20 Weeks

Fruit pictures and baby details are courtesy of thebump.com

"Baby's now the size of a cantaloupe! Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies respond best to tastes they've already had via amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you'd like your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch." -Thebump.com

Weekly Checklist:

How far along? 20 Weeks -- 1/2 way there!!

Total weight gain/loss: 9 lbs

Maternity Clothes: No change - still need maternity pants and just some longer shirts. Now that fall seems to be creeping around the corner, I'll probably start building up some warmer tops to wear.

Sleep: The pillow method seems to be working great! However, J doesn't like that me and my pillows seem to have take over the bed!

Food Cravings: Nothing out of the ordinary. But I'm definitely starting to feel like I'm eating more. I'm getting hungry very shortly after I've already eaten.

Labor Signs: none

What I miss: I am not a big alcohol drinker, but I can say I did miss it a little in the last couple of weeks. My oldest step-sister turned 21 last week and while I could buy her a shot, I couldn't join her. It's a tiny sacrafice though.

What I am looking forward to: J being able to feel the baby kick. Now that movement is becoming more and more noticeable to me, I want him to feel it as well. Oh yeah -- and seeing the baby again NEXT WEEK! Hopefully he/she will shows us the goods! :)

Weekly Wisdom: I've read that women bond with their babies differently and in different time-frames. For me, it was once I really started to feel the baby. Don't get me wrong, I've been excited since day 1 about this baby, however, in the last couple of weeks it's really hit me. I love the baby that is growing and moving around like crazy. It makes me happy everytime I feel movement because I know he/she is awake and moving around. Some women fall in love the minute the know they're pregnant, for me I fell in love now that the baby gives me constant reminders that he/she is there.

Milestones: Hitting the 1/2 way mark. Only 20(ish) more weeks to go!

Vacation!

Last week we went to Michigan with my Dad, Step-Mom and siblings. It was a lot of fun though I think we all wished the weather had been better. Below are some pics from our trip and a few of the growing baby-bump!

Here's us at the beach, apparently my shirt is getting too small. This day was very windy so everyone else took advantage of the huge waves in the lake. The waves were so strong they knocked J over when he wasn't looking.

Since it rained a lot and we couldn't get much beach-time, the next best thing was ice cream! There is a great ice cream place with all types of flavors and their portion sizes are big. J took a picture of me feeding the baby peanut butter fudge ice cream. Yum!

At the end of the trip every year we take family pictures by the Grand Haven sign. I wanted to make sure the baby knew he/she was in the picture this year, so I made J hold the baby too.

I wish the weather had been better since I think we had enough of games and reading by the end of the week. But it was a fun trip and nice to get away for a few days. Next year there will be one more person in the cottage probably taking up more space than the rest of us with all his/her baby stuff!!

19 Weeks

Fruit pictures and baby details are courtesy of thebump.com

Baby is the size of a Mango! "Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil, and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature." -Thebump.com

Weekly Checklist:
How far along? 19 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 7 lbs
Maternity Clothes: I've given up all non-maternity pants, except a pair of capris that sorta still fit. Plus I really like them. The next stage will be working my way into maternity shirts or at least shirts a little bigger. Some of my favorite ones I'm finding are a lot shorter once they work their way over my belly.
Sleep: I am now finally getting a little more energy. However, sleep is becoming more uncomfortable. For some pregnancy reason about my ligaments expanding, I wake up with hip and tailbone pain from sleeping on my side.
Food Cravings: Still no weird cravings. Probably the weirdest food I've eaten all week is a peanut butter & marshmello sandwich (fluffernutter). However, that was mostly because I didn't want to eat left-over pork chops and couldn't have a ham sandwich.
Labor Signs: none
What I miss: Being low maintenance. Usually I'm a go with the flow type of person who doesn't really need to do things my way. But when I can only eat certain foods and still have aversions to many of those, I become a little more demanding. Plus waiting on other people for things like meals, I get a bit crankier than I normally would. Being hungry takes on another meaning when you're "eating for two."
What I am looking forward to: Seeing the baby again. It's still over a week away, however, I'm just so excited to see how much he/she has grown.
Weekly Wisdom: Pillows are my friend. I'm learning to sleep more comfortably by cusioning my back and hips with pillows. This didn't work so well in the double-bed J & I were in last week, but worked pretty well in our queen.
Milestones: Nothing major this week, but I am feeling the baby more often now. It's not constant enough that I am worried when I don't feel him/her, but it's exciting to feel it more often. It's also becoming a stronger feeling where I no longer wonder if I've felt something but know that I have. I love it! Still no kicks can be felt outside my stomach, so J is feeling a bit left out, but it will happen soon enough.

