week 20 ultrasound- our son!

So we now know- God has blessed us with a boy! and more importantly, he looks healthy. I've gained 9 pounds to date and he is 13 ounces and I am actually 20 weeks and 5 days along- which is further than I thought I was so I'm due around September 9th though the doc won't offically change the due date because of a few days' difference. No matter, due dates aren't concrete anyway, its all God's timing, alhamdulilah. Now we find a name for the little one. I also got some questions answered about delivery and theres a small chance it may be a male doctor which would be weird. I can have a natural birth with some monitoring every 30 minutes so I feel pretty confident. So now I just need to be healthy and not stress, inshallah. Also, our moms were at the ultrasound and that was very nice.

Pregnancy in the Quran- related surahs

I found some great info from Belief.net and wanted to include it as a good reminder to myself
*One recommendation was to read the entire Quran during pregnancy and I realized that I had started my second complete reading during the time I concieved- so I have been reading the Quran in its entirity my whole pregnancy and didn't even know it! Mashallah!

Verses from the Qur’an to Have a Pious Child

Most Muslim women at some time during their pregnancy will be told to recite Surah Maryam from the Qur’an to help them have a safe, easy pregnancy and to help the child be pious and God-fearing. Surah Maryam (or Mary), refers to the birth of Jesus to the virgin Mary, and also tells the story of the Prophet Zakariah, who prayed for his barren wife to have a child. His prayer was answered, and his wife gave birth to John the Baptist, whom Muslims call Yahyah. Women are advised to recite this surah at least once a day during their pregnancy.


Recommended Qur’an Verses for a Happy Pregnancy

The Qur’an is filled with pages upon pages of verses whose virtues are so powerful that reading them is recommended for a variety of situations, including pregnancy. From the time we learn to read the Qur’an, Muslims are taught that reading these verses on a regular basis will ensure them a good life in the present and in the hereafter. Read the following passages for a worry-free pregnancy:

Recite the Surah Ya-Sin for an easy pregnancy and for the spiritual benefit of the unborn child.
Recite Surah e-Qadr seven times daily for an easy delivery.
And try to read the Qur’an in its entirety once during the pregnancy.

From
www.dua.org

Week 19 bump pic

I had realized that I had not been taking pics of my growing baby bump so I figured I should start- its really starting to be noticable and I feel a little weird about it poking out so much. I worry how it'll look in month 8! Aside from heartburn, I feel well though I still stress too much and have been feeling down. Then I feel guilty about feeling down because I'm not trusting in God as I should so I just need to chill out. I look foward to my ultrasound next week and pray we'll find out the gender. Inshallah!

Trying and happy times

I have been turning to God so much lately- I came back to work from spring break to find out I was being let go. It was upsetting in so many ways and its been hard lately to come to work and not wanting to just leave. Its definately trying as I am pregnant and am worried about the future. But I know that I have to trust God that there is a plan and by worrying, I'm only stressing myself out and wasting energy.

As far as my baby, I can feel him/her move which is great- its hard to distinguish between baby movements and regular tummy rumblings. Sometimes its a small thump and other times its a wave of motion. I am showing more and am taking advantage by wearing some of the clothes I had put away as they would show my chubby belly- now its ok. Of course all clothing is still modest.
I have been incredibly hungry lately and at times my heart races but things have been pretty good.

I pray for those in stressful situations that they turn to God and leave it to Him