There’s a sort of “Tindr for baby names” I think where you can download it with a partner and you can match on names, I think, if that would be helpful. I prefer in person discussion of course but it could be helpful when apart/narrowing down!
DH and I are similar but boys names are going to be more difficult for us.
I think that’s one of the few benefits of being a single parent - no name vetoes 
! But actually the truth is I think in some ways it will make it harder for me to choose a name because there is no other opinion to help narrow down and decide on a final option. I’ve shown some of the names I like to my mom and dad but they’ve definitely said “whatever you pick we’ll love” and have been good about refraining from negativity if they don’t like something.
Absolutely recommend using the name swiping app though, or even, if you haven’t already, write down qualities you both like in a name and use that as a gauge “does this name fit these ideals or vibes we want?” Things like easy to spell or say, long or short names, nicknames or no nicknames, international wearability, great name meaning, etc.
Aww I love your parents’ replies! 
I also love your suggestions for name qualities! It definitely helps to have a starting point. I think I’ll try that with middle name ideas 
Today’s appointment went good! [name_f]Baby[/name_f] was still too small to hear on the stomach Doppler so she ended up doing an ultrasound on the belly instead and was able to catch them in the act of wriggling around LOL, as soon as she put the heart monitor over them, baby froze completely like “what the heck is that thing?” [name_f]Heart[/name_f] rate is staying consistent in the high 160’s-low 170’s range as it has been each time I’ve peeked at them. Based on old wives’ tales that’d be a baby girl, but I tend to think of them more as a little boy, and most of the people I’ve announced to are on Team [name_m]Boy[/name_m]. [name_f]Pretty[/name_f] much the only holdout for Team [name_f]Girl[/name_f] is my dad who’s leaning that way because he had four whole sisters and only one brother + lots of nieces/great-nieces.
Also the OB told me to take Vitamin B6 for nausea and I’m really hoping this will make it easier to eat a more diverse diet and not have to plan around random food aversions as much!! That would be so nice. But on the bright side she gave me some reassurance that prenatal vitamins will provide alot of the more essential nutrients, so at this point she wants me to just eat whatever sounds okay to my stomach and focus more on staying well-hydrated than worrying about what foods I eat. Which was a big relief because I’d been feeling guilty about the foods I have been tolerating, or not eating much some days.
On the more meh side she’s going to refer me to maternal-fetal medicine for my anatomy scan at 20 weeks because “elevated BMI = higher chance of fetal anomalies.” I have mixed feelings because it does suck that because of my weight I’m considered higher risk and that means more intense monitoring (plus me feeling guilty about all that because it’s my own fault), but I guess it’s reassuring to know we’ll be well taken care of by a specialist and they’re going to be very thorough in looking at baby. 
[name_f]My[/name_f] ultrasound intern is getting hired there when she graduates, though, so it’d be neat if she ended up getting to do the scan. She’s been scanning this baby already and it would be sweet to have the continuity.
Aww it’s great to hear your baby is doing well! And it’s so cute that he/she wiggled around yet suddenly froze when the monitor was over 
I’m glad the OB reassured you that it’s ok to just eat what you can and stay well hydrated. I have the same guilty feeling really and pretty much count on the prenatal vitamins too for essential nutrients. At 11 weeks now my nausea is still there but less intense. The exhaustion feels even more extreme though. I thought it was bad enough last month but apparently could still be worse. 
Anyway, I hope the vitamin B6 provides some relief for you. And please don’t feel guilty about the weight thing, you’ve done that what you could. 
On the side note, I am curious how everyone’s hospital/clinic schedule things? I had my first scan at 10 weeks (could be anytime between 8-10 weeks) then the next one will be at 20 weeks. Such a long wait to see baby again. 
During my first apt I asked if I’m high-risk because of my thyroid issue and she said I’ll have one MFM appointment at either 16 or 20 weeks (I forgot which one), but to my understanding, it’s actually something they schedule for everyone not just those with extra risk factor. I’ll only see the specialist more if needed.
They scheduled my first at 7weeks 1 day probably because my ovulation was so late and they want to scan and get an accurate date before proceeding with care.
