Pregnant with #1 June thread

[Dee-Groovy]

Hi ladies! I enjoyed the thread for first timers & wanted to get it going again.

How is everyone doing? Showing? Sick or feeling better? Finding out the gender? Finalized health care providers?

For me, friends and acquaintances can tell I'm pregnant but I still haven't been asked when I'm due by a stranger. I'm thrilled that my crazy weight gain has slowed down and my doc said everything looks great. Went to my second doc appt last week and got to hear the heartbeat, which was awesome. I also scheduled my big u/s for next Friday & we're finding out the gender! I'm so excited! Nausea is almost completely gone, I just get it occasionally when I go too long without eating. I can't believe we're getting to the halfway point!

[gamitzer]

Yay! Thanks for starting this up again, MG!
My wife is wearing mostly maternity clothes at this point; however, she has been getting away with some pants that are a few sizes too big. It seems like each day the buttons/zippers get a little more uncomfortable, though, so I have a feeling that it's going to be maternity from here on out. She left for a conference yesterday and I won't see her until next Weds. I have a feeling that she will start to feel the baby kick this week, so I'm looking forward to hearing that news. She's been feeling what seems like gas for about a week, which is the way most moms describe the first kicks.
So far we are enjoying the second trimester, but it's also sort of a weird waiting game. She is still comfortable enough to do things she has always normally done, so we want to take advantage of that by going shopping, going to yard sales, etc. But then it's like, wait, we have 5 months, so what's the rush? I guess we are torn between enjoying baby-free life as long as possible and preparing ourselves/our home for a new little one.
We are happy with the OBs office, but they won't do an u/s until June 28, which is almost the end of week 20. Boo! But, oh well, at least we can be pretty sure that they are correct about the sex. Yeah, we are definitely finding out! We just hope we have good luck-our friends' baby was shy!
I hope everyone is having a great 2nd trimester!! Meredith

[Grace24]

Are we the only ones pregnant with number one? I'm doing well...15 weeks as of Friday. I tried to go back to my Bikram yoga today but it didn't go very well...my temperature was up to 100 which my teacher says is still ok but I wasn't happy about it. I'll try again tomorrow and see if it's just cuz i"m out of shape...I wasn't allowed to go in my first trimester so I'm not used to the heat all over again...but if it doesn't get better I may have to do the video in our spare room. I just hope I can be disciplined enough doing it.

I'm feeling good otherwise though, definitely have increased hunger but the food aversions are less and the nausea is rare. Also don't have to nap all the time... it's nice to have some energy back! Our next appointment is in 11 days, and the u/s should be in a few weeks.

Thanks for resurrecting the thread...where is everyone?

[Heather Marie]

Hi girls!

I am so glad this thread is back, thanks MG!

I am 17 weeks now. Feeling much better and SO happy to be past the morning sickness. My energy is coming back, but I do daycare until June 2nd and am running after two toddlers all day. They really exhaust me.

We heard the heartbeat for the first time at 14.5 weeks. It was very exciting. It was 153. We are doing our prenatal care in a group setting called a Centering Group. It is very empowering. It is also exciting to meet others that are first timers or are experienced.

Our next appointment is on June 12th. We plan on having an ultrasound done around the end of June.

Have any of you felt movement yet? I think I have. It started several weeks ago though. The midwife said from what I describe she thinks it is. I am trying to wait patiently for it to become more regular though.

[Grace24]

Can't tell if I'm feeling movement or muscle twitches (which I've had since the beginning, guess my organs are all moving around in there rearranging themselves)...but I think I might have this morning. It felt kind of odd!

[gamitzer]

So has anyone tried to touch your bellies yet? Our friend, a middle school teacher, is 22 weeks. She said she's been slapping the kids hands away regularly, telling them she doesn't have any interest in touching their bellies. That would drive me nuts!

[Living Slowly]

Originally Posted by Grace24

Are we the only ones pregnant with number one? Thanks for resurrecting the thread...where is everyone?

I am here!

Originally Posted by Heather Marie

We heard the heartbeat for the first time at 14.5 weeks. It was very exciting. It was 153. We are doing our prenatal care in a group setting called a Centering Group. It is very empowering. It is also exciting to meet others that are first timers or are experienced.

Isn't that so exciting. I finally caved and got an U/S at 13 weeks. I was so worried that something was wrong. But, the HB was a strong 155! It was so cool to see the baby in there.

