Exercise

Before I found out I was pregnant, I was training for a half Ironman. Yeah, that's the crazy thing where you swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles, and then run a half marathon (13.1 miles). I got up at 5:00 every morning and went to the gym to work on one of these disciplines or lift weights.

But since I'll be six months pregnant for the one I signed up for, I figured maybe 2012 isn't the year for that.

So I haven't been doing so much of exercising lately. Even before the test came back positive, I felt really off when I ran. I had slowed down considerably and it just felt way harder than it should have. I thought maybe it was the increasing heat and humidity with the advent of summer. Except that I had joint pain too. Even at that slow speed on relatively flat ground, my knees and hips hurt. When I got the positive test back, suddenly a lot of things made sense. And I haven't run since.

At first I was just really tired and then I started feeling sick. But this week I've felt better in general. I almost even forgot I was pregnant once (for like 5 seconds). I know that continuing an active lifestyle is good for a healthy pregnancy and baby and some studies suggest it makes labor easier as well. So now I'm thinking I should get back to doing some of these things I enjoy so much.

So Seth and I went for a three mile walk this morning. I'm pretty sure running is out for me. One, it's lava hot outside (over 100*F here for several days in a row). Two, I'm pretty certain my knees and hips will complain. But walking is a great pregnant lady exercise. I also want to get back to the pool. I have to wait until August to use the pool at work (weird thing about Seth's student status in the summer), but I've been thinking of using the super long lap lane at Bryan Park. Swimming is also great pregnant lady exercise. I'm a little nervous about the idea of buying a maternity swimsuit though. That idea just seems weird to me. I wonder if I could pull off a two-piece in the HPER pool. Is 6:00 AM too early to see a preggo in a two piece? Anyway, I'm also considering doing some very light weight lifting, mostly to strengthen up my flabby noodle arms in preparation for carrying around our baby and all it's accessories.

So, yeah. Those are my thoughts on exercise at the moment. I used to do a lot of it, and haven't in about two months. I kind of miss it and want to get back to a moderate level of less strenuous activities to maintain my health and hopefully have a healthier baby and easier delivery. And so far my plan is to walk and swim and maybe figure out a pregnant lady strength training plan.

Symptoms

Pregnancy symptom of the week is apparently crying!

I've figured out that pregnancy is sort of like a roller coaster. You get one symptom and as soon as your body learns to deal with it, your hormone levels do a loop-de-loop and you get a different one.

So now I'm staying up past 7:00 and I haven't felt terribly nauseous in like four days (except for a brief period Friday when I thought I was going to die), but I have cried at least three times in as many days. Over generally stupid things (like pizza and misguided, but innocent comments from the husband).

Bump Watch

How far along: 9 weeks
Baby is the size of a: green olive (1 to 1.25 inches)
News: This week the baby grew ears and fingers and toes!

Kind words

"And, seriously, you were doing that 'glow' thing."

Melt Down

I just had a melt down, complete with tears, because I couldn't decide what I wanted on my pizza for dinner.

Onesies

I love onesies. 

Seriously, there is nothing better than a baby in a onesie.

And Seth and I are nerds. So here's installment one of what will likely be many geeky onesies our baby needs.

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Bump Watch

 
How far along: 8 weeks
Baby is the size of a: kidney bean (just over 1/2 an inch)
Gender:  Too soon to know
Total weight gain/loss: I may have gained a pound.
Maternity clothes: Only if Seth's shirts count.
Sleep: I go to bed ridiculously early now. Even for me. It's almost embarrassing. But I do wake up a couple times to pee and wonder if I'm going to throw up.
Best moment this week: Hearing its heartbeat at our first ultrasound. I wish I had a recording of that sound.
Food cravings: LEMONADE.
Food aversions: chocolate
Movement: Not yet
Symptoms: Nausea. My boobs are huge and my nipples hurt. Thirst. Fatigue.
Labor Signs: Not for a long time hopefully!
Stretch Marks: Only the ones I got from puberty.
Swelling: I don't think so.

Belly Button in or out: Innie.
What I miss: Nothing yet. I take that back. I miss having regular bowel movements.
What I am looking forward to: Everything! I think mostly having an actual bump and feeling the baby move.
Milestones: First ultrasound?
News: We're expecting!

Morning Sickness

or as those of us in the biz think of it, Whenever the Hell I Feel Like It Sickness

One of the first things people have been asking when we tell them I'm pregnant is whether or not I'm having morning sickness.

At first, I wasn't really. Just tiny little waves of nausea that passed quickly. Then I had the shower incident a couple weeks ago. And now I feel like it's just escalating. I still haven't really been sick (i.e. no vomiting), but I feel nauseous a lot more now and for longer. I still feel like it's mostly manageable. And it's not constant. It will be there a while and then suddenly I feel fine. It's weird. I'm trying to decide if there are triggers for it and how to avoid them if so, but so far I can't really tell.

