So I can describe this past week in one word really: nausea. Constant nausea. Most of the stuff I've read about "morning" sickness talks about waves of nausea or the sudden need to totally vom. Not in my experience so far. The only time in the past week that I haven't felt nausea is during the few hours I've been able to actually get to sleep and stay asleep. (Few and far between.) I tried crackers, ginger ale, popsicles... they all help a little, but nothing has really settled my stomach.
So, today I thought I'd get some chicken noodle soup and restock my ginger ale. The cinnamon smell in the grocery store (from those christmas pinecones I think, even though I didn't see any) actually made me feel a little better, the roasted turkey smell from the deli (for the holidays I guess) even smelled a bit yummy to me, but as I made my way through the aisles I started feeling worse than ever. By the time I got home I was in tears!
As soon as the first hint of nausea hit me a few weeks ago I thought I could control it. I just needed to rest as much as possible and try not to think about it. I just knew if I let myself lose it I'd think of that nastiness every time I got nauseas and have to run to the bathroom. Um...silly me? Needless to say, today was officially vom day 1 for me. I did actually feel a bit better after. It may have been relief of getting it over with. I think it was because when I opened the bathroom door my husband was there holding our two chihuahuas with a "poor baby" look on his face. He said "we're here to support you honey." That was a nice surprise.
-Jessy
Monday, October 22, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Week by Week Online Pregnancy Guides
I've bookmarked quite a few week by week pregnancy guides. Probably a bit of overkill but what can I say!? This is my first pregnancy and we've been planning on it forEVER. So, I want to know everything! Well, everything I can. I know books, magazines, internet, tv shows and even hearing what others have gone through can't completely prepare you for pregnancy, birth and motherhood. I'm sure it'll all help though. At least that's what I'm telling myself.
Some online week by week guides:
ePregnancy: For my current week, this guide goes from telling me I might be feeling PMS-ey to telling me to lay off the coffe to scaring the crap out of me with warning signs of an eptopic pregnancy! For each week there is a little section of information about what mom, dad, and baby might be going through. I like that they included information for dad. :)
FitPregnancy: Yes yes, you probably know from perusing my blog so far that this is one of my favorite magazines/sites for pregnancy info. Their week by week guide has a personalized section with a little count down for you (you have to register at their site to use this tool) followed by tabs labeled: "Your Growing Baby," "Your Changing Body," "Your Fitness Tip," and "Related Articles." The information provided is brief and to the point.
BabyCenter: I've actually signed up for their weekly email. The site itself has the week by week guides though. You can look at what is happening with both your body and fetal developement. This site has a bit more information in their week by week than some of the others.
I Dream of Baby: I used to really like popping into this site to look at their week by week, but for some reason I haven't been able to get it to work since we've gotten pregnant. :/ I figured I'd list it in case they're just having temporary issues though.
iVillage: Definately check out this one. Lots of information and easy to navigate. Each week includes: "What's Happening With You," "What's Happening With Your Baby," "Eating For Two," "Fact of the Week," and "Topics of Interest."
About.com: This link will take you to the actual week by week list. You have to scroll down and work your way up which is wierd. Also, even though about.com usually has lots of good relevant information, they can sometimes be a little hard to navigate and are pretty no frills. They do have sections for Mother, Baby, Dad, Twin tips and Suggested Reading though which is different and nice.
Pregnancy Guide Online: This site is organized very well. The pictures of developement are cartooney. Each week includes: "Fetal Developement," "Maternal Changes," <-(both sections with information on 'multiples' in case you're carrying more than one!) "Ideas For Dad," "Inspirational Thoughts," and "Reading." There are also specific relevant section specific to each week included in the information provided. Very thourough. Nice.
Pregnancy.org: This calendar is SO cool. Each DAY has either a fact, link to a related article, picture of fetal developement (actual picture, not a drawing or computer image), suggested reading and much much more! So interesting and imformative! The site itself is nothing fancy, but I really enjoy this calendar. SO MUCH INFORMATION.
That's about it for me tonight. Let me know if you have a website that you absolutely LOVE for baby info (even if it's not a week by week).
-Jessy
Some online week by week guides:
ePregnancy: For my current week, this guide goes from telling me I might be feeling PMS-ey to telling me to lay off the coffe to scaring the crap out of me with warning signs of an eptopic pregnancy! For each week there is a little section of information about what mom, dad, and baby might be going through. I like that they included information for dad. :)
FitPregnancy: Yes yes, you probably know from perusing my blog so far that this is one of my favorite magazines/sites for pregnancy info. Their week by week guide has a personalized section with a little count down for you (you have to register at their site to use this tool) followed by tabs labeled: "Your Growing Baby," "Your Changing Body," "Your Fitness Tip," and "Related Articles." The information provided is brief and to the point.
BabyCenter: I've actually signed up for their weekly email. The site itself has the week by week guides though. You can look at what is happening with both your body and fetal developement. This site has a bit more information in their week by week than some of the others.
