Prenatal Yesterday

Yesterday I went to a prenatal appointment. I thought that I was going to have to see Angela (wind blows, owl hoots, bloodcurdling scream) all by myself. Fortunately another midwife stayed late and I got to see her instead!!!

Julie was really good although she was pushy about the anatomy scan too. I realized later that I think they are so concerned about the baby because I have miscarried twice. I have known so many people who went through that facility and none of them have ever had any problems and the miscarriages are the only thing I can think of that would make them push that on me and not others. I will talk to them next time and tell them why I miscarried and then maybe they will get off my back!

Really the whole visit was very uneventful. I got to pee in a cup, have my BP taken, get weighed (I took off my sweater... hey every half pound counts) and then she just asked if I had any questions which I didn't. So yeah... uneventful!

My next appointment is not for 6 weeks.

~14 weeks

AHHHHHHH

I JUST FOUND OUT MY PRENATAL THIS AFTERNOON IS WITH ANGELA (same woman from last time)!!!!!!!

AND I HAVE TO GO ALONE!!!!!!!

~14 weeks

Feeling Good

For the last few months every time I ate anything my stomach would cramp. Sometimes it was so bad I could not even read! I have also felt nauseous all the time. Then of course I have been sick for a month but starting this past Saturday (exactly 14 weeks) I took a dramatic turn for the better! I am almost completely over all of the pnuemonia symptoms... although I am still coughing up the taste of metal which indicates infection... and I have VERY little morning sickness symptoms. I have felt slightly nauseous and had a little bit of stomach cramping after meals but not much.

I am doing great! Baby is doing great (as far as I can tell but I am supposed to have a mothers intuition right?!).

~14 weeks

Thirteen Weeks

~13 weeks

Twelve Weeks

~12 weeks

Week Eleven

So... oops! I have had the swine flu which led to bronchitis which led to pneumonia in the last week and thus we did not take an 11 week picture. Sorry folks!

~12 weeks

What is Going On?

I am not sure what is going on right now. Everything used to be so warm and peaceful and quite. Now there is a consistent hum somewhere above me in a rhythmic pattern that is not at all pleasant but has a lot of gurgling and funny noises I have never heard before. The only thing that disrupts this phenomenon are violent jerking movements simultaneously felt with a loud barking noise. The whole experience sends me flying into involuntary somersaults about my cosy room. I can't wait til things get back to normal!

~11 weeks and 6 Days

Eating

The last few days I have felt less and less queasy. I only feel sick after I eat and then usually only for an hour or two. Overall.... a huge improvement! I am still very tired but I think that has as much to do with not getting any sleep as it does baby making me tired.

I don't feel as wierd as I used to either. I almost feel like the normal old me. Hopefully I won't end up as one of the unfortunate few who remain sick for their entire pregnancies!

Ten Weeks

~10 weeks and 6 days

Second Prenatal

I am so ill! I thought pregnancy was supposed to be a joyful and pleasant experience! Haha... jokes on me! No, I know that "you will start to feel better around 12-14 weeks....hold in there! It is for a good reason!"

Doug and I went to our second prenatal yesterday. The physical appointment! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! Actually it wasn't so bad after I refused about half of the procedures. The lady was really pushy about, well now that I think about it, everything! She does not agree with us that we don't want any ultrasounds ever (yes that is what I said lady.... ever!), a pap smear, all the tests to see if your baby is "normal" (like you can change it now anyway), the anatomy ultrasound** and many other things! I tried to refuse the finger check on the grounds that we don't care when the baby comes. She told us that they need to know if we get to 42 weeks and things are "critical." I told her we would not be inducing no matter what. She replied that we could make the decision then if that were to happen. Oh wait you mean you want a tool to scare me into having my baby too early. Thank you madam! We would have continued for hours but she said "we have certain procedures that we do here and if you are not comfortable with any of them maybe we are not the place for you!" In other words, do this or get out! I figured that I would give on this which is not that big of a deal because I need to be at a place that will let me get away with not having the baby at their facility. Although they are not aware of it yet!!!!

