My complaints and responses from my midwife:
Me: My boobs hurt soooooo bad. Midwife: They make maternity sports bras or you could just try something a little tighter to restrict movement. Me: I feel like tying them down anymore would kill me.
Me: When do I need take out my piercings? Midwife: Um, What do you have pierced? (I just assume everybody knows I'm pretty pierced up but she doesn't even know me so I had to tell) Me: Um, places that might affect my body during this pregnancy. Midwife: Well, you can leave your navel ring in until it becomes uncomfortable but the other ones you might want to take out sooner because you'll be growing so much.
Me: I'm still really tired. When will that let up? Midwife: It won't completely let up but it will get better. Just hang in there. Me: I have no choice.
Midwife: Have you felt the baby move at all yet? Me: YUP! Midwife: It shouldn't be constant at this stage but it will get more frequent.
Midwife: Do you have any idea what you might be having? Me: I have no clue but I feel like everyone tells me they just knew if they were having a boy or a girl. I have NO idea. I have no mother's intuition. Midwife: Do you want to know? Me: I need to know. I need to be in control of something.
At this visit Chef and I watched a video about eating right and exercising during pregnancy. The most valuable tip I got from this video is that Chef should be cooking for me since I'm sensitive to smells and exhausted.
The midwife came in to see if we could hear the baby's heartbeat with the doppler. I know this will be the most stressful time for me at every visit and I have no idea why. My heart started beating so fast. Out comes the warmed goobledygoop and on my belly it goes. As soon as she put the probe on my belly there it was. It was so loud and strong. The only thing Chef could say was "Woooow". Baby's heartbeat was measuring in at 145 beats per minute. This was lower than last time where it was 160 beats per minute but the midwife made sure to let me know that it's normal for it to slow down around the 12 week mark. I let them know that I switched to the most amazing gummy vitamins and that the morning sickness seemed to have let me be and she seemed hopeful for me.
*I threw up later that afternoon after teaching a Zumba class. Bummer*
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Why am I still sick? and other symptoms - Weeks 9-12
All day nausea continues. C'mon man! Did I just fall asleep on my desk? When will I get my energy back?
I'm still exhausted. Nothing new there. I still nap in my car when I can.
The things that changed for me during this period was that I got my appetite back. Yay! And what did I want on everything I ate? TABASCO! It's not spicy enough unless my lips are burning. Seriously. I'm eating like my regular old self, and Chef is still eating for two. No real cravings unless you count the tabasco. I decided that even though my next appointment at the birth center would be at 11 weeks 6 days, I was not going to fill out that food log until I know for sure that my appetite is back to normal for good.
I get dizzy if I stand up too fast. I researched why this was happening of course, and it's due to the increased volume of blood I had coursing through my veins. Even though the volume of blood increased I was still carrying the same amount of oxygen... i.e. no additional red blood cells. Whomp whomp.
Is that a baby bump or baby bloat? My food baby turned into a real baby. Earlier in the first trimester when I would eat my belly would get big because my organs had started to move up to make space for my growing uterus. Then one day no matter what time of day or when I ate my belly stayed the same size. Baby bloat turned baby bump. Chef took notice of this immediately. His response to my forever protruding midsection, "This shit is getting real."
Speaking of real, the pain in my boobs is very real. When teaching Zumba I sometimes have to turn my back to the class and wince with all the pain. They hurt really bad at night as well. My bras are tight and the cups runneth over. I'm up at least a half a cup size already and not even 3 months in.
Did I just feel the baby move? YUP! People say you usually can't feel the baby move until 16 or so weeks with your first pregnancy. LIES. I first felt the baby move at about 11 weeks. Everyone says, "Are you sure it isn't gas?" Um... I'm pregnant. I have gas all the time. Let's not forget that my baby is already a little large. I think I can tell the difference between my constant gas and the strange flutters close to my crotch. My mom didn't seem to think it was weird or early for me to feel flutters. They weren't constant and I only felt it in the evening when I was about to go to sleep. If I had to guesstimate, I would say I felt the baby move once every week or so. It's strange and surprises me every time.
I'm still exhausted. Nothing new there. I still nap in my car when I can.
The things that changed for me during this period was that I got my appetite back. Yay! And what did I want on everything I ate? TABASCO! It's not spicy enough unless my lips are burning. Seriously. I'm eating like my regular old self, and Chef is still eating for two. No real cravings unless you count the tabasco. I decided that even though my next appointment at the birth center would be at 11 weeks 6 days, I was not going to fill out that food log until I know for sure that my appetite is back to normal for good.
I get dizzy if I stand up too fast. I researched why this was happening of course, and it's due to the increased volume of blood I had coursing through my veins. Even though the volume of blood increased I was still carrying the same amount of oxygen... i.e. no additional red blood cells. Whomp whomp.
Is that a baby bump or baby bloat? My food baby turned into a real baby. Earlier in the first trimester when I would eat my belly would get big because my organs had started to move up to make space for my growing uterus. Then one day no matter what time of day or when I ate my belly stayed the same size. Baby bloat turned baby bump. Chef took notice of this immediately. His response to my forever protruding midsection, "This shit is getting real."
Speaking of real, the pain in my boobs is very real. When teaching Zumba I sometimes have to turn my back to the class and wince with all the pain. They hurt really bad at night as well. My bras are tight and the cups runneth over. I'm up at least a half a cup size already and not even 3 months in.
Did I just feel the baby move? YUP! People say you usually can't feel the baby move until 16 or so weeks with your first pregnancy. LIES. I first felt the baby move at about 11 weeks. Everyone says, "Are you sure it isn't gas?" Um... I'm pregnant. I have gas all the time. Let's not forget that my baby is already a little large. I think I can tell the difference between my constant gas and the strange flutters close to my crotch. My mom didn't seem to think it was weird or early for me to feel flutters. They weren't constant and I only felt it in the evening when I was about to go to sleep. If I had to guesstimate, I would say I felt the baby move once every week or so. It's strange and surprises me every time.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
First Pregnancy Purchase - Week 9
I'm ashamed to admit it but I didn't even buy it. My mom did. She lives an hour and a half away so I went to visit to show her the ultrasound and spend some quality time together. She looked at me and my unbuttoned pants and was like, "Oh no. Not around me." We went to Target and she bought me this:
It's a "Be Maternity Be Band" and I love it! It's designed to hold your pants up that you keep unbuttoned. My pants still fit in the legs it's just so uncomfortable to button them because my belly is growing. It's very comfortable and I will wear it every day until I have to buy some real maternity clothes. It does a really good job of holding the buttons close enough to your skin so that you can't tell your pants are unbuttoned with your shirt over it. Its also very big. It's folded in half in the picture so you can fit it to your comfort level. Sometimes I wear it like in the picture but sometimes I wear it all the way up to just under my bra. It depends on what I have on over it and how it looks.
I highly recommend it so go out and buy one. I think I'll wear it postpartum as well until I can fit back into my regular clothes completely.