Originally Posted by Grace24

Can't tell if I'm feeling movement or muscle twitches (which I've had since the beginning, guess my organs are all moving around in there rearranging themselves)...but I think I might have this morning. It felt kind of odd!

I am 16w 5d and I am dying to feel something. I feel like if I sit still I can feel/hear things, but I really doubt if they are the baby. I am waiting to feel something that is definitely the baby. I keep telling the baby to do some soccer kicks or somthing!

I am feeling better, still a bit tired, but much better than before.

Glad to be back on this thread!

[Dee-Groovy]

Whoops sorry to start a thread and then disappear. : Glad you ladies are back!

Meredith I can't really tell if what I'm feeling is movement either. I guess in a couple weeks it'll be easier to tell, or if the baby's active during the u/s I can correlate feeling w/ the baby's movement then. Glad to hear your wife's feeling better. I've thought about yard sales too - they're big around here - but we're late sleepers with very little motivation to leave the house early on Saturday mornings. Plus, ebay delivers!

Julia sorry your yoga class didn't go so well. Have you checked your normal temp lately? I can tell my metabolism is cranked up w/ hormones b/c I never get cold any more & I used to be the first one in a room to catch a chill. If you want to continue the Bikram yoga maybe you can tell your instructor that you have a "new baseline" temp based on preg and 100 isn't too high? I dunno, I also can't tolerate heat as well as I used to.

Heather yay for hearing the heartbeat for the first time! Isn't it amazing? We have TWO hearts in our bodies right now!?!

Michelle I'm tired too! I think I have a little more energy than I did in the first tri, but not much, especially these past couple weeks. I started taking extra iron this morning & hopefully that'll give me more energy - I have a history of anemia & I noticed I look a little pale too. Of course we could always attribute it to growing another human being!

MY FEET ARE KILLING ME! Does anyone else have this problem? I'm miserable b/c achy feet make me walk funny, which makes the rest of my body hurt. It's so bad right now that I'm seriously considering tylenol.

I'm also starting to get nervous about my big u/s on Friday. It was all excitement until this afternoon, when I started thinking about what I'd do if something was wrong, how we'll feel if it's a girl, etc. Does it sound awful to want one sex over the other? We don't care about the sex of babies 2, 3, 4 but DH & I both want a boy for our first. How will we feel if it's a girl? I'm sure we'll love her to pieces and the u/s will give us time to get used to the idea, right?

[ChristyM26]

Dee, my feet don't hurt but I have been getting leg cramps at night. The other night I had a terrible, horrible cramp that woke me out of a sound sleep and made me cry. Apparently, this is normal during pregnancy and can happen frequently. And even better, nobody knows what really causes it. I'm trying to get some more electrolytes into my body to see if that helps (adding a little gatorade to my daily liquid intake).

My back is starting to ache sometimes though.

Luckliy, I'm not constantly tired anymore. If I'm not careful to get enough sleep I get some really bad headaches but it's almost summer vacation so soon I won't have to get up so early. That'll be good.

Julia, sorry your yoga class didn't go as well as you hoped. Keep in mind it's all for the safety of your little bean though!

[bloomingmomma]

Hi everybody! Sorry to be such a rare poster. We had our 19 week ultrasound and it was amazing! We say two beautiful, perfectly healthy BOYS. We're both shell-shocked about the huge dose of boy-energy coming our way (we're a lesbian couple), but also really excited as this all seems more real now.

I'm getting bigger- gained 27 pounds!- but I think most people can't tell I'm pregnant because of the way I'm carrying them. All I can say is there is a whole lot of baby down low and already it's hard to bend over or get up from sitting. I think I'm going to switch from my regular yoga class to prenatal. I'm feeling great as I always have, which is SUCH a blessing!!!

I'm surprised that I really haven't been into my work for a while now. I feel like pregnancy hormones and just the fact such a big thing is happening in my life makes me really not care about my work very much. Since I will likely get really big really quickly now, I may stop entirely in a few weeks.

My biggest concern is getting ready for the babies (especially since I feel the clock ticking on my ability to get around easily). We're gearing up for a huge remodel of our house. We're in the making-millions-of-decisions stage, and will begin demolition of the bathroom next weekend. Then the kitchen. We're also replacing all the exterior windows, the front door and interior doors, refinishing half the floors, and expanding the closet space in our bedroom. I am so afraid of the chaos that is about to ensue. How am I going to peacefully gestate/live/work with all this happening? How will I get everything ready for the babies? I'm so worried about it taking a lot more time than we expect (which is to be expected) and also about putting ourselves in debt and then my partner needing to work all the time instead of having time with babies and me later. Still, we both want this remodel to happen, and it looks like we are creating something really beautiful.

