’s just nice to have someone who can understand how I’m feeling!

When we have a chance to find out this baby’s gender…I think that’s when we will break the news to everyone in the family and also friends…. I don’t think we will keep the gender a secret as we didn’t for the first 2.

What I’m most looking forward to, either during pregnancy, or in starting a family of three… is the first kicks I can’t wait till that moment…. that’s just the most amazing thing ever I loved it so much in first 2 pregnancies and would take 5-10 mins a day just lying down feeling my belly and waiting for the kicks… was a pre-birth bonding activity for me and it makes the experience so surreal… in terms of starting a family of three, the thought of it is actually quite scary… how am I going to cope? The first 2 are already a handful how am I going to be able to split my time? What if I end up neglecting 1 of the kid? All these questions but also the excitement of having a new addition how are the other 2 going to react? We need to buy new things, clothes shopping etc… that first skin to skin contact after they are born, that first feed all of that!!! Can’t wait!

How I will deal with any feelings of anxiety in future, do you have a support network, are there people to talk to? I’m glad to say I have a good support network and liek a mentioned a very good friend who has been there for me!

What will you do differently as a third time Mum? Be more present…. eat healthier and take care of myself more… get to sleep early I have a bad habit of being on my phone all night and I suffer because of this and it 100% my fault.

What’s making you the happiest right now? Knowing that this baby is healthy and thriving even though I had the worst first trimester… it didn’t affect the baby and that makes me so relieved!

If I could say anything to my baby right now it would be: I know it didn’t seem like it at first but mummy loves you so much!!! I wouldn’t change anything, and you were never a mistake…. you have already changed my life and its definitely for the best. Love you my little butter bean!

29 Weeks, suspected miscarriage at 8 weeks

Posted on July 16, 2021March 24, 2022 by Megan Hutchison

Brave Mum to be Tesa, shares her miscarriage scare at 8 weeks. Read on to hear her story.

Week: 29

Baby is the size of a: Butternut Squash

First of all just wanted to say how much of a huge fan I am of your journal! I use it each week without fail and love it. Unfortunately it arrived the week of my suspected miscarriage and I did not want to journal anything as the whole thing was quite terrifying.

Firstly, I do understand how lucky I am to have not miscarried and can understand how this can be triggering to people that have but at the same time think this is something not talked about enough in pregnancy. We are taught bleeding is bad and it mostly is very bad.

I was early in week 9 (which we thought was week 11 at the time but was put back at my scan) of my pregnancy and I came home from work for lunch. When I sat down, I felt this gush of liquid down there. This is my first pregnancy and I just thought that was strange. I went to the bathroom and there was blood, a large amount of blood all in one clump/clot. The blood kept coming so I called my midwife who is fantastic. We were having one of those random summer days that hit 35 degrees and she started with ‘8 have had a few of these phone calls today’ – not very reassuring. She told me to put in maturity pads and if I was changing more than one an hour, I needed to call her back a bad go to ED. The bleeding by this point had slowed down but my heart ache and worry hadn’t. Unfortunately, she could not do much so early on once the bleeding slowed down.

The next day she saw me in clinic. It was too risky to do the heartbeat and she probably would have found it anyway and in South Canterbury they have this thing about not over scanning people (I am unsure what this is like in other districts). She sent me for bloods 2 days in a row to see if my HCG was still rising. Waiting for these results was horrific I was trying to work as people did not know I was pregnant and not stress as can harm the baby. My levels were rising but not like they should have been at the thought 11 weeks. This left a blank whole and 10 days until my already scheduled scan. The midwife made the call to just wait as our ultrasound place is crazy busy.

When we went for the scan everything was thankfully and luckily ok, but this was 14 days after I bled and the way that physically and mentally wears on your body was something I don’t wish on anyone. Since talking to more people about this a lot of women can have this and a friend of my mums who was a midwife quite a few years ago said this use to be quite common and it was considered a final clean out from left over blood which usually comes out each period. I wish I had discussed this more when it happened but because I was before the 12 weeks it was my first baby and a surprise, I kept quiet and grieved with my fiancé and mum. Luckily my story was one of the lucky ones, but it doesn’t make those 14 days any less real. You get a glimpse at what people really go through and how heartbreakingly awful it is.