I highly recommend it so go out and buy one. I think I'll wear it postpartum as well until I can fit back into my regular clothes completely.
Nuchal Translucency Scan - Say What?
While at our first visit at the birth center we were told that if we wanted to have a nuchal translucency scan or NT Scan, we would have to schedule it because it has to be done between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy.
What is an NT scan? This scan essentially measures the padding, or nuchal fold, on the back of the fetus' neck and can be indicator of genetic defects. Of the three genetic abnormalities this scan is an indicator of, the one people are most familiar with is Down syndrome. The other defects are Turner Syndrome, Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13 and Triploidy.
The NT scan is not a definite answer to whether your baby will have one of those defects. Combined with a blood test you will get a risk ratio of having a genetic disorder and from there you can decide what you want to do. Some that have ratios that are considered high choose to have an amniocentesis to determine for sure if the baby is affected. These additional tests are invasive and carry a risk of miscarriage, so that is something to weigh out as well.
What did Chef and I decide to do?
Chef and I decided not to have the NT scan. Why? If the scan showed our baby had a larger than normal NT measurement, and we decided to get the blood test and our risk was high, we would not terminate the pregnancy and we would never have an invasive test like an amniocentesis done. So, for us, it doesn't matter. We want this pregnancy to be as stress free as possible. The tests carry a risk of false positives and to us it would be outrageous to stress out over ratios. We are both young and healthy so we're taking the approach that whatever God says is what will be. We are confident in our decision not to even open that door. On top of that, who wants to pay a doctor to stress them out over something you can't control. NOT ME!
What is an NT scan? This scan essentially measures the padding, or nuchal fold, on the back of the fetus' neck and can be indicator of genetic defects. Of the three genetic abnormalities this scan is an indicator of, the one people are most familiar with is Down syndrome. The other defects are Turner Syndrome, Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13 and Triploidy.
The NT scan is not a definite answer to whether your baby will have one of those defects. Combined with a blood test you will get a risk ratio of having a genetic disorder and from there you can decide what you want to do. Some that have ratios that are considered high choose to have an amniocentesis to determine for sure if the baby is affected. These additional tests are invasive and carry a risk of miscarriage, so that is something to weigh out as well.
What did Chef and I decide to do?
Chef and I decided not to have the NT scan. Why? If the scan showed our baby had a larger than normal NT measurement, and we decided to get the blood test and our risk was high, we would not terminate the pregnancy and we would never have an invasive test like an amniocentesis done. So, for us, it doesn't matter. We want this pregnancy to be as stress free as possible. The tests carry a risk of false positives and to us it would be outrageous to stress out over ratios. We are both young and healthy so we're taking the approach that whatever God says is what will be. We are confident in our decision not to even open that door. On top of that, who wants to pay a doctor to stress them out over something you can't control. NOT ME!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
And the Gag Order Is Lifted
My parents knew about the pregnancy the same day we found out. We gave them strict orders to keep their mouths shut. Chef had not yet told anyone in his family but only my parents and sister knew. Chef made it a point for us to wait until our first appointment before we told anyone else. I did tell a few select friends so that it wouldn't be weird if I should happen to vomit on my lab bench. Anyway, after our first visit at the birth center ended and we had a picture of our little peanut and reassurance that everything was ok, Chef wanted to share the news with his family. They say that once you can hear or see the heartbeat the chances of miscarriage drop drastically. I guess this is what gave Chef the freedom to let go and tell some folks. Before we left the parking lot of the birth center Chef had called his mother and some other relatives.
I called my mom to let her know how the first appointment went and told her that Chef had decided to tell his family. She said, "So, Can I tell people now?" "Sure Mom, knock yourself out." She then said, "Well, let me call you back. I have some phone calls to make." Before she had the chance to call me back, my cell phone was flooded with text messages from family members congratulating us. I didn't respond to any of them. It's just how I am.
My biological father and I don't have a close relationship. That's a long story that I will save for another day. I am closer to my step-dad (Pops) as he's been in my life for way longer. However, my paternal grandmother and the rest of my paternal family try to keep in touch. I visit them when I can and call to check on my Granny and she calls to check on me. I decided to call Granny and let her know about the news. I thought she would have mixed feelings about it seeing as though I'm still in school and stuff and she has no issue with voicing her opinions, but she was happy for us. She told me I need to take it easy with the exercising and rest. I don't know what's up with people telling me to sit on my ass and eat all the time. NO THANK YOU! Anyway, I gave her the job of alerting my father that his first grandchild would be on the way and to tell the rest of that side of the family.
I called my mom to let her know how the first appointment went and told her that Chef had decided to tell his family. She said, "So, Can I tell people now?" "Sure Mom, knock yourself out." She then said, "Well, let me call you back. I have some phone calls to make." Before she had the chance to call me back, my cell phone was flooded with text messages from family members congratulating us. I didn't respond to any of them. It's just how I am.
My biological father and I don't have a close relationship. That's a long story that I will save for another day. I am closer to my step-dad (Pops) as he's been in my life for way longer. However, my paternal grandmother and the rest of my paternal family try to keep in touch. I visit them when I can and call to check on my Granny and she calls to check on me. I decided to call Granny and let her know about the news. I thought she would have mixed feelings about it seeing as though I'm still in school and stuff and she has no issue with voicing her opinions, but she was happy for us. She told me I need to take it easy with the exercising and rest. I don't know what's up with people telling me to sit on my ass and eat all the time. NO THANK YOU! Anyway, I gave her the job of alerting my father that his first grandchild would be on the way and to tell the rest of that side of the family.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Chef's Do's and Don'ts
Do not lift anything - I am prohibited from lifting things on my own. Chef will leap to my rescue for the slightest things. Sometimes I might really need help but sometimes it's ridiculous. I'm showing but I'm not that big yet. Sheesh!
Do eat all the time - According to Chef, a fat, pregnant wife equals a healthy baby. I eat like I usually do but Chef has been the one having the weird cravings at all hours of the night. Sometimes it upsets him that I'm not indulging with him in his late night snack-fests. He's probably gained more weight than I have in this pregnancy so far.
Do NOT drink coffee - I am, under no circumstance, allowed to drink coffee. See the previous post to see how I'm handling this demand. *Remind me to reload my Starbucks card
Do show your belly - If I were to walk around the house in a half shirt day and night Chef would be so happy. He likes to touch me and greet the baby from time to time.
Do not teach Zumba - I tried to explain to him that if I was active before I can be as active during pregnancy as long as I listened to my body and do not overheat. It would also probably benefit me in my quest for a natural labor as well. My body definitely lets me know when to take it down a notch. I have had to stop jumping so much. I'm a really energetic instructor. I hydrate really well and try to do more "teaching" than dancing. It's so hard not to dance the entire time though. The music is infectious.
This list will probably get longer. That's how Chef is. If anything else comes up I will be sure to share.