I Dream of Baby: I used to really like popping into this site to look at their week by week, but for some reason I haven't been able to get it to work since we've gotten pregnant. :/ I figured I'd list it in case they're just having temporary issues though.
iVillage: Definately check out this one. Lots of information and easy to navigate. Each week includes: "What's Happening With You," "What's Happening With Your Baby," "Eating For Two," "Fact of the Week," and "Topics of Interest."
About.com: This link will take you to the actual week by week list. You have to scroll down and work your way up which is wierd. Also, even though about.com usually has lots of good relevant information, they can sometimes be a little hard to navigate and are pretty no frills. They do have sections for Mother, Baby, Dad, Twin tips and Suggested Reading though which is different and nice.
Pregnancy Guide Online: This site is organized very well. The pictures of developement are cartooney. Each week includes: "Fetal Developement," "Maternal Changes," <-(both sections with information on 'multiples' in case you're carrying more than one!) "Ideas For Dad," "Inspirational Thoughts," and "Reading." There are also specific relevant section specific to each week included in the information provided. Very thourough. Nice.
Pregnancy.org: This calendar is SO cool. Each DAY has either a fact, link to a related article, picture of fetal developement (actual picture, not a drawing or computer image), suggested reading and much much more! So interesting and imformative! The site itself is nothing fancy, but I really enjoy this calendar. SO MUCH INFORMATION.
That's about it for me tonight. Let me know if you have a website that you absolutely LOVE for baby info (even if it's not a week by week).
-Jessy
Cool Baby Countdown Widget!
There is a cool little pregnancy countdown widget on my front page now! I got it from ->here<- at Babystrology.com. To add this to your own wordpress blog just add a text widget to your sidebar and copy and paste the generated code from Babystrology after you've customized the widget. Yay! If you want a java or flash version of this version you can find it at widgetbox.com. Do you know of any other cool baby countdown widgets?
-Jessy
-Jessy
Cuuute Pregnancy & Baby Ticker for sites/forums/email
I was browsing through the ePregnancy forums today and while reading a "Due Date Buddies" post I noticed a lot of forum members had the Lilypie Ticker! Sooo cute! It's customizeable (the background, moving character, and text) and then the site generates the code for you to copy and paste where you want it! It's totally free and there are anniversary and birthday versions too. Check it out and tell me what you think or paste yours as a comment below so I can see your cute creations and count down with you! Has anyone seen more of these (even cuter ones that you reccommend)? -Jessy
Week 5
Here are some "starter shots" I guess of my belly. I, obviously, have a bit to start with. :/ But if we were all supermodels who would be jealous of the supermodels right!? Besides, judging from the fact that the only clothing size always in stock at the stores where I shop (especially during good sales!) are the XS's, lots of us probably have starter photos like these. Here is a link ->here<- to a pregnancy photo gallery. There are general pregnancy pictures, pictures by trimester and even pics of gals carrying multiples!
This past week, has been full of hunger pains, exhaustion, and mood swings, but nothing too major to report. I almost NEVER eat fast food (anymore, in high school and my early twenties...as much as I could afford it! Yum!). I had a hunger emergency a couple days ago though and found myself at the Taco Bell drive through (a #6 - 2 chicken supreme chalupas, a hard taco and a diet pepsi <gave the soda to my sister who was there to witness my breakdown>, and an order of cinnamon twisties! Yikes!). Usually, even the thought of eating at a place like Taco Bell makes me grimace. On this particular occasion, however, I downed that food and was SO completely content for hours! Craziness! I had a kitchen full of food I had just shopped for, and any number of great restaurants in my vicinity to sit and eat at or order to go, but for some reason I HAD to have Taco Bell!? Well, we'll see what the next week holds for these raging hormones. Did you guys ever have psychotic cravings like this?
-Jessy
Friday, October 12, 2007
3 GREAT pregnancy books worth buying!
I own 5 pregnancy/baby books. One I found for a dollar at a thrift store. The others I bought on reccomendations from others. Pregnancy/baby books can be SO expensive! I think publishers know how much we crave knowledge and answers and are taking advantage. So, more recently, (since we actually started trying for a baby) I decided to just subscribe to a couple good pregnancy/parenting magazines (for frequently updated news, tips, tricks and product reviews) and check the books out from the library for free.
When I go to the library I always check the copyright date of the book. I don't check out anything older than 2006, unless there's a specific reason or it looks too good to pass up. When you're dealing with medical information you want the latest and greatest advice (not something 10 years old).
1 of the "older" books I've checked out, is still the BEST (in my opinion) book for pictures of fetal development (and what goes on during conception). I've actually checked it out twice so far. It's Lennart Nilsson's A Child is Born. I checked out Peter Tallack's In the Womb too, which was newer and a companion book to the TV program of the same name (which I LOVE!). I didn't really enjoy it. So, if you want to buy a picture book, go for A Child is Born.