**
Midwife: Even though you do not want regular ultrasounds you will want to have the anatomy scan.
Me: Thanks but we don't want to know the sex
Midwife: Well it isn't only for that
Me: Okay what else
Midwife: To see if there is anything wrong with the baby...
Me: If there is something wrong there isn't anything we can do about it
Midwife: I see where you are coming from but it can help prepare you for the end when you think you are getting a healthy baby and out comes something else
Me: Okay thank you (conversation please be over)

I figure why sit there and argue with the lady for an hour. We will wait until 20 weeks and then argue!

All in all.... bad experience! Doug didn't think it was that bad though. And I do have to give the lady credit for dropping the pap smear thing. She said I don't need one more than every three years with my circumstances (one partner, good previous results etc).

I went to bed at 7:30 last night and I still don't feel good! Oh when will this end......... (in a few weeks I know I know).

~10 weeks

Nine Weeks

~9 weeks

Fat Lady

I officially have early morning, mid-morning, late morning, noon, early afternoon, mid-afternoon, late afternoon, early evening and late evening sickness! Mid-evening I actually feel pretty good!

I am not having any food aversions which is very nice. Nothing seems to "set me off" for I am just sick all the time. I am also not really experiencing any cravings at all. I still like mustard which I never have before but I don't think about it all the time or anything.

Doug keeps saying "Dougisms"
- Doug, I only had acid reflux that one day and I have not had it since"
- It ain't over to 'til the fat lady sings.... errrr not that your fat... uhhhh or will get fat but ummm....

* First... you don't tell the pregnant lady that she will probably get sick later and.... THE FAT LADY?!

Haha, I would not be so worried about it except that I have already gained 7 pounds. I am working out though and I have been eating healthy. Cross your fingers that I don't become the fat lady!!!

Mini Hammer?

The last few days Doug and I have been working on the cottage so that it will be done by the time that baby arrives! We are so excited about moving in to our own place!

First Prenatal

Doug and I went to our first prenatal appointment yesterday. Nothing very exciting or anything... we filled out a lot of paperwork, tried to convince them that we are emotionally stable and well supported by friends and family, and I had a LOT of blood drawn. I think they took nine vials. I told the nurse that at least I was losing five pounds during my visit! Oh... and I got to pee in a cup which, apparently, I get to do every time I go!

My poor arm!

We will just say... not the most flattering picture ever!!!

We are using Athens Regional Midwifery Center for our prenatal care!

~9 weeks

Eight Weeks

Because we were on our cruise during week 8 we were not able to take a picture in front of the cottage! Instead we figured that we would take one in front of the Mayan ruins. This structure is part of Chichen Itza!!!

~8 weeks

Cruisin Baby

We went on our second anniversary cruise this week. We had such a blast! Baby did really well and only gave me a minimal amount of discomfort. I was worried about being baby nauseous on a swaying boat but everything was great! We took our eight week picture on the trip but I don't have it today so I will post it as soon as I get it!

~8 weeks

Food for Thought

I always laughed about the whole pregnancy cravings thing and chalked it up to women getting to eat whatever they want just because they are pregnant. I will have to retract my previous assumptions.

I want mustard!

Now, if you know me, you know that I do not put condiments on anything... I dont even use salad dressing. Three days ago I could not get mustard out of my mind. So golden and delectable...

I had mustard last night on half a burger and that will also be my lunch today. Yummm!!!!

~7 weeks

Expanding Waste

I measured my lower waste before I got pregnant and I was 28 inches. Today I measured the same area and I am at 32 1/2 inches!

~7 weeks

Swine Flu Escape

Doug and I have officially moved out for the week. The kids were exposed to the swine flu and if they get sick they will give it to me. One in nine pregnant women die from the swine flu so the whole family decided not to take the chance on my getting it.

The other concern is that we are going on a cruise this weekend and if either of us got sick then we would not be able to go. I am not a big fan of feeling unsettled but desperate times...

~7 weeks

Tired

I am very tired of late! Baby seems to be taking a toll on my body. Yesterday, while I was at work, I was reading Emma at the desk. There was only one client in the building and everything was very peaceful and quite as all of the girls were in the back or outside.

All was going well until I WOKE UP! Yes... I am talking chin to the chest, just started dreaming, any longer and I would have drooled type of asleep. Noelle says I will be very tired for the first 14 weeks. That means you will be hearing about how tired I am for the next 7 weeks!!! Haha... I am sure some days will be much better than others although today is not one of them!

~7 weeks