Baby Blog 25

I wasn't going to write on this because I'd be very embarrassed if it turned out to be nothing.  However, if it does turn out to be something, then I want it to be noted that I have "felt things" this week.  I'm not sure what the feeling is. It could be the baby moving.  It could be the uterus stretching.  I know only time will tell.  But I have been noticing that when I'm sitting pretty still, I feel pressure from inside pushing outwards.  I have been trying to research what it is.  Of course, the results are inconclusive.


Based on what I found, it could be braxton hicks contractions.  The only thing is that I really don't think that's it because the more I read about those, the less they sound like pressure.  The description is more of a mild cramping.  Another thing is that the feeling could be stretching and hardening of the uterus.  Also, the feeling could be the uterus moving up.  However, I have found that the feeling could also be the baby.  Many women have reported not ever getting the "butterflies" feeling.  Instead, they felt a pressure that turned into obvious kicks.  So, that's what it could be.  And yes I hope that's what it is.


One thing that I found in my research was women talking about the baby becoming "visible" at around 24 weeks.  I have no idea what this means.  I assume it means the baby being visible from the outside?  I have not been close enough to a pregnant stomach to know.  However, I can't help but laugh at the whole visible statement because I think "What? The baby was invisible before this?" Oh the terms of pregnancy land. ;)


On another note, I think that when my stomach gets big enough, I might want to turn it into a decorative artform.

Like this

No, that is not my stomach.  It is just a decorative bowl....

Or this

I just decided to stat carrying a fishbowl around in front of me...all of the time...

Baby Blog 24

It seems like people love giving advice when it comes to pregnancy and parenthood.  I'm not sure whether it is the fact that it brings them joy to share things they've learned, or if they really think I'm so clueless I won't make it without advice.


Either way, sometimes I go into advice overload.  There's just too much of it sometimes!  Everyone means well, and I don't get upset with anyone for giving advice.  I just don't always "listen" because sometimes I feel overwhelmed by it.  


I actually know a lot more about babies and what it's going to be like than it might seem.  I have a couple of reasons (in no particular order).   I watched a plethora of educational baby shows for years.  I watched "Bringing Home Baby" and saw what it was like for people to go through having a newborn at home the first days/weeks after the hospital.  Granted, yes, the show is edited and doesn't show everything.  However, once you watch show after show, you start to build knowledge.  Another thing is the fact that I have cared for infants myself.  I have been a nanny.  I took care of three babies all by myself with no help or advice on what I was supposed to be doing or how to do it.  I had to figure it out as I went along and ask a lot of questions.  I worked in a daycare with infants.  There, I learned how to effectively bundle a baby.  I saw babies in all stages of development.  


I hear things from what I should eat and shouldn't eat to whether I should nap or shouldn't nap.  What things I need to get for my baby and what things I don't need to get...Whether I should nurse solely or have a pump...how much I should lift or not lift during pregnancy or how active/inactive I need to be...people saying that it's okay to drink wine to people criticizing my choice of not drinking any caffeine...and basically it all boils down to everyone says something different.  I have had so much different advice, I don't even know what to do with it sometimes.  Maybe I'll nap with one eye open while twitching a leg so I can nap and be active at the same time.   I say all of this lightheartedly and in good humor because it's nothing I'm annoyed by.  It's just funny how everyone has advice and if I listened to it all, I would be stuck in neutral.


I still have a lot to learn, but I have learned more than a lot of people know.  And I'm sure that sharing advice is more or less done out of personal excitement that they have information and they want to share it with someone.  I'm not really saying that I don't want advice because I do.  I just sometimes feel like putting people on mute every now and then.... ;)

Baby Blog 23

When life hands you lemons...

Compare them to the size of a baby! Today, I'm 14 weeks, and baby is around the size of a lemon now.  In other terms, that's 4 inches.  I actually bought some lemons and limes last week for cooking.  And I noticed my lemons and limes are around the same.  So, I'd guess the baby is the size of a large lemon now. :)

I had an appointment with my doctor today.  So far, everything is going normal with the pregnancy! We heard baby's heartbeat loud and strong at 149 bpm today! We listened to it for about 3 minutes; she said it sounded great.  I wish I had some way of bringing a recording device with me to the appointment.  I'd love to record the sound of baby's heartbeat to post it on here.  I don't even have a tape recorder.  I may need to purchase one.

Our BIG ultrasound is set up for February 17th at 1:15.  So, that's when we should know if baby is a boy or a girl.  I can't wait! Let's hope the baby cooperates.

Baby Blog 22

Juuuuust peachy! Moving on up in the fruit bowl, baby should be around the size of a peach now. That is a 3 and 1/2 inch peach! Granted, since my skin and intestines are not transparent, I'm just going by guidelines. ;)  But seeing as how little one was 3 inches last Wednesday, I wouldn't be surprised if he or she is 3 and 1/2 inches today!

I still don't feel any movement.  I thought I did one morning when I was lying down super still.  However, when I saw the baby moving all around on the ultrasound and didn't feel a thing, I'm thinking it was something else I felt.  It shouldn't be too much longer, though, until I feel the baby...maybe just somewhere from like 3-5 more weeks.