I LOVE this book so much. Definately will be a "buyer" for me. The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine is exactly what I needed when I needed it. So many books/magazines out there will tell you the things you should and should not be doing during pregnancy and labor. This book is such a relief. In her book, Vicki says "This is not a contest! You just do what you can to survive the nine (ten) months and have a healthy baby." She also states, under the labor and delivery section, that " [t]here is no award ceremony for mothers after delivery...there is no such thing as a second-class birth." Statements like these are what makes me really cherish the advice in this book. When you see a model, actress, sister-in-law, next door neighbor having no outward signs of discomfort, awkward weightgain, worry and stress during pregnancy and then bounce back naturally after her wonderfully delightful perfect natural birth, you may feel like your pregnancy can be that way too. If it's not, then somehow you are failing or have failed. This book is just the thing to quell all your fears and assure you that you are perfectly normal! It's like confiding something totally embarassing to a girlfriend only to hear "No Way! I thought I was the only one!!!" What a relief and comfort.
Understanding Your Moods When You're Expecting by Lucy J. Puryear, M.D. is also an invaluable pregnancy advice source worth buying. Lots of books will tell you you're going to be a crazy lady during your pregnancy, but not many address other emotional issues you may experience. Almost immediately after finding out I was pregnant I found myself worrying and stressing when I should be jumping for joy at my good fortune right? This book addresses many many perfectly normal and common fears or concerns a mom-to-be may be faced with. The concerns are presented by the authors real life experience with friends and patients and followed by sound professional advice. Again, to know that your fears, worries, and discomforts are perfectly normal is such a comfort.
-Jessy
When I go to the library I always check the copyright date of the book. I don't check out anything older than 2006, unless there's a specific reason or it looks too good to pass up. When you're dealing with medical information you want the latest and greatest advice (not something 10 years old).
1 of the "older" books I've checked out, is still the BEST (in my opinion) book for pictures of fetal development (and what goes on during conception). I've actually checked it out twice so far. It's Lennart Nilsson's A Child is Born. I checked out Peter Tallack's In the Womb too, which was newer and a companion book to the TV program of the same name (which I LOVE!). I didn't really enjoy it. So, if you want to buy a picture book, go for A Child is Born.I LOVE this book so much. Definately will be a "buyer" for me. The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine is exactly what I needed when I needed it. So many books/magazines out there will tell you the things you should and should not be doing during pregnancy and labor. This book is such a relief. In her book, Vicki says "This is not a contest! You just do what you can to survive the nine (ten) months and have a healthy baby." She also states, under the labor and delivery section, that " [t]here is no award ceremony for mothers after delivery...there is no such thing as a second-class birth." Statements like these are what makes me really cherish the advice in this book. When you see a model, actress, sister-in-law, next door neighbor having no outward signs of discomfort, awkward weightgain, worry and stress during pregnancy and then bounce back naturally after her wonderfully delightful perfect natural birth, you may feel like your pregnancy can be that way too. If it's not, then somehow you are failing or have failed. This book is just the thing to quell all your fears and assure you that you are perfectly normal! It's like confiding something totally embarassing to a girlfriend only to hear "No Way! I thought I was the only one!!!" What a relief and comfort.
Understanding Your Moods When You're Expecting by Lucy J. Puryear, M.D. is also an invaluable pregnancy advice source worth buying. Lots of books will tell you you're going to be a crazy lady during your pregnancy, but not many address other emotional issues you may experience. Almost immediately after finding out I was pregnant I found myself worrying and stressing when I should be jumping for joy at my good fortune right? This book addresses many many perfectly normal and common fears or concerns a mom-to-be may be faced with. The concerns are presented by the authors real life experience with friends and patients and followed by sound professional advice. Again, to know that your fears, worries, and discomforts are perfectly normal is such a comfort.
-Jessy
Week 4 & start of 5
So, I've found out I'm pregnant and told those I initially planned to tell; my small support group. I've also called my OB/GYN's office. My appointment is for November 5th. The first prenatal appointment is after 8 weeks for my practice and the nurse practitioner is the one that sees me.
Additional symptoms I am having as I start my 5th week of pregnancy:
1. Breast tenderness (more like an achy/ heavy feeling).
2. Food aversions. Many foods that I usually love and crave hold no temptation for me whatsoever. Some of these foods even tast less appealing or bland. Even the thought of some of my favorite foods makes me feel a little sick.
3. Soreness around my midsection. Feels like 2 ninjas stood on either side of me and kicked me in the ribs!
4. Hello Sasquach! I HAVE to EVERY day now! My hair is growing like crazy!
5. What smells? When my husband tried to eat reheated leftover from one of our favorite restaurants (they were even MY leftovers!) I started yelling that something in the house smelled like "dead animal" to me. More and more I've been smelling things in a new, disturbing, way.