I’ll have another appointment 2-3 weeks after that, though, and then not another one until 18-20weeks I think unless I’m high risk. [name_f]My[/name_f] OBGYN office publishes a pamphlet book for moms to read through with a general appointment schedule so that’s helpful.
We’ve had a girls name for literally years, and we’re both very happy to stick with it. We also find girls names much easier, someone asked if we had a sex preference and we were like no not really other than a slight preference for a girl because we find them easier to name
We hadn’t really discussed middles, but I mentioned it to DH recently that I’d like to use the middle name [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] after my late mother and he was like ‘well I’m not going to fight you on that!’. We’ve realised that he says [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] as Nye-oh-mi and I say it the way my mum said it as Nay-oh-mi, and he prefers it the way he says it, but it’s only a middle name so I don’t massively mind if we pronounce it slightly differently.
For a boy I think we’ve settled on a first name because (as I’m sure some of you will have seen), I’ve come round to his one and only choice for a boy. We’re still talking about middle names, I suggested some and he said he’d come back to me with suggestions, that was several weeks ago now. I know we’ve got months to decide, and we might not even need a boy name, but I want to get the ball rolling because if we do end up needing a boys name we probably need all the time we can get!
So our choices are currently [name_f]Alice[/name_f] [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] for a girl and then [name_m]Basil[/name_m] [name_m]Nye[/name_m] or [name_m]Basil[/name_m] [name_m]Colin[/name_m] for a boy (but the boys middle names are still very much subject to change).
@pacifica I hope the vitamin B6 makes a difference! Definitely don’t feel bad for what you’re eating, you being fed is really what’s most important not necessarily what you’re eating at this stage! I ate basically exclusively mashed potato for a few weeks because it was the only thing I could face! I’m almost 15 weeks now and I’m finally able to eat and smell all the things I used to be able to. With the exception of washing up liquid, which still makes me gag!
Potentially more detail than you were asking for @luneth but I’m super interested to see how other places do things!
Hospital/clinic schedule wise, it is going/will go like this for me (which is standard ‘low risk’ care under the NHS):
Positive test - call my GP/primary care to tell them, they refer me to the midwife team that covers my area.
Around 7 weeks - first midwife appointment, it’s a check in appointment where they go over medical history for me and DH and just ask a lot of checking in questions e.g. who lives with us, what jobs do we do, what number baby is this etc. They also give the general basic advice and give you an information pack that they’ll use to record all subsequent appointments. Some blood tests and a urine test are also done.
Around 12 weeks - first scan, regular hospital outpatient appointment, they recommend you give yourself 3 hours for it (45 mins for the scan and then up to 2 hours afterwards if they need to talk to you about anything). We were all good so just needed a short follow up appointment to talk about the estimated due date and do some more standard blood tests and booking in any additional tests if necessary - I have to have a glucose test because of my BMI and PCOS.
Around 15/16 weeks - second midwife appointment, I’ve got no idea what happens at this one I’ll get some results from the blood tests at the scan, and I’ll have some more tests done. I guess they’ll just check in and see how I’m doing and I think do a check for protein in my urine, no real idea though.
20 week scan - at 20 weeks, checking for anomalies and can find out the sex (we’re not planning to).
25 weeks - glucose test (this sounds dire, I’ve got to fast and then get there at like 7:30am and be there for several hours, I’m taking a book).
31 weeks - standard check in (you only get this one if it’s your first baby or you’re high risk). Standard check in is things like measuring baby’s growth and checking on movement, checking for protein in urine, and slowly giving bits of advice around things like breast feeding, new born care etc. As well as helping give information about birth choices etc.
34 weeks and then every 2 weeks until birth / 41 weeks - standard check in.
Then the same midwife I see for all these appointments will also be the person who comes to visit me at home for the first few weeks after baby is here. I’ll probably have to get her a [name_f]Christmas[/name_f] present…
[name_f]My[/name_f] office tries to do first appointment at 8 weeks (if you go before then they won’t do a scan) and then appointments every 4 weeks but you don’t necessarily get a scan at each 4 week appointment. Like I just had my 12 week and we did doppler for heartbeat but no scan. I’m supposed to have AFP testing which is done with ultrasound and I’m assuming will be done at my next appointment at 16 weeks, but they said they do AFP between 16-20 weeks so it might not be until my 20 week scan. And then in end of 2nd trimester/going to 3rd trimester appointments are every 2 weeks but again might not be a scan every time.