18 Weeks

Fruit pictures and baby details are courtesy of thebump.com

Baby: "Baby's now the size of a sweet potato! Baby's become amazingly mobile (compared to you, at least), passing the hours yawning, hiccupping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. And baby is finally big enough that you'll soon be able to feel her movements." -Thebump.com

Weekly Checklist:
How far along? 18 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 5 lbs
Maternity Clothes: Last weekend's shopping spree was a success. I got 3 pairs of pants, a pair of capris and a shirt for like $70. Gotta love Kohl's discounts!! So this week i've worn maternity pants everyday except one. It's very comfortable.
Sleep: I'm still very tired all the time, but I found out this week that it might not be the pregnancy. Since becoming pregnant, the Dr discovered that I my thyroid isn't producing enough hormones (hypothyroidism -- I think). This can cause tiredness. I've been on medicine for it, but apparently it wasn't strong enough and he increased my dosage. So I'm hoping that works and I get a few weeks of energy!
Food Cravings: Nothing big this week. I am starting to get back to liking healthier food again, which is good. I had a dream last night about eating an orange...maybe that means I need to increase my fruits
Labor Signs: none What I miss: Sleeping on my back
What I am looking forward to: Vacation!! We're headed to Michigan next week with my Dad, Step-Mom, Sister, 4 step-sisters & step-sister's boyfriend. Come to think of it, this year women will outnumber men on this trip 7-3. It's usually a fun time & very nice to relax. It's not quite baby-related but hey, the little one needs a vacation too! I'm even more excited that next year we'll be bringing him or her on the trip with us.
Weekly Wisdom: As a pregnant woman, I should not be allowed to go to the grocery store by myself. For instance, I stopped Monday night to pick up chocolate milk and bagels/cream cheese. As I walked through the store looking for these items, I became easily side tracked. Oatmeal creme pies? In the cart... Ice cream? Sure, then I won't go to Culver's this week! Chocolate Covered Cheesecake -- on a stick? Why not? At least I didn't forget the milk and bagels. :)
Milestones: Nothing noteworthy. Though I do feel like I'm starting to look like I have a small baby bump. Jason tells me it's definitely a bump, but when I'm in public I think people look at me and think "Pregnant or fat?" Oh well! It will come soon enough.

The Daycare Search

It's true, I'm not far enough along to know the sex of my baby, but I am already looking for childcare!

Our daycare search actually started when I was still in my first trimester. I had a meeting with HR around 8 weeks or so and was told that the waiting list for Kohl's daycare was long. How long could it possibly be, I'm not even giving birth until January, not to mention I won't need daycare until April 2010? No exaggerating on HR's part - I'm currently told that I won't be able to get in until September 2010.

This actually didn't surprise me as much as it does other people. Working for P&G I had heard similar stories. When you have a good corporate daycare, spots go quickly. So of course, we need to expand our horizons in case I really can't get into our company daycare next April. Thus began our daycare search.

Daycare #1: Only blocks away from our house there is a brand-new daycare center opening in late August. With a great location and a raving recommendation I received from another expecting mother, we decided to check it out.

