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Mommy Blogger

March 5, 2010

Are You Expecting….Showers?

Now that I’m officially showing (by officially I mean people aren’t afraid to ask if I’m pregnant), I’ve been asked many times over if I’ll be having a baby shower. This is a silly question to me because is it really up to me? Can I actually tell my friends and family to throw me one? Maybe I’m shy in this department but that’s not a question I feel comfortable asking of my friends or of my husband’s family. If I were to ask I would feel as though I’d be actually yelling “gimme gimme gimme!”

My sister-in-law (my brother’s wife) has thoughtfully offered to throw me a shower for my side of the family. And if anyone else should offer I would be very honoured, but so far I am looking forward to the shower I do know about. Part of the reason I’m looking forward to it is, yes of course being surrounded by family and family friends I’ve known my entire life, but also so I can quit researching what we’ll need for the baby. I’m a planner, so it’s important for me to know ahead of time what we’ll need to save for and what we don’t have to worry about. On the other hand, I tend to get nervous when I’m the centre of attention! But I am touched by the unexpected generosity so far and being surrounded by those who obviously care about me really isn’t a bad thing at all!

March 3, 2010

Warning: Prenatal Screens May Cause Unnecessary Worry

The results from our anomaly ultrasound came back and no genetic abnormalities were found! I’ve read and was even told by the doctor that false positives with these screens are very high. We still have to visit with a genetic counsellor to discuss why the blood results came back positive for neural tube defects and to discuss our options should we want to further investigate the health of our little guy.

Options would include diagnostic testing through amniocentesis or Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS). Both of these procedures may provide additional information but they do come with a small risk of miscarriage. My husband and I have already decided that we’re not willing to take that risk, regardless of how small it may be. We’ve decided that we’re going to love our son no matter what so why bother going through more testing?

This news truly lifted a dark cloud that has been following me around for over a week. I found myself feeling very protective over my baby already. I wanted to do anything in my power to ensure his life wasn’t in jeopardy. I just personally couldn’t bring myself to think of losing him, even though we have yet to meet! Now I can put all of this worry behind me and move on with the pregnancy. I have a feeling this next half is going to be a lot better than the first half was.

March 1, 2010

20 Weeks Down, 20 Weeks to Go!

I’ve made it half way through the pregnancy! That’s right; I’m officially 20 weeks along. What a ride it has been so far and it’s hard to believe that the time has gone by already. It’s been 15 weeks since I found out and in that time my emotions have gone from shock to in love, my stomach has gone from flat to beach ball and my jeans have gone from perfectly snug to mocking reminders of who I “used to be”.

Seriously though, I’m just going through the emotions that any woman would go through as she’s forced to witness her body change (OK most women). Until baby is actually here, it’s hard to remember some days that it’s all for a good cause.

But the next twenty weeks will be less about me and more about the preparation; decorating the baby’s room, purchasing baby furniture, a stroller and baby seat, signing up for prenatal classes, taking care of myself through diet and exercise (oh right I was going to try yoga wasn’t I?) and whatever else needs to get done before baby comes along.

It will certainly be an exciting (yet nerve-wracking) wait for baby. We know when his flight is due to arrive and now we just need to prepare and hope he makes a safe landing!

February 26, 2010

Two Breakfasts Are Better Than One

The amount of food I have to eat to get through the day amazes me. If I don’t eat, I feel incredibly nauseous. In fact, to keep the nausea at bay I have to eat two breakfasts; one before I leave the house and one shortly after I leave the house.

The consequences of disobeying this “rule” crept up on me this past weekend when my husband and I decided to go out for Sunday brunch.

We had slept in that day and decided to get up and go to our favourite breakfast spot. Because I had just woken up, I thought it would be OK to drink only juice before heading out. After all, we were going to be eating very soon! Sure enough, the minute we arrived at the restaurant the familiar queasy feeling came over me. I somehow managed to keep this feeling at bay until we sat down at our table. But it wasn’t long after taking a seat that my unsettling stomach got the best of me. For the first time since discovering I was pregnant, I was sick in a public place! Fortunately I reached the washroom before that juice I had earlier came right back up!