6. Why in the heck does THAT hurt and what on earth keeps coming out of IT? Ah! Yeah, um...I've been having some issues with my (as this cute/gorgeous <I hate you!> model said on Dicovery Health's Runway Moms called it:) "downstairs."
Concerns that I am having:
1. Until this trimester is over I know I will worry about miscarriage. Getting pregnant so soon almost seems to good to be true to me.
2. The health of my baby. I don't want my baby to inherit ailments (bad skin, bad vision etc) or handicaps that exist in us or our families. If my Dr. reccomends them, should I undergo tests to rule out possibilities despite the risks of miscarriage?
3. Money. We are doing fine financially, but how will a baby impact our finances? I've read that on average, costs of preparing for and caring for a child the first year is around $6,000.
4. Protectiveness. I'm already feeling a sense of defensiveness about who/what I want to expose my baby to once he/she arrives.
What I am looking forward to:
My husband agreed to watch In the Womb with me if I rented it. Yay!
What I'm loving:
My husband already touches my belly. It's so incredibly comforting to have a supportive partner.
My sister is SO excited! She practically starts crying everytime I bring it up.
-Jessy
Additional symptoms I am having as I start my 5th week of pregnancy:
1. Breast tenderness (more like an achy/ heavy feeling).
2. Food aversions. Many foods that I usually love and crave hold no temptation for me whatsoever. Some of these foods even tast less appealing or bland. Even the thought of some of my favorite foods makes me feel a little sick.
3. Soreness around my midsection. Feels like 2 ninjas stood on either side of me and kicked me in the ribs!
4. Hello Sasquach! I HAVE to EVERY day now! My hair is growing like crazy!
5. What smells? When my husband tried to eat reheated leftover from one of our favorite restaurants (they were even MY leftovers!) I started yelling that something in the house smelled like "dead animal" to me. More and more I've been smelling things in a new, disturbing, way.
6. Why in the heck does THAT hurt and what on earth keeps coming out of IT? Ah! Yeah, um...I've been having some issues with my (as this cute/gorgeous <I hate you!> model said on Dicovery Health's Runway Moms called it:) "downstairs."
Concerns that I am having:
1. Until this trimester is over I know I will worry about miscarriage. Getting pregnant so soon almost seems to good to be true to me.
2. The health of my baby. I don't want my baby to inherit ailments (bad skin, bad vision etc) or handicaps that exist in us or our families. If my Dr. reccomends them, should I undergo tests to rule out possibilities despite the risks of miscarriage?
3. Money. We are doing fine financially, but how will a baby impact our finances? I've read that on average, costs of preparing for and caring for a child the first year is around $6,000.
4. Protectiveness. I'm already feeling a sense of defensiveness about who/what I want to expose my baby to once he/she arrives.
What I am looking forward to:
My husband agreed to watch In the Womb with me if I rented it. Yay!
What I'm loving:
My husband already touches my belly. It's so incredibly comforting to have a supportive partner.
My sister is SO excited! She practically starts crying everytime I bring it up.
-Jessy
How I told some of them!
October 10, 2007. 9:07pm - Told my husband yesterday and my family and best friend today.
How I Told Them:
Hubby: We're gamers, so I went to the Jinx geeky shirt website and found a T-shirt that said "Noob, I am your father" (a gamer take on the Star Wars 'Luke, I am your father') and a baby onesie that said "Future Horde" with a Horde symbol on it (Horde is a faction in the MMORPG World of Warcraft). I wanted to order them and have them mailed directly to the house in his name, but he was increasingly nagging me to just 'take the test!' because he was curious and was so sure I was pregnant. So, I made my own versions of both items, and placed them along with the positive tests (with directions showing that 2 lines = positive) and a cute 'we're expecting' card on top of the laundry I had ready to take upstairs to put away. Then, I went upstairs and laid on the bed next to where he was sitting playing WoW. I asked him, when he had a chance, if he would bring up the laundry so I could get it put away. Then, I totally blacked out. I must've been exhausted from running around doing errands and trying to secretly get the shirt and onesie made and everything laid out quietly. I woke up feeling great, but shocked at how I had just crashed so hard. My hubby, said "why don't you just take the test?" I replied with "what do you want to do for lunch?" (trying to divert his attention). So, we discussed lunch and he went down to grab the laundry baskets. The first thing he said was "these are cool!" I ran downstairs as he was picking up the tests and directions. First, he said "negative? No...I KNEW IT!" then he gave me a big hug and opened the card. I was happy to see him so excited. We got ready really quick and went to Lucille's for lunch to celebrate.
