Things Nobody Tells You About Pregnancy

Well this is me doing my public service and telling you.

• You worry.  When we were trying to get pregnant, that was my worry.  I thought that once I was pregnant it would be a huge relief.  Which it was in some ways, but I have been constantly worrying ever since.  I just wanted to make it to 8 weeks, then 12 weeks, and still a week or so before every appointment I start freaking out that I will go and there will be no heartbeat.  And yes, I know that I will worry for the rest of this babies life.
• You pee in the middle of the night immediately.  I thought it was a later in pregnancy thing.  Nope right away I was getting up once a night to go to the bathroom.
• You look fat before you look pregnant.  I knew this going in, but I'm still trying to understand why this has to happen
• Crazy vivid dreams.  Every single night.  And not necessarily about babies.  But the other night I dreamt that I felt the baby move for the first time, but this wasn't just the butterfly feeling, it was crazy kicks and movements.  I wish it would be that obvious...
• Hormones are for real
•  It's not always hard.  I prepared for the worst.  Weeks of morning sickness, fatigue like never before and general discomfort.  This is pregnancy for some people, but it is possible to feel great during pregnancy!  And then you feel guilty for feeling great because you know that it's not like that for everyone.

Bump Date: 17 Weeks

What Fruit are you?  A turnip.  Or an onion.

Next appointment:  Thursday!

Gender:  I still think girl, but then we did the needle test and it said boy.  I know none of this stuff really works, but who knows!

Total weight gain/loss:  I will find out at my appointment on Thursday, but I don’t really think I have gone up too much. 

Exercise:  Exercising on the regular, or trying to.  Probably getting around 4-5 workouts a week in.  I went to a weights class at work this week and some of the ladies were pretty impressed that I was still working out.  It made me feel good, but I think that exercising during pregnancy should be the norm.

Stretch marks:  Nothing yet.

Maternity clothes:  I wore maternity pants for the first time this week.  They are amazing!  So comfortable and much more flattering as they make me look pregnant rather than cutting my belly off in the middle of it.  I bought another pair on Friday night, but I need to go out an get more for sure.  Still able to wear regular shirts though.  

Food cravings:  I’m really enjoying pickled beets.  I had some at my in laws last week and I was at my parents on Friday night and knew I had to raid their fridge for some since we don’t have any at home.  I should probably buy some.  Or have Ryan buy me some, that’s what husbands are for, right?

Symptoms:  Heartburn has started.  And it comes with bad acid reflux.  I have had reflux for awhile but now I can feel it burning in my throat.  Not fun.  But once again, if this is the worst symptom I have I really can’t complain!  So far everything has been easy peasy.  Is there really a baby in there?  Oh and I have all this peach fuzz on my belly.  Luckily it’s very light, so I think I’m the only one that can notice it, but I feel like I’m turning into a fuzzy bear.

Movement:  Nothing yet.  Anxiously waiting!

What I miss:  This week was the first time I really missed wine.  I was at a conference for work and this introvert could definitely use a glass to loosen up!  And everyone was drinking pretty heavily and I had to keep explaining that I was pregnant.  

What I'm loving:  Still how easy this has been. I could do this at least 3 more times (Ryan).

What I'm looking forward to:  My appointment this week.  Just want to hear that heartbeat again.  I always need the reassurance that everything is fine.

Best moment this week: Putting on maternity pants an realizing that I actually look pregnant.

Reading Lately

I pretty much always have a book on the go.  I've been a reader my entire life (except when I was in University, then pleasure reading went on pause.)  I've read a few books this summer, some good, some great, some just meh.  I have this struggle with putting books down that I'm not enjoying.  Even if I don't like it I want to know what happens.  I could just google it, but I never seem smart enough to do that.

The One & Only - Emily Giffin

I'm a huge Emily Giffin fan.  This book was slightly different than her typical book, but I still enjoyed it.  The reviews on Goodreads were terrible though!  I don't want to say much more because I don't want to give anything away, but it's not the writing that people disliked, it's the topics discussed in the book.  I still give it a thumbs up though...