Do eat all the time - According to Chef, a fat, pregnant wife equals a healthy baby. I eat like I usually do but Chef has been the one having the weird cravings at all hours of the night. Sometimes it upsets him that I'm not indulging with him in his late night snack-fests. He's probably gained more weight than I have in this pregnancy so far.
Do NOT drink coffee - I am, under no circumstance, allowed to drink coffee. See the previous post to see how I'm handling this demand. *Remind me to reload my Starbucks card
Do show your belly - If I were to walk around the house in a half shirt day and night Chef would be so happy. He likes to touch me and greet the baby from time to time.
Do not teach Zumba - I tried to explain to him that if I was active before I can be as active during pregnancy as long as I listened to my body and do not overheat. It would also probably benefit me in my quest for a natural labor as well. My body definitely lets me know when to take it down a notch. I have had to stop jumping so much. I'm a really energetic instructor. I hydrate really well and try to do more "teaching" than dancing. It's so hard not to dance the entire time though. The music is infectious.
This list will probably get longer. That's how Chef is. If anything else comes up I will be sure to share.
Friday, December 16, 2011
The Do's and Don'ts of Pregnancy
At my first visit my midwives give out a list of foods that I can and cannot eat during pregnancy along with a list of over-the-counter drugs that I would need to use instead of what is most common. For example, I have to stay away from ibuprofen or Aspirin and take Tylenol instead for the massive headaches I get thanks to Chef and the baby.
Do take vitamins. - Up until about 10 weeks I was still taking my normal all inclusive one-a-day vitamin. Why? Because it has all of the same stuff a prenatal vitamin has in it except when you buy vitamins with the word "prenatal" on them the price seems to more than double. My vitamin had more than enough folic acid which is what you're really worried about for prevention of neural tube defects. I read labels, I'm not crazy. I started to wonder though, if the iron in my daily vitamin was contributing to my morning sickness. I found an all natural gummy prenatal vitamin for about $10 for a 45 day supply to try out. I have been sick very rarely since I switched to a vitamin with no iron.
It tastes like candy; sour gummy worms to be specific. It has been the highlight of my mornings. Some days I really want to eat more than two and I have to make a conscious effort not to OD on vitamins. So in hindsight, I would just buy a regular all inclusive vitamin that didn't have iron. I have no idea how I'm going to wean myself off of these gummy things.
Don't eat raw meat.- I love my burgers medium rare but this is something that I could give up. Well Done Please! Another thing about meat.. I'm not supposed to eat deli meat unless it is heated to steaming hot due to the bacteria listeria. I don't eat deli meat like that anyway so no biggie.
Do eat two eggs a day. - Say what? My healthier lifestyle switched to egg whites long ago, but that won't cut it. It's the choline in the yolks that I need. Every now and then I'll eat eggs with the yolks but two a day is extreme for me.
Don't eat raw or big fish. - Mercury... Dun Dun Dun... You should generally try to stay away from fish high in mercury pregnant or not. The general rule is that the bigger the fish, the higher up on the food chain, the more mercury it will contain. Try to stay away from fish like tilefish, swordfish, shark, and tuna. Not canned tuna but the big ones like Ahi. Even still, I should limit my seafood intake to about 1-2 servings a week. By the way, the Omega-3s in my vitamin come from a fish source so they have been tested for mercury and it's all clear. Confession: I love shrimp, and they're the worst because they are bottom feeders. I still eat it, but sparingly. Everybody knows sushi is my favorite food in the world. Please bring some to my delivery suite. Thanks.
Do get a lot of dairy. - Seriously, three cups of milk a day! C'mon man! It can't be skim and it shouldn't be full fat. I've been sticking to 1% milk. I can't drink a glass of milk so the only milk I consume is after I finish my cereal and whatever they put in ice-cream. I'm considering this one a work in progress.
Peanuts? This is the source of some controversy. Some say you shouldn't eat peanuts in pregnancy because it could contribute to the child developing allergies against nuts. If this is the case, I'm sorry in advance little baby. When I couldn't keep food down or smell meat, peanuts were my ONLY source of protein. Others say it's fine. I agree with the others. LOL
Caffeine? This is also the source of controversy. I admire the women who before pregnancy, like me, drank 6-8 cups of coffee a day but found out they were pregnant and quit cold turkey. Three days ago I went to Starbucks and got a salted caramel mocha with skim milk. I salivated watching them make it. It was everything I wanted and more. I have most certainly cut down on the caffeine but I figure if I cut it all out the baby would go through withdrawal, as would I. When I crave it, I have it. I did decide to give up the diet sodas because of the artificial sweeteners. I drink regular caffeine FULL cokes instead. It's much more satisfying.
Alcohol? My biggest sacrifice. Although, my midwives say if I would like to have glass sparingly late in my third trimester no harm should be done. Going from sipping a bottle of wine 4 times a week to NONE has been rough especially because the holidays are all about booze and celebrations. Chef is getting me some of that alcohol free wine so that I don't feel out of place this Christmas.
Do take vitamins. - Up until about 10 weeks I was still taking my normal all inclusive one-a-day vitamin. Why? Because it has all of the same stuff a prenatal vitamin has in it except when you buy vitamins with the word "prenatal" on them the price seems to more than double. My vitamin had more than enough folic acid which is what you're really worried about for prevention of neural tube defects. I read labels, I'm not crazy. I started to wonder though, if the iron in my daily vitamin was contributing to my morning sickness. I found an all natural gummy prenatal vitamin for about $10 for a 45 day supply to try out. I have been sick very rarely since I switched to a vitamin with no iron.
It tastes like candy; sour gummy worms to be specific. It has been the highlight of my mornings. Some days I really want to eat more than two and I have to make a conscious effort not to OD on vitamins. So in hindsight, I would just buy a regular all inclusive vitamin that didn't have iron. I have no idea how I'm going to wean myself off of these gummy things. Don't eat raw meat.- I love my burgers medium rare but this is something that I could give up. Well Done Please! Another thing about meat.. I'm not supposed to eat deli meat unless it is heated to steaming hot due to the bacteria listeria. I don't eat deli meat like that anyway so no biggie.
Do eat two eggs a day. - Say what? My healthier lifestyle switched to egg whites long ago, but that won't cut it. It's the choline in the yolks that I need. Every now and then I'll eat eggs with the yolks but two a day is extreme for me.
Don't eat raw or big fish. - Mercury... Dun Dun Dun... You should generally try to stay away from fish high in mercury pregnant or not. The general rule is that the bigger the fish, the higher up on the food chain, the more mercury it will contain. Try to stay away from fish like tilefish, swordfish, shark, and tuna. Not canned tuna but the big ones like Ahi. Even still, I should limit my seafood intake to about 1-2 servings a week. By the way, the Omega-3s in my vitamin come from a fish source so they have been tested for mercury and it's all clear. Confession: I love shrimp, and they're the worst because they are bottom feeders. I still eat it, but sparingly. Everybody knows sushi is my favorite food in the world. Please bring some to my delivery suite. Thanks.