My mom, sister, and brothers: I pick up my baby sister from high school in the afternoons. So, I picked her up and headed to my parents house. Once I got there I chatted with my mom a bit and helped her take things to her car. Just before she and my sister were about to leave for work I pretended to be searching in my bag for something I needed to give mom and said "Geez! My bag is so full of crap! Here, can you hold this for me mom? So I can see better?" I handed her a baggie with the tests and directions that showed how to read them. Finally she said "you are!?" My little sister turned around and said "You're pregnant!?" and started immediately bawling. She said it was the "happiest moment" of her life! So, she made me and mom cry. Then they had to leave. Matt said I should tell my brothers too because they would find out anyways and be sad they didn't find out from me. So, I visited the oldest of the two and called the younger and asked them the same question: "are you ready to be an uncle?" They both seemed pretty excited for me.
My best non-family girlfriend: Her birthday was coming up on the 12th (which for some reason I kept thinking was tomorrow). So I text-ed her because she had told me she'd be working that day and I wanted to make sure nothing had changed so I could pay her a visit at work. She text me back with her schedule (which included working on Friday, her birthday) so I text-ed her again saying I'd see her tomorrow. Well after a little while she text me with "tomorrow is Thursday silly." So I felt dumb. Then I had an idea! I text-ed her "That was retarded of me! Must be those ->pregnancy<- hormones!" She called me and was so excited too.
Why I'm waiting to tell HIS family: I'm waiting for four main reasons. 1. To get to at least 12 weeks and over that time period of higher risk of miscarriage. He has a very big family and news travels fast. So, if we aren't meant to carry this baby for very long for whatever reason, I'd like only a small support group around me to grieve with and comfort me. That's just my personal feeling and my husband, thankfully, supports that. 2. If we wait until 12 weeks, it will be a great Christmas present for his family! Yay! 3. A family member on his side has recently had a miscarriage and I don't want to put salt in that wound. She is such a sweet chica and I love her and would hate it if the tables were turned and I was the one suffering. 4. Another one of his family members is going through a hard time (which is completely her business) and I would rather wait a little longer in hopes that the next 2 months or so will be enough time to get some of the loose ends tied up so she can rejoice with us instead of being distracted by her troubles. I think those are all completely valid concerns.
I'll let you know how telling them goes though! Now I have lots of time to plan a fun way to tell!!! Yay!
-Jessy
How I Told Them:
Hubby: We're gamers, so I went to the Jinx geeky shirt website and found a T-shirt that said "Noob, I am your father" (a gamer take on the Star Wars 'Luke, I am your father') and a baby onesie that said "Future Horde" with a Horde symbol on it (Horde is a faction in the MMORPG World of Warcraft). I wanted to order them and have them mailed directly to the house in his name, but he was increasingly nagging me to just 'take the test!' because he was curious and was so sure I was pregnant. So, I made my own versions of both items, and placed them along with the positive tests (with directions showing that 2 lines = positive) and a cute 'we're expecting' card on top of the laundry I had ready to take upstairs to put away. Then, I went upstairs and laid on the bed next to where he was sitting playing WoW. I asked him, when he had a chance, if he would bring up the laundry so I could get it put away. Then, I totally blacked out. I must've been exhausted from running around doing errands and trying to secretly get the shirt and onesie made and everything laid out quietly. I woke up feeling great, but shocked at how I had just crashed so hard. My hubby, said "why don't you just take the test?" I replied with "what do you want to do for lunch?" (trying to divert his attention). So, we discussed lunch and he went down to grab the laundry baskets. The first thing he said was "these are cool!" I ran downstairs as he was picking up the tests and directions. First, he said "negative? No...I KNEW IT!" then he gave me a big hug and opened the card. I was happy to see him so excited. We got ready really quick and went to Lucille's for lunch to celebrate.
My mom, sister, and brothers: I pick up my baby sister from high school in the afternoons. So, I picked her up and headed to my parents house. Once I got there I chatted with my mom a bit and helped her take things to her car. Just before she and my sister were about to leave for work I pretended to be searching in my bag for something I needed to give mom and said "Geez! My bag is so full of crap! Here, can you hold this for me mom? So I can see better?" I handed her a baggie with the tests and directions that showed how to read them. Finally she said "you are!?" My little sister turned around and said "You're pregnant!?" and started immediately bawling. She said it was the "happiest moment" of her life! So, she made me and mom cry. Then they had to leave. Matt said I should tell my brothers too because they would find out anyways and be sad they didn't find out from me. So, I visited the oldest of the two and called the younger and asked them the same question: "are you ready to be an uncle?" They both seemed pretty excited for me.
My best non-family girlfriend: Her birthday was coming up on the 12th (which for some reason I kept thinking was tomorrow). So I text-ed her because she had told me she'd be working that day and I wanted to make sure nothing had changed so I could pay her a visit at work. She text me back with her schedule (which included working on Friday, her birthday) so I text-ed her again saying I'd see her tomorrow. Well after a little while she text me with "tomorrow is Thursday silly." So I felt dumb. Then I had an idea! I text-ed her "That was retarded of me! Must be those ->pregnancy<- hormones!" She called me and was so excited too.