[name_f]My[/name_f] fibroid being pretty big and it’s location (plus my history of unprovoked blood clots) puts me in the high risk pregnancy group, so appointments & scans might become more frequent so they can keep an eye on things, but they said as long as baby looks good and is measuring fine then we’ll probably stick to their normal appointment/scan schedule.
@cms1512 good luck on your first appointment/scan! I remember reading you scheduled it toward the end of this month, right? It’s nice that you get pamphlet with information that you need. I didn’t get one, but they wrote a note with appointment schedule and recommend a pregnancy book to read in the meantime.
@Maerad no worries, I enjoy reading your detailed reply. I also find it really interesting to know how other places do things. 
I didn’t write much last night so I guess I’ll add a few bits:
Good luck on your glucose test and other tests. Might not sound fun, but all the best for you and baby. I really like your name choices btw! Alice Naomi is perfect and Basil is such a nice surprise. Never heard of Nye before, but the meaning is awesome. Colin is also a handsome choice.
@hvnewton same, mine wouldn’t scan early too since we might not get to see much. I’m still not sure if I’ll have AFP so it’s interesting to read about other people’s experience. Hope everything goes smoothly for you and no more blood clots. 
Speaking of names earlier, I surprise myself by barely discussing names so far. We talked about names we like back when we first dated, then maybe once since I got pregnant. Back then we sort of agree on Felix for a boy and Evangeline or Rosalind for a girl, I guess I’ll see if those change. So far my husband also had no idea that I’ve been on baby name site since I was in my late teens (damn, it makes me feel so old now). Not that I purposely hide it, it just never came up before. Fingers crossed it wouldn’t be too difficult to agree…
[name_f]Love[/name_f] the name choices! [name_f]Alice[/name_f] is such a sweet name imo and [name_m]Basil[/name_m] is handsome and unexpected!
So far I think the B6 is taking the edge of my nausea which makes it easier to eat foods like meat which tend to be the hardest to stand right now.
@luneth I feel you on being on naming sites a long time. This account was started back in 2013 
and that’s probably not even the first site I’ve browsed. Names have always been fascinating to me. [name_f]My[/name_f] favorites have shifted a ton over the years but funny enough one of my boy favorites, [name_m]Lorcan[/name_m], has stayed in my top couple of names almost the whole time. It’s one of the names my mom doesn’t like (of course ) but she said of course she’ll like it if it’s on her grandson. I just find it funny that the top favorite is the one they least like…
Yesterday was fun, I went back to the college where I did my ultrasound degree because they were having a little health career fair for high school students and had my baby scanned as a demonstration. [name_f]Baby[/name_f] had zero chill and was leaping and dancing about 80% of the time people were trying to take pictures of him/her 
I’m worried at how uncooperative they might be for the 20 week scan but I admit it makes me happy that they’re so lively!
Yes, @Maerad I’m strongly pro [name_m]Basil[/name_m] [name_m]Nye[/name_m]. It’s so cute and unexpected in the best way 
DH struck down all the names I’d gathered from my recent postings soo…guess we’re back to square one if it’s a boy lol.
Wow…I’m only at 5 weeks now but literally all I want to eat is salt and meat (old wives’ tales say that means boy but the Chinese birth calendar says girl lol) but maybe that’s because my nausea hasn’t really kicked in yet unlike you, @pacifica ?
@luneth yes, my first appointment is on 6/21 at what I think they’re counting at 7weeks 1 day. I’m still debating on whether or not to push it back to 8 weeks.
Also, I was stalking this website all the way back when names would go across the top and I wish I had made an account then but didn’t really know that was a thing. I only just joined last year I think. I’ve always loved names too!
Honestly that sounds exactly like my cravings in the early weeks. Salt and meat was all I wanted. Then around… 9ish weeks I suddenly got sick at the mere thought of meat.