Wild - Cheryl Strayed

This book was tough for me at first.  I found I couldn't connect with Cheryl when she said stuff like: He asked if I had tried Heroin and I hadn't so we did it. Pardon?  And when she got pregnant she says "I got an abortion and learned how to make dehydrated tuna flakes and turkey jerky and took a refresher course on basic first aid and practiced using my water purifier in my kitchen sink."  This drove me nuts.  You don't just pass by abortion like that, as if it's completely insignificant.

Anyways, the book got better.  Once she was out hiking the trail for months at a time and there was no heroin or pregnancy, she was easier to relate to.  I would recommend this book.

The Matched Series - Ally Condie

I liked the first one.  Typical dystopian with a love triangle.  Nothing amazing, but it was good.  Then the second one I didn't even want to finish.  It was just boring.  But for some reason I read the second one and the third one because I wanted to know what happened. This is one of those books that I should have just googled the ending for.

The Husband's Secret - Liane Moriarty

This is on everyone's book club list I think.  I thought it was really good.  Some secrets you find out about early on, some take you a bit longer and keep you guessing.  It's about multiple families but they all come together and are related in some way.  Definitely a good read.  Really makes you think that you never really know what's going on in other people's lives, or even in those lives that are deeply intertwined with your own.

 What have you been reading lately?

Bump Date: 16 Weeks

What Fruit are you? An Avocado

Next appointment:  18 Weeks

Gender:  I’m still feeling girl.  Ryan hasn’t thought about it much, but he says girl too.

Total weight gain/loss:  I tend to not weigh myself between appointments.  Although I don’t want to gain too much weight, to some degree it’s not something I can control, so I don’t want to obsess over it.

Exercise: This week I did some weights, some spin bike and I went to my first prenatal class.  I was the least pregnant person there and probably had the most experience with yoga, so I felt like I could push myself a bit harder than the rest of the women there.  Which was weird, I didn’t want to seem like I was showing off.  But at the same time, before I have that big ol’ belly I might as well work hard.

Stretch marks:  Nothing yet.

Maternity clothes:  A girl I work with who has a 2 week old gave me a whole bag of clothes, and man are those pants comfy!  I think I’m going to take some to my conference this week to wear.  I have bought a few shirts and have a few more ordered, but haven’t started wearing them yet.

Sleep: No complaints.  Except if I’m going to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I would rather it happen at 3am then 5:30 when I only have half an hour left to sleep!

Food cravings:  Still just food!  I had been craving chicken wings, so Ryan and I went out on Friday for them and some hot fudge cake.  In Ryan’s words “that’s one happy preggo”

Symptoms:  Not very many of them really.  My back has been pretty sore.

Movement:  Nothing yet.

What I miss:  My body. This stage has been pretty tough for me.  I know that it’s all part of pregnancy and I knew that the feeling fat stage would come, but as an avid exerciser who works hard on my body it’s been hard to get dressed in the morning and feel good about myself.

What I'm loving:  Pregnancy in general.  Even though lately I haven’t felt pregnant at all and wonder if there’s still a baby in there, pregnancy seems to really agree with me.  I could do this 3 more times Ryan! (hint hint)

What I'm looking forward to: Having a bump of course! 

Best moment this week: Ryan and I finally agreeing on names.  We aren’t going to share them, and there’s still the possibility that they could change I guess, but for now our names are picked!

A Letter to My Bump, Or Lack Thereof

Dear Lovely Baby Bump,

Where are you?  I mean I see a bit of growth in my belly region, but as far as an actual bump goes, you just aren't there.  I would really appreciate if you stepped up your game and made an appearance soon.

You see, I'm starting to feel like a bit of a liar.  I keep telling people I'm pregnant, but between my lack of symptoms and lack of bump, I feel like people are going to start wondering if I'm really pregnant at all.  Last night I went to prenatal yoga and I felt like people probably thought I was in the wrong class.  There were 3 ladies who were only 2 weeks further along than me and they looked like there was an actual baby in there!  And then there's me, who apparently just does prenatal yoga for the fun of it.

I know eventually I will probably wish you away, so I'm not asking that you turn into a huge bump right away, just something that makes me look pregnant.  I mean we're basically at 16 weeks.  Even though I was told that with your first pregnancy it can take awhile, I kind of just want to look more pregnant and less like I ate a lot of cake (I probably did eat a lot of cake though).

Ok that is all.  Thank you and hopefully see you soon.

Bump Date: 15 Weeks

What Fruit are you? An apple.