Why I'm waiting to tell HIS family: I'm waiting for four main reasons. 1. To get to at least 12 weeks and over that time period of higher risk of miscarriage. He has a very big family and news travels fast. So, if we aren't meant to carry this baby for very long for whatever reason, I'd like only a small support group around me to grieve with and comfort me. That's just my personal feeling and my husband, thankfully, supports that. 2. If we wait until 12 weeks, it will be a great Christmas present for his family! Yay! 3. A family member on his side has recently had a miscarriage and I don't want to put salt in that wound. She is such a sweet chica and I love her and would hate it if the tables were turned and I was the one suffering. 4. Another one of his family members is going through a hard time (which is completely her business) and I would rather wait a little longer in hopes that the next 2 months or so will be enough time to get some of the loose ends tied up so she can rejoice with us instead of being distracted by her troubles. I think those are all completely valid concerns.
I'll let you know how telling them goes though! Now I have lots of time to plan a fun way to tell!!! Yay!
-Jessy
I'm Pregnant!
October 8, 2007. 6:20pm. Guess what!? In both Jenny McCarthy's Belly Laughs and Vicki Iovine's The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy, Jenny and Vicki describe the beggining weeks of pregnancy as feeling much like PMS. Both books even say that you may feel like you're about to have your period any day now before finding out you're pregnant. I guess that explains my symptoms lately. I was SO SURE my period was going to come on time. I woke up in the middle of the night on the morning it was due positive that I had felt that 'you-just-got-it' feeling. I rushed to the bathroom and...nothing! So, I put on a panty liner and went back to bed hoping I would wake up in time to catch it. The entire day I kept feeling like I had just gotten my period, but once I hit the bathroom...nothing. Finally, that day came and went. Then, the next day came...and went. I wanted to take a pregnancy test so bad, but I was too terrified of seeing only one pink line instead of two. I planned on just waiting until Wednesday to test. That would give me one day past the 28th day in my cycle; just in case my period was just late (I'm on a 25 day cycle). Today, however, my husband noticed I was feeling tired and down and told me it was probably because I was pregnant. "After all," he said, "you've been peeing like a fire hydrant lately." I attributed this to the fact that I had increased my liquids dramatically to help prevent UTI symptoms. I told him the reason I was dragging was probably because of my thyroid; I probably just neeeded my dose increased. After he left to make a gas station run earlier this evening, around 4pm, I decided I would just take the test. So, I did. 2 PINK LINES!!! It's been about 2 hours since I took the test and I've decided not to tell anyone until I aurprise my husband with the news. So, this post won't be published until I've done that and (at risk of bodily injury) of course until I've also surprised MY mom.So, to recap:
Symptoms I had before finding out I was pregnant:
1. Fatigue. Soooo tired!
2. FREQUENT urination.
3. Nausea without the need to vomit.
4. A full feeling below my belly button. Not really my usual PMS bloating, but more like I have a little water filled balloon hanging out in my abdomen that makes it uncomfortable to sleep on my stomach (my favorite position!).
5. Faint cramping. My usual PMS cramping is almost like a pinching or sometimes a scraping feeling with a lot of aching in the area where I imagine my ovaries to be. These were more faint; noticeable, but not painful.
6. Hunger! I have had the wierdest cravings so far, but then I get full really fast.
7. My favorite jeans were getting a little snug just around my middle. I noticed during long car rides or after a big meal that I really really wanted to undo that top button.
8. Heat! If I lay down for any length of time, I just start radiating heat; like a human oven (brings a while new meaning for me to the saying 'bun in the oven').
What I'll do now that I've found out:
1. Test again in the morning to make sure it wasn't a false positive (even though these are rare).
2. Call my OB/GYN! See when I should come in for my first prenatal exam. I also need to make sure he's aware of my thyroid condition.
3. Think of a cute way to tell my husband and TELL HIM!
4. Ditto for my mom.
5. Post this!!! :o)
-Jessy
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Preg Prep
Things I've done to date to prepare for pregnancy and baby:
1. Checked out any unusual symptoms I'd been having BEFORE we started trying. This was really good because I found out I have Hypothyroidism.
2. Discussed existing conditions (hypothyroidism) and how they might affect me and my baby during pregnancy. My primary care physician helped me come up with an action plan for monitoring my condition during pregnancy. This plan includes taking steps like going from blood tests every 3 months to every month during and just after pregnancy because during this time my levels can go a little haywire.