Sorry for the long post.

Christy- I have mild leg cramps- if I forget a dose of my prenatal. My midwives say increase the calcium and magnesium.

[gamitzer]

Congrats, bloomingmama, on your ::! I'm sure you'll be great mamas to the boys! Do you know if they're identical or fraternal? How fun! Me and my sis are identical and it was a lot of fun to grow up together-and is still fun now, I should add.
Meredith

[PiePie]

Originally Posted by bloomingmomma

I'm surprised that I really haven't been into my work for a while now. I feel like pregnancy hormones and just the fact such a big thing is happening in my life makes me really not care about my work very much.

I too am having this and feel great guilt and worry over it. I think it's that this job is temporary in my mind -- I know I'm not coming back after baby; I am going back to work, but not to this commute. Of course it's also the excitement of pregnancy -- never done this before! But i have much guilt that i am falling down on the job, not pulling my weight, etc. i have a meeting this afternoon after which i am sure i will feel much worse. as long as i don't totally screw up (need a recommendation) and as long as my passion for my work comes back once i have the baby i think it will be okay.

[PiePie]

LEG CRAMPS: I heard they were caused by lack of potassium?? Anyway, I try to stretch my calf muscles every day; it seems to help. I had one horrible one and no recurrences.

[Dee-Groovy]

Christy leg cramps don't sound fun at all. I think I heard something about calcium or potassium helping to prevent them too.

Bloomingmama congrats on your boys! Wow!

So I had my u/s on Friday and everything looks good. It's a girl! I was shocked, stunned, and honestly disappointed, since the 13 week u/s showed (what looked like) boy parts. As days go by I get more used to the idea of having a daughter and I really feel like I identify more with my baby now that I know her gender. It's fun to say "her" instead of "it" or "the baby." I went shopping the other day but couldn't quite commit to buying baby stuff in any color, for some reason. I guess at some point I'll have to buy something! Oh yeah I'm also measuring 9 days ahead, which is within the 10 day margin or error but still pretty crazy. She already weighs 12 ounces!

[Heather Marie]

Hi ladies!

It is so exciting to hear that some of you have had your big U/S. I won't have mine until the last week in June. I am starting to get very anxious. I am still not sure if I am feeling the baby or not. I started feeling something several weeks ago, but I just don't know and it isn't regularly. Very frusterating not to know. And, of course, I am worried that something may be wrong. Some days I am fine and then others my mind just starts reeling. Tomorrow I go in for a MW appointment so I will at least hear the HB.

I am a little freaked out by my weight gain. I don't feel like I am eating that much, but I just seem to keep gaining and gaining. I lost 50 pounds just before getting pregnant with Weight Watchers, so I am not sure if my body is reacting to the extra calories since I am obviously not restricting calories. The MW has never had issue with my weight, but I still am so nervous about it. I guess part of me thinks she may scold me because I have had doctors do that before I got pregnant. I actually weigh myself at appointments and I don't think she would ever even mention my weight. Between weeks 6.5 and 10.5 I gained four pounds and between weeks 10.5 and 14.5 I gained nine pounds. I am pretty sure at my appointment tomorrow I will show a gain of at least 7-9 pounds. That is around a 20 pound gain since week 6 (I am 18 now). What do you think? My DH keeps reassuring me that it is okay and my body will gain what it is supposed to. I just wish I would stop focusing on it.

I will be back tomorrow to chat and respond properly.

[gamitzer]

MG: congrats on the girl!

HM: Sorry, I wish I knew more about weight gain in pregnancy so I could make you feel better. You may have more luck asking the moms who already have kids. I know my wife is worried about her weight gain (about 12 lbs so far), but she is trying to not stress about it and just keep herself moving. We go to a large OB practice and all the docs have been nice, except one: we call her Dr. Toothpick because she's tiny. She wasn't so much rude about weight, but she mentioned it over and over, which was odd. Then she recommended yoga and tried to show us some poses. Weird. Congrats on your weight loss before the pregnancy!

So ladies...we have movement! Yesterday my wife got up from her chair at work and felt some movement. She guessed that, when she stood up, the baby realized it had some more room in the belly and decided to take advantage. She imagined that the baby made a "woohoo!" noise at the time, but I guess we'll never know. She describes the movement as the feeling you get when you think you're falling or are going over a steep drop, but without the fear. The day she felt it was 18w3d. Yay!

