• Nausea – the earliest signs of “morning sickness” can appear in the first month
• Breast Tenderness – your breasts or nipples may be swollen and tender to the touch
• Fatigue – you may feel tired as your body adjusts to hormonal changes
• Frequent Urination – a common side effect of the production of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) which causes an increase need to urinate in early pregnancy
• Food Sensitivity – just the smell of food may turn your stomach.

• A pregnancy test to confirm the pregnancy
• You’ll complete an extensive family medical history
• The doctor  usually performs an internal pelvic exam to check your uterus, vagina and cervix
• A Pap smear, if you haven’t had one in the past year
• Routine blood tests and urine tests may be performed
• An assessment of your health, including height, weight and blood pressure
• You will be prescribed a prenatal vitamin and folic acid
• Consult with your doctor about any over-the-counter or prescription drugs you take

• Nausea, vomiting, food sensitivity and fatigue may develop or become more severe
• If you haven’t already, you should make changes in your lifestyle so you and your baby will be healthy. You should stop smoking , drinking and using caffeine. Consult your caregiver about other changes you may need to make.
• You may experience moodiness as hormone levels adjust.
• Sexual desire may wan as fatigue and nausea increase.

• If this is your first visit, you will receive an internal pelvic exam and Pap smear.
• Weight gain and blood pressure will be measured and monitored.
• Urine will be tested for possible infection
• Blood may be drawn to test for anemia and HIV. Genetic testing may also be given if appropriate.

• Nausea may decrease as your body adjusts to hormone levels.
• Your middle may widen, as the uterus grows to the size of a grapefruit.
• As you feel better, develop an exercise plan to increase strength and flexibility, which will help during labor.
• Moodiness and food aversions may continue, buy usually subside by the end of the trimester.
• You may experience your first food cravings as appetite returns.

• You will be able to hear your baby’s heartbeat
• Chorionic villus sampling (CVS), which can detect Tay-Sachs, sickle cell anemia, Down syndrome and other genetic defects, is usually scheduled between ten and twelve weeks, if desired.
• Weight, blood pressure and other monitoring will continue.

• By the end of this month, you may feel “quickening” – the first flutters of baby movement, often described as “butterflies” or “bubbles.”
• You may find yourself feeling better. Nausea usually subsides and energy increases.
• Hormones stabilize, and you feel less moody. Your sex drive may also return. Enjoy this time!
• You may develop heartburn as your uterus rises in the abdomen.
• Outward signs of pregnancy may begin to appear.
• Most moms-to-be start shopping for their pregnancy wardrobe at this point.
• Now is a good time to sign up for prenatal classes.

• Much like last month’s, monitoring of fetal heartbeat and size, as well as your own weight and blood pressure, will continue.
• As it is every month, your urine will be tested for sugar and protein.
• An ultrasound is usually performed to check for fetal age.
• The alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test for neural defects is given in week 16.
• Amniocentesis test for abnormal chromosomes may be offered.

• Most women gain between 5 to 15 pounds by this time.
• Your uterus is now the size of a cantaloupe.
• Appetite often increases.
• Fatigue may return, as you’re carrying extra weight and your heart is pumping more blood.
• Some women experience bloating, constipation or other uncomfortable symptoms. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.
• Some women experience forgetfulness, sometimes called “pregnancy brain.”
• Your belly button may pop out.

• Monitoring of baby’s growth and heartbeat continues.
• Your weight, urine and blood pressure will also be checked.
• At this point, an ultrasound may reveal the baby’s sex. This “second scan” may also show any anomaly.

• Your uterus is now the size of a basketball resting above your belly button. Skin on the stomach may feel itchy as it stretches around your growing womb.
• Complaints of mid-pregnancy, including bleeding gums, constipation, heartburn and leg cramps, may intensify at this time.
• You’ll gain about a pound a week at this time. The increased weight may result in varicose veins or hemorrhoids. Talk to your doctor if you notice protruding veins in any area.
• You may become tired more easily – no wonder! Listen to your body and rest as necessary.

• Monitoring will continue. Pregnancy-induced blood pressure problems (hypertension) often start at this time, so make your caregiver aware of problems with swollen ankles, headaches or nosebleeds.
• Most women are tested for gestational diabetes at this time.

