Category Archives: First Pregnancy

Wait, what? My First Ultrasound Experience.

Posted on by

Wait, what?

That’s the best way to describe my ultrasound appointment this past Friday. First of all, I had to drink my weight in water to fill up my bladder, which was absolutely horrible. I could barely walk and when I laid down on the table, you could visibly see my bladder bulging out of my body. Anyway, the tech explained that since I wasn’t very far along, they would have to do an internal ultrasound anyway, as that’s what they always do this early in a pregnancy, but took some measurements of my uterus and ovaries externally first. (My first, “wait, what?” moment.) Why the heck would they put me through the water torture if they were going to stab me with the internal ultrasound wand anyway? That seems cruel.

Anyway, they finally allowed me to pee, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that I must have been peeing for 3 minutes straight.

When I got back into the room, the tech had wheeled in the internal ultrasound machine (“wait, what” moment # 2). My reaction only got worse when the tech explained that I would have to insert the ultrasound… wand… into my lady part myself and then she would take over. Uhhh… what? That made for an interesting little experience for the tech, my husband and I to share. I wish I could have gotten a picture of Mark’s face. But, mine will have to suffice (note the scary wand)…

Wait, you want me to do what with that?

Wait, you want me to do what with that?

Honestly though, it wasn’t that bad. After I got over the whole awkwardness of the request and the appearance of the “wand,” I didn’t really notice.

Then came the good part… seeing our baby and seeing her little heartbeat (124 beats per minute)!

First glimpse of our tiny little baby!

First glimpse of our tiny little baby!

BUT, then came my next surprising moment. Our little baby who we thought was measuring over a half inch was actually less than a centimeter! This led the tech to estimate my progress at 6.5-7 weeks, versus the 8+ we had been told before. I know it’s only a week or so off, but I guess I feel a little disappointed because I was really looking forward to the relief of hitting the 8 week mark with a solid heartbeat. From what I’ve heard, though, just hearing the heartbeat is already a very good sign. So I should probably just feel grateful for that and stop over thinking it. Although, for a controlling person like myself, it drives me a little nuts to not really know how far along I am… hopefully when I see the doctor this Thursday, she’ll provide me with a little clarity.

Anyway, more importantly, I’d like to introduce our little baby blob… meet Baby Lang:

 

Baby Lang!

Baby (Blob) Lang!

 

Symptoms

The latest and greatest is getting super nauseous before and as I get hungry. It’s so annoying. First I’m sick to my stomach, then I’m hungry and also want to throw up… so lovely! The trick seems to be powering through it and eating. Once I get a decent base of food in me, the nausea goes away. Other than that, I’m still quite sleepy. BUT, feeling happy and excited.

Nursery Ideas

Posted on by

Okay, so this is obviously a very premature post, but sometimes, I get excited and carried away.

Here's one sketched idea for a nursery floor plan.

Here’s one sketched idea for a nursery floor plan.

 

And here are the two main walls in more detail, with my inspiration…

Here is the wall with the crib.

Here is the wall with the crib.

 

And here is the wall with the glider chair and changing table.

And here is the wall with the glider chair and changing table.

 

No bedding options just yet, but here’s a general idea of what I’m thinking for the room itself. I think a decent amount of this can be made or purchased from Craigslist or garage sales, but only time will tell what will happen!

Take a Moment

Posted on by

I received an email update about the 9th week of pregnancy from BabyCenter with a tip that I really enjoyed:

Start a daily ritual to connect with your baby. Diane Sanford, a clinical psychologist who focuses on pregnancy and postpartum adjustment, encourages women to set aside two five- to ten-minute periods a day to think about their baby. Just after waking up and before going to sleep works well for many expectant moms. During these times, sit quietly and gently rest your hands on your belly. Focus on your breathing and then start thinking about your baby (your hopes and dreams, your intentions as a parent, etc.). It’s a great way to initiate the bonding process and to help you plan for the kind of parent you want to be.