Best thing I can say is my aversions were different some days so on those off days, meat is a possibility. And hopefully you won’t have issues eating at all!
@pacifica oooh fellow long time members! 
I’ve had this account since 2015, but this is my second. I created my first way back in 2011 (!!) and got locked out of it. Quite a long wait until we’re finally having our own baby berries, isn’t it? [name_m]Lorcan[/name_m] is a great choice!
Looks like you’ll have your hands full too with a very active, lively baby then.
@cms1512 I guess it depends on whether you’re willing to wait to potentially see more or just want to get it started quickly then. When I first came in they just counted 8 weeks based on LMP, but technically unknown gestational week. Decided to wait longer cause we only get 1 ultrasound in this first trimester and wanted to see+hear more.
So right when you planned to start TTC then? That probably makes the most sense lol do you feel your name choices change a lot when naming actual baby compared to before?
I’ve had an account on NB since 2011 (I was 17) and I definitely lurked here well before then, probably closer to 2009. I was on naming sites from about age 12/13 in general, and I think the interest started when I was 7 or 8 - I blame the classic computer game Dogz because my sister and I would have lineages of dogs with themed names.
Although my husband knew about me being on naming forums before he was even my boyfriend, he is WELL aware now!
I don’t eat meat which was a struggle because for a little while it was one of the few things I didnt mind the thought of, so I did end up having a couple of meals with chicken in when I was like 6-9 weeks. Salt was definitely ok but I went completely off anything sweet though.
Everyone’s okay here, but we had a bit of a scare last night.
I noticed I was bleeding while we were mid-drive to visit my husband’s family for the weekend. We ended up going to the ER and it sounds like everything is okay for now. [name_f]Baby[/name_f] was looking good and very lively. The doctor said some bleeding can be normal. I did have a subchorionic hematoma that my OB was keeping an eye on, so that might be the cause. I’m just supposed to rest and see my OB once we get home.
Because of all this, we did get to find out a couple weeks earlier than expected - looks like baby is a boy! [name_m]Just[/name_m] hoping we have a boring trip home and a boring OB appointment.
Oh no!! I’m glad you’re all okay! 
I had something like that with our first and it was so scary! I still don’t know what caused it.
Congrats on your little guy, and I’m glad to hear you’re both doing alright! 
Got my NIPT results last night which was a pretty speedy turnaround, thankfully. Baby is low-risk for the genetic conditions tested for which makes me so relieved. And my doctor didn’t include the sex as requested which was another concern.
Though ironically when I got the email my results were ready I had a moment of… “actually it’d be nice to know now” to where I almost hoped they slipped up. But all is well, I just need to be patient a little longer. My early gender scan is on June 27th and I know the surprise will make that day more special
12+2 here and I’m getting to the point where I’m really noticing my body growing, things are not fitting as well, etc. [name_m]Even[/name_m] some of my shoes are feeling a little small? It’s wild. Feels like a bit of an awkward phase because so much is changing yet baby is still small enough to not be felt moving.
In other news, my aunt and cousin both told me I needed to get a headstart on daycare so I did some adulting and got on a waitlist for the same one my cousin’s daughter Bryl33 was in. That’s another thing that’s throwing me for a loop… both the cost of daycare and the fact that you have to start scrambling for a spot long before baby is even born! Anyway I’m hoping the early start pays off because I haven’t heard great things about the other places that are nearby and we already have glowing reviews from Bryl33’s time there. I want this one to happen.
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] everyone is doing and feeling good!
@pacifica : the daycare costs are outrageous, and the competitiveness of a spot. This is an interesting podcast episode that dives into the costs of childcare: Why daycare is so expensive, but workers are paid too little : Planet Money : NPR
I recommend it to anyone considering childcare
I’m 14 weeks now! Found out we are having a girl
Now onto the most fun part of pregnancy: picking a name! Our 4-year-old has strong opinions on a particular name, but he doesn’t know his vote is sort of irrelevant
Thanks for the rec! I’m always listening to podcasts so it’s right up my alley
Congratulations on your baby girl! 