I wish I was one of those women who fly through pregnancy without even a hint of morning sickness but it seems my body is making up for the eight or nine weeks when I felt great before all of the uncomfortable symptoms of pregnancy finally hit. Regardless of how ill I may feel once a day, I am comforted by the fact that I have a beautiful baby boy on the way that will instantly put all of these uncomfortable moments behind me.

February 24, 2010

Bitter Sweet News

I had my fetal anomaly screening today. What the heck is that you may ask? It’s the ultrasound conducted at the 18-22 week mark to confirm that all of the parts are there and in good working order. It’s also typically the ultrasound when you find out whether you’re having a boy or a girl!

My husband and I were looking forward to this appointment for well over a month. Unfortunately it was instead clouded with worry and concern. You see, I had my monthly doctor’s appointment this Tuesday and it was at this appointment that I was told that I had very high levels of alphfetoprotein (AFP) in my blood after my Maternal Serum Screening (MSS). This screening was done last week, when my blood was tested for Down’s syndrome and neural tube defects. I honestly thought nothing of it at the time, so when I was told this I was stunned. What did it mean? Well it meant I have a higher chance than other women of having a child with a neural tube defect, particularly spina bifida.

As you can imagine, my husband and I haven’t slept well in days. So today’s ultrasound was also to determine whether this scary prediction is true. We don’t know for sure yet but we did see our baby moving around and kicking his legs. He looked OK to us but we will find out more next week, so we’re praying all is OK and nothing serious is the matter with our little guy. And if you’re paying attention, yes we’re having a BOY!!

We’re so thrilled about having a boy and because of this news the worry and concern is on the backburner for now. At 19 weeks and a future mom of a son, I feel so protective already.

February 22, 2010

The Pros and Cons of Pregnancy

Being pregnant isn’t all what some potentially forgetful mothers and certain romantic movies make it out to be. I have done my fair share of complaining over the last four months but I’ve also done my fair share of day dreaming over what my future baby will look like and the person he or she will someday become.

It may not all be “ooh and ahh” but it’s also not all “blah” either. There are pros and cons to being pregnant and I’ve created my personal list below:

Pros
1. Your hair grows longer and feels thicker.

2. Your breasts grow bigger.

3. You don’t get your period for nine months!

4. People always offer to help you – with heavy lifting, painting, cleaning, etc.

5. People offer you seats on public transit (well not yet for me but I’m anticipating this day once I hit the six or seven month mark!).

6. You get to guiltlessly delight in your favourite foods without worrying about gaining weight – although it is important to understand that you shouldn’t indulge too much (this is mentioned in the con list).

7. You are forced to go shopping for new clothes and the maternity clothes out there are cute!

8. The experience of seeing your baby on the ultrasound is absolutely priceless.

9. You get to experience the true generosity of people – it’s amazing how generous and kind friends and family have been so far.

10. You get to share an amazing personal experience with your partner and get closer in such a way you never thought possible before.

Cons

1. Your hair grows faster and longer...everywhere which isn’t always pretty.

2. Your breasts may grow bigger but they sure are sore!

3. You easily become exhausted. It’s tough to have a social life when you’re in bed by 9:30 on a Saturday night.

4. You easily become hungry. Indulging in your favourite foods is no longer exciting when you start rapidly gaining weight.

5. You become nauseous in the morning, in the afternoon and after eating a garlic enhanced meal.

6. You have to go to the washroom...a lot!

7. You experience frequent dizzy spells.

8. Your clothes won’t fit and you have to spend money buying new clothes that you won’t even wear a few months after giving birth (or want to wear).

9. You easily become breathless. Climbing stairs suddenly becomes a major workout!

10. Your sense of smell is heightened and smells you once didn’t mind are now simply unbearable.

February 19, 2010

I Can’t Feel It but I can hear it!

I haven’t felt the baby move since last weekend. Because of this, I’m second guessing whether I actually felt the baby move or if it truly was just gas. But while I may not have officially felt the baby move I have had the opportunity to hear the baby! I’ll explain.