But while I had been feeling nauseous and then burping (sexy, right?) now when I burp I can feel products of digestion rising in my throat (even sexier!). I feel like it's only a matter of time before I actually get sick. I'm still hoping I'll make it through without, but I feel like the chances of that happening are getting slimmer.

Honestly, I just hope it doesn't happen at work.

Advice

If you're pregnant, be careful brushing your teeth.

I'm having a rough day.

First Ultrasound

We got our first ultrasound today!

Yay! First ultrasound!

Here are the close ups (you can click on them to make them bigger):

The ultrasound technician called it "Bean" and looked around at everything. She said everything looked really good. She measured it at 1.7 cm and estimated the due date to be January 28th based on its size. I'm sort of hoping it will pop out on my dad's birthday, January 29th.

She also measured the heartbeat. It was good and strong and going at 175 beats per minute! I think it's the cupcake I fed it earlier this afternoon. :)

Anyway, we are SO excited. And happy. I just look at it and love it so much already. I'm really glad the heartbeat was so great and it seems to be doing awesome in there.

Mobiles

I'm kind of loving this idea right now.

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Seth

Can I just take a minute to talk about how awesome my husband Seth is?

I really lucked out. He is so cute with this whole embracing fatherhood thing. I love how excited he is. He's going to be an amazing dad. Also, he is taking really good care of me. I mean, he always does, but I feel like he's going above and beyond what's expected.

I love that he's reading the books. And even bought his own.

I love that he wants to go to all the doctor's appointments that he can, even if he doesn't have to and they're boring.

I love that he's already thinking about the nursery. And things to do with the baby. And what to name it.

And I love that yesterday he spent Father's Day wondering around the mall looking at baby things with me. And even bought me a lemonade when the baby got thirsty.

I just can't help but look at him and be really overwhelmed with love. Maybe it's the hormones, but I often find myself just staring at him and holding back tears of happiness. And he doesn't even make fun of me for it.

So, yeah. I'm feeling pretty lucky. And loved.

Bump Watch

First Doctor's Visit

We went for our first doctor's appointment this morning. We decided to go to Dr. Labban here in Bloomington based on a good recommendation from a valued source. Also, the other two options in town operate with a group system and I really just don't like the idea of not knowing which doctor we'll get when I go into labor.

I thought we'd get an ultrasound today, but no such luck. It was basically a meet and greet. He normally does a PAP test at these, but I just had one in March, so no need to do that again. But they estimated our due date at February 1st and answered all our questions.

I think I'm really going to like him. He seems to take a laid-back approach to pregnancy. Like, "Hey, you're just pregnant. No big deal." Which I find to be really reassuring and in line with how I feel about it. I mean, this pregnancy is a big deal to me. I'm going to be a mom and it's going to be life-changing for sure, but I mean, it's just pregnancy. Women have been having babies forever. No big deal. If that makes sense.

Anyway, we get to go back next week for the actual ultrasound. I'm really excited. I just can't wait to hear the little baby's heartbeat and know everything is going okay in there.

Girl?

I said in another post that I thought the baby was a boy.

I had a dream last night about labor and delivery in which I gave birth to a girl. Now I feel like maybe it's a girl.

Polly

We have a dog. Her name is Polly. She's a yellow lab mix.

She's an awesome dog and we love her.

My mom came to visit over Memorial Day weekend. My dog loves my parents and up til now my mom calls Polly her granddog. Her stand-in for grandkids.

That weekend Polly acted weird. She whined a lot. She seemed restless. I thought she wasn't feeling well, that something was wrong with her.

I was supposed to start my period the day after my mom arrived. It never came. I sent Seth to the grocery store for a pregnancy test while my mom was in the shower Saturday morning. It, as you know, was positive.

Since then, Polly has been my shadow. Now, technically, Polly is my dog. I had her before Seth and I started dating (barely, she was still a baby when we started dating). But she looooves Seth. Loves him. Maybe he's more fun than me. Maybe he gives better belly rubs. Who knows? All I know is that my dog prefers my husband.

Until now.

Now she's my faithful companion. I sit on the couch and she sits right in front of me. She used to sleep out in the hallway, outside our room. Now she sleeps right at the foot of our bed.

I've been telling Seth since we found out that I'm pregnant that I thought the dog knew. He thought I was crazy, but I just thought she knew.

Today, I read this article that says I may be right.

And that is really cool. It makes me happy to think that Polly knows about the baby and is preparing for a new member of the family. I hope they love each other and grow to be great friends. That thought just makes me really happy.