[bloomingmomma]

Gamitzer- congrats on the movement- how fun!

HM- I bet the weight gain is related to the weight loss you had right before getting pregnant. Then again it could be twins : . I've gained almost 30 pounds(!) in 20+ weeks and feel like that's perfect for my twins.

[Grace24]

Meredith, congrats on feeling movement, that's cool. I still can't tell if that's what I'm feeling...haven't felt anything for a while. What a strange OB, showing you yoga poses, but hey it's better than telling you not to do it, like one doctor did (not an OB...a chiropractor...guess he didn't want me getting better on my own! I stopped seeing him!)

Heather, I don't know about weight gain either, but I have a friend who had just lost a ton of weight on Jenny Craig before she got pg. Literally the same week she hit her goal she got pregnant. She gained 44 pounds and had lost all but 10 by four months PP, and now that she's stopped breast feeding she's going to concentrate on the last ten. I think you'll gain what you need, but I know how it is to have struggled with weight and THEN have to gain all of it back! I've been up and down the scale and the hardest part of the pg so far was the first few months when my BUTT grew first...it's like, oh man I'm an XL again, shoot. But I promised not to resent an ounce of this weight, it's for the baby, and it will come off again later no matter what I have to do! Try just to eat the right stuff and get some exercise, whatever you can do that feels comfortable (I've had to scale back my normal exercise too but I'm trying to do some), and just not worry. Thank goodness your MW isn't mentioning it, so don't torture yourself! BTW congrats on losing the 50 pounds before, that's a huge success. I don't think you'll have to lose it all over again though. Try not to panic (and I'll do the same! )

I've been having a lot of headaches, like almost every day. I plan on asking my doc about it Thursday but has anyone else had this problem? I'm wondering if it's cuz of the change in the weather, or the increased use of a.c. (seems like I go through this every year when we start using a.c. everywhere again)...but can you take too much Tylenol? I know it's safe but I don't like having to take it so often. Not overdosing or anything but I just don't like it.

[Grace24]

Also, is anyone else spending all day running to the bathroom to pee? Seriously, every 20 minutes sometimes! And a full bladder every time, too, dang.

[brooklyn_warbler]

hey ladies!

i've been meaning to check in since MG started this thread but i've been so scatterbrained! everything's good here. i have an active baby on my hands already (see my "silly first-time-mama question" thread) and i feel him/her moving every day now -- it's not just flutters anymore, but veritable pokes and shifting. it's such a strange sensation (and still subtle, of course, since baby's arms and legs are only about the size of a pinky!), but i love it!! actually, baby is moving around right now! andy still can't feel it, which is a bummer, but soon enough i'm sure. i think it will be so exciting when he can.

people are finally starting to notice i'm pregnant -- the woman who owns the vegetable shop near my house noticed this weekend (my first random person who noticed) and is so happy! it's really cute.

i still get bouts of nausea here and there, and i don't really have a ton of energy like i hoped i would in the second tri, but m/s is basically gone -- hallelujah. baby is all about FRUIT for the past few weeks -- this week it's canteloupe. luckily my cravings have all been healthy -- salad, hummus, fruit. this is a good thing after a first tri where all i could stomach was cheese sandwiches. i still haven't been able to deal with my prenatals though. i've been taking a b-complex w/folic acid, kids' gummy vites, and a calcium supplement. i feel like a bad mama but i'm MISERABLE when i take the prenatals. i'm really sensitive to iron (even in whole food-based multis) and the prenates have so much! i really have to find something that is doable for me. luckily all my levels are good.

gamitzer, yay on movement! i bet you are itching to be able to feel it, too!

heather marie, i'm sorry weight gain is stressing you out. i have a history of ed so i was afraid weight gain would be really hard for me; luckily my m/w doesn't insist on weighing me every time so i have no idea how much i've gained. it doesn't seem to be much though. in any event, i do think your body will gain how much it needs to. try not to stress too much. (i know, easier said than done.) the weight will come off post-pregnancy, and if you did so well on ww before, you will again, you know? just try to eat as healthy as you can and your body will do what it's meant to do. (i hope that's reassuring!)

mg, yay for baby girl!! have you guys thought of names yet?

bloomingmama, twin boys! congrats!!!

re: leg cramps, so far so good here! i'm crossing fingers i manage to escape that. haha.

ok, i need to get on dinner. later!