My brother and his wife are expecting their first in March. Their friends have been showering them with all sorts of fun toys, furniture and baby ‘gear’ they no longer need (they have a lot more friends who have children than I do). Well my pregnancy couldn’t have worked out more perfectly. Why? I’m five months behind my sister in law and this means I get all of the stuff that they will no longer need by the time my baby comes along. By this I mean they’re nice enough to pass along newborn clothes, a bassinet and other items their five month old will no longer need by the time I give birth.

One item passed onto me already was a prenatal listening system. This is a monitor that straps to my belly and comes with headphones, allowing me to hear the baby kick and move. Apparently, as the pregnancy progresses, I can hear the heart beat as well. For now though, I was thrilled to hear some kicking and movement. There was a faint sound that could be a heart beat but I don’t know for sure. I’ll save that for my OB appointment next Tuesday when I get to hear my little one’s heart on the Doppler!

February 17, 2010

The Calm before the Storm?

When you think of a pregnant woman, you think of someone who cries at anything and everything right? You think of someone who mopes around the house moody and snaps at minor things.

This is how I used to view pregnant women too. Perhaps it’s just the movies or television that highlights this behaviour and I’m sure there really are women out there whose hormones are so out of control when they’re pregnant they can’t help but over react, but I seem to be the opposite. This I find strange.

I notice I feel less anxious about things. If something was bothering me before, I would stay up all night worrying about it. My mind would just refuse to shut off. Now if something bothers me, I let it go as quickly as it came. Aside from the numerous trips to the bathroom a night, I sleep pretty soundly and I rarely worry anymore about what the future holds. My husband jokes that maybe the pregnancy hormones have balanced something that was previously out of whack. This I don’t find amusing, but maybe he has a point (although a very minor one I must add!).

Yes I feel calm and collected, ready to take on anything that comes my way. Don’t get me wrong, I do still worry and I do still stress, but it’s definitely not as much as before. It would be nice to think I’ve transformed into a calm, cool and collected woman, but who am I kidding? This is probably just the calm before the storm. Oh oh! Watch out hubby if that’s true!

February 15, 2010

Was that Gas or the Baby?

This past weekend, my husband and I were lying in bed and I felt my stomach crawling! At first I had to think about what I ate the night before. Was my stomach reacting poorly to the scallop fettuccini I had consumed?

This feeling felt a little like a gas bubble, but it felt as though the bubble was crawling or fluttering around in my stomach rather than the usual pops (sorry there is no other way I can describe gas or this other feeling!). Suddenly it dawned on me that I could be feeling the baby move! I’ve read that people describe the first few fetal movements as flutters or butterflies. Others describe it as gas bubbles or a poking sensation.

This experience still has me wondering and second guessing what I felt but it was quite different than the usual gas bubbles. I like to think it was the baby moving and kicking around. This week will be 18 weeks and I’ve read that you can feel the baby from 16 weeks on. I haven’t felt it since but I do hope it happens again soon. It was comforting to think of my little one moving around and enjoying life so far.

February 12, 2010

What is that Smell?

I have never had a strong sense of smell but I now want to gag when certain scented wafts of air drift past my nose.

I’ve read that your sense of smell is heightened when you’re pregnant and this is absolutely true with me! This evening, for example, I was taking public transportation and a man sat next to me. Immediately after he sat down, I was given the less than odorous “treat” of a Caesar salad or something garlic and tangy he must have consumed before stepping onto the bus. This in turn gave me the same gagging sensation I feel every morning. I was wondering where to run should I actually throw up.

Luckily it is winter and so I nuzzled my face into my coat but not before contemplating how long the walk home would be should I get off early! Garlic has been my number one aversion since the beginning and to smell it so close to me on a stranger made me feel ill.

I’ve never been one to care about smells as much as I do now. My hormones are raging and my estrogen levels are making even the faintest hint of cologne, musty winter coats or garlic unbearable to my sensitive nostrils.

Hopefully this sensitivity subsides when the baby is born and I’m faced with poopy diapers! Otherwise daddy duties will no doubt double!

