My Pregnancy Ticker
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
First appointment
We had our first appointment today. I know that I'm 8 weeks and 3 days pregnant, but, the OB thought I should be something like 11+ weeks pregnant. Luckily for me, that meant that the OB scheduled a dating ultrasound. Even luckier, we were able to get in to see the ultrasound tech today, too.
She found the baby right away (I still can't believe there's actually a baby in there), and she saw a heartbeat. I'd been a little worried about a miscarriage (as all pregnant women are), so I was very glad to see it. The heartbeat was 170 beats per minute. There's an old wives' tale that heartbeats over 140 beats per minute are indicative of girls, but we'll see if that's true. We'll get another ultrasound at about 20 weeks, and we'll find out the gender then - probably right before Christmas.
Everything else looks good. It was my husband's first time being at an OB / GYN-type appointment (obviously), and he was pretty horrified and uncomfortable by parts of the exam. He got over it, though, and he was so so so excited to see the baby on the ultrasound. He and I talked afterwards about the fact that we'd just started coming to terms with the fact that we're having a baby, and now it seems so unreal again.
I also found out today that the practice has midwives, which makes me really excited. I've wanted to deliver with a midwife for quite awhile, and this is exactly the type of delivery environment I want. The delivery will be at the best hospital in the area (the only area hospital with a NICU), and it will be done by a midwife as long as things progress normally. If things go awry, there is ALWAYS a doctor at the hospital to step in and assist as needed. We also got some information today about the hospital where I'll be delivering, and it sounds like exactly what I want. I'm very pleased.
Other than that, things are going well. I feel fine, mostly. Occasional mild nausea, but nothing really noteworthy. Some insomnia, some headaches, some moodiness - basically a little bit of a wide variety of symptoms. I know that I'm lucky to be feeling so good. While there's still time for things to turn south, I've been really lucky so far.
My next appointment is scheduled for the end of October. It's really starting to feel real now.
She found the baby right away (I still can't believe there's actually a baby in there), and she saw a heartbeat. I'd been a little worried about a miscarriage (as all pregnant women are), so I was very glad to see it. The heartbeat was 170 beats per minute. There's an old wives' tale that heartbeats over 140 beats per minute are indicative of girls, but we'll see if that's true. We'll get another ultrasound at about 20 weeks, and we'll find out the gender then - probably right before Christmas.
Everything else looks good. It was my husband's first time being at an OB / GYN-type appointment (obviously), and he was pretty horrified and uncomfortable by parts of the exam. He got over it, though, and he was so so so excited to see the baby on the ultrasound. He and I talked afterwards about the fact that we'd just started coming to terms with the fact that we're having a baby, and now it seems so unreal again.
I also found out today that the practice has midwives, which makes me really excited. I've wanted to deliver with a midwife for quite awhile, and this is exactly the type of delivery environment I want. The delivery will be at the best hospital in the area (the only area hospital with a NICU), and it will be done by a midwife as long as things progress normally. If things go awry, there is ALWAYS a doctor at the hospital to step in and assist as needed. We also got some information today about the hospital where I'll be delivering, and it sounds like exactly what I want. I'm very pleased.
Other than that, things are going well. I feel fine, mostly. Occasional mild nausea, but nothing really noteworthy. Some insomnia, some headaches, some moodiness - basically a little bit of a wide variety of symptoms. I know that I'm lucky to be feeling so good. While there's still time for things to turn south, I've been really lucky so far.
My next appointment is scheduled for the end of October. It's really starting to feel real now.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
I'm afraid to jinx it
Since finding out I'm pregnant, I haven't really felt too bad at all. A little tired, and slightly nauseated. I know there's still time to feel bad (I know some people don't get morning sickness until they're 8 weeks pregnant), but I've been really lucky so far.
I've had some food issues recently. A lot of food just sounds completely disgusting, so I have to be very thoughtful about what I eat. I have definitely not been eating the healthiest food all the time, but I know I just need to eat whatever sounds good. If I don't do that, I won't eat. I also feel a bit gaggy - like I could just gag randomly. But, not too sick.
In the morning, I've been waking up and drinking a juice box right away. I've heard that little burst of sugar can help with morning sickness. Since I've been doing that, I've hardly felt sick at all. I sometimes get a little sick feeling if I get too hungry, but I was like that pre-pregnancy, too.
The biggest thing I've been craving has been apples. McIntosh apples, to be specific. I eat at least 2 per day. That's better than craving french fries, I guess.
Basically, I've been feeling good. Better than I thought I would. I know there's still time for it to go south, but I'll just concentrate on enjoying it for now.
Maybe I'll be one of the lucky ones.
I've had some food issues recently. A lot of food just sounds completely disgusting, so I have to be very thoughtful about what I eat. I have definitely not been eating the healthiest food all the time, but I know I just need to eat whatever sounds good. If I don't do that, I won't eat. I also feel a bit gaggy - like I could just gag randomly. But, not too sick.
In the morning, I've been waking up and drinking a juice box right away. I've heard that little burst of sugar can help with morning sickness. Since I've been doing that, I've hardly felt sick at all. I sometimes get a little sick feeling if I get too hungry, but I was like that pre-pregnancy, too.
The biggest thing I've been craving has been apples. McIntosh apples, to be specific. I eat at least 2 per day. That's better than craving french fries, I guess.