Do get a lot of dairy. - Seriously, three cups of milk a day! C'mon man! It can't be skim and it shouldn't be full fat. I've been sticking to 1% milk. I can't drink a glass of milk so the only milk I consume is after I finish my cereal and whatever they put in ice-cream. I'm considering this one a work in progress.
Peanuts? This is the source of some controversy. Some say you shouldn't eat peanuts in pregnancy because it could contribute to the child developing allergies against nuts. If this is the case, I'm sorry in advance little baby. When I couldn't keep food down or smell meat, peanuts were my ONLY source of protein. Others say it's fine. I agree with the others. LOL
Caffeine? This is also the source of controversy. I admire the women who before pregnancy, like me, drank 6-8 cups of coffee a day but found out they were pregnant and quit cold turkey. Three days ago I went to Starbucks and got a salted caramel mocha with skim milk. I salivated watching them make it. It was everything I wanted and more. I have most certainly cut down on the caffeine but I figure if I cut it all out the baby would go through withdrawal, as would I. When I crave it, I have it. I did decide to give up the diet sodas because of the artificial sweeteners. I drink regular caffeine FULL cokes instead. It's much more satisfying.
Alcohol? My biggest sacrifice. Although, my midwives say if I would like to have glass sparingly late in my third trimester no harm should be done. Going from sipping a bottle of wine 4 times a week to NONE has been rough especially because the holidays are all about booze and celebrations. Chef is getting me some of that alcohol free wine so that I don't feel out of place this Christmas.
First Appointment: 9 weeks 2 days
We got to the birth center early. Chef gets pretty anxious about being on time. I brought all of those forms I had filled out the night before and gave them to the receptionist. When I set up my first appointment a few weeks before, they made sure to get all of my insurance info so that they could have a payment schedule ready for me by the time my first appointment came around. Their business manager who confirms insurance coverage had everything ready for me and after today's $500 deposit we would only owe the birth center $700 more to be paid before my 37th week. Not too shabby.
We met my first midwife in her office and talked about the questionnaires I had filled out regarding my family history and things like that. She wanted to know what I was taking in terms of vitamins and things like that. She then asked me the dates of my last menstrual period to see if we could get a due date for the baby. She even went over what changes I should be making in my diet in terms of protein requirements and other minerals. Chef make it a point to tell her that I had been vomiting my brains out for the past few weeks and she told me that if it doesn't get better they could prescribe something to stop the nausea. She wanted me to fill out a 2 day nutrition log of everything I eat but told me not to do so until my diet returned back to normal. She said carbs are not what I want to make my staple but if all I could keep down was pizza and cheetos to not to worry about it. We then went though the procedures I would have to do for every visit. Peeing in a cup to test for protein and glucose in my urine which is common in pregnancy and weighing myself. Whomp Whomp. I swore that I had gained at least 5lbs due to the cereal and oatmeal but I had not gained a single pound at over 2 months pregnant. Strange to me, because my stomach was poking out a bit by this point.
Blood draws - is it weird that I like to look? Apparently so. My veins were juicy that day. It took her less than 2 min to fill up all those tubes.
After she took my blood she said she wanted to see if we could pick up the baby's heartbeat on the doppler. For some reason I got a little nervous. Maybe because it was becoming real. I had referred to the baby as a parasite up to this point, probably because I felt like crap. Now it would be a baby... I was freaking out. She did warn me however that at nine weeks the baby is still well protected and it can be hard to pick up the heart beat that early. She put warm goo on my lower belly/crotch region and went to town with the doppler. No noise over here, no noise over there. She found my heartbeat very clear in my abdomen thanks to that collossal vein that runs down the right side of your body. She turned it off and said, "Couldn't find it. When the room with the ultrasound is free we'll go in there and look for the baby." Holy Jesus I froke (past tense of freak) out. I don't know why, it just happened but no one else knew I was freaking out.
There was a lady that was a solid 6 months preggers in there an I was secretly rushing her to get her ass off that table so I could get in there. The time came and we went into the room, she goo'd up my belly again and looked for the baby. Within 3 seconds there it was! It was a gummy bear on its back. Moving and swimming about. Arm buds and leg buds in motion. She positioned me so that she could see the heart and count the beats...160 beats per minute. She left it on so we could see it kick around for a second before she took a picture. Chef was in a state of shock and awe. Things got real really fast. I was lying on my back looking at the screen and all I remember saying was, "You're so happy, but you're making me so sick."
This is what our little peanut looked like:
It was measuring a little big for it's gestational age but everything else was all good. My next appointment was scheduled for when I would be 12 weeks.
We met my first midwife in her office and talked about the questionnaires I had filled out regarding my family history and things like that. She wanted to know what I was taking in terms of vitamins and things like that. She then asked me the dates of my last menstrual period to see if we could get a due date for the baby. She even went over what changes I should be making in my diet in terms of protein requirements and other minerals. Chef make it a point to tell her that I had been vomiting my brains out for the past few weeks and she told me that if it doesn't get better they could prescribe something to stop the nausea. She wanted me to fill out a 2 day nutrition log of everything I eat but told me not to do so until my diet returned back to normal. She said carbs are not what I want to make my staple but if all I could keep down was pizza and cheetos to not to worry about it. We then went though the procedures I would have to do for every visit. Peeing in a cup to test for protein and glucose in my urine which is common in pregnancy and weighing myself. Whomp Whomp. I swore that I had gained at least 5lbs due to the cereal and oatmeal but I had not gained a single pound at over 2 months pregnant. Strange to me, because my stomach was poking out a bit by this point.
Blood draws - is it weird that I like to look? Apparently so. My veins were juicy that day. It took her less than 2 min to fill up all those tubes.
After she took my blood she said she wanted to see if we could pick up the baby's heartbeat on the doppler. For some reason I got a little nervous. Maybe because it was becoming real. I had referred to the baby as a parasite up to this point, probably because I felt like crap. Now it would be a baby... I was freaking out. She did warn me however that at nine weeks the baby is still well protected and it can be hard to pick up the heart beat that early. She put warm goo on my lower belly/crotch region and went to town with the doppler. No noise over here, no noise over there. She found my heartbeat very clear in my abdomen thanks to that collossal vein that runs down the right side of your body. She turned it off and said, "Couldn't find it. When the room with the ultrasound is free we'll go in there and look for the baby." Holy Jesus I froke (past tense of freak) out. I don't know why, it just happened but no one else knew I was freaking out.
There was a lady that was a solid 6 months preggers in there an I was secretly rushing her to get her ass off that table so I could get in there. The time came and we went into the room, she goo'd up my belly again and looked for the baby. Within 3 seconds there it was! It was a gummy bear on its back. Moving and swimming about. Arm buds and leg buds in motion. She positioned me so that she could see the heart and count the beats...160 beats per minute. She left it on so we could see it kick around for a second before she took a picture. Chef was in a state of shock and awe. Things got real really fast. I was lying on my back looking at the screen and all I remember saying was, "You're so happy, but you're making me so sick."