What we loved:
1. Webcams! There is a webcam in each of the rooms and as parents we'll have access to peek in our baby throughout the day. There are of course security measures where only the parents who have children in that exact room have access to the website. Not only is this the next best thing to having the baby just downstairs in corporate daycare, but I believe it also holds the teachers even more accountable.
2. Teachers are highly certified. The head teachers have bachelors degrees and assistant teachers have associates.
3. Infant rooms are "shoes off" to keep as much dirt off the floor as possible for the crawlers.
4. A lot of great toys and learning activities in the other rooms.
5. Field trips: Once children are old enough to be bussed somewhere, they will do field trips outside the daycare. They also do in-house activities like bringing in a magician.
6. Future planning: Before/After school care. They will actually bus your children to and from the elementary school in our district.
7. The director of the site has 20+ years of experience and was very passionate about what they currently have in the center and additions she plans to make in the near future. It's privately-owned and seems to be run very well.
8. Putting down a $50 non-refundable deposit today means we're guaranteed a spot next April.

What's not so great:
1. It's more expensive than corporate daycare by ~$1,500 per year.
2. It's not 2 floors away from my desk.

Daycare #2: Two floors below and down the hall is site #1 our corporate daycare. Open door policy allows parents to stop by whenever they'd like.

What we loved:
1. Location. You can't get much closer than the building I work in!
2. The cribs are in a closed off area than the play area. It's all glass so the teachers can see what's going on, but it keeps a lot of the noise out.
3. There are in-house activities for the kids (when they're old enough) such as computer day etc.
4. I know they hire quality employees and most teachers appeared to have a bachelors degree.
5. Future planning: They have a summer camp for school age children that I've heard great things about.
6. Lots of toys, activities in the rooms and nice playground.
7. Cost is better than every other daycare I've researched. Plus it includes snacks & lunches.

What's not so great:
1. We were taken on a tour by the admin, who was great and very helpful, but didn't "sell" us like the director did at the other site.
2. Teachers seemed to be mostly younger, including two people we went to high school with that were younger than us. I know I'm not in high school anymore, but it's always hard to picture someone you thought of as an "underclassman" as now someone who can take care of my newborn baby.
3. Waiting list has us out until September 2010. While it's very likely we won't have to wait that long, we still need a back-up plan.

So as you can see, we're slightly torn between the two daycares. I loved the first one, but it was based solely on feeling. I'm not sure I can justify spending more money, when statistically they seem to have all the same benefits. And I am not sure how much I'd miss not being able to stop by the daycare during the day. But then again, let's be realistic, how often will I be able to stop by? I'll keep you posted on our decision & welcome any advice!

17 Weeks

Fruit pictures and baby details are courtesy of thebump.com

Baby: "Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. His umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes now feature one-of-a-kind prints." -Thebump.com

Weekly Checklist:

How far along? 17 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 4 lbs

Maternity Clothes: are expensive! Oh wait, I'm also cheap. It's hard to spend money on something I'm only going to wear for 23 more weeks (or so). I know I can keep them for the next time I'm pregnant, so I'm trying to stick to basics. Hopefully there will be some good stuff at Kohl's this weekend. Right now I own a pair of jeans, a pair of black pants and a couple maternity shirts. Most of my shirts right now work fine but I am in definite need for more pants.

Sleep: I think my tiredness is getting better, but I am still not up to full energy levels. Not even close to that "2nd Trimester energy boost" I kept hearing about. I'm calling it a myth at this point...

Food Cravings: This week I took Spaghetti O's to work for lunch. While I have been known to eat this childish treat pre-pregnancy, I've definitely never taken it to work! But it was good and I have no problems eating like a 6 year-old. On that note...I must remember to pick up chocolate milk. :)

Labor Signs: none

What I miss: Starbucks.

What I am looking forward to: Finding out if this little one is a boy or girl!! I was secretly hoping that we'd get to schedule our next ultrasound before 20 weeks, but that didn't happen. Sept 1st is our appointment and I really hope he/she cooperates!!

Weekly Wisdom: Each day our baby grows healthy is a blessing. I've read too many stories this week online of women who have lost or might lose their baby in the 17-20 week timeframe. My heart goes out to these women and I thank god that this pregnancy has been as uneventful and healthy as it has.