Ever since we saw the baby very healthy at almost 13 weeks, I've been allowing myself to get more excited about this.  I was a nervous wreck at the beginning trying very hard not to be a nervous wreck.  At this point, I'm glad to be statistically be beyond the "danger zone" and moving to the 2nd trimester.  I could also already be in the 2nd trimester depending on what book  you read.  

Another thing I just learned that I didn't know....

Sleeping on your back while pregnant can cut off circulation to the baby.  So, sleeping at night has been just going from one side to the other.  It's trickier than I thought it would be.  I suppose I'll get used to it though. 

Baby Blog 21

Hello World

Here's our precious little baby "waving" at us via ultrasound.  It was so wonderful to see this little one moving around to day.  He or she was a VERY active one moving all around and spring boarding off the bottom of the sac like a little froggie.  The baby's heartbeat measured about 155 beats per minute, which they said was good. I am just extremely happy to see my child healthy and active.  It is such a blessing that words cannot even describe.

Here is baby spring boarding.  You can see the initial position is crouched.  Then BOOM he or she has pushed off with his or her feet.  

Here's our little one just being the cute little blessing that he or she is. :)

 Here is a frontal view of the baby.

And then just one more of the baby's profile.

I was told today that the baby is around 3 inches, and I am 12 weeks and 5 days pregnant.  My due date is July 22, 2011. 

It was such a wonderful thing to see our little one.

Baby Blog 20

10 Things they DON'T tell you about being pregnant:

"Being pregnant was the best time of my life" is something I've heard many people say.  And I'll admit I'll probably start echoing those sentiments as I leave the first trimester and enter the second one.  HOWEVER, I would say that most women, when they first become pregnant, wonder what crazy drug those other women were put on to make them think pregnancy was such a wonderful thing.  Right now, it is getting to be a great thing.  All of my annoying symptoms are going away as I prepare to leave the first trimester and enter the second one (also referred to as the honeymoon stage).

But let me say, there were many things that I discovered come with being pregnant that nobody ever told me about.  So, there are the small things I will share that I was never told about being pregnant.  I am also even keeping out some details which are TMI, so there are even things I'm still keeping secret about being pregnant.

Anyway, without further ado, here are the things I discovered that nobody tells you.

1.) Your nose is more sensitive because of increased blood flow and you may find yourself congested and even having nosebleeds.  Yes, this has happened to me.  I won't complain to much about the constant semi-stuffy nose because it has kept my ultra-sensitivity to smells down a little.  But when my nose is cleared out, I can smell almost everything.

2.) You start producing more saliva.  So you often find yourself waking up in a puddle of drool.  I feel like I am constantly swallowing my saliva.  Yes, it's gross.

3.) Your body is working overtime and you may wake up drenched in sweat in the middle of the night.  So, yes, there have been nights when I have woken up in drool and sweat.  Yes, nice, right?  But, on the bright side, I haven't woken up in a night sweat since the weather started dropping. WOOHOO!

4.) You feel like you could take a nap anytime and anywhere (this is for the beginning of the first trimester).

5.) You may become forgetful.  I went through this so-called "baby brain" stage for awhile.  I honestly think it was because my mind and body were very busy.

6.) You get very bloated and gassy.  There are so many fluids and such high blood flow that they can build up.  Here is a picture of my stomach today at 12+1.  I look pregnant indeed, but sadly most of it is not the baby.  Usually it doesn't look this obvious, but this is me in non-maternity clothes.

7.) An increase of progesterone causes bad constipation.  However, there are thankfully treatments for that which help a lot.

8.) If you get sick, you can't just go into the medicine drawer and take something.  The main thing that is safe to take is tylenol.  There are a few things that your doctor will prescribe that are okay.  But being pregnant has had me turning to holistic medicine to keep myself and little one safe and healthy.

9.) You need to drink TWICE as much water as is required for you to drink when you are not pregnant.  Plus, as your uterus grows in the first trimester, you find yourself having to go to the bathroom A LOT.  So, it makes drinking water seem like a real pain.  The good side of this is that is that you actually don't have to go as much later on closer to the second trimester.  It is supposed to come back when baby gets big in the third trimester.  However, right now I don't have to go like I used to.

10.) Dreams become very vivid.  I have never had such vivid dreams as I have had since I became pregnant.  I have often woken up confused.

Anyway, those are things that I didn't know about being pregnant.  And I do wish somebody would have told me.  But on the bright side, I've been finding many of them come and go.  Plus I'm sure that once the baby gets here, I will probably have forgotten about most of them. 

Baby Blog 19

Today, I should be 12 weeks pregnant! That is considering everything is going as it should.  And seeing how nothing abnormal has happened, I'm thinking the baby is still going strong.  I pray for this little one to be strong every day.  Well, also, if everything is going as it should, baby should be the size of a plum today! :)

In other words, that means the baby is 3 inches.  Here is the information from my lilypie pregnancy ticker (I know it will change as the day changes on here).  But I figured I'd add it.

I just can't wait until Wednesday! I found out there is no school tomorrow.  So, I am going to call in the morning and see if I can possibly get in tomorrow for my ultrasound.  However, since it is hard to get an appointment, I'm thinking it will probably still be Wednesday.

It's wonderful to imagine the little baby moving around in there and it will be so much more exciting to see him/her on the screen.  I'm pretty sure that tears of joy will come to my eyes to see a little baby moving around.