This is what our little peanut looked like:
It was measuring a little big for it's gestational age but everything else was all good. My next appointment was scheduled for when I would be 12 weeks.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
My Birth Center Tour
That's right. I'm taking ownership. It is MY birth center.
Disclaimer: This will be an unusually long post.
Why did I choose a birth center?
My mom said it's because I am a hippie. I partially agree. There is something about the support that you get from a birth center that you can't get from a medical doctor in a hospital setting. At our tour, we were told that Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) are trained in the normalcy of pregnancy where as Ob/Gyns would be your go-to when things go wrong. Because of this, the labor induction rate and c-section rate are climbing. Most c-sections occur after hours and on weekends. Coincidence? I think not. Once you receive one intervention, things can spiral out of control very quickly. An induction leads to an epidural and when the clock keeps ticking because your doctor wants you to have the baby so she can go home you get a c-section. I believe in letting your body do what it's supposed to do. I have girl parts so I can give birth. DUH!
What happened at the tour of the birth center?
First of all, you have to RSVP for the tour because the owner who is also a CNM caps the number of patients she will deliver in a month to about 20 because it is a small facility. This is based on the estimated due dates. Chef and I were the first to arrive (he was anxious) and realized we were waiting on 5 other couples to tour the center with us. When everyone arrived we went around the room and introduced ourselves, said what number child we were expecting, what we did for a living and when we would be expecting. After that we watched a pretty awesome video on natural child birth and the owner had prepared an informative powerpoint presentation for us on the philosophies of this particular birth center. She included a list of pain management techniques that included everything from counterpoint massage to sterile water injections on the back. I LOVED IT.
After we did all of the formal stuff it was time to move around and get a good look at the place. The facility is divided into two parts. They believe that you shouldn't have to give birth at the same place you come for your visits as that might stress some people out. So one side of the birth center was only birthing suites and there are only two. Each has a 300 gallon birthing whirlpool with a bed, shower and anything else you might need including surround sound so you can plug your iPod into the dock and listen to some hot beats. Also on this side was the midwives' suite, just in case you are still in early labor and they can sleep while you progress. They NEVER leave you or have a shift change or something lame like that. There will be an RN there at all times as well. There is also a full kitchen on that side because they want you to eat and drink whatever you want during labor (including wine). Try finding a hospital that will let you have more than ice chips. Hungry women in labor can't be any fun.
So on the other side where all of my visits and prenatal stuff will be taken care of there are a few room but everything was so warm and home like. The "exam rooms" had warm leather couches with blankets. They don't do sonograms there but they do have an older machine that was donated that they use just to see the babies from time to time. They also have a boutique where they sell cloth diapers, baby wraps and other stuff. What completed the tour was their lending library where you can check out educational materials just like a library for free! Needless to say, Chef was beyond impressed and couldn't wait to come back the next morning. At the end of our tour we all sat back down while the owner went over a summary of charges for the birth center. She has a wonderful itemized list of how much it would cost to bring this baby into the world. It was broken up into prenatal care and the facilities fee which is how it has to be done when insurance is involved. She explained to us that she can't bill insurance companies until after the baby is born so we would have to essentially pay the balance outside of insurance by the time I am full term. No biggie. She is a small business owner, she needs to get paid too. We also learned that at our first visit a $500 deposit would be due. I was expecting this so I already had it set aside. After everyone left, I made it a point to formally introduce myself and to tell her that I would probably see her the next morning. She then went behind the front desk and gave me all of the forms I would need to have filled out by the next morning so that I wouldn't have to wait 45 minutes filling out paperwork.
What impressed me the most?
Not only would I be receiving awesome and individualized care throughout the pregnancy with each visit being between 45min and an hour. But, after the baby was born they would come to my house to observe me breastfeeding and weigh the baby before and after feeding to see how much the baby was actually getting. Also, there are follow up visits to monitor these things as well.
So you will never see a "real doctor?"
The birth center is partnered with a local OB/GYN just in case of emergencies. I will have to see him at 20 weeks and 37 weeks. At 20weeks he will perform my anatomy scan of the baby to make sure everything is ok physically. At 37 weeks, I will see him to sign off on paperwork that pretty much says I can have my baby outside of a hospital.
What if something goes wrong?
The birth center is also partnered with the hospital less than a mile away. They have had to transfer patients before without issue and the midwives will still be there setting up a home like environment at the hospital.
Overall, how do you feel?
I have never been so confident in a decision probably in my whole life. I really enjoy that I will probably see a different midwife at every appointment (There are only four that work there) because it lets me know that I will be receiving the same care from all of them. I am a patient to all of them, so their care and philosophies has to be uniform or their business will not work. They have delivered over 400 babies in the few short years they have been open.
Disclaimer: This will be an unusually long post.
Why did I choose a birth center?
My mom said it's because I am a hippie. I partially agree. There is something about the support that you get from a birth center that you can't get from a medical doctor in a hospital setting. At our tour, we were told that Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) are trained in the normalcy of pregnancy where as Ob/Gyns would be your go-to when things go wrong. Because of this, the labor induction rate and c-section rate are climbing. Most c-sections occur after hours and on weekends. Coincidence? I think not. Once you receive one intervention, things can spiral out of control very quickly. An induction leads to an epidural and when the clock keeps ticking because your doctor wants you to have the baby so she can go home you get a c-section. I believe in letting your body do what it's supposed to do. I have girl parts so I can give birth. DUH!
What happened at the tour of the birth center?
First of all, you have to RSVP for the tour because the owner who is also a CNM caps the number of patients she will deliver in a month to about 20 because it is a small facility. This is based on the estimated due dates. Chef and I were the first to arrive (he was anxious) and realized we were waiting on 5 other couples to tour the center with us. When everyone arrived we went around the room and introduced ourselves, said what number child we were expecting, what we did for a living and when we would be expecting. After that we watched a pretty awesome video on natural child birth and the owner had prepared an informative powerpoint presentation for us on the philosophies of this particular birth center. She included a list of pain management techniques that included everything from counterpoint massage to sterile water injections on the back. I LOVED IT.
After we did all of the formal stuff it was time to move around and get a good look at the place. The facility is divided into two parts. They believe that you shouldn't have to give birth at the same place you come for your visits as that might stress some people out. So one side of the birth center was only birthing suites and there are only two. Each has a 300 gallon birthing whirlpool with a bed, shower and anything else you might need including surround sound so you can plug your iPod into the dock and listen to some hot beats. Also on this side was the midwives' suite, just in case you are still in early labor and they can sleep while you progress. They NEVER leave you or have a shift change or something lame like that. There will be an RN there at all times as well. There is also a full kitchen on that side because they want you to eat and drink whatever you want during labor (including wine). Try finding a hospital that will let you have more than ice chips. Hungry women in labor can't be any fun.