Next appointment:  18 Weeks

Gender:  I still have a feeling it’s a girl.  Have awhile to go before we find out!

Exercise: I went to a few fitness classes at work last week.  The one involved a lot of laying on my back, which my midwife said was fine until I got uncomfortable.  I thought having a small ball under my back would help, but nope, I paid for it the next day.  In the past I have fought through discomfort while working out, but when you're pregnant you really need to listen to your body because it might be trying to tell you something.  I have learned now to listen.  

Stretch marks:  Nothing yet.  Really need to start trying to prevent those, but I don’t know if it even matters.  I’ve heard you’re either prone to them or you’re not.

Maternity clothes:  No, but my clothes are definitely getting tighter!

Symptoms:  Still just boobs, but definitely not sore like the first trimester.  I had some intense nausea the other morning, first time I have felt like that.  But I ate and it went away.

What I miss:  Being able to control my eating!

What I'm loving:  Being able to eat whatever I want!  Contradiction here, I know! Before I was pregnant I tried to be so good all of the time, and despite my best efforts, pregnancy has given me a bit of a reason to eat more.

What I'm looking forward to:  Going shopping with my mom at Babies R Us!  Time to really start this registry process and figuring out what we want.  Choosing baby stuff takes a lot more time than wedding items because I really want to research and make sure I’m getting the best stuff. 

Enjoy Today

  

Another Monday is here, and let's be honest, Mondays aren't fun.  The weekend never seems long enough.  This weekend for me flew by.  Ryan was away, which typically means tons of free time/alone time for me.  But between an event on Friday, a day full of baby shopping on Saturday and a Sunday that just got away from me, my weekend alone turned into a weekend of activities. 

But no matter what you are feeling on this Monday, it's important to embrace it.  So here is what I am grateful for today, despite the fact that it's Monday.

• My family.  I spent Saturday with my mom and Sunday with my sister.  I love having them so close and that we are such a huge part of each others lives.
• My baby.  Despite the fact that baby is making me feel slightly larger these days, I am so thankful for it and so excited for what life changes it will bring.
• A job.  Even if it's hard coming back to it on Mondays, I have a good job, that I legitimately enjoy and that helps me to support my growing family.  
• The life that I have been given.  Despite the fact that I have worked hard for everything that I have, part of how your life turns out is determined by the life you were born into.  And so I'm lucky that I grew up in the family that I did and was provided with the opportunities that I was.  
• Ryan.  He's going to make such a great daddy.  And I think that I'm more excited to seem him as a dad than I am to see myself as a mom.  (Because let's face it, I'm going to be a disaster.  I'm just trying to prepare myself for that.)

14 Week Bump Date

Almost caught up.  I was 14 weeks on August 29.  When I edited this picture I put on it that I was 17 weeks....not quite.  I guess I'm a little bit eager here.

What Fruit are you? A peach I think.  Who knows…

Next appointment:  18 weeks

Gender: I’m thinking girl because of it’s position in the uterus and a fast heartbeat.  My grandma told me boy because my bum is big…thanks Grandma, it’s always been that size!

Total weight gain/loss:  4 lbs

Exercise:  We went camping last weekend and did a lot of biking and hiking.  Also did some weights and burned those legs!

Maternity clothes:  Not needed yet…

Symptoms:  Boobs, but not as bad as before.  A few moments of nausea, which surprised me, I thought that was gone.

What I miss:  Being able to work out like I used to, but that’s probably just because I’m feeling a tad chubby these days.  My mom says it's bump, I say it's bloat/a food baby, who knows.

What I'm loving:  That it’s public!  No more secrets!

What I'm looking forward to: Spending Labour Day Weekend at the cottage! 

Best moment this week: Hearing the babies heartbeat at my midwife appointment this week.  As we are 14 weeks, we are pretty much in the clear for miscarriage (although of course anything could happen) but it’s such a huge relief!

13 Week Bump Date

I'm 15 weeks today, so we are almost caught up with these updates!  I was 13 weeks back on August 22.  

What Fruit are you? A Lemon or a pea pod?  Those seem to be very different sizes to me.

Next appointment:  Midwife appointment at 13 weeks 6 days

Total weight gain/loss:  At my last appointment it was 4 pounds.  It feels like about 10 though!

