At 16 Weeks

At 15 Weeks

Email from my step-sister

"When I first got pregnant I had some spotting and I was so scared.  S was in town then so I told her, though not right away.  She took me to the hospital (K was out of town with the car). And after five hours of tests it turned out I had a urinary tract infection with no other symptoms.  What a relief that was.  But no one knew except K, S, and E. K and E weren't around, and S was going to be leaving soon, so I would have had to deal with it alone.  They had thought it was ectopic and had an ultrasound the day after all the tests, which was so amazing even though the guy was a total asshole.

He turned on the machine and said, "Well, there it is, alive and kicking." Then he turned on the sound and there was a heartbeat- which was a complete surprise since you usually can't hear it until 12 weeks.  He then said, "You're nine weeks." Then he threw a Kleenex at me and walked out of the room!  I thought I was only 3 so it was a bit shocking.  I had my period in the beginning of June but got pregnant the en-dish of May.  Crazy.

Anyways I am so excited for you.  K, since having T, tells everyone they HAVE TO have kids.  I know you've wanted to for a long time.  Just wait.  I used to think I love my friend's kids so much I would explode with love if I had my own, and I did.  It is the most rewarding, happiest thing you will ever do.  Totally worth all the discomfort and pain.  My mom was at T's birth (along with everyone else) and she said to me later, "You're nuts, as soon as they had mopped up all the blood and sewn your entire body back together, you said you couldn't wait to have more!" ...and I can't.  Well that's not true.  I want to give T at least a year of undivided attention.  Just always remember nine months of pregnancy and labor - no matter how hard (and it's not always hard) - is so worth the future you'll have with your child.  It goes so fast, in retrospect.

How are you feeling?  Any cravings yet?  That didn't hit me until the second trimester but I was ravenous for the whole time.  I'd get up in the middle of the night to eat.  "What to expect when you're expecting" is a really fun book to have.  I also recommend "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" by Ina May Gaskin.  She's a world renown midwife.  It might be too hippy dippy for you, but it has some really great points on how to stay strong and calm during labor, and it has birth stories too, which are always fun.  A good body pillow is a must.

O.K.  I'll leave you alone now.  I never really got how women went off about pregnancy and labor before, but now I do.  If you ever need anything, or just want to share news, or whatever I'm here.

Lots of love to you and your little one,
A"

Here's a picture of her little guy, T.

At 14 Weeks

I want you now

 

BUT, I'm too lazy to go out and get you.

At 13 Weeks

Oh, Mother!

So I gave my Mom her present, and she had it open before we'd even left the airport.  She looked at it, was silent, and then said, "So S is having another baby?  Or...wait... you're having a baby??!!"  S is my little sister who already has two kids.

My response??

"MOM, why would I wrap up an ultrasound photo of S's baby???!!!"

She felt kinda dumb for a split second and then said, " I KNEW it!  I KNEW you would do this!!!"

She's beyond thrilled!  She's already planning to take a month off in May to be with me for the birth and after.  Then I was talking about when I would return to work, and she offered to come out again to do a few weeks of free childcare to ease the transition.

THEN she said, "Well, you have to have two."

Wooooaaahhh!!!  Slow down there, partner!  I told her it would be impossible with the cost of daycare, but I was keeping two vials of 'babydaddy' on ice, just in case.

So now she's dieing to tell everyone, but I won't let her!  There is a certain hierarchy of people to be told.  It needs to go in order, so as not to piss people off. 

I did let her call my step-dad, and when she told him I have a feeling I know what his response was.  Probably something along the lines of 'a baby needs a father'.  When she hung up the phone, she didn't say what his reaction was, and I didn't ask.  If he doesn't approve, I really don't want to know!!

I'm starting my 13th week tomorrow!! 

Telling my Mom!!

My Mom arrives tonight at 10 pm.  I'm going to pick her up from the airport.  I was trying to think of some creative way to tell her - before I brought her home and she saw all the baby stuff - but I couldn't think of anything!  Anyway, this is what I ended up doing (I'll wrap it up and give it to her in the car):

 

She's going to be shocked!

First Trimester Screening

I went for my first trimester screening ultrasound on Weds. and everything turned out great!  Here are the results:

Estimated due date: May 16, 2011 (which means I am off by a couple of days).  I'll have to start posting my weekly images on Mondays, instead of Fridays.

Fetal heart rate: 160 bmp

Length: 5.5 cm

Head size: 19.6 mm

Risks:

Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome) risk for a 32 year old is 1: 433.  My new risk is: 1: 8651.

Trisomy 18 (a congenital disorder) risk for a 32 year old is 1: 1012.  My new risk is 1:20236.

Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome) risk for a 32 year old is 1: 3186.  My new risk is 1: 63717.

It's such a relief!  Here are a few pictures:

What's in the cute little package?

At 12 Weeks

First Prenatal Appointment

I finally had my first 'normal' doctors appointment today.  Everything went well, except my blood pressure was a little high at 130.  I usually have really great blood pressure, so I think it's just the stress of school (report card time, been away a lot recently, lots of sub planning etc.), and the nearly 45 minute wait.  All I could think about during the wait was, "I'm going to be late for school!".  Soooo, I think that's why my pressure was up.

But of course, my doctor thinks differently.  I have to cut my salt intake and make a point of checking my pressure at those drug store BP monitoring stations.  If it remains at 130 I have to call her ASAP.

I.

Love.

Salt.

All the foods I've been craving are salty!  Grrrrrrrr

Ultrasound tomorrow!  Woooohoooo!