So on the other side where all of my visits and prenatal stuff will be taken care of there are a few room but everything was so warm and home like. The "exam rooms" had warm leather couches with blankets. They don't do sonograms there but they do have an older machine that was donated that they use just to see the babies from time to time. They also have a boutique where they sell cloth diapers, baby wraps and other stuff. What completed the tour was their lending library where you can check out educational materials just like a library for free! Needless to say, Chef was beyond impressed and couldn't wait to come back the next morning. At the end of our tour we all sat back down while the owner went over a summary of charges for the birth center. She has a wonderful itemized list of how much it would cost to bring this baby into the world. It was broken up into prenatal care and the facilities fee which is how it has to be done when insurance is involved. She explained to us that she can't bill insurance companies until after the baby is born so we would have to essentially pay the balance outside of insurance by the time I am full term. No biggie. She is a small business owner, she needs to get paid too. We also learned that at our first visit a $500 deposit would be due. I was expecting this so I already had it set aside. After everyone left, I made it a point to formally introduce myself and to tell her that I would probably see her the next morning. She then went behind the front desk and gave me all of the forms I would need to have filled out by the next morning so that I wouldn't have to wait 45 minutes filling out paperwork.
What impressed me the most?
Not only would I be receiving awesome and individualized care throughout the pregnancy with each visit being between 45min and an hour. But, after the baby was born they would come to my house to observe me breastfeeding and weigh the baby before and after feeding to see how much the baby was actually getting. Also, there are follow up visits to monitor these things as well.
So you will never see a "real doctor?"
The birth center is partnered with a local OB/GYN just in case of emergencies. I will have to see him at 20 weeks and 37 weeks. At 20weeks he will perform my anatomy scan of the baby to make sure everything is ok physically. At 37 weeks, I will see him to sign off on paperwork that pretty much says I can have my baby outside of a hospital.
What if something goes wrong?
The birth center is also partnered with the hospital less than a mile away. They have had to transfer patients before without issue and the midwives will still be there setting up a home like environment at the hospital.
Overall, how do you feel?
I have never been so confident in a decision probably in my whole life. I really enjoy that I will probably see a different midwife at every appointment (There are only four that work there) because it lets me know that I will be receiving the same care from all of them. I am a patient to all of them, so their care and philosophies has to be uniform or their business will not work. They have delivered over 400 babies in the few short years they have been open.
The Misnomer of Morning Sickness: Weeks 6-9
Whew! This pregnancy was a breeze beyond the extreme fatigue and the awful bloating that made me look full term when I ate.
Sometime in my 6th week I was driving home from work and this wave of nausea smacked me in the face. I was on the interstate thinking, "What the hell? I can't pull off the interstate to throw up." I was about five minutes from my house telling myself, "You can make it. You can make it." WRONG! There is something in the process of throwing up that my mom and I refer to as the "juicy mouth." This is when you salivate so much right before you throw up you can't contain all of the liquid in your mouth. HAHA. Anyway, that was going on, so I grabbed an empty cup I had sitting in my car and went to town. Heaving and driving at 70mph is not for the faint at heart. My goal was to keep absolutely everything contained...and I did! At the time I thought it was a fluke. It was only just the beginning.
From that day forward I suffered from all day nausea with intermittent vomiting spells. Looking back, I still can't decide which is better; being nauseous all day without throwing up or throwing up a couple times and getting on with my day. To make it very clear, with "morning sickness" I was only actually sick in the morning ONCE. I am here by changing morning sickness to "pregnancy's early unfortunate events." I teach an afternoon Zumba class at a local high school for the teachers. I have definitely re-tasted all of the water I drank during class a couple of times. I know it's gross but this is a real account of what I go through.
Facts: I have vomited more in my car (I'm a pro at it now) than I have at home, I am grateful the classroom I teach Zumba in has its own bathroom, I have had more days of all day nausea than times I have actually vomited, I felt like shit for a minimum of 3 full weeks.
During this time, my olfactory skillz (<--- I spelled it that way on purpose) kicked it up a notch. The smell of vegetables and meat cooking turned my stomach. It was already difficult for me to eat because I thought I would get sick but I couldn't and didn't eat meat or vegetables for about three weeks. What did I eat? CARBS! I lived on cereal, oatmeal, bagels (until I threw one up),naan, toast and crackers. I did however try to keep my cereals high in fiber and low in sugar. Raisin bran... thanks for being there when I needed you the most.
My first appointment at the birth center was scheduled for when I would be 9 weeks and 2 days and Chef and I were really looking forward to that and the tour of the birth center. The anticipation was what was holding me together between sleeping and nausea.
Sometime in my 6th week I was driving home from work and this wave of nausea smacked me in the face. I was on the interstate thinking, "What the hell? I can't pull off the interstate to throw up." I was about five minutes from my house telling myself, "You can make it. You can make it." WRONG! There is something in the process of throwing up that my mom and I refer to as the "juicy mouth." This is when you salivate so much right before you throw up you can't contain all of the liquid in your mouth. HAHA. Anyway, that was going on, so I grabbed an empty cup I had sitting in my car and went to town. Heaving and driving at 70mph is not for the faint at heart. My goal was to keep absolutely everything contained...and I did! At the time I thought it was a fluke. It was only just the beginning.
From that day forward I suffered from all day nausea with intermittent vomiting spells. Looking back, I still can't decide which is better; being nauseous all day without throwing up or throwing up a couple times and getting on with my day. To make it very clear, with "morning sickness" I was only actually sick in the morning ONCE. I am here by changing morning sickness to "pregnancy's early unfortunate events." I teach an afternoon Zumba class at a local high school for the teachers. I have definitely re-tasted all of the water I drank during class a couple of times. I know it's gross but this is a real account of what I go through.
Facts: I have vomited more in my car (I'm a pro at it now) than I have at home, I am grateful the classroom I teach Zumba in has its own bathroom, I have had more days of all day nausea than times I have actually vomited, I felt like shit for a minimum of 3 full weeks.
During this time, my olfactory skillz (<--- I spelled it that way on purpose) kicked it up a notch. The smell of vegetables and meat cooking turned my stomach. It was already difficult for me to eat because I thought I would get sick but I couldn't and didn't eat meat or vegetables for about three weeks. What did I eat? CARBS! I lived on cereal, oatmeal, bagels (until I threw one up),naan, toast and crackers. I did however try to keep my cereals high in fiber and low in sugar. Raisin bran... thanks for being there when I needed you the most.
My first appointment at the birth center was scheduled for when I would be 9 weeks and 2 days and Chef and I were really looking forward to that and the tour of the birth center. The anticipation was what was holding me together between sleeping and nausea.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Miscarriage Woes
I'm a scientific researcher. I research the crap out of everything. Once I accepted that I was pregnant my first task was to research what I should be expecting and how things should be progressing. I am also very fascinated with the changes that are supposed to take place in my body; I'm talking hormonal fluctuations. I needed to know. I'm sharing my experience with what I found in hopes that you NEVER EVER do this. Seriously.