I loved the idea, so a few nights ago, my husband and I started “connecting” with our little babe. Once we’re in bed, we take a few minutes, with our hands on my belly, to think about what it is going to be like to have our baby in the outside world. To kiss the little fingers and feel the warmth. To see our reflections in the face of this little child we made together. To dress the baby in the sweetest and softest little onesies. To smell that distinct baby smell. Could anything be more exciting?

Anyway, this was definitely a really great tip that I’d encourage others to try. It’s just such a great way for Mark and I to connect to each other, to this experience, and to our growing baby. Not to mention, warm hands on my belly feels really nice and comforting.

 

Our First Visit with the Nurse

Posted on by

Our first visit with the nurse was very informative… and, I must say that our nurse, Debbie, was a VERY sweet lady. I sat in a big, comfy rocker chair and we literally chatted for over two hours. The purpose of the appointment was to get as much information about me (and Mark) entered into the system and to answer any of my questions. And, I’m not going to lie, I was VERY happy I had filled out the March of Dimes worksheet with both of our families beforehand. It was so helpful in answering the questions about our family medical history.

Here are some things I learned…

  1. No need to feel bad about my coffee yesterday. 200 mg of caffeine is in fact okay.
  2. I can stop worrying about sleeping on my side for awhile… doesn’t really come into play until 22-27 weeks.
  3. My 9rounds workout is great, but I should be working out 4-5 times per week (not the 3 times per week I have been exercising)… and that means breaking a sweat at each workout!
  4. To help combat the nausea caused by my prenatal vitamin, I should try taking my vitamins before bed with some OJ. The acidity in the juice will help break down the iron.
  5. I should add a Folic Acid supplement to my prenatal vitamin regimen. The supplement should be at least 400mcg.
  6. I should be drinking 2 liters or 64ish oz of water/liquid per day.
  7. I should be getting more calcium. This can be added with a supplement and/or through daily food intake.
  8. My husband is amazing. He took notes through our entire appointment.
  9. The “baby bump” I’m seeing is actually a displacement of fat, intestines,etc. because of my enlarged uterus. So, while it’s not technically a baby bump, it is baby related.
  10. I CAN GET AN EARLY PREGNANCY ULTRASOUND! And in fact, mine is scheduled for this FRIDAY!!! Yay!
  11. I had to give 5 vials of blood. I’m not going to lie, I was fighting back tears. I hate needles. But, important to note, this was the only medical / procedure-type activity at my appointment. Everything else was conversation only.
  12. After about 14 weeks, I should switch to prenatal yoga only (no regular yoga).
  13. I should aim to gain 25 lbs during my pregnancy… 2-6 during the first trimester is average.
  14. I can take extra strength tylenol, according to the package, as needed. Although, I’m still going to try to avoid taking any medication.
  15. I might get a 3D ultrasound picture at 19 weeks if they can get a good angle. Prepare yourselves for a creepy little photo!

So, all-in-all, it was a great appointment. We left with a little tote bag that they gave us filled with parenting, pregnancy and baby magazines; a baby book; and, our first baby items: a TINY diaper and a nook. We’re having a baby!!!

 

For your enjoyment, a funny husband story:

Mark: So, how do you take a baby home from the hospital?

Melissa: Uhhh, what do you mean?

Mark: Well, they don’t make car seats small enough for newborns, right?

Melissa: No, they do (as I’m laughing)

Mark: I thought you held them in your lap or something… do they grow out of the mini car seats in a week?

He’ll learn 🙂

 

Symptoms

At officially 8 weeks, I’m feeling great! No nausea really or at least nothing too annoying. Just feeling good. Although, I am pretty darn tired. But I’m starting to even get used to that. Otherwise, happy as a clam!

Once it hits your lips…

Posted on by

photoThis morning I decided to indulge in a caffeinated treat for the first time since we found out I’m pregnant. Everything I’ve read says that as long as you consume less than 200 mg of caffeine per day, you’re good to go… yet, somehow, I felt guilty ordering my delicious morning pick-me-up. And, I’m not going to lie, I had a legit experience with my skinny vanilla latte. I’m not sure if any of you are Ally McBeal fans, but this was pretty much my experience this morning:

So, despite the fact that everyone says a limited amount of caffeine is okay, why does it feel like I’m breaking the rules at the expense of my little blueberry baby?

