toothpaste!!! bah!

For about the last month, each time I've brushed my teeth, my eyes have watered, and I've gagged a bit.

I started out more traumatic and has become more routine. But this morning, not thinking (because that's how most traumatic events start out... someone not thinking, and that someone is often me) I started brushing my teeth, and walked out into the living room - still brushing - to respond to an email.

I responded successfully to the email, stood up to return to the bathroom and finish brushing when my eyes began to water, and the gagging became violent.

Needless to say - when all was said and done, I had to brush my teeth again. :(

Stupid oversensitive gag reflex.

I'm sure it serves some overarching baby-protecting purpose... Like to keep me from practicing sword swallowing or something, but SHEESH!

- mama g

so cute!

This morning, as Alex was leaving for work, he paused to kiss me goodbye (as usual), and then said "do you know where Sprout is?". I felt around and found Sprout (on my left side as usual) and he bent down, told Sprout "I'll see you later today" and kissed my belly - then went off to work.

Do you see why I am so in love with him???

- mama g

Carrot intolerance!

I got back from Tulsa this morning where I had gone yesterday to see Wicked with Marmee. (which, btw is GREAT!) I got home around 1:15, and have been relaxing and not doing much of anything of importance until about 20 minutes ago when I decided I was hungry. This can lead to a traumatic production of trying to decide what sounds good to eat on some days... But today - I had an idea... Some multigrain tostitos and melty cheese. (sometimes pronounced "nachos")

I ventured into the kitchen to assemble and broil my nachos - and while I was waiting for them to broil I thought - I should grab some baby carrots out of the fridge and nosh on those while I wait... that'll add some nice nutritional balance to my snack.

So I did.

As my nachos came out of the oven, and I headed to my comfy chair to eat them and my last remaining baby carrot - a strange feeling set in. Much like what I assume lactose intolerance must feel like, I started feeling stomach spazums, and extra saliva flooded my mouth, and I knew...

Off to the bathroom.

I'm hoping this was an isolated incidence of carrot intolerance... I would be sad to say farewell to my little orange friends for an extended period of time. But at least for today - they are on the ban list.

- m g

Baby? Maybe...

I might have felt Sprout moving around.

It's hard to be sure, and according to the books - it's rare, but not impossible for a first time mom to feel movement this early.

What it feels like: a strong, sporadic heartbeat and fluttering in my lower abdominal region (the same general area I get the "make room for baby crampies"... maybe a tad higher)

I was sitting in my chair reading last night, and I kept feeling it over and over - so I was expecting to have some corresponding gas... But the gas didn't come, and the thumping feeling persisted. After about a half an hour - I told Alex I thought I could feel the baby. I went and laid down on the couch, and we put his hand on my belly... After a few minutes, and lots of "there - did you feel that one?" "over here - do you feel it?" - he felt it. (Can gas be felt by someone with their hand on your belly?)

Anyway - I'm not 100% sure it was Sprout, but I felt the same thing just a little bit this morning. The book says initial movement perception is occasional - even though the baby is moving almost constantly... So it's normal to feel it one day, and then not again for a couple of days.

I have an appointment at the OB coming up on Aug 6th... No ultra sound this time, but I'll get to hear the heart beat again. I will try to actually make note of the bpm this time. I always seem to forget.

Otherwise - all is going well. Haven't been nauseated in a while, and the exhaustion is DEFINITELY lifting. I even felt ell enough to go to water aerobics yesterday. I think I'll start going to that 3 times a week... it was pretty fun.

- mama g

The answer is: increase fluids

So, my doctor gave me this little pamphlet during my first OB visit - inside was a list of common ailments and their approved remedies. Everything from headaches to tummy aches are covered. What has become the running joke every time I call Marmee with a pregnancy question is for me to refer to the pamphlet - and read that it says "increase fluids" for just about every possible ailment.

For those of you who aren't aware - pregnant women can't just take an ibuprophen for a headache... there are restrictions on all kinds of over the counter medications - so we have to be VERY careful about how we manage our aches and pains.

Yesterday, I had a wave of fatigue, and an upset tummy... I consulted the pamphlet - and I increased fluids and laid down.

Today, a bit of a headache... Increase fluids.

Of course the problem with increasing fluids?? Is increased visits to the bathroom. My life, my body, my sanity no longer belong to me.

To be clear, I am not complaining. Just observing. My body is going through so many changes, and it's bound to affect me mentally at some point. This is all normal, right?

- mama g

Getting better all the time

I am feeling MUCH better today!