Milestones: I might have felt the baby last night. It felt like a little tap inside my stomach and it happened twice in a row. Now of course at this point it could've been gas but since I didn't feel anything else the rest of the night, I think it might have been the baby! We'll see as time progresses.

*On a side note...our baby is off to his/her second concert in-utero tomorrow night. We're hoping to turn this one into a music lover! Hopefully he/she also appreciates the yummy (and very bad for you) State Fair food that I plan on indulging in!

Boy or Girl?

Let's have a little fun! Since I will not find out if we're having a boy or girl until Sept 1st (praying the baby cooperates) then I figure we'll do some guessing.

I took an online quiz that uses a bunch of old wives tales to predict the gender of your baby. Not scientific by any means, but fun to guess.

You have a 14% chance of having a boy. And you have a 85% chance of having a girl.

And Here's Why...
You are carrying the extra weight out front, so it's a boy.
The hair on your legs is not growing any faster during your preganacy, so it's a girl.
Girls are carried high. You are going to have a girl.
Your feet are not colder than they were before pregnancy. You are having a girl.
You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread. You are having a girl.
Dad-to-be hasn't been gaining weight along with Mom-to-be, so it will be a girl.
The maternal grandmother doesn't have gray hair (dyed or natural), so a girl will be born.
You had morning sickness early in pregnancy, so you are expecting a girl.
You are not looking particularly good during pregnancy. Therefore, it must be a girl, because girls steal their mother's looks.
Your chest development has been quite dramatic during pregnancy. You should expect a girl.
Since the sum of the mother's age at conception and the number of the month of conception is an odd number, it will be a girl.
A needle on a thread held over you belly moves from side-to-side, so it will be a girl.
Your urine is a dull yellow color, so you will have a girl.
You are craving sweets, which means that it is a girl.
Your nose hasn't changed during pregnancy, which indicates a girl.
Your baby's heart rate is 140 or more beats per minute, so it's a girl.
You have no desire for orange juice, so it's a boy.
You are having headaches, so it's a boy.
Your belly looks like a watermelon, so it's a girl.
When asked to show your hand, you show them the palm of your hand, so it's a girl.
You use the body of a coffee mug, so it's a girl.

http://www.childbirth.org/cgi-bin/boyorgirl.pl

Dr Appointment: 16 Weeks

Today was our monthly doctor appointment. I will have monthly appointments until week 28 when they will start biweekly appointments. Today was pretty uneventful, but I always appreciate hearing that everything is going well. Here are the highlights:

They did the standard items: weight, blood pressure and pee in a cup. All were on track. Then the doctor came in to answer questions, listen for the heartbeat and feel my stomach to make sure my uterus is moving up and growing.

This was the second time we heard the heartbeat with the doppler. Last time, he spent some time moving it around to hear it. This time, the second he touched it to my stomach, I could hear the heartbeat. The baby is so much bigger now, it's really easy to find. That was very exciting. He said that everything felt right on track. Basically everything is going by the book!

Then I asked a million questions and here are the answers in case you're interested:
-Does he recommend the Swine Flu Vaccine? Without hesitation, yes. He said the minute they get some he wants everyone in their 2nd and 3rd trimesters to get it. I asked if there was risk to the baby and he said that the virus isn't live and shouldn't hurt it. I still want to make the decision for myself, but since he feels strongly about it, I'll probably be getting it. I've never had a flu shot before, so it will be a first.
-When can I find out the sex of the baby? 4 weeks, the same day as my next monthly appointment. I was sad it wouldn't be sooner, but need to learn to be patient.
-2nd Trimester tests? He recommended the AFP test which was completed today also. They test my blood for neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
-Should I adjust the way I sleep? Yes he recommended I stay off my back as much as possible. Since I've read conflicting opinions on this, I wanted his. He said I could prop my back up with a pillow or sleep on my side. The reason laying flat on my back isn't recommended is that my uterus is now large enough that it can put pressure on blood vessels that can lessen the blood flow to the baby. So I'll be paying a little more attention to that.
-Can I eat honey? J & I were doing the grocery list in the waiting room and he told me to ask if I could eat this. If you read a bottle, it says don't feed to a child under the age of 1, so we figured we should check. He said, just like cheeses, if it's pasteurized/processed then it is safe. Basically I should stay away from fresh honey at a farm.