I was peeking in on forums to get the inside info from others that were also in their first trimester, researching how the baby grows and everything. Then it happened. Every where I went to research what's supposed to be happening was littered with the word "miscarriage." On the forums, people were miscarrying every day and decided to share their not so fortunate experience with others. On other sites (the medical ones) the rate of a first trimester miscarriage is listed as high as 25-30%. This freaks a lot of people out. I decided to dig deeper and figure out what this meant.
What they do not tell you is that this statistic includes everyone that has had a miscarriage before they know they're pregnant. So, what would seem like a normal, right on time period, was a miscarriage. This rate also includes something called a "blighted ovum" where a sac develops but there is never a developing embryo inside. Your body usually corrects these kinds of problems automatically but with today's advances in technology you can basically detect the pregnancy hormone, hCG, the day something implants in your uterine wall. This is where the problem lies. I understand how people that have been trying to conceive for a while get obsessed with monitoring every little hormonal change in their bodies but the issue I have with it is that it can be emotionally damaging.
As I mentioned, the forums are loaded with people that have had miscarriages at 4 and 5 weeks pregnant but if they had just waited it out they would have never known and could have avoided the fear that something is wrong with their body. The point I am trying to make here is that miscarriage is not as common as the stats would like you to believe but if you have suffered a miscarriage, you are not alone. For me, at the time being in the early stages of my pregnancy, read everything from an educational standpoint. I was just generally curious. For other mothers that may be expecting, reading things like that could completely stress them out, which is NOT GOOD for the baby. Also what I failed to realize at first is that forums about pregnancy and trying to get pregnant are usually geared towards those that have had problems seeking comfort with others in a similar situation. It is not for the uber-curious first time moms-to-be.
How did I prevent myself from worrying about whether or not I was going to miscarry? I didn't analyze every twinge and sensation that was different from what I am used to. I've never been pregnant before... I have nothing to compare it to. I also take great comfort in knowing that it is something that is out of my hands. You can't prevent a miscarriage. I have a friend who has 3 children but has had 5 miscarriages in a row. Her belief is, "Some souls are so perfect, they need only obtain life for a moment and their journey is complete."
I was peeking in on forums to get the inside info from others that were also in their first trimester, researching how the baby grows and everything. Then it happened. Every where I went to research what's supposed to be happening was littered with the word "miscarriage." On the forums, people were miscarrying every day and decided to share their not so fortunate experience with others. On other sites (the medical ones) the rate of a first trimester miscarriage is listed as high as 25-30%. This freaks a lot of people out. I decided to dig deeper and figure out what this meant.
What they do not tell you is that this statistic includes everyone that has had a miscarriage before they know they're pregnant. So, what would seem like a normal, right on time period, was a miscarriage. This rate also includes something called a "blighted ovum" where a sac develops but there is never a developing embryo inside. Your body usually corrects these kinds of problems automatically but with today's advances in technology you can basically detect the pregnancy hormone, hCG, the day something implants in your uterine wall. This is where the problem lies. I understand how people that have been trying to conceive for a while get obsessed with monitoring every little hormonal change in their bodies but the issue I have with it is that it can be emotionally damaging.
As I mentioned, the forums are loaded with people that have had miscarriages at 4 and 5 weeks pregnant but if they had just waited it out they would have never known and could have avoided the fear that something is wrong with their body. The point I am trying to make here is that miscarriage is not as common as the stats would like you to believe but if you have suffered a miscarriage, you are not alone. For me, at the time being in the early stages of my pregnancy, read everything from an educational standpoint. I was just generally curious. For other mothers that may be expecting, reading things like that could completely stress them out, which is NOT GOOD for the baby. Also what I failed to realize at first is that forums about pregnancy and trying to get pregnant are usually geared towards those that have had problems seeking comfort with others in a similar situation. It is not for the uber-curious first time moms-to-be.
How did I prevent myself from worrying about whether or not I was going to miscarry? I didn't analyze every twinge and sensation that was different from what I am used to. I've never been pregnant before... I have nothing to compare it to. I also take great comfort in knowing that it is something that is out of my hands. You can't prevent a miscarriage. I have a friend who has 3 children but has had 5 miscarriages in a row. Her belief is, "Some souls are so perfect, they need only obtain life for a moment and their journey is complete."
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Reality Check: Weeks 3-6
I really am pregnant!
I found out I was pregnant really early. I hadn't even missed my period yet. In the back of my head it was still coming. That day came and went and the reality of my situation started to settle in, but not really.
The first four weeks of this pregnancy I felt great, as in not pregnant at all. I had to burp every three seconds but as I told everyone, better to release it up top than down below. I did, however, become extremely EXHAUSTED. The term "exhausted" is an understatement for what I was going through. It was ridiculous and I couldn't control it. Chef was getting frustrated that we weren't spending any time together and that the house would never get cleaned because I was sleeping ALL the time. He is more understanding about my extreme exhaustion but he still wants a clean house. I'm trying.
During this period my entire research lab went to Boston, MA for a scientific conference. I think I slept 60% of the conference. I believe there was one full day that I didn't attend anything because I needed to sleep. It was horrible. My schedule was to wake up, eat breakfast, go back to my room for a 2-3 hour nap, and then try to get on with the rest of my day. I was so wiped out I couldn't think straight. I started to look sleep deprived even though it was all I did.
I was still partially in denial about the pregnancy so I procrastinated about getting my haunches to the doctor to see what was really going on. I have student insurance at my university so I called up student health to see if they did blood pregnancy tests. NOPE...only urine tests. I had taken enough of those not to waste my time. I had to get on the ball about prenatal care and figure out what I wanted for this baby.
I wanted this experience to be as natural as possible and decided to do some research on birth centers. I found a lovely birth center less than two miles away from our house. I went on my student insurance website to see what my benefits were and if by some act of God, care at the birth center would be covered. IT WAS! For those of you that don't know the cost of a birth center is usually less than 1/3 of what the cost of delivering in a hospital would be and the fact that my insurance treats pregnancy as "any other sickness"(according to my benefits book), this would be covered at 80% because the birth center is in my network.
The deal with the birth center is that they require you to take a tour to see if you like it before they accept you as a client. Due to some scheduling issues with Chef's job and limited spots for tours I couldn't schedule our tour until I would be 9 weeks along. That is a little longer than they would have liked so at the same time I scheduled our tour, I scheduled our first appointment for 9am the following morning. This way I would already have an appointment if I loved the center and if I didn't they would just cancel it. They did want to get me in there because apparently most health care providers want to see you for the first time around 6 weeks.
With the tour of the birth center weeks away and it being the only thing I was looking forward to the time began to pass so slowly. It became a real serious waiting game, and I was losing.
I found out I was pregnant really early. I hadn't even missed my period yet. In the back of my head it was still coming. That day came and went and the reality of my situation started to settle in, but not really.