3. Taking a more natural & green approach to life in many little ways.
Food: I don't keep a lot of crappy foods around the house anymore. If it's not here, usually (and this of course doesn't include times of intense mood or PMS induced cravings for which I would jump through hoops to feed) I won't eat it. We've switched to 100% whole grains for everything we can (pasta, bread, brown rice etc.). Many produce items are organic for us now and I spend a lot more time cooking for us than eating out. I figured that if I can find healthy foods and meals that I actually like to replace the ones I used to crave then it won't be so hard for me to eat healthy during pregnancy and lose weight afterwards. This process was made a lot easier for me when Trader Joe's moved just up the street from me. I highly recommend them! Their prices on the natural/organic/sustainable items I buy there are much cheaper than Whole Foods and similar or cheaper to the same items I would buy at my local grocery store. (And because their reusable grocery bags are so cute I hardly ever forget to bring mine in!)
Home: Even though, at this point, I can't afford to replace our gross heavy drapes (came with the house) or allergen filled carpet in the room where I plan to create a nursery (I really really want to put in bamboo or other sustainable hard flooring), I can do my best to keep my in-home environment baby-friendly. I've switched to naturally derived cleaners. I use Ecover products and Mrs. Meyers products for the laundry (they now make baby laundry & surface cleaner too!). Don't get me wrong, I still use the convenient mildew/soap scum removing automatic shower sprayer, disposable Clorox toilet cleaners and swiffer dusters. So, I'm not exactly filling a bottle with water & vinegar or doing my laundry with baking soda. I'm just changing things little by little in ways I'm most comfortable. I can't stand roaches, so the bug guy comes every other month to keep me safe from them. I just make sure the house is well-ventilated before he gets here and leave with windows cracked and fans going for a while to let things air our a bit. So, I try to be educated, but only do what I can. Sitting here thinking of hidden dust mites and the dangers of formaldehyde and other chemicals that might be contaminating the air and causing me and, in the future, my baby harm can (and does on occasion) drive me crazy! So, I try to just take it all in, be aware, but not go overboard. If I could afford replace all my carpet with sustainable allergen-free bamboo, paint the entire inside of my home with no VOC or milk paints and discover and replace any surface in my home emitting VOC's with ones that don't maybe I would. But for now...no.
4. I got off birth control and on Prenatals 3 months prior to trying.
5. Read lots and lots about conception, pregnancy, and newborns. I have scoured numberless websites, books, and magazines for any and all information I could get my mind around.
6. Set up a support system. A very few close and personal friends know I'm currently trying to conceive. This is important to me because these are the people who I know will give me comfort and advice through any trials and rejoice with me over any successes. I think this is the wisest decision because letting everybody know at this point or even if/when we initially conceive is a very delicate matter. Letting everybody know and then having to deal with unspoken criticism or let down expectations when things don't happen quickly or of the fetus isn't viable and results in miscarriage would just put more pressure on me. I have an incredibly different spectrum of family and friends and , therefore, expect to receive enough appreciated and unwarranted advice and caution from everyone the minute I'm far enough along in my pregnancy to share the happy news and then ongoing into motherhood. Now, when I'm in a more vulnerable state, I don't need or want any of it. Except, of course, from those who I am closest to and trust with my feelings.
-Jessy
1. Checked out any unusual symptoms I'd been having BEFORE we started trying. This was really good because I found out I have Hypothyroidism.
2. Discussed existing conditions (hypothyroidism) and how they might affect me and my baby during pregnancy. My primary care physician helped me come up with an action plan for monitoring my condition during pregnancy. This plan includes taking steps like going from blood tests every 3 months to every month during and just after pregnancy because during this time my levels can go a little haywire.
3. Taking a more natural & green approach to life in many little ways.
Food: I don't keep a lot of crappy foods around the house anymore. If it's not here, usually (and this of course doesn't include times of intense mood or PMS induced cravings for which I would jump through hoops to feed) I won't eat it. We've switched to 100% whole grains for everything we can (pasta, bread, brown rice etc.). Many produce items are organic for us now and I spend a lot more time cooking for us than eating out. I figured that if I can find healthy foods and meals that I actually like to replace the ones I used to crave then it won't be so hard for me to eat healthy during pregnancy and lose weight afterwards. This process was made a lot easier for me when Trader Joe's moved just up the street from me. I highly recommend them! Their prices on the natural/organic/sustainable items I buy there are much cheaper than Whole Foods and similar or cheaper to the same items I would buy at my local grocery store. (And because their reusable grocery bags are so cute I hardly ever forget to bring mine in!)
Home: Even though, at this point, I can't afford to replace our gross heavy drapes (came with the house) or allergen filled carpet in the room where I plan to create a nursery (I really really want to put in bamboo or other sustainable hard flooring), I can do my best to keep my in-home environment baby-friendly. I've switched to naturally derived cleaners. I use Ecover products and Mrs. Meyers products for the laundry (they now make baby laundry & surface cleaner too!). Don't get me wrong, I still use the convenient mildew/soap scum removing automatic shower sprayer, disposable Clorox toilet cleaners and swiffer dusters. So, I'm not exactly filling a bottle with water & vinegar or doing my laundry with baking soda. I'm just changing things little by little in ways I'm most comfortable. I can't stand roaches, so the bug guy comes every other month to keep me safe from them. I just make sure the house is well-ventilated before he gets here and leave with windows cracked and fans going for a while to let things air our a bit. So, I try to be educated, but only do what I can. Sitting here thinking of hidden dust mites and the dangers of formaldehyde and other chemicals that might be contaminating the air and causing me and, in the future, my baby harm can (and does on occasion) drive me crazy! So, I try to just take it all in, be aware, but not go overboard. If I could afford replace all my carpet with sustainable allergen-free bamboo, paint the entire inside of my home with no VOC or milk paints and discover and replace any surface in my home emitting VOC's with ones that don't maybe I would. But for now...no.