Exercise: When I went to the doctor earlier in the week she told me the subchorionic hemorrhage has completely cleared up.  I’m good to go for exercising!  But more importantly it was a relief that we don’t have to worry about this anymore. 

So for exercise I am getting back into the swing of things!  Did some weights and some spinning this week.  Still didn’t do as much as I wanted, but I have to give myself a break.  We were very busy this week!

Maternity clothes: Not yet, but I have the belly band on stand by and went shopping on Monday for a few things that would fit me as I expand but don’t necessarily need maternity clothes. 

Sleep: Still getting up about once a night to go to the bathroom.  Sometimes wake up between the crazy dreams that I’m having, but overall sleep has been good.

Food cravings:  Still just food in general!

Symptoms:  Symptoms have subsided a bit.  Boobs are still sore, but other than that, not much of anything     

Best moment this week: Telling a bunch of family and friends that we are expecting!  Everyone was so excited and it was a lot of fun! 

Pregnancy Weeks 8-12

Week 8

Due date:  February 28, 2014

How far along: 8 Weeks, 3 days  

Babies progress: Baby is the size of a raspberry.  Apparently her finger and toe webbing and tail is almost gone.  Sounds like the tadpole is turning into a frog….

Next appointment:  I have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon!

Gender:  I think it’s a boy.  That’s a completely random guess though because I have been feeling so well and girls generally cause a lot of grief!

Total weight gain/loss:  1 lb….probably more my summer eating habits than baby weight though!

Exercise: Still working out as much as I can.  I get out of breath very quickly so my cardio has definitely been scaled back and I have to rest more when doing weights.

Stretch marks: None.  But I really need to get myself some belly butter.

Maternity clothes:  Not yet, although if the bloat I have been experiencing this week continues, a belly band might be in order!

Sleep:  With my snoogle pregnancy pillow it’s much better!  If I don’t sleep with it I constantly wake up to make sure that I’m not sleeping on my back. (You can sleep on your back in early pregnancy, but for me I found that it caused issues when peeing and my back was hurting).  I generally get up once a night to go to the bathroom.

Symptoms:  A bit of spotting, which always worries me.  Fatigue, but not too bad.  A bit of nausea.  I think that I’m not quite as hormonal, but you might have to ask Ryan about that…. I get out of breath, so easily!

What I miss:  Although I don’t actually miss the taste of wine, I miss sipping on it when I’m hanging out with family or friends.

What I'm loving:  How easy everything has been so far.  Although I have had some paranoid moments where I was sure I was miscarrying, so far I really can’t complain about this pregnancy as I have been feeling great!

What I'm looking forward to: Telling our families this week! 

Best moment this week: Going to my first ultrasound today and seeing the heartbeat.  Such a relief!

Dad says: He’s so excited now that I have seen a heartbeat.  (He didn’t come to the first ultrasound as there really isn’t much to see and he works with a bunch of nosy nellies who would automatically assume that I was pregnant!)

To baby:  What a relief to see your little heart just fluttering this morning!  You’re alive and we are so happy about that!  Today you looked like a little peanut but next time we see you, you will look like a real baby!  We can’t wait to meet you!

Week 9

What Fruit are you? A grape

Next appointment:  August 18

Food cravings:  A slight craving for Pad Thai this week!

Symptoms:  A bit of nausea, the fatigue has kicked in this past week and I’ve been allowing myself a latte a day at work.

What I'm loving:  The pregnancy so far has been way easier than expected.  I’m lucky!

Best moment this week: Telling our parents that we were expecting!  Such a special moment to finally get to share with them and they were so excited!

Name ideas: We still haven’t even talked about this.  I feel like I will jinx it if we discuss names this early.

Week 10

What Fruit are you? A prune.

Next appointment:  An ultrasound next week due to some bleeding that I had last week.  I had some bright red spotting when I wiped, so I ended up going to the ER.  They did an ultrasound where we saw our little baby bouncing around and waving at us!  So exciting to share this with Ryan!  However I have a subchorionic collection which basically means that there is some blood pooling between the baby and the placenta, so they have ordered another ultrasound for next week to check on it.   This can cause a miscarriage, but from what I’ve read many pregnancies go on to be fine, and the doctor told me that mine was very small.  For now I’m supposed to take it easy.  I’m trying really hard not to stress about it!