Symptoms

Last night I took my prenatal vitamins right before I ate and I didn’t seem to get sick at all. Maybe that’s the trick? Or maybe my body is getting used to the vitamin intake? Who knows. Regardless, I was pretty darn thankful. The rest of the day was pretty much just as good, despite it being Monday. I’ve felt pretty great! Maybe the worst is over?

Other than that, Mark and I literally played house last night. We babysat for a friend, which entailed caring for two adorable little boys (one is 2, one is 4). I think we were both pretty proud at our performance. We divided and conquered, which worked really well.

So, the 4 children I’m hoping to have (eventually) might be complicated, but two was feeling somewhat manageable. 

I’ve got the itch…

Posted on by

The pregnant belly itch, that is! Beginning on Friday night, I had the itchiest dang belly ever. So much so, that it woke me up in the middle of the night all weekend. I have some argan oil next to my bed that I literally squeeze onto my belly (usually around 2 am) and then quickly go back to sleep.

I’ve been trying to combat the itch by loading up on Palmers Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion – compliments of my sister – the argan oil, any other lotion I find nearby, and am trying to drink as much water as possible. I’m hopeful that the combination will make my itching short-lived… or at least help in the prevention of evil stretch marks.

Besides the itching, the weekend was pretty low-key, just as I had hoped. We saw Last Vegas with my parents on Friday, which was actually entertaining and silly, did some cleaning / winter-prep around the house on Saturday and Sunday, and had Mark’s dad and step mom (Amy) over for a birthday dinner on Sunday evening. Because they were away for Amy’s son’s wedding in Hawaii, we hadn’t told them about the little baby boo yet. So, that was pretty fun! We used the same card and pregnancy test that we had used for our mothers, and actually, Mark’s dad seemed to register the note the quickest. They seem very excited for us.

Our "Hey, we're pregnant" card!

Our “Hey, we’re pregnant” card!

Other than that, I got a good amount of rest this weekend and am feeling pretty good… minus the fact that it’s Monday, which means another week of work. On the positive, only two more days until our first appointment and we have family coming into town next week for my mom’s birthday party… so I have a feeling, this month is just going to fly!

Symptoms

As mentioned, I’ve got the itch. Other than that, I’ve been finding that my prenatal vitamin has been causing some severe nausea and a bit of a headache. It takes about an hour from the time I take the pill to the time the symptoms begin, but once they do, it’s pretty bad. I’m guessing it lasts about 45 or so minutes, which isn’t awful, but it’s definitely not pleasant.

In terms of exhaustion, I’m feeling better than I was at the beginning of last week, but I will say that I’m still pretty darn tired come 2:30 pm. That seems to be the magical time where my brain shuts off and my body starts begging for sleep. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t feel appropriate to put my head down at my desk. Plus, when I get to that point, it doesn’t feel like a cat nap will do it. My body is looking for some serious rest.

I also seem to have random waves of nausea throughout the day, especially when I’m getting hungry. It’s kind of a pain. I’ll feel nauseous until all of a sudden I’m ravenous.

BUT, enough complaining. Honestly, I’m feeling pretty great considering I’m sharing my energy and my body with another person. And, I’m feeling very excited. I’m thinking a grey and white nursery. Maybe later this week I’ll post some inspiration photos.

One more thing before I go, seems like the chat with the husband really helped. He’s been wonderful and amazing. Very sweet and nurturing.

The Pregnancy Pillow

Posted on by

I’ve been practicing sleeping on my side with little success. To help in my efforts, I’m looking to purchase a pregnancy pillow, but I need a little help. I’ve looked at a ton online and read reviews, and here are the two that have stood out the most to me…

1. Today’s Mom® Cozy Comfort Pregnancy Pillow

Cozy Comfort

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This pillow is $79.99 with free shipping, no returns, when purchased here

The Pros: 

  • It’s HUGE – talk about being engulfed in a pillow.
  • There’s support for your giant belly.
  • It has a large, rectangular area for your head to rest.
  • It looks SUPER comfortable

 

The Cons:

  • This thing is $80!
  • It’s HUGE! Thankfully, we have a King-Sized bed, but I don’t see how this and a husband could fit in a Queen-Sized Bed
  • It doesn’t have the wedge/incline to help relieve pressure on your arm and reduce acid reflux, etc.
  • No returns.