My whole first trimester I was horrifically ill with sickness and vomiting each day. This stopped about 16 weeks and since then I have had the odd day of vomiting. In my 12 and 20 weeks scan they have monitored my pregnancy closer to make sure there is no slight tear or anything which may have been where the blood come from. At this point they cannot locate anything.

I have been so anxious now and I feel that gush of liquid more than I would like to admit. Every time I feel my baby move around these days I smile because I came so close to not getting that feeling and I know how lucky I am to be only 11ish weeks off meeting out little one.

I know just knowing one person’s story may have made those 14 days slightly more bearable because now I know my symptoms weren’t a miscarriage but when you are in the early stages and no one knows you don’t know what is normal and what isn’t. Your midwife can tell you it’s fine and not enough blood but sometimes knowing someone else has been there may make people understand more. I now know I did not lose enough blood but when you are going through it you think you must have why else would you be bleeding..

19 Weeks with Hyperemesis Gravidarum & Third Pregnancy

Posted on July 13, 2021March 24, 2022 by Megan Hutchison

Baby is the size of a: Mango

Cravings: Bacon & egg muffins & mandarins

Symptoms: Unfortunately I was diagnosed with hyperemesis so I have severe vomiting on random days mostly every morning, and sometimes from about 4pm onwards. My husband would probably say I have severe mood swings as well haha!

I’ve been feeling: a little down honestly. Overwhelmed? Busy with two kids, a job, and a household to maintain. I never thought I’d take this pregnancy easily, but I didn’t think it’s be this hard.

I’m most nervous about: going from 2 kids to 3. Haha! and that’s about it.

I am most looking forward to: my youngest becoming a big sister & her reaction to a baby along with my eldest becoming the “leader” of the babies. (In her own words)

Advice I’ve been given lately: be kind to yourself and do something for you. I think this is very important as mother’s we lose ourselves and who we are.

The hardest thing about being pregnant is: Lack of energy, nausea and not being able to enjoy this pregnancy like I have the last two.

My favourite part of being pregnant would be: when I found out, and feeling the fluttering begin which makes the pregnancy feel real.

When I think about how much my life will change, I feel: overwhelmed, excited & nervous.

If I could say anything to my baby right now it would be: I do love you, I do care, I do want you and we can’t wait till you are here.

Month: July 2021

21 Weeks Pregnant – Positive Affirmations

21 weeks pregnant

Baby is the size of a: Large Banana

7 Weeks Pregnant – Growing Family

6 weeks pregnant

Baby is the size of a blueberry

6 Weeks Pregnant – Morning sickness & feeling anxious about miscarrying

6 weeks pregnant

Baby is the size of a: Sweetpea

28 Weeks Pregnant – Baby Number 2

28 Weeks Pregnant

Baby is the size of a: Eggplant

33 Weeks Pregnant – babies close in age

33 weeks pregnant

Baby is the size of a: Pineapple

5 Weeks – First pregnancy appointment & scan

23 Weeks Pregnant -Heartburn, nausea & dairy cravings

12 Weeks pregnant, Third baby

29 Weeks, suspected miscarriage at 8 weeks

19 Weeks with Hyperemesis Gravidarum & Third Pregnancy

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21 weeks pregnant

Baby is the size of a: Large Banana

6 weeks pregnant

Baby is the size of a blueberry

6 weeks pregnant

Baby is the size of a: Sweetpea

28 Weeks Pregnant

Baby is the size of a: Eggplant

33 weeks pregnant

Baby is the size of a: Pineapple

Shop

Support

Forget me not

BLOG

take a look inside our best-selling wedding planner ​

explore the little white book​

take a look inside our best-selling wedding planner

explore the little white book