As silly as it seems, I love my appointments even when they're short. I love hearing my baby's heartbeat and knowing that everything is progressing on schedule. Before you can actually feel the baby it's very easy to worry. So hopefully in the next 4 weeks I'll start feeling the little one more!

Week 16

Fruit pictures and baby details are courtesy of thebump.com

Baby: Now the size of an avocado! Tiny bones are forming in my baby's ears which means S/He can pick up my voice. Guess I better watch my language! Other changes include: eyelashes, eyebrows and hair are filling in along with forming taste buds.



Weekly Checklist:
How far along? 16 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 2 lbs
Maternity Clothes: Still need some...maybe this weekend
Sleep: Still tired...constantly
Food Cravings: I've returned to a gross habit from my stint of working at McDonald's. BBQ sauce & mayo mixed together...makes a great dip for french fries! I know it's gross and J hates it. But suddenly it sounded good again!
Labor Signs: none
What I miss: A clean house! Maybe if my energy ever returns I can go back to at least maintaining a picked up house!
What I am looking forward to: actually getting a baby bump. So I actually look pregnant and not just chubby.
Weekly Wisdom: Maternity clothes are my friend. I need more clothes, but wearing regular clothes is just uncomfortable at this point.
Milestones: Gaining weight! I am confident that this is the LAST time I will say that. But since I'm 16 weeks into this, I was starting to feel like I'm depriving my baby. Yes, I'm aware that sound irrational & I should be happy I hadn't gained weight. But I am irrational sometimes and I looked like I gained weight though I hadn't.

Babymoon

So I read about the "Babymoon" concept online and found it interesting. Basically, it's just a term for planning a vacation during pregnancy as sort of a last hurrah before having children. This seemed like a great idea & I'll use any excuse to plan a trip. However, as the pregnant half, I really think the trip should take place before trying to have a baby. Once you're pregnant, there are definite limitations.

If we had more money we would have gone somewhere further away, like Vegas, New York or to the Caribbean. But alas, I'm cheap and I figure I'd like to save every penny to take our future child on trips. So we planned a weekend away to Wisconsin Dells. Those who don't know, WI Dells is basically the "water park capital of the world."
So last weekend we stayed at Chula Vista Resort. I knew I wouldn't be able to do much in relation to the indoor/outdoor water park, but I read "lazy river" on the website, so I figured I was set! We drove up Friday night, checked into the hotel, got some ice cream at one of their many food places and walked around the resort to check out the water parks. Since I was in bed by about 10:00, I'd like to refer back to my comment above about taking a trip before having a baby!

Saturday we decided to do some water activities first. We quickly found that the outdoor park wasn't extensive and mostly geared towards younger kids. Inside though, we found a lot more slides and that lazy river I was looking for. After lazing around for awhile, we tried a couple water slides. I looked at them & said, that's the same as a slide at a park right? I can do that!

So the first one we went to looked pretty tame, until we realized halfway down that we were in one of those huge toilet bowl slides that swirls you around and around until you fall down the middle. As I was falling I figured maybe I shouldn't be doing this! Then I realized it was pretty smooth & less bumpy to the baby than the boat ride I was on a few weeks ago! But we only went on that one once.

We tried another slide that was much safer yet I was quickly realizing that sitting on a double tube with my 6'2" not so tiny husband behind me resulted in us going much faster than all those younger kids! So I went back to the lazy river.

We headed downtown for the rest of the day doing some mini-golfing (we tied the first game, I lost badly the second one), eating and exploring. We had dinner at the Kalahari resort which I've decided we'll stay at next time.