February 10, 2010

A Shout Out to My Husband

I didn’t get pregnant alone. My husband played just as big a role as I did in conceiving this little blessing I have now growing in my belly. In the name of Valentine’s Day this Sunday I thought it would be nice to mention how thankful I am for his support so far.

Valentines or not, I am lucky to have someone in my life who will go that extra mile to make sure I’m happy. That “pregnancy glow’ you hear about isn’t always “glowing” so I think whether it’s your husband, your boyfriend or a good friend, it’s important to have someone there for you acting as your “pregnancy partner” to celebrate the good days and help ease the bad.

With my husband, I do notice an increase in back and foot rubs, homemade dinners and treats. By treats I mean I’ll have my lunch made for me or my favourite foods will suddenly show up in our fridge. The other week I was craving chocolate milk and I haven’t been short of it since!

Not only does he make sure I’m feeling comfortable but he also makes sure to lend an ear and a shoulder to cry on when I’m feeling “fat” or just moody and tired. What’s most touching though is the look in his eyes when we saw our baby for the first time on the ultra sound. I just know he is going to be an amazing daddy.

February 8, 2010

When it Comes to Old Wives Tales, Fun is the Name of the Game

Since discovering I’m pregnant, I’ve heard of so many old wives tales claiming to predict the sex of the baby. I realize they are for fun only, but having to wait to find out whether I’m having a boy or a girl has got me on pins and needles (we find out March 2!).
In order to ease my curiosity, I’ve decided to try some of these old legends for myself. Here are the results:

Chinese Gender Chart
This chart cross references the month my child was conceived with my age at the time of conception to figure out my baby’s gender. It claims to have 99% accuracy.
After entering that the baby was conceived November 1 (we’re almost 100% positive about this!) and my age at the time (29), it’s determined that I should be having a girl.

Baby’s Heart Rate
Apparently, if the baby’s heart rate is 140 beats per minute and above it’s a girl. If the heart rate is 140 beats and under, it’s a boy. I suppose if my baby’s heart rate landed right on 140, it would be a tied between the both!
My last ultra sound showed my baby’s heart rate at 146. If the wives tale is true, I’m still having a girl!

Needle on a String
My mom was so excited to do this for me this past weekend. By placing a pin on a string and dangling it over the belly, you can find out whether you’re having a boy or girl by the direction the pin swings. If it swings in a large circle, it’s a girl. If it swings to and fro, it’s a boy.
In this case, it looks like I’m having a boy! The string swung side to side. Hmm very interesting.

Cravings
Apparently a sweet tooth means you’re having a girl and a craving for all things salty means you’re having a boy.
I’ve never been much of a sweet fan and I do love my chips, so in this case it looks like I’m having a boy.

How I carry the Bump
If my belly is growing low out in front it’s a boy. If my belly is higher and I’m gaining weight in my face, hips and butt, it’s a girl.
Again it looks like I’m having a boy.
So far, my belly is growing straight out and is lower. I know I’ve gained over 10 pounds already but it’s not in my butt (no complaints there!).

Hair Growth
If the hair on your body is growing faster than normal than it’s a boy. If hair is growing at regular pace, it’s a girl.
Wow, my hair has been growing like crazy. I noticed how bushy my eyebrows had become this past weekend and yes the hair on my legs is getting hard to keep up with. I guess it’s a boy!
So if I add up my “score” it looks like I’m having a boy. I’d be more than happy with either or but I can’t wait until science actually tells me what I’m having so I don’t have to keep relying on these old tales!

February 5, 2010

Pregnancy Brain – The Real Deal

Pregnancy brain is real and I’m living proof of it.
I used to be skeptical of my friends who are moms complain about having “mommy” brain or “pregnancy” brain. I didn’t realize at the time what it was all about and assumed their claims were simply a result of being tired and taking on too much.
Now I realize that tired is one thing, feeling as though you’re being hit with dementia is quite another! I forget things ALL THE TIME! Before I got pregnant, being tired meant taking everything at a slower pace. And while, in the past, I have been forgetful, this new feeling is overwhelming.