 

2. Bump Nest Relief System

Preg System

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This pillow is $199.99 with free shipping, 30-day money-back guarantee, when purchased here

The Pros: 

  • Again, this pillow is pretty big!
  • The wedge props you up to help reduce acid reflux.
  • The wedge has a cut-out for your arm so your poor arm doesn’t have to support your body weight.
  • Love the colors.
  • 30-day money back guarantee.

 

The Cons:

  • If you thought $80 was bad… this this is almost $200!!
  • The area for your head is rounded, which isn’t always the best.

 

Has anyone out there tried one of these? Or have you tried a different pillow that you’ve loved? I want to buy one soon, so any help you can provide is MUCH appreciated!

 

Have I Mentioned I’m Impatient?

Posted on by

Yesterday afternoon I called my doctor’s clinic to find out a little bit more about what to expect from my first visit. The reality is that all I wanted to know was whether or not I’d get an ultrasound. So, I’m sure you could imagine my surprised / frustrated / angered / upset / crabby response when the nurse explained that I would not have an ultrasound until 19-20 weeks. The conversation went something like this…

Receptionist: No mam, you won’t have an ultrasound until 19-20 weeks…

Me: I’m sorry, what? How will you know there’s a heartbeat?

Receptionist: Oh, if you took a pregnancy test, you’re definitely pregnant. Those things are like 99% accurate.

Me: I understand that I’m pregnant. But what about miscarriage? How will we know that the baby is okay?

Receptionist: Oh, you’d probably know.

Me: But I read that sometimes there is no heartbeat, but you don’t have signs of miscarriage for weeks or months even.

Receptionist: Yeah, I wouldn’t worry.

Me: Uhhh. I guess thanks?

Needless to say, I got off the phone and was irritated. I’ve never heard of that! I can’t even list the number of first trimester ultrasounds I’ve seen posted to Facebook, not-to-mention all the blogs I’ve read. I decided I needed a second opinion… so I called the other clinic where my doctor sees patients. This conversation started out in a similar way with the receptionist explaining that ultrasounds are not given until 20 weeks; however, some lovely woman (receptionist or nurse) who overheard our conversation set the record straight. Turns out they can do a first trimester ultrasound and my nurse, Debbie, can place the order for it at my appointment next week. This means that I likely will not get my ultrasound that day, but at least I’ll have one coming! Instant smile.

So, what are the takeaways?

1) While the first receptionist was quite annoying, her lack of worry and concern actually made me feel a little better. I’m comfortable with the idea that I’ll know if something happens, but since I haven’t noticed anything, I should assume everything is great.

2) Our little baby will have his or her first glamour shot soon AND, hopefully we’ll get to hear the heartbeat.

3) I’m glad I called. I like knowing what I’m walking into.

As for what to expect at the first appointment… this is a bit unclear, but it seems as if we will review my husband and my medical histories, I might get some blood tests, she’ll tell me “what to expect when I’m expecting,” answer my many questions, talk diet and exercise, and other informational items. So, being that I’m a pre-planner, I also have been working to fill out a form I found on the March of Dimes website.

Family History Form from March of Dimes

Family History Form from March of Dimes

I already went through it with my parents and we will be going through it with Mark’s parents this weekend. I think that by having all of this information collected at our first appointment, we’ll be better prepared to ask questions. Here’s the link to the form.

Symptoms

I’m feeling pretty good today. Definitely more chipper! I mean, it is Friday after all. I’ve still been getting pretty tired, but it helps that I’ve been in bed by around 9 or 9:30 every night this week. I think my husband – a true sleep lover – is enjoying that side effect. Yesterday he said to me, “If there is a positive to you feeling kind of crappy… not that I’m glad that you don’t feel well or anything… but if there was a positive, it’d be that we’re getting to bed so early.” We’re the type that spends most of our non-working, waking hours together and goes to bed at the same time. So, I guess he’s right! It does feel nice to get a good night’s rest.