• Your feet or hands may start cramping.
• You may experience more movement of your baby
• Your joints may feel more loose due to softening in preparation for birth
• Many women experience Braxton Hicks contractions (non-productive contractions) starting in the seventh month.

• Monitoring of your weight, blood pressure and urine, as well as the baby’s growth and position, will continue.
• Women who are Rh-negative may receive a shot of Rhogam at this time to prevent complications later.
• Stretch marks may appear as skin continues to stretch.
• You may start seeing your caregiver more frequently at this point. Most start out with checkups every other week once you’re seven months pregnant.
• Now is the time to talk to your caregiver about your birth vision. Discuss your feelings about pain management, fetal monitoring, episiotomies and breastfeeding at this time. Just remember these plans are just a blueprint, which can be adjusted as necessary during labor and delivery to protect the well being of mom and baby.

• You’ll continue to gain about a pound a week.
• You may feel discomfort as baby pushes on rib cage or organs.
• Pelvic pressure may increase as baby drops into this area.
• Indigestion and heartburn may become more intense.
• Skin continues stretching and stretch marks may appear
• Braxton Hicks contractions become more regular.

• Monitoring of your weight, urine, blood pressure and swelling will continue.
• Baby’s growth, heartbeat, size and position will be checked.
• Some caregivers order a second ultrasound at this time to verify baby’s size and position.
• Caregiver visits usually increase from bi-weekly to weekly starting at the 36thweek.

• You may breathe a little easier as baby settles into the pelvis, giving you more room in the abdominal area. This is known as lightening.
• Sleep will become more difficult due to your size and any anxiety you may feel about the upcoming birth.
• Some women experience a “nesting instinct” and feel compelled to ready the home for baby’s arrival.
• Your weight gain will be as high as it will go – up to 35 pounds is average. Some women start losing a pound or two as labor approaches.

• All monitoring will continue. You will also receive an internal examination to determine if the cervix has ripened or started to dilate.
• Your caregiver may swab your vagina and rectum to test for group b streptococcus infection (group b strep).
• You will visit your caregiver weekly for monitoring at this point. Visits may increase if you pass your due date.

**(This list contains Jumia affiliate links, I would get a commission if you buy anything through these links at no extra cost to you)

 I searched online for different "What's in my hospital bag" videos and articles that made me come up with my list, but when I got to the hospital, we were given a list and obviously, we had to buy a lot of things that had I been in a foreign hospital, it won't be requested from me. So, here is a list for your Nigerian hospital bag;


For Mother

• 1 Dressing gown
• 1 Maternity Large Brassiers
• 1 Large Towel
• 4 Sanitary pad (ladysept) 
• 1 pair of flat slippers
• 1 Toilet soap
• 1 tin of glucose
• 1 Toothbrush 
• 1 tube of toothpaste
• 1 Body cream
• 3 clean wrappers
• 1 Sponge 
• 2 nightingale spreadable
• 1 Savlon (small bottle)

You can save a copy for yourself

1
Strength
I wonder what makes strength
is it the energy?
the emotion?
or just the ability to do what I don't feel like doing? 
or is there more? 

5
Bent 
This has got me bending 
bending over backwards
Things I never felt
Emotions I've only read
and I won't have it any other way
because it births you.

4
length, 126.
For now, 
For tomorrow. 
For now, because there is so much 
bending I can take. 
for tomorrow, because there is so much
more to look forward to.
You. "

I know and understand the power of music. It is absolutely amazing the part music plays in making our lives more colourful. Naturally, I wanted music to be a part of my delivery. I wanted songs that focused more on the power of God and reminded me that my strength came from him. I didn't want to entertain fear in any way, mostly because of the stories I had read and all the youtube videos I watched.

I specifically picked the following songs and downloaded them on my phone at the beginning of the month and my EDD was the end of the month. I went off social media and I took time off my per-time jobs in order to get in the zone because, I didn't know what to expect but I wanted to be mentally and spiritually strong for it all.

What the playlist did for me was;

- Help me focus on God.
- Take my mind off everything else.
- Calm my nerves and Spirit.
- Continue to declare the greatness and goodness of God.
- Be in the Zone!

Find the playlist on Youtube below. I hope you like them.

You can also create your playlist by searching for songs you like, writing down the names and downloading them. I just did a google search and included "Free download" to get most of the songs on my phone.

Would you consider creating a Delivery playlist? What songs would be on your playlist?