In part, I am excited for the belly because it will be proof to the world that I really am pregnant. So many times I have wanted to ask a perfectly fit 20-something man if he would be willing to give me his seat on the metro because I think I might collapse from exhaustion at any moment, but I haven't because I am sure he would think I was totally lame and if I say I'm pregnant, no one would believe me.
The other reason for wanting the belly-- New Clothes! I haven't bought new clothes in a very long time. Mostly because I am too cheap. But recently, it's been because I know I won't be able to wear them for very long so it doesn't seem like a great investment. Once I have a belly, I will have a NEED for new clothes and then the expense will be justified. Can't wait.
Even though I am totally not stylish normally, I am hoping to use this life-changing event to become the modern and stylish woman I have always wanted to be, starting with pretty maternity clothes. I have been following this blog of a woman who appears to be about my age, who's been blogging about her style for 5 years. Got pregnant last spring, had a baby in January, so now she has a LOT of posts about maternity and nursing fashion. If you're interested, you can check out a guest post she did here. She's good-- she's how I found out that Old Navy carries petites online. Her regular blog is here.
3.20.2009
Leaving the first trimester...
I am celebrating the last week of my first trimester. This is another bizarre artefact of the way pregnancy weeks are counted, since they count from before conception. So you would think that the first trimester would be 12 weeks or approximately 3 months (hence, "trimester"). Well, you would be wrong. The first trimester is actually 14 weeks. The last two I think are only 12 weeks. So at 13 weeks and one day, I am on my way to Trimester #2 and looking forward to it.
It's amazing, it's like someone plugged my electricity back in. I have noticed that in the past week or so, I am much less tired. I had a work trip to North Carolina last week, one to Atlanta this week, and one to Cincinnati next week, but I am no where near as tired as I would have expected to be 3 or 4 weeks ago when I was sleeping all weekend, every weekend. My mood is better although I do get emotional all of a sudden and for absolutely no reason. This has only happened a few times and seems to be linked to being overtired. The good part is that it has not unintentionally misdirected at VH, yet. :) I'm sure that time will come sooner than either of us wants it to.
My stomach has been a little bit perkier and more receptive to different kinds of food (I even had chicken for lunch today!), and I am usually able to concentrate a bit better than I have been in the past few weeks. So, overall, this second trimester thing could be good. Wooly Bear, I know you are suffering but it gives you something to look forward to very soon.
And now, a Baby Status Update: We used the home fetal doppler last night to listen to the heartbeat. She's still in there but was hiding. I guess maybe she was resting when we were bothering her. According to BabyCenter.com, she's a whole 3inches at this point! No wonder my belly started to pop a little. She has fingerprints and can pee. I've been trying to figure out the logistics of the last part because they didn't cover that one in my reproductive health classes in grad school. I need to get myself a book...
It's amazing, it's like someone plugged my electricity back in. I have noticed that in the past week or so, I am much less tired. I had a work trip to North Carolina last week, one to Atlanta this week, and one to Cincinnati next week, but I am no where near as tired as I would have expected to be 3 or 4 weeks ago when I was sleeping all weekend, every weekend. My mood is better although I do get emotional all of a sudden and for absolutely no reason. This has only happened a few times and seems to be linked to being overtired. The good part is that it has not unintentionally misdirected at VH, yet. :) I'm sure that time will come sooner than either of us wants it to.
My stomach has been a little bit perkier and more receptive to different kinds of food (I even had chicken for lunch today!), and I am usually able to concentrate a bit better than I have been in the past few weeks. So, overall, this second trimester thing could be good. Wooly Bear, I know you are suffering but it gives you something to look forward to very soon.
And now, a Baby Status Update: We used the home fetal doppler last night to listen to the heartbeat. She's still in there but was hiding. I guess maybe she was resting when we were bothering her. According to BabyCenter.com, she's a whole 3inches at this point! No wonder my belly started to pop a little. She has fingerprints and can pee. I've been trying to figure out the logistics of the last part because they didn't cover that one in my reproductive health classes in grad school. I need to get myself a book...
3.16.2009
Why do I call her "she" all the time?