Basically, I've been feeling good. Better than I thought I would. I know there's still time for it to go south, but I'll just concentrate on enjoying it for now.
Maybe I'll be one of the lucky ones.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Now I start getting symptoms
So far, I've been pretty lucky in the symptoms department. Granted, I'm only 6 weeks and 4 days pregnant (it still feels weird to consider myself "pregnant"), but some women get morning sickness earlier than where I am now. So far, my chest has been sore (that was a very early symptom), and my breathing has been labored. I occasionally get waves of nausea, but nothing major.
Tonight, though, the exhaustion hit really hard. It's not even 8:30, and I'm in bed. After dinner, I just needed to go to bed right that minute. Like, I couldn't even stand being in the kitchen anymore.
Luckily, my endlessly patient husband graciously offered to clean up the entire kitchen, including my dinner dishes. I can hear him down there right now straightening up. I think he really feels a purpose with helping me out. It's really sweet. He's actually been amazing in other ways, since I've been rather impatient and short-tempered for the last few weeks. He's been nothing but understanding.
I'm pretty lucky. So far, no terrible symptoms (although I expect them to get worse any day now). And, when I do get symptoms, my husband bends over backwards to help.
I can't wait to see him as a father.
Tonight, though, the exhaustion hit really hard. It's not even 8:30, and I'm in bed. After dinner, I just needed to go to bed right that minute. Like, I couldn't even stand being in the kitchen anymore.
Luckily, my endlessly patient husband graciously offered to clean up the entire kitchen, including my dinner dishes. I can hear him down there right now straightening up. I think he really feels a purpose with helping me out. It's really sweet. He's actually been amazing in other ways, since I've been rather impatient and short-tempered for the last few weeks. He's been nothing but understanding.
I'm pretty lucky. So far, no terrible symptoms (although I expect them to get worse any day now). And, when I do get symptoms, my husband bends over backwards to help.
I can't wait to see him as a father.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Our first (big) baby purchase
Target was having a big baby furniture sale when we went there today - buy a crib and get a free changing table, basically. I had originally wanted to get a dresser and use it as a changing table, but this seemed like a great deal. We got both today. Here's a picture of the crib:
It's the Graco Lauren crib, and I've liked it for awhile. The one I posted a few weeks ago is no longer available at Target, and it was a lot more expensive than the one we just bought. We got this entire set for $160 for both the crib and changing table.
I'd still like to get a dresser and a glider. I think we can get a decent dresser from Target for about $250, and the glider is going to be about $400. Eek! That's a lot of money, but it will help that we'll be able to use the Target gift cards that we'll get from our credit card rewards.
We also got 3 baby books today - a book for each of us on pregnancy, and a book called "Baby Bargains" that's been recommended by everyone who has kids. It's been interesting so far, although it DID say that changing tables are a waste of money. Oh well! At least ours was free.
I'm obviously a little freaked about buying baby furniture (even if it was a great deal), but I know that Target has a 90 day return policy. I've saved the receipt, and, if something goes wrong, we'll be able to return the furniture.
It's starting to finally feel real. At least for now. I'm still in denial a bit because I still feel like it's too early to get excited. My first doctor appointment is in a little over 2 weeks, so I hope to feel a bit more reassured after that.
It's the Graco Lauren crib, and I've liked it for awhile. The one I posted a few weeks ago is no longer available at Target, and it was a lot more expensive than the one we just bought. We got this entire set for $160 for both the crib and changing table.
I'd still like to get a dresser and a glider. I think we can get a decent dresser from Target for about $250, and the glider is going to be about $400. Eek! That's a lot of money, but it will help that we'll be able to use the Target gift cards that we'll get from our credit card rewards.
We also got 3 baby books today - a book for each of us on pregnancy, and a book called "Baby Bargains" that's been recommended by everyone who has kids. It's been interesting so far, although it DID say that changing tables are a waste of money. Oh well! At least ours was free.
I'm obviously a little freaked about buying baby furniture (even if it was a great deal), but I know that Target has a 90 day return policy. I've saved the receipt, and, if something goes wrong, we'll be able to return the furniture.
It's starting to finally feel real. At least for now. I'm still in denial a bit because I still feel like it's too early to get excited. My first doctor appointment is in a little over 2 weeks, so I hope to feel a bit more reassured after that.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Still feeling good, but for how long?
Tomorrow, I'll be 6 weeks pregnant. I still can't believe that. The 6 week mark is supposed to be the point where most women start feeling sick. Some start feeling sick earlier than that. I haven't had that, thank goodness, but I'm fully expecting to start feeling bad over the weekend (or maybe next week).
My big fear is that I'll feel really gross during some upcoming work trips that I have. I'm traveling on September 14-16, and then again on the 26-27. I'm going to be visiting customers, and I'm somewhat concerned that my sickness is going to impact my ability to have productive meetings.
Like everything else related to trying to get pregnant or pregnancy, I'm just going to have to wait to find out.
My big fear is that I'll feel really gross during some upcoming work trips that I have. I'm traveling on September 14-16, and then again on the 26-27. I'm going to be visiting customers, and I'm somewhat concerned that my sickness is going to impact my ability to have productive meetings.
Like everything else related to trying to get pregnant or pregnancy, I'm just going to have to wait to find out.
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