We also worked out again last night. I was a bit sluggish during the workout, but all-in-all, it felt good! I’m going to go again tonight to ensure at least 3 workouts this week. Gotta make sure I’m staying healthy. Which reminds me, I’m not sure if it’s possible that I’m showing already or if I’m just absurdly bloated, but either way, my tum is sticking out more than normal. My clothes still fit, although that tum of mine seems to be hanging over or out of some outfits a touch. Also, my scale shows that I’ve gained 2 pounds. I refuse to accept that just yet. Every day I feel totally inflated, so maybe I’ll wait until I’m 12 weeks to accept my “first trimester gain” amount.

Until then, I’m going to continue to eat healthy and workout!

No Grudges

Posted on by

Last night I got in a bit of a tiff with my husband. The actual initiator of the fight is pretty unimportant, but the underlying theme was:  “You just don’t get what I’m going through. I know you can’t really see it, but I’m pregnant and I need you to take care of me.”

I guess the reality is that this is something that has been bothering me and it was bound to manifest in the first possible way. It started because the first week we found out we were pregnant, I was telling my husband about some of my symptoms and he made some comment like, “Do you think maybe it’s not that bad and you’re just looking to feel something?” He apologized right away, but no matter what, I couldn’t get it out of my head. It felt like he was thinking it all the time.

Some other little things that helped to develop my, “you think I’m faking it” complex:

  1. “When you’re pregnant, we should…” – I had to quickly remind him that I AM pregnant…
  2. Normally my husband is a total nurturer and takes care of me in all of my neediness… but lately, he’s seemed a little distant.
  3. My husband asked me how far along I was the other day. I told him, “6 weeks and 5 days… doesn’t it feel like I should be further along?” To which he replied: “No, I feel like it’s going really quick. Last time I thought about it, you were only 5 weeks pregnant.” Now, I’m sure he didn’t mean last time he thought about the baby… but still. It’s been almost 2 weeks since you thought about the baby’s progress???

Anyway, in my anger, I needed to talk to someone who had recent experience to see if my husband was being a total dud, or if it was normal for it to feel like he just wasn’t getting it… so, I called my sister, who has two kids (almost 2 and almost 4). Turns out, based on my sister’s experience, her friends’ and the Internet… this is pretty darn common. I guess it makes sense. From the exhaustion to the nausea to the bloating to the headaches, I think (and worry) about this baby non-stop, every day. But for my husband, he doesn’t have any of that. His biggest reminder is a bitchy or whiny wife and I’m sure that’s hard to source to the baby at times.

So, I spoke with the hubs and simply reminded him that we are already parents. I am a mom. My job is to sacrifice my wants to care for this child and give it everything it needs… and my only way of doing that is by taking care of myself. And my husband is a dad. His job, as it will be when this baby is born, is to take care of the baby and the momma and provide for us. His only way of doing that right now is by supporting and taking care of me.

It seemed to resonate. So much so, that the husband sent me to bed while he cleaned up after our guests and I woke up to this silly little note in the bathroom…

"I love you because... you don't hold grudges :) "

“I love you because… you don’t hold grudges 🙂 “

AND… if our chat wasn’t enough, I sent him this great blog post I came across last night: Read it here! Hopefully between the two, things will click and we can go back to being on the same page.

Symptoms

My biggest symptom has been exhaustion. This has been SERIOUS, head-to-toe exhaustion. I have been getting at least 8 or so hours of sleep – and very, very hard sleep at that – yet still, I wake up feeling so incredibly tired. After telling my sister that the baby will be doubling in size this week (from .25″ to .5″), she reminded me that this could be the source of the exhaustion. As my baby goes through this big week of growing, she will require a lot of energy and strength from me. We’re both working hard this week.

Other than that, although probably as a result of that, I’ve been very emotional. At least once or twice a day, I feel tears well up in my eyes (some happy and some sad tears). I’m trying to pick my battles and make my main focus be on not getting riled up.

Today the baby is officially 7 weeks. We’re nearly at the 20% mark!