Sunday after checking out we decided to walk around downtown and do some shopping. We bought our future child some books that we loved when we were little -- so that was exciting! Then we headed back, leaving a little earlier than planned since one of our pups seems to be rebelling for us leaving so much.

All in all, we accomplished what we set out to do. Spend time together and relax. It was nice to ignore everything and everyone else for a weekend. And thanks to my great brother-in-law our fur-babies were well taken care of.

15 Weeks

Fruit pictures and baby details courtesy of thebump.com.

Baby: Now the size of an orange! Baby's legs now out-measure his arms, all four limbs have functional joints. Though I can't feel anything yet, supposedly the baby is moving around a lot!

Weekly Checklist:
How far along? 15 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 0
Maternity Clothes: Going to go shopping for more this weekend.
Sleep: I think having a child inside you means you should be allow nap-time in the afternoon.
Food cravings: I really like ice cream. Those who know me, know this isn't a pregnancy thing... Gender: TBD
Labor Signs: none
What I miss: my skinny jeans
What I am looking forward to: Decorating the nursery & shopping. We're waiting until we find out boy/girl.
Weekly Wisdom: I'm very lucky to have a great husband in this process. I can't imagine what a woman goes through without a support system of some sort (doesn't have to be a husband). J has been great with picking up the slack, understanding when I sleep the day away and convincing me I'm not fat while my emotions convince me otherwise.
Milestones: none really

14 Weeks

Fruit pictures and baby details courtesy of thebump.com.

Baby:

The baby is now the size of a lemon. Key activities this week are: thumb sucking, toe wiggling and making urine. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over his/her body for warmth.

Weekly Checklist:

How far along? 14 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 0

Maternity Clothes: I now own one pair of maternity jeans. They're great, but since I don't really have a bump yet, they don't stay up very well. So mostly I'm using my bella band and wearing pants that are a size bigger than my pre-pregnancy size.

Sleep: I'm still exhausted and therefore sleeping as much as possible. Aside from waking up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I'm still sleeping well.

Best moment this week: Having the nausea subside. It isn't completely gone, but much better than it had been.

Food cravings: None really yet. I have become addicted to Flavor-Icees though.

Gender: TBD

Labor Signs: none

What I miss: Cousins Subs!! (I'm not allow to eat lunch meat due to possibility of listeria)

What I am looking forward to: Getting my energy back if it's ever going to happen...

Weekly Wisdom: "When mommy gets drunk, the baby gets drunk" -- This came from a baby book my health insurance company sent me. Jason made sure to read this to me and all the bad things that come from doing drugs while pregnant. Just thought I'd share for those who didn't know: drugs and alcohol are bad for baby! :)

Milestones: Beginning to wear maternity clothes.

1st Trimester Summary

Since I started this blog at the beginning of my second trimester, I've been going backwards to fill in the details. So, I figured I'd also do a summary of my 1st 13 weeks. I am also starting a weekly checklist which I will keep up for the remainder of my pregnancy.

Summary:
I can't really complain about my first trimester. It's the shortest of all trimesters really, since most people don't even know they're pregnant until at least 4 weeks into it (and that's even early). I was exhausted from the beginning. Naps became standard on the weekends and bedtimes became earlier. Many nights I was asleep on the couch around 7, lugging myself upstairs around 8.

Nausea kicked in around 5 weeks and was constant. I worked to try to find any remedy possible, and discovered starbursts are great! They'll calm my stomach for a short while anyway. Lemonade and seabands (for motion sickness) worked as well, though not all the time. I consider myself lucky though, as I didn't get physically sick very often.

Food aversions definitely kicked in. They weren't predictable either. Many times at a restaurant I would order something that sounded good, but by the time it arrived, I couldn't eat it. I easily wasted at least $50 worth of food with this pattern. My recommendation: eat at home in the first trimester!

I don't believe I started having cravings yet, but certain food became staples in my diet. Keep in mind, the beginning is all about eating what you can, which isn't always what is healthiest. Foods of choice: hot dogs, macaroni & cheese, oatmeal creme pies, popcicles and cereal. There was one day though where I sent Jason to pick up the following: breadsticks from Rocky Roccoco's, chocolate milkshake from McDonald's and a butterfinger. Normally I wouldn't give in to my urges this way...but it was my birthday, so he obliged.

