Pregnancy is an exciting time, but for many women, the first trimester can bring a host of physical challenges, including nausea and food aversions. These symptoms, often referred to as "morning sickness," can make it difficult to eat, drink, or enjoy food the way you normally would. If you’re struggling with nausea, food aversions, or vomiting, you're not alone—it's a common experience during early pregnancy.]
Congratulations on your pregnancy! Your first prenatal visit is an exciting milestone that sets the tone for the months ahead. It’s the first step in ensuring both your health and the health of your growing baby. During this visit, your healthcare provider will guide you through the early stages of pregnancy, answer your questions, and start planning your care.
The first trimester of pregnancy is an exciting yet challenging time. While you're experiencing the joy of knowing you're going to be a parent, you may also feel overwhelmed by the physical changes, emotions, and the new responsibilities ahead. One of the most important things you can do during this time is to build a strong support system—a circle of people who will uplift, guide, and care for you throughout your pregnancy journey.
Congratulations on your pregnancy! The first trimester is an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming as you navigate the early stages of pregnancy. With so many changes happening in your body and your life, it’s essential to understand what to expect and how to take care of yourself and your growing baby.
Your Early Pregnancy Checklist: Everything You Need to Know in the First Trimester
Early Pregnancy Signs: What to Expect in the First Few Weeks
The Benefits of Staying Active During Pregnancy: Move for You and Baby!
Stress Management Techniques for Pregnancy: Keeping Calm for You and Your Baby
Essential Nutrients and Dietary Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
Fertility Myths Debunked: Separating Fact from Fiction
Tracking Your Menstrual Cycle When Trying to Conceive: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to prepare for pregnancy with this free printable pre-conception journal
Baby showers are one of the most memorable parts of your pregnancy journey and not only give family and friends the opportunity to celebrate this new addition with you, but also "shower" the parents-to-be with some much needed gifts.
Becoming a parent can be overwhelming but baby showers can be the perfect opportunity to seek support from the more experienced parents.
These one of a kind baby shower invites are the perfect idea starters for a beautiful themed shower!
Links are provided below each invite to view in my Etsy shop where they can be purchased and edited for printing or an e-vite for the special day!
This section features affiliate links, meaning we'll earn a small commission if you purchase through these links. The commission is paid by the retailer, at no cost to you.
How do we thank the fathers and father figures in our lives for all they do for us? I have put together this blog to outline some great and budget friendly gift ideas for our fathers.
This section features affiliate links, meaning we'll earn a small commission if you purchase through these links. The commission is paid by the retailer, at no cost to you.
How do we thank the fathers and father figures in our lives for all they do for us? I have put together this blog to outline some great and budget friendly gift ideas for our fathers.
Like just about every other person on the planet, when Covid-19 hit I found myself stuck at home for months and months. I was lucky enough to have a job that allowed me to transition to working from home fairly easy. Based in New Zealand, over the course of 18 months we continued to bounce in and out of severe lockdowns. When i finally fell pregnant after a grueling IVF cycle in June 2021, we had only started transitioning back to work. At approximately 10 weeks pregnant we were hit with another lockdown, and this was the last time i stepped foot in an office until January 2023. At this point in time, my daughter started daycare full-time at 10 months old. I counted myself extremely to have had 10 months of maternity leave with 6 of those partially paid. Over the course of another 17 months, I battled with the guilt of sending my daughter to daycare for more than 10 hours a day and feeling like I was failing as an employee too. I had simultaneously completed my chartered accounting qualification during this time and felt even more compelled to prove my worth at work.
It's no lie that the cost-of-living crisis has spiraled out of control for many families and although we were extremely blessed to own a home, we could not afford to live on one salary or take on part-time work to be more present at home. The simple, cold truth is that you cannot give 100% at home and 100% at work. Something just didn't feel right.
An opportunity to emigrate to Australia presented itself at what felt like the best and worst time. We felt settled and comfortable but had our reservations about how we were spending our days. My husband was offered a transfer and i decided to quit my job. With little over 2 months to get ourselves relocated to Australia, we decided a change was needed. We made the decision to sell our home in New Zealand and we would rent in Australia until we were certain about where we wanted to settle. This meant we could wipe the slate clean and design a life where we could live on one salary and I would be able to become a stay-at-home mother to spend more time with my daughter.
Another decision we had to make before leaving New Zealand was to transfer our final embryo from the same IVF round that gave us our daughter. Given the amount of interaction with the fertility clinic in the first 7 weeks of the pregnancy, it made sense to do it before we left. We transferred our final embryo on Good Friday 2024. This transfer was successful.
It has been a whirlwind few months and we are finally settling down in our new country. Enjoying every moment with my beautiful daughter and looking forward to welcoming another little girl into our family. The greatest motivation for starting this business has been going through another pregnancy and being reminded by how overwhelming this process can be, especially for first time parents. This sparked an idea of creating an online store showcasing products from multiple established sources and attempting to make it easier for first time parents to easily see and review product choices that I am confident to promote having used them before.
The evolution of this business is still to be determined but through multiple social media platforms, I hope to attract an audience looking for support during one of the most important periods in their life.
Watch this space!
~ Melissa