4. I got off birth control and on Prenatals 3 months prior to trying.
5. Read lots and lots about conception, pregnancy, and newborns. I have scoured numberless websites, books, and magazines for any and all information I could get my mind around.
6. Set up a support system. A very few close and personal friends know I'm currently trying to conceive. This is important to me because these are the people who I know will give me comfort and advice through any trials and rejoice with me over any successes. I think this is the wisest decision because letting everybody know at this point or even if/when we initially conceive is a very delicate matter. Letting everybody know and then having to deal with unspoken criticism or let down expectations when things don't happen quickly or of the fetus isn't viable and results in miscarriage would just put more pressure on me. I have an incredibly different spectrum of family and friends and , therefore, expect to receive enough appreciated and unwarranted advice and caution from everyone the minute I'm far enough along in my pregnancy to share the happy news and then ongoing into motherhood. Now, when I'm in a more vulnerable state, I don't need or want any of it. Except, of course, from those who I am closest to and trust with my feelings.
-Jessy
I've never laughed so hard at a pregnancy book!!! In a good way.
Today I picked up 7 pregnancy books and 1 pre/during/post pregnancy workout video. The smallest book I chose, Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy, was also the one I thought I'd enjoy the least. Even though I barely remember her from her MTV 'Singled Out' days, I've always associated Jenny McCarthy with obnoxiousness. So, I figured I'd start on it and after reading a few annoying pages just use it to start a return-it-to-the-library reminder pile. Once I started this one, however, I finished it within a matter of hours. If you don't mind a few crude words and complete frankness when it comes to discussing the female anatomy, sex, and bodily functions during pregnancy, I recommend this book as a break from all those other pregnancy books. This review ->here<- by Jen Crispin is pretty accurate, but I think I liked the book a bit more than Jen. :o) It's like having a very real discussion about the woes of pregnancy with a that funny friend who uses a bit more explicative terms than "crapload" and "bootae" (yeah...um...the only time I really cuss is when I say $hit and that's usually uncontrollable and during horrific toe-stubbing accidents and near-death on the road experiences). So, if you're feeling a little bogged down with all of your own pregnancy research, Belly Laughsis a hilarious breather (again, if you're not easily offended by cuss words and explicitness).-Jessy
Cycle Day 23 - What's wrong with me?!
Lately, besides the whole UTI thing, I have been having some pretty wierd symptoms! Today worse than ever. The biggest thing I've noticed is fatigue. It comes and goes though. If it was a little more persistant I'd worry enough to get my thyroid level checked. For now, it's just wierd and sudden and something I'm mentally chocking up to PMS. Next on the list of unusuals is this sudden rash of teeny tiny bumps on my entire face! I was worried it was from these ginger chew candies I'd been eating here and there (in the past I broke out after drinking Hansen's all natural ginger ale and had my tongue start itching intensely after having a ginger Altoid in my mouth for barely a second! I've never had problems with any other kind of ginger ale or actual ginger -in cooking, sushi etc.), but I'm not sure. I'm laying off of them just in case. It's nothing noticeable to anybody else but me. I actually only noticed them that morning when I was washing my face. Over the next few days I'd itch once or twice, but only in the same spot on my left cheek. Today, however, the trouble started when I had a sudden hot flash (which has consistently visited me from then (about 1:30pm) until now. Then, I was all of a sudden queasy and dizzy at the same time while on the way to lunch with my mom and sister. I've been careful to both stay very hydrated since the whole UTI thing started and get plenty of rest (8+ hours a night) so it wasn't from dehydration or exhaustion. I had a nice breakfast of: a veggie omelet, turkey bacon and a piece of whole wheat toast with a little jam on it. So, that rules out startvation for me too. I wrote the date, time, and symptoms in this tiny leather purse journal I bought from Target a while back. Just in case the symptoms persist and I have to explain to my Dr. when and how they started. Around 7pm tonight I started feeling axhausted and dizzy too. I've also been feeling a bit crampy and bloated, and even though the bloat and cramps are different from my usual PMS symptoms, I'm still convinced that I'm not pregnant. It's probaly just a defense mechanism so that when I get my period in a couple days I can tell myself "I though so!" and feel ok with it. :o)~ I'll keep you posted!
-Jessy
-Jessy
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