A reader (can't believe anyone actually reads this) recently reminded me that I had said I would write about why I-- and actually, both of us-- always refer to the baby as a girl. This could be a VERY dangerous habit for us to get into. I did at one point apologize to the fetus, in case it turns out to be a boy. I don't think he'll hold it against me. I haven't bought anything baby-pink for him to wear yet, so it's not that bad.
It all started a LONG time ago, a few years ago when we started talking about the "someday" when we would have kids. I don't know why, but I and everyone around us just had this hunch that our first child would be a girl. We've stuck to it. And when I came out of my friend the MD's bathroom in January, holding the piece of white plastic with the line through it, one of the first thing out of VH's mouth was a girl's name. (NB: We had messed around for a couple of years throwing different girl baby names out there. The one he threw out kind of came out of nowhere. It may end up being the baby's name, just because that's weird and maybe it some sort of fate acting. But we have by no means decided on a name. I don't believe in choosing the baby's name until you've seen the baby.)
Lately, VH has been less inclined to call it a girl. Maybe he's starting to doubt our initial instinct, or maybe he's just trying not to assume, I'm not sure. But my whole family still refers to it as a girl, and my mom told me that my gramma hasn't been so certain about the sex of a baby since a second cousin of mine was born 40-something years ago-- and she was right then. I am trying to be better about being gender neutral but I haven't been too successful.
This Saturday I have another monthly appointment. I will be 17 weeks. I think they are going to give me the referral for the 16-20 week ultrasound. That is the first time they can tell the sex of the baby. They can't always tell. The baby has to be cooperating and willing to show them what they need to see. But we will have to decide very soon whether we want to know. This is still up in the air. Thoughts, opinions, advice? Take this opportunity, because on this topic, I haven't really been asking too many opinions!
NOTE: I started this post on 3/16 but finished it on 4/14-- it still posted under the original date so sorry for the lack of chronological order!
It all started a LONG time ago, a few years ago when we started talking about the "someday" when we would have kids. I don't know why, but I and everyone around us just had this hunch that our first child would be a girl. We've stuck to it. And when I came out of my friend the MD's bathroom in January, holding the piece of white plastic with the line through it, one of the first thing out of VH's mouth was a girl's name. (NB: We had messed around for a couple of years throwing different girl baby names out there. The one he threw out kind of came out of nowhere. It may end up being the baby's name, just because that's weird and maybe it some sort of fate acting. But we have by no means decided on a name. I don't believe in choosing the baby's name until you've seen the baby.)
Lately, VH has been less inclined to call it a girl. Maybe he's starting to doubt our initial instinct, or maybe he's just trying not to assume, I'm not sure. But my whole family still refers to it as a girl, and my mom told me that my gramma hasn't been so certain about the sex of a baby since a second cousin of mine was born 40-something years ago-- and she was right then. I am trying to be better about being gender neutral but I haven't been too successful.
This Saturday I have another monthly appointment. I will be 17 weeks. I think they are going to give me the referral for the 16-20 week ultrasound. That is the first time they can tell the sex of the baby. They can't always tell. The baby has to be cooperating and willing to show them what they need to see. But we will have to decide very soon whether we want to know. This is still up in the air. Thoughts, opinions, advice? Take this opportunity, because on this topic, I haven't really been asking too many opinions!
NOTE: I started this post on 3/16 but finished it on 4/14-- it still posted under the original date so sorry for the lack of chronological order!
12 1/2 Weeks
When I get the pictures off my camera (probably tonight), I will send an update of what my belly looks like. Can't really tell anything yet when I have clothes on but it kind of looks a little like maybe I ate too much. I have noticed that just in the past week, I can't suck it in as much as I've always been able to. There's just a little round area that won't go in. So I guess that's the baby. Maybe no one really cares about whether I have a baby bump yet but I know that when my friends were pregnant, their bellies fascinated me. I tried not to let on but am not really good at faking. My first friend who had a baby never sent me a single picture of herself pregnant, even though I asked for them. I'm sure it's just because it wasn't really that huge a deal, I really hope it wasn't because she felt badly about her baby belly. I never had the guts to ask her. Since I was around My Friend The MD a lot when she was pregnant, I never had to ask for a picture and she even let me touch the belly on occasion. I think that for me, it's visual proof that there is a living being inside there and it makes it more real. It's very hard for me to really "feel pregnant" when I don't really look much different. But anyway, you can go back to my first post and compare my body at 5 weeks with my body at 12 1/2 weeks. Some of the change I think is just flab since I have been so tired over the past few weeks I have done very little exercise.