Gender:  I’m still feeling boy.  One of our friends said her first instinct was girl. 

Total weight gain/loss:  I’ve been avoiding weighing myself since I’ve been eating so badly!

Exercise: We were on vacation this past week, so the exercise was minimal.  Some yoga, a few bike rides and I did a bit of weights one day.  Along with taking it easy though that means no exercise for the next little bit.  It’s actually kind of a relief to not have to worry about it, but I hope at some point I can work out again to make myself as healthy as possibly for both the labour and recovery.

Sleep: Most nights I get up to use the bathroom once, but if I don’t drink anything in the hours before bed I sometimes don’t have to.  Bonus!

Symptoms:  Fatigue is still there.  Walking around on vacation made me extremely exhausted!  Luckily a nap a day was possible.  Going back to work will be tough.

Movement:  None on the outside, but seeing our baby move was amazing!

What I'm looking forward to:  Our ultrasound next week and hopefully the news that everything is looking good….

Best moment this week: Despite the stress that came along with it, our ultrasound was pretty amazing.  Also, while on vacation we told me sister about the pregnancy.  She might of cried, just a little bit, and we have pictures to prove it!  We told our friends as well on a trip to Darien Lake.  Not drinking or going on any rides (besides the Ferris Wheel) would have been a dead giveaway anyways.  

Week 11

What Fruit are you? A Brussel sprout

Babies progress: Baby is now a fetus! What a milestone! 

Next appointment:  My 12 week appointment in a week

Total weight gain/loss:  I will get weighed at my appointment next week.  I’ve been avoiding the scale like the plague even though I’m sure what I feel is weight gain is probably more bloat than anything…

Exercise:  Nothing at all since the doctor told me to “take it easy”  Hopefully I’m given the go ahead next week to work out again.

Stretch marks: Nothing yet, although I’m surprised with all of the recent “your boobs are huge” comments that there are none up there… I bought Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Tummy Butter when I was in the States last week, so I’m going to start using that

Sleep: Pretty good besides getting up to pee once per night.  I’m also having very vivid dreams on a nightly basis!

Symptoms:  Boobs still hurt pretty badly on and off.  Often when I wake up in the morning they kill!  A bit of nausea, fatigue….still nothing to complain about, just stuff to take note of.

What I miss:  Exercise.  Although it’s been nice to not have to worry about it for a week and a half, I do miss it and am starting to feel flabby.  At least exercise would make me feel like I’m doing something to stay in shape!

What I'm loving:  That we’re almost at the end of the first trimester!  I get less nervous every week!

What I'm looking forward to:  Telling our extended family.  That needs to get done this coming week!

Best moment this week: Although the ultrasound was a follow up after discovering my subchorionic hematoma last week, it was pretty awesome!  Baby was moving around like crazy and I will never get enough of seeing that little bean!

Name ideas: I’m excited to finally start talking about this soon, but not quite yet…

Week 12

What Fruit are you? Baby is the size of a plum.

Next appointment:  Monday

Gender:  I’m thinking Girl now.  That's just a random thought though.  I'm sure it will keep going back and forth!

Total weight gain/loss:  Will find out on Monday, yikes!

Exercise: Still none.  Hopefully given the go ahead at my appointment.

Stretch marks: Started using Palmer’s belly cream.  I hate the feeling of it, it’s sticky and gross, so I’ve only used it a couple of days instead of every day like I should.

Maternity clothes:  Nothing yet.  My shirts are a bit snug.  I’m hoping to go shopping this week to buy some loser fitting shirts that I would be able to wear for the next couple of months, and after baby.

Food cravings:  Just food in general.  I loved it before, but I really love it now!

Symptoms:  Sore boobs, but other than that, feeling pretty good!  The odd bit of cramps once in awhile.

What I'm loving: That we are at 12 weeks! 

What I'm looking forward to:  Hearing the heartbeat!  Telling more people this week.

Best moment this week: Getting some pregnancy announcement pics taken by my brother and sister-in-law.  They turned out so well! 

Name ideas: I wrote out a list of my name ideas for Ryan so that he could look.  A few have been crossed off already as definite no’s, but not much progress has been made.  How do people have names picked out by 15 weeks?  I think we will be almost full term before we come to a decision.