The other morning I poured juice into my cereal rather than milk. Lately when I’m in mid conversation, I literally forget words. For example, the other day I forgot the word “key”. I was asking my husband if he could leave me his keys but a simple question turned into a chore with me saying,, “can you leave the....those...the things that unlock the door for me?” I’m not kidding; pregnancy brain has taken over my life!

So of course because I’ve been hit with this supposed pregnancy symptom, I had Google if other women are “losing their minds” too. Guess what I found? Pregnancy brain is normal! That’s the good news. The bad news is that it doesn’t just go away when the baby arrives. Once the baby is here, mommy brain settles in.

Will I ever get my memory back? Or will I forever need to carry reminder notes around? The other day I went grocery shopping and completely forgot what I needed. Yes, of course I wrote down a list, but I left that list on my kitchen table...

February 3, 2010

Baby's First Gift!

We received our very first baby gift this past weekend. I was extremely touched by the generosity and it really drove home that we’re having a baby!

Ok obviously after testing positive and viewing the ultrasound I know I’m going to be a mommy in July, but to be given gifts for my unborn child just really helped to solidify that I’m not just me anymore. I am me, plus one. The gift was a Winnie the Pooh themed outfit including a hat, mitts and booties. It’s all so adorable and I can just picture a little boy or girl wearing them. It’s currently sitting in my spare bedroom/office which will soon be converted into a nursery.

I’ve been told this is the first of many, many little outfits we will be receiving over the next few months. If this is the case, I have no complaints! The more onesies, booties and cute little outfits we get the better. After all, we’ll be splurging on a stroller, a crib, a change table, a play pen, car seat, diapers...the list goes on and on I’m sure! I will definitely have to start doing my research into the best baby “gear” to purchase. I know I’m still early (16 weeks this week!) but I have a feeling time will fly by. Four months disappeared already so I better start making my list as I have a feeling baby will need a whole lot of stuff! Hopefully a baby shower or two will help out as well!

February 1, 2010

Is Yoga for Me?

Now that I’m feeling less exhausted and the nausea is tapering off (although it’s not completely over), I’m thinking about incorporating exercise into my routine. I’ve always heard my friends who already have children discuss prenatal yoga and so I’m going to look into it and see if doing the “downward dog” is really for me.

Exercise for me is like boarding a flight to a dream vacation – I dread the thought of the flight, hate the flight while I’m up in the air, but am so happy I did it once we land. So in other words, getting me to any yoga class is going to take a lot of energy. Because of this, I’m taking steps to understand what’s out there and if I want to go to a class or if I want to try a program from home.

From doing my research so far, I’ve learned that yoga can greatly increase my balance. This is a great thing because as my pregnancy progresses, I’ll be losing my balance more and more! It can also improve my concentration and my breathing, helping me to better deal with anxiety and focus my mind. If this is true, I should have been doing yoga well before getting pregnant. I tend to worry incessantly!

So now that I’ve learned the benefits of yoga while pregnant, I guess I’ll decide whether or not I’ll put them into practice. There are many classes available near me (I live in Toronto). But I’d like to find a class, should I decide to take this route, that is very close to home (maybe even in my condo complex!), and reasonably priced. Whether I decide to take my poses public or learn in the comfort of my living, I’ll definitely be writing about my experience in an upcoming post!

January 29, 2010

I Learned a New Word Today...Doula

Since finding out I was pregnant, I have had all sorts of questions thrown my way:

How far along are you now?
When is your due date?
Will you find out the sex?
Where are you having the baby?
Are you getting a midwife?
Have you thought about getting a doula?

And the last question has me asking myself, what is a doula?

I have heard of midwives and have heard of many people having great experiences with them. A midwife is a registered health care professional providing care, support, counselling and education to soon-to-be moms from the beginning right to the end.

As for a doula, well this is a completely new term to me. The word alone has me picturing someone exotic, and in fact it is exotic (to the Western world). The word is Greek for slave or servant (a slave or servant helping me with my pregnancy?? WOW). In actuality, a doula provides non-medical emotional and physical support during pregnancy, labour, birth and post partum (depending on your area). She is there to help open up communication and understanding between the mom to be, the partner, the physician and the mid wife. So really, this person acts as a birthing coach and additional “partner” in the birthing process.