3.12.2009
I got a picture!
I did decide to have the nuchal translucency screen. It is a non-invasive test where they measure this space that shows up behind the baby's neck on the ultrasound. You can see it, it looks like a little pouch shaped like a banana. Apparently, this is a little sac behind the baby's neck that is filled with fluid. Babies with certain chromosomal abnormalities (including Down Syndrome) have more fluid than babies who do not. It is a screen, not a diagnostic test, which means that you can show more fluid, which means you are at higher risk, but they can't actually tell if your baby has a chromosomal abnormality without doing an invasive diagnostic test. We are both fortunate to not have any close family history of chromosomal abnormalities, so we are low risk. They combine the fluid measurement with a blood test to check for the levels of two hormones; together, the two test results can determine an elevated risk.
In addition to this, they take pictures of the baby and measure the baby's growth, which helps them pin down fetal age and due date. They also make a visual check for the heartbeat and listen to it to determine the heart rate. They do an internal and external ultrasound and take internal pictures of the ovaries and measure the cervix. I think all of this stuff is really cool, but then again, I have a degree in reproductive health, so I'm probably pretty abnormal.
We are not concerned about really knowing about chromosomal problems or other types of screens, just like we probably will ask to not be told the baby's sex. We are not people who feel the need to use all the technology just because it's there--nature will take it's course and there are some things we will just find out when the baby is born. But, that said, there were two reasons I decided to do this test. First, I wanted a picture, which is really stupid and an irresponsible use of healthcare dollars. But I wanted one. Secondly, I am hoping that seeing the baby on the screen, knowing she's in there, and knowing that her growth is progressing as it should will help the nightmares go away. Hearing the heartbeat worked for about three nights. I'm hoping to get a week out of this one!
The growth is fine, exactly 12 weeks which is exactly what the original dating said. Heart rate 167, which she said is normal. The baby was moving around so much it was incredible. I know I'm not supposed to feel her moving yet but I swear, every once in a while at night, when I'm just lying still in bed, I can feel things happening. This confirmed that for me-- she is dancing to her own music in there! The technician had trouble getting pictures because she was moving so much. The nuchal translucency looks good, she said, but we won't really know elevated risk until they get the blood test back. Overall, this was a great experience, completely non-invasive (although the internal exam was a little intimidating-- explaining why would be TMI but anyone who has had it knows what I am talking about) and low-risk (unlike amnioscentisis), and I have a picture!
3.05.2009
Comments, anyone?
If you're all just stalking, that's fine. I'm a frequent blog stalker as well. But, what I don't get is those of you who read the blog and write emails to me to respond. What am I missing? I love your emails and I love for you to share your thoughts with me-- but the whole point of the blog is that you would POST your comments, not email them. Why don't you like to comment? Please comment (or send me an email) and let me know what the deal is...
3.03.2009
Every day brings something new
I know the title is a cliche, but for pretty much the first time in my life, this is true. Sorry for waiting so long to post, but these past two and a half weeks have been the most difficult so far. I was feeling really horrible for about 10 days-- lots of nausea (but still no vomiting, just that nausea where you wish you would but you don't) and horrible headaches. By the end of that, I also started coming down with a cold and slept for an entire Sunday and still didn't feel much better. The dizziness that had mostly subsided is back in greater and lesser degrees depending on the day, how hungry I am, and how much sleep I've gotten. And exhaustion is a constant-- took a nap Friday, two Saturday, one Sunday, and two yesterday (I worked from home because of the snow and actually did a lot of work between the two naps).