Weekly checklist:
How far along? 4-13 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: -2/+1...depends on time of day.
Maternity clothes? No but i've been using a Bella band and hair ties, both of which hold my unbuttoned pants up. The baby isn't that big and I haven't gained weight, yet I can't keep my pants up!
Sleep: Constantly!
Best moment this week: (Expanding to this trimester) Seeing the baby for the first time. It didn't seem real until then.
Food cravings: See notes above
Gender: Won't know for awhile...but figure with Jason's family history, it's probably a boy!
Labor Signs: Hopefully none for a long time!
What I miss: Waking up without feeling sick
What I am looking forward to: Second trimester: the grass always looks greener on the other side
Weekly Wisdom: Listening to your body when it tells you to sleep is important. The one night I got 6 hours of sleep was followed by the day I was the sickest and had to leave work early.
Milestones: First heartbeat, first ultrasound

Alien Baby

July 8th:

As I mentioned, we have a history of Downs in my family and despite the fact that my doctor wasn't concerned, he did offer us an optional testing. The test is call a nuchal translucency scan. During an ultrasound they do measurments in the baby's neck, which is then compared with my age and bloodwork to determine my risk of having a child with chromosomal disorders. Since it is practically no risk (an ultrasound and a vial of blood), we opted in.

Now I will take a minute to acknowledge there are several schools of thought on optional testing, and many doctors wouldn't even recommend it to a 26 year old. However, I am an over-planner and I tend to over-inform myself. This has definitely shown in my pregnancy. I've read a few books already, I check baby websites daily and receive several baby related emails. If I were to discover that I was giving birth to a child with any developmental challenge, I would spend the next 6 months reading everything I can on the subject. I figure I'll be too sleep deprived to read after the fact.

During the ultrasound, we made a fun discovery about our child. It's stubborn! Now if you know Jason or myself, this should be no surprise. The u/s tech needed the baby to move into a certain position to get accurate measurements. It wasn't happening. She pushed on my stomach repeatedly and the best she got was him/her putting their arms in front of their face to protect it. But no movement. Finally, she gave me some apple juice which got the little one moving, still not exactly perfect, but she was able to get the measurements.

Since we spent a good 45 minutes just moving the baby around, we didn't get many good pictures. But as you can see from the picture of the face, the baby is no longer a little gummy bear. Now I call him/her my little alien baby. But pictures weren't the reason for the ultrasound anyway and I was very happy to see the baby. (S)he was still very cute while being stubborn, yawning and moving it's arms around. Personally I just think it was trying to take a nap, and if it's like it's mommy, we don't like to be woken up!

The results: 1:3000 chance of all the chromosomal disorders they tested for. Better odds than a typical woman in my age group. So we're very happy that all is well!

Second Dr Appointment

July 2nd:
We had our second appointment at the OB. It had been almost a month since we saw our little one, so naturally I was nervous again that the baby was still healthy and growing.

The appointment was pretty quick. My weight was finally up a pound (after losing weight previously), which my doc was happy to see. It probably had more to do with the chicken nuggest I ate on the way over, but oh well!

Then we went through Q&A, I didn't have very many questions this time which I think surprised him. Even though it's my first pregnancy, I've been doing a lot of reading and have been able to answer a lot of my own questions. Books I've read are: "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and "A Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy." The Girlfriend's Guide I especially liked as it is very down to earth and funny.


Next he pulled out the fetal doppler again. Since he couldn't find the heartbeat last time, I was a little worried again. At almost 12 weeks, it's a lot more likely to hear via doppler. So after about 30 seconds, he found the heartbeat. It's much faster than my heartbeat, so it was easy to distinguish. The baby's rate came in around 170, similar to last time. He did have to keep moving the doppler though to keep track of the heartbeat, so it was cute to see that even at 12 weeks our little guy/girl was moving around.