More energy (although still less than the pre-pregnant days), almost
no nausea, still unfairly frequent bathroom visits (so much so that
Alex threatened to put an office chair directly IN the bathroom so
I wouldn't have so far to walk) but I am getting used to that.

I noticed my tummy is sticking out a bit more today. I saw that
and immediately spazzed out and went running for the scale! But
I haven't gained any weight since my last appointment, so I guess
this is the beginning of my baby bump. :) That's pretty fun.

I found out one of MY cousins is pregnant. So, now in our combined
families - 4 women will be having babies within a 6 week time span.

Exciting times!

-mama g

Bumpy road

I've been extremely lucky throughout my first trimester with the lack of "morning" sickness, and the relative lack of problems (except of course for the exhaustion). However, I think that has started to catch up to me. The past 3 days - I have been nauseated, bloated, and just plain sick. Pregnancy sick... Not otherwise.

It has been miserable. I don't want to eat - because eating exacerbates the situation, but if I don't eat - I get sick. I didn't even go to class on Friday, because Thursday night I was so sick that Friday I was too wiped out to even consider leaving my couch. It ended up being a good thing I didn't go to class, because I had other issues going on that needed me to be close to a bathroom.

YUCK! This is the "no fun" part that I've been reading and hearing about. And although I know it is all worth it - Right now, I just want to find a way to fast forward past it. Unfortunately, I don't know when it's going to get better. I was supposed to be in the clear once I was in my second trimester. (However, one of my friends said that she was sick until the beginning of her 7th month, and What to Expect says that some women just are their entire pregnancies... yay)

I just have to keep Sprout in my mind. Every time I force myself, or - more accurately, Alex reminds me - to eat... I convince myself to do it by telling myself that Sprout needs me to. It makes it a little easier.

Okay - enough of my complaining for today. I actually debated whether or not to blog about this, because I'm wanting to rely on the "mom-nesia" that sets in post delivery to convince me to have our 2nd child at some point. I think I'll just vow now to not re-read this blog after Sprout is born. That way, I can naturally forget those things I am supposed to naturally forget.

- mama g

Squirmy litte one!

Today was our 2nd OB/GYN appointment. We also got another ultra sound today! It was so much fun!

Our little sprout is a squirmy little one! Sprout was moving all around and making it near impossible for the poor ultra sound tech to get a good shot. I will post the three pictures we got from today, but they really aren't very good. Sprout was just having a party in there, and refused to be still and say cheese!

The ultra sound also was the time for the nuchal translucency test which checks for chromosomal abnormalities (i.e. Down syndrome). The results were fantastic! The OB said things looked so great that the additional test (a blood test) that can accompany the nuchal translucency test wouldn't be necessary. (although he did offer to still do it if I wanted him to, but I really trust this doctor, and am happy with the odds we have, so I refused the test)

All other aspects of the check-up were great! My blood tests from last month came back in good shape, my corpus luteum cyst has gone away, and I have only gained 4 pounds.

It will be a longer stretch this time between ultra sounds... but, What to Expect says that I should start feeling movement in the next month or so, and I think that will help me give me a sense of everything being alright - when I can feel Sprout for myself.

Today was such an exciting day for our little family! I will post more as it becomes relevant. Keep checking back!

- mama g

Pluses and not-so pluses

I've been considering the pluses and minuses of finding out I was pregnant so early on. I think the definite pluses to the baby's overall health are fantastic. I got on my pre-natal vitamins early, quit the caffeine early, and was able to start closely monitoring my diet early. (For the record - I was already on a pre-natal vitamin pre-conception... But when I learned I was pregnant, I was given the prescription strength kind).

In the minus category, however, is the fact that I've been staring at a ticking clock for 7 1/2 weeks already... and I've got at least 28 more to go. It makes for a VERY LONG PREGNANCY.

Recommendations: for anybody who is riding the pregnancy train with me... Three books you must have - What to Expect When You're Expecting (of course. It is THE pregnancy bible. It tells you everything you need to know) Eating Well When You're Expecting (by the same people as what to expect... gives recipes, foods to avoid, and lots of tips on how to get your baby to full term healthfully) and The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy (discusses the various less-comfortable topics that pregnancy raises in a humorous non-confrontational format. This book is a must!)

For those of you who are hoping to become pregnant - I can't recommend enough Taking Charge of Your Fertility. I truly think that the tips in this book helped me conceive.

That's all I've got for today. I'm going to head to the kitchen and make some chicken enchiladas now.

For all of you keeping score at home - tomorrow is our next ultra sound appointment!!! Check back on Tuesday for new pics of little Sprout!!

-mama g