The first four weeks of this pregnancy I felt great, as in not pregnant at all. I had to burp every three seconds but as I told everyone, better to release it up top than down below. I did, however, become extremely EXHAUSTED. The term "exhausted" is an understatement for what I was going through. It was ridiculous and I couldn't control it. Chef was getting frustrated that we weren't spending any time together and that the house would never get cleaned because I was sleeping ALL the time. He is more understanding about my extreme exhaustion but he still wants a clean house. I'm trying.
During this period my entire research lab went to Boston, MA for a scientific conference. I think I slept 60% of the conference. I believe there was one full day that I didn't attend anything because I needed to sleep. It was horrible. My schedule was to wake up, eat breakfast, go back to my room for a 2-3 hour nap, and then try to get on with the rest of my day. I was so wiped out I couldn't think straight. I started to look sleep deprived even though it was all I did.
I was still partially in denial about the pregnancy so I procrastinated about getting my haunches to the doctor to see what was really going on. I have student insurance at my university so I called up student health to see if they did blood pregnancy tests. NOPE...only urine tests. I had taken enough of those not to waste my time. I had to get on the ball about prenatal care and figure out what I wanted for this baby.
I wanted this experience to be as natural as possible and decided to do some research on birth centers. I found a lovely birth center less than two miles away from our house. I went on my student insurance website to see what my benefits were and if by some act of God, care at the birth center would be covered. IT WAS! For those of you that don't know the cost of a birth center is usually less than 1/3 of what the cost of delivering in a hospital would be and the fact that my insurance treats pregnancy as "any other sickness"(according to my benefits book), this would be covered at 80% because the birth center is in my network.
The deal with the birth center is that they require you to take a tour to see if you like it before they accept you as a client. Due to some scheduling issues with Chef's job and limited spots for tours I couldn't schedule our tour until I would be 9 weeks along. That is a little longer than they would have liked so at the same time I scheduled our tour, I scheduled our first appointment for 9am the following morning. This way I would already have an appointment if I loved the center and if I didn't they would just cancel it. They did want to get me in there because apparently most health care providers want to see you for the first time around 6 weeks.
With the tour of the birth center weeks away and it being the only thing I was looking forward to the time began to pass so slowly. It became a real serious waiting game, and I was losing.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
More About Me
I lose interest in blogs where the posts are long so I will try my best to keep these pretty short. I will also keep things candid. I don't believe in sugarcoating.
I'm a 5th (and final - hopefully) year graduate student getting my PhD in Biomedical Science. If I time things right, I should be finishing up in the fall of 2012. I am aware that God may have other plans but hopefully we're on the same wavelength this time. LOL. My husband is a Chef. I am 26 years old, he is 27. We've been married for 1.5 years but have been together for 5. We bought a house right after we got married so we could have a yard for our two dogs to run around and play.
I am a licensed Zumba Basic, Aqua Zumba, and Zumbatomic Instructor. I swear by Zumba because it helped me lose over 70lbs. Two of which I have gained back due to the pregnancy. HAHA. It's psychologically damaging to think about gaining almost half the weight I worked REALLY hard to lose back because I'm pregnant. I'll get over it.
My pregnancy strategy: Go with the flow. I teach three Zumba classes a week and will do so for as long as I can stand. Exercise combined with healthy eating habits should keep the weight gain at only what is necessary. To hell with the "I'm eating for two" crap. I also plan to have this baby naturally. All of my prenatal care is at a local freestanding birth center with Certified Nurse Midwives. HELL YEA! There will be more about my philosophy on natural childbirth in later posts.
This post is getting lengthy. I'll stop it here. The next series of posts will be dedicated to what I've experienced through my first couple of months of pregnancy regarding symptoms, birth center visits and all that good stuff.
I'm a 5th (and final - hopefully) year graduate student getting my PhD in Biomedical Science. If I time things right, I should be finishing up in the fall of 2012. I am aware that God may have other plans but hopefully we're on the same wavelength this time. LOL. My husband is a Chef. I am 26 years old, he is 27. We've been married for 1.5 years but have been together for 5. We bought a house right after we got married so we could have a yard for our two dogs to run around and play.
I am a licensed Zumba Basic, Aqua Zumba, and Zumbatomic Instructor. I swear by Zumba because it helped me lose over 70lbs. Two of which I have gained back due to the pregnancy. HAHA. It's psychologically damaging to think about gaining almost half the weight I worked REALLY hard to lose back because I'm pregnant. I'll get over it.
My pregnancy strategy: Go with the flow. I teach three Zumba classes a week and will do so for as long as I can stand. Exercise combined with healthy eating habits should keep the weight gain at only what is necessary. To hell with the "I'm eating for two" crap. I also plan to have this baby naturally. All of my prenatal care is at a local freestanding birth center with Certified Nurse Midwives. HELL YEA! There will be more about my philosophy on natural childbirth in later posts.
This post is getting lengthy. I'll stop it here. The next series of posts will be dedicated to what I've experienced through my first couple of months of pregnancy regarding symptoms, birth center visits and all that good stuff.
The Very Beginning
I woke up at 4:30 the morning of October 5th, 2011 feeling a little "off". I had to pee pretty bad and decided, "Why don't I just take this pregnancy test." I am no stranger to the pregnancy scare so I had two on hand. It came back with a faint line that indicated positive. I woke my husband up to ask if he could see the faint second line. He said, "What line? You need to go back to sleep." I turned on every light in our bedroom including the closet light and the master bath lights and said, "You can't see that?" To which he replied, "Oh, I see it now." So that was that.
My mom and step-dad (pops) were coming close to where we live to look at homes to buy for when they relocate. My husband (Chef) and I decided to spend some time with them and help them look for houses. Little did we know that we would be letting them know they would be expecting their first grandchild.
We took my parents out to lunch and decided to break the news to them there. Here is where things got WEIRD. My mom and I have a pretty inappropriate relationship as it is so it wasn't a big deal for me to tell her. But, I didn't have the courage to tell my pops. With my mom it came out as, "I found out that I'm pregnant this morning." But with pops it felt more like, "We've been having unprotected sex!" So strange. Needless to say, they were both overjoyed until we put a gag order on them and told them not to tell anyone until we said it was ok.
My mom and step-dad (pops) were coming close to where we live to look at homes to buy for when they relocate. My husband (Chef) and I decided to spend some time with them and help them look for houses. Little did we know that we would be letting them know they would be expecting their first grandchild.
We took my parents out to lunch and decided to break the news to them there. Here is where things got WEIRD. My mom and I have a pretty inappropriate relationship as it is so it wasn't a big deal for me to tell her. But, I didn't have the courage to tell my pops. With my mom it came out as, "I found out that I'm pregnant this morning." But with pops it felt more like, "We've been having unprotected sex!" So strange. Needless to say, they were both overjoyed until we put a gag order on them and told them not to tell anyone until we said it was ok.
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