Deciding to hire a midwife or doula is quite a personal decision and for me, I’m going to stick with my obstetrician and nurses only. My decision is based on this being my first pregnancy and I’ve always been one to stick to what I know, especially in new and scary situations. With that being said, I am curious to learn more about doulas and speak to people who have had an experience with one. Who knows, once the land of the unfamiliar becomes familiar, I may just venture down the path. Until then, I’ll continue to seek support from my husband, family members and Internet forums.

January 27, 2010

The case of the shrinking belly

At 12 weeks, I swore my belly was growing at warp speed and imagined being in my ninth month tied to bed rest because by that point I’d be so huge. Now I’m in the 15^th week and I feel as though my belly has shrunk!

It’s so odd to me but when I wake up in the mornings, I look at myself and think the only thing growing right now are my breasts...which really isn’t a bad thing in my opinion. I saw my OB today and heard the baby’s heartbeat so I know all is OK. I also gained five pounds since my last appointment!

I’m not exactly complaining that I’m not looking entirely pregnant yet, but I’m also looking forward to wearing the maternity clothes hanging in my closet and showing off my bump! One minute if feels like I’ve got a little bump to show off, the next it’s close to nonexistent. Perhaps it’s the fact that I’ve been throwing up more than usual (I’ve heard the second trimester is supposed to be sickness free...not the case here). Or perhaps it’s just gas. I’m guessing it’s a bit of both.

Either way, now that I’ve seen my little one moving around and I know he or she is growing away nicely, I’m looking forward to seeing myself grow away too! After all, how many times in my life will I get excited about putting on a few extra pounds?

January 25, 2010

From Peanut to Baby in a Matter of Weeks!

This past Thursday, my husband and I had an ultrasound appointment. This appointment was booked for first trimester Down’s syndrome screening (or the nuchal translucency (NT) test if you want to get technical). The test is conducted between 11 and 14 weeks and measures the fluid under the skin in the back of the baby’s neck to determine the risk of having a baby with Down’s.

As I mentioned, this test is only available up until the 14 week mark. My doctor and I thought I was 13 weeks pregnant last week but I was informed during the appointment Thursday that I’m in fact 14 weeks along. OVER 14 weeks actually! The baby was measuring 8.6 centimetres and because of this, the test couldn’t be done. Either I’m really 14 weeks or we have a rapidly growing baby! Of course more tests will be conducted between 15 to 20 weeks and I’ll cross my fingers that all is OK!

Regardless of tests being conducted or not, my husband I were introduced to the most beautiful site we have ever seen – our baby! Last time we saw our little one, he or she was just a peanut with a heartbeat. This time, we saw the baby moving around, kicking and even yawning! It was truly amazing to see.

I do wish the Down’s syndrome screening could have been conducted because I want nothing more than to bring a healthy baby into this world, as any soon-to-be mom hopes for. But I’m unsure what I would do with the results if they were to come back positive anyway...

First it was the worry of possible miscarriage, now the worry over the health of my baby and I’m sure it will only continue on from there for the rest of my life. I’m already realizing where my mom has been coming from all these years.

January 22, 2010

The order of Spreading the News – Not Always an Easy Task

I’m curious to hear how other people told their families and friends they were pregnant?

I personally had a hard time with this. Not because it wasn’t wonderful news. It was fantastic news! I wanted to make the announcement special but at the same time avoid the possibility of news spreading like wild fire to other family members or friends before we had the chance to tell them ourselves.

Facebook played a large role in my concerns. I could only imagine seeing a big “congrats on your pregnancy” plastered on my “Wall” before my family was informed.

While I wanted to tell my parents first, we ended up sharing with close friends first because a) they know if I don’t have a glass of wine on a Friday night, something is up b) we see them often.

The family part wasn’t so easy. My husband and I don’t live in the same city as our families and because we wanted to tell them in person, we needed to plan to get together. This proved to be simple with the parents but the siblings were a little more difficult with us all living separate lives and all. The holidays were a month after we found out so we planned to tell them around then. But that meant waiting a month to spill the news!

