Baby’s Name

You’re pregnant! As the news sinks in, you realize a lot of decisions will need to be made over the next 40 weeks. For instance, will you change the guest bedroom into a nursery, or change your address? Cloth or disposable? Natural home birth, or hospital and keep the painkillers coming? And for the decision that keeps you awake at night — what are you going to name the baby? Let’s think old school as a starting point. Enoch, Augustine, or Otis, if it’s a boy? Or if it’s a girl, perhaps Permilia, Parthenia, or Pinkie. Fast-forward about 200 years and consider geography as a starting point. What do you think of Malaysia, Memphis, or Milan? Or how about Catalina, Camden, or Kebira? It’s a tough choice. Forget for a moment the fascinating baby name lists you find online, and turn to (you knew it was coming) family names. We can hear Uncle Horace and Grandma Jezebel now, fondly recounting the many ancestors who proudly bore the family names that must live on in the next generations. Or at least one more generation. Over the next nine or so months, you will be bombarded with names by well-meaning friends and relatives. You’ll drive yourself slightly nuts as you mentally flip through hundreds and even thousands of names, wondering which is the one. But guess what? When you see your baby the right name will be there, waiting for you to breathe it out for the very first time.

Learn more

You’re Pregnant! Now What?

You’re pregnant! After you calm down a bit, what are the first five things you’ll want to do? You’ll definitely want to calculate baby’s due date. Perinatology.com has a calculator that lets you figure out the due date based on individual factors that may apply to you, such as: first day of last period date and age of embryo transfer date of insemination date of ovulation The calculator not only tells you the due date, it also tells you a lot of other info you didn’t know you wanted, including when you’ll be able to hear baby’s heartbeat, the best timeframe for an ultrasound, or when to get screened for GBS colonization. And that’s the short list. Take pictures and start documenting your pregnancy as soon as you get the news. Years from now, you’ll get to relive these days, and the memories will be sweet. And what a nice thing to share with “baby” when he or she finds out your grandchild is on the way. Find a healthcare provider to go through this journey with you. Choose someone you trust and with whom you feel comfortable. You will be sharing your joy and your fears with this person, so interview until you know you’re in the right office. Your bank account is going to get a dent in it, so start planning on how to pay for the pregnancy. WhatToExpect.com lays it out for you—most of the financial pain will be absorbed by health insurance, but not all of it. Plus, you have a say in what the hospital or healthcare provider wants to do. Ask questions and make decisions based on what’s best for your pregnancy. Start dreaming and have fun. Choosing and discarding baby names is a fun part of pregnancy. Looking at houses or bigger apartments may be part of the dream—it might not happen right away, but someday, for sure! Imagine what he or she will look like, and all the things you want to do with your child during the different ages of his or her life. Shop for little outfits after work, and in the evenings, find space for a nursery and make it cozy. Enjoy every moment that comes with being pregnant!   Image courtesy Robert Scoble

Learn more