Food is good and bad-- chicken in particular is difficult, but that's not surprising because it has never really been my favorite. But the dry texture and the way it smells when it's cooking is grossing me out. Ice cream, which I don't usually eat in winter, goes down easy and is becoming a nightly ritual. This is not good for VH. :) Every day, there is a new food experience. At first, lunch was a bit of a problem. Now dinner is getting harder but at lunch I am absolutely ravenous. I definitely eat my extra 350 calories before 3 PM. And most recently, I've been able to eat dinner but then feel absolutely awful as soon as I'm done. The most annoying thing about all of this is the inconsistency. I never know what to expect when I wake up or sit down to eat.
Enough complaining, that's the physical status report. The extremely cool thing that happened was that I went to the doctor two Saturdays ago and heard the baby's heartbeat! The anxiety-ridden nightmares went away for three whole nights after that. At least I know she's alive in there. The midwife was looking for her all on one side and said "This is where they like to hang out". Nothing. So she started to move the doppler around, and of course my baby is in the exact opposite spot of where the midwife expected to find her. Like mother, like daughter! We are very happy that the baby seems to be doing well. Special thank yous and hugs to my friend the MD for going with me to the appointment and for loaning us a personal doppler so VH can hear the heartbeat too. We haven't gotten a gel yet so we can do that, but we will very soon.
VH is still being more supportive and helpful than I had ever imagined possible, to the point of making me feel bad for being a lazy bum and neglecting him and the apartment. Unfortunately, we were in a bit of disarray during these two weeks that I wasn't feeling well because I was not able to do anything at all, and VH is going through some tough times at work. He had to work when I had my appointment, which was really disappointing, and has been working Saturday and Sunday every weekend which is exhausting for both of us. But we're working on it.
Many other people have been so helpful and generous lately too and I really want to thank them, particularly my three work friends who have not only guarded my secret but have cared for me and given me presents!
I have so many more things to write about but this post is already super-long. I promise the next one will be less about nausea and more about something interesting. Up next: Genetic testing-- Will we do it just for the ultrasound photo? and Why do we keep referring to it as a girl?
Food is good and bad-- chicken in particular is difficult, but that's not surprising because it has never really been my favorite. But the dry texture and the way it smells when it's cooking is grossing me out. Ice cream, which I don't usually eat in winter, goes down easy and is becoming a nightly ritual. This is not good for VH. :) Every day, there is a new food experience. At first, lunch was a bit of a problem. Now dinner is getting harder but at lunch I am absolutely ravenous. I definitely eat my extra 350 calories before 3 PM. And most recently, I've been able to eat dinner but then feel absolutely awful as soon as I'm done. The most annoying thing about all of this is the inconsistency. I never know what to expect when I wake up or sit down to eat.
Enough complaining, that's the physical status report. The extremely cool thing that happened was that I went to the doctor two Saturdays ago and heard the baby's heartbeat! The anxiety-ridden nightmares went away for three whole nights after that. At least I know she's alive in there. The midwife was looking for her all on one side and said "This is where they like to hang out". Nothing. So she started to move the doppler around, and of course my baby is in the exact opposite spot of where the midwife expected to find her. Like mother, like daughter! We are very happy that the baby seems to be doing well. Special thank yous and hugs to my friend the MD for going with me to the appointment and for loaning us a personal doppler so VH can hear the heartbeat too. We haven't gotten a gel yet so we can do that, but we will very soon.
VH is still being more supportive and helpful than I had ever imagined possible, to the point of making me feel bad for being a lazy bum and neglecting him and the apartment. Unfortunately, we were in a bit of disarray during these two weeks that I wasn't feeling well because I was not able to do anything at all, and VH is going through some tough times at work. He had to work when I had my appointment, which was really disappointing, and has been working Saturday and Sunday every weekend which is exhausting for both of us. But we're working on it.
Many other people have been so helpful and generous lately too and I really want to thank them, particularly my three work friends who have not only guarded my secret but have cared for me and given me presents!
I have so many more things to write about but this post is already super-long. I promise the next one will be less about nausea and more about something interesting. Up next: Genetic testing-- Will we do it just for the ultrasound photo? and Why do we keep referring to it as a girl?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