Every time my husband spoke to his sister or I to my brothers on the phone, we had to hold back when they asked us what was new! And every time we tried to make plans and they fell through, we both cringed at the thought of having to wait even longer.

Finally the holidays passed and we were able to tell the rest of our family in person (I know our parents were relieved after holding in such a secret as well!). We then told the rest of our friends. We found New Year’s Eve to be quite the appropriate time for this. Why else would I be sipping water instead of Champagne at midnight?

Now it’s not a secret and I’m free to scream to the world that I’m expecting. Such a great feeling! And yes, now my Facebook “wall” is filled with messages of congrats from people we’re close to and old acquaintances I haven’t heard from in ages.

January 21, 2010

The Pressure is on...My Bladder!

The day I found out I was pregnant, I felt great. Even though I was five weeks pregnant, my mind wasn’t yet aware and so the symptoms hadn’t yet appeared (read how I found out in my first post). It’s like when you cut yourself shaving without realizing it. You feel no pain until you see blood. Suddenly, the pain appears (well for me anyway). My mind told me to feel something because I’m now conscious of it. The same thing with finding out I was pregnant. When that test confirmed I was expecting, I started feeling nauseous and making frequent trips to the bathroom, almost immediately!

Now that I’m entering my second trimester, aren’t these symptoms supposed to go away? If I can’t control my growing belly can I at least control my bladder? Apparently not *sigh*.

While I admit that I’ve always had a small bladder, it now feels as though the baby has grown monster hands and is squeezing it so tight that I feel like I’m going to burst every half hour. It’s the worse at night when I get up to go to the bathroom five to eight times. I asked my doctor if this is normal and she said some women experience an overactive bladder in the first trimester due to hormones, increased blood flow and a growing uterus. I asked if there was any drug I could take to relieve myself (literally) and her answer was one I was unfortunately expecting, “No”.

So here I am in week 13 and have gone eight weeks with little sleep. This must be my body’s way of helping me prepare for when baby comes, when bathroom trips will be replaced by feeding trips.

January 19, 2010

First Comes Love Then Comes Marriage...
Am I Ready for the Baby Carriage?

When I found out I was pregnant, I wasn’t prepared to say the least.

While my husband and I weren’t taking measures to 99.9% prevent pregnancy, we also weren’t exactly trying to conceive. We thought we had some serious time to play with when I went off of the “pill” two months prior. Admittedly, these thoughts stemmed from little other than friends’ experiences and a couple of postings I read on pregnancy forums, but we were under the impression it would take six months to a year. So we decided to be “careful” but also play with fire thinking we had time on our side. Little did I know I had inherited my grandmother’s fertility (she was the mother of nine children!) and would conceive almost right away!

Yes, becoming pregnant was easier for us than anticipated, but the night we found out wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. All week I had a feeling something was different. I just felt like I might be pregnant. Women’s intuition perhaps?

The evening I found out, my husband and I had plans to attend a party thrown by one of his co-workers and we had invited another couple over beforehand. Before I accepted a glass (or four) of wine at this party, I thought I should find out my pregnancy status. I purchased a home pregnancy test and twenty minutes before the other couple was due to arrive, I took it. After what seemed like mere seconds I got the results. Positive! Mommy hood was upon me whether I was ready or not!

I called out to my husband and let him in on the news. We just sat there, in shock and stared...then the doorbell rang. Pulling ourselves together and pretending our lives weren’t about to change forever was difficult but we pulled it off.

That night went by and so did the next eight weeks. Positive blood results and two ultrasounds later, I’m 13 weeks pregnant today. And while I’m over the shock, I’m not over the symptoms:

Morning sickness...still going strong.
Food aversions...garlic and steak (gag me!)
Exhaustion...feeling like I have jet lag without the fun trip.
Overactive bladder...bathroom trips up to 8 times a night!

The next few months are going to be quite the journey (or should I say marathon?). But it’s the end result that will be the ultimate prize. Holding my beautiful baby in my arms and officially becoming a mom.