Tastes

Today I ate a hard-boiled egg that tasted like a strawberry. Super weird.

Apparently

Six weeks is when this shit gets real.

All weekend I felt sort of blah and thought maybe I was having a surge of hormones or something. I did A LOT of sleeping.

This morning I woke up peppy and even volunteered to shower first. That didn't last long. I had to stop the shower to hug the toilet. Hello, morning sickness. I didn't actually throw up, but I think if there had been something in my stomach, I would have.

Although, I really didn't mind it at all. All last week I felt worried because short of gigantic boobs, I wasn't really feeling pregnant. And even though I was hugging the toilet, all I could think was that it would be worth it when I met our baby. I've never been so okay with vomiting before. We pregnant people are a weird bunch.

Six Weeks

And the pregnancy dreams begin...

The last two nights in a row I've had some crazy dreams.

Last night I was in charge of two unruly children who thought it was a good idea to strip naked and run around in church. The two-year-old, I understand. But I think 8 or 9 is a little old to be playing that trick...

But the night before, Seth and I went on a resort/cruise vacation that was really just an adult summer camp. We had a whole agenda of cool things to do like paddle boarding, horse back riding, crafts, and lunch. That was pretty nice.

Weird

Being pregnant is weird. 

It just is. I said it. I mean, I'm really HAPPY and super EXCITED (and nervous and worried, but that's another post) to be having a baby. But being pregnant is weird.

Sure, some of it you expect. I mean, everyone knows about the morning sickness and the cravings and the mood swings. Maybe even the fatigue and spidey-sense of smell if you're google savvy. But here are some things that I find weird about being pregnant:

• I actually haven't really had morning sickness yet. Almost 75% of women experience morning sickness. That, according to google, makes me weird and lucky. I mean, it's still early, so it could still come. I'm not hoping it does. I was just expecting it and so far, I get a little queasy occasionally but it passes pretty quickly.
• Another symptom that is supposed to be an early indicator of pregnancy is breast tenderness or soreness. So far my boobs just feel gigantic! They don't really hurt; they just feel like really heavy balloons trying to strangle me. 
• THE MUCUS. Holy cow, the mucus. Pregnant women are a congested bunch. Seriously, no one could have prepared me for this. Every single mucus membrane I own is covered in a layer of slime. If this stuff was useful and could be bottled, pregnant women would run the world.
• But at the same time, I'm constantly parched. How can you be so wet and so dry at the same time? It's positively baffling. All I know is that my water bottles have seen more use in the last six weeks than they have in probably the last six years. And in fact, I think I need to buy another one just to keep in my bedroom.
• Let's talk about the cravings. I'm having them (hello hamburgers from heaven). But related, and really strange, is the fact that foods just don't taste the same. I ate a sweet potato the other day that tasted like pepper. Straight up, black pepper. Weird as hell. Like green ketchup, but worse.
• And let's talk about the fatigue while we're at it. I think this is more than fatigue. This is I can barely keep my eyes open I feel like I've been up for four days at 8:00 every night kind of tired.

So, yeah. It's weird. There are other things too (forgetfulness, bowel movements, the crying, the fact that my uterus is constantly talking to me (sort of like the day before you start your period, but all day every single day), the insane number of times you visit the restroom in one day, my teeth hurt, and probably other things that aren't coming to mind right now - see item one in this list...), but these are the big things so far to me. I'm sure there will be more.

Pregnancy. What a weird and amazing experience. 

Must. Have.

Our baby must have these. Too. Cute.

Irony

First of all, I have to say that I feel like I started a bump the second Seth's swimmer started chatting up my egg. I'm pretty sure it's going to be obvious that I'm pregnant by the time I'm three months. And I swear it's not because I'm eating for two. :)

But I'm finding it funny that I'm wearing my skinny jeans more now than before I was pregnant. Mostly because they're more high-waisted and don't sit directly on top of my uterus, which I'm finding pretty uncomfortable.

Statistics

A study published in the journal Birth in September 1999 found that 71% of expectant mothers guessed their baby's sex correctly. 

I think it's a boy.

whew

The doctor called. My results are fine. My hcg level was over 4000 and my progesterone was at 19.

I do realize that it would be more accurate to do it again to make sure the hcg number is increasing, but until my first doctor's appointment on June 14th, this will suffice.

I had already calmed down and figured I had nothing to worry about, but I don't feel bad about worrying and getting the test done. I'm already fiercely protective of Little Madren. And I am not going to apologize or feel dumb for doing what I think is best for him/her.

Bump Watch

Taken 06.01.12

Tom Petty

The waiting is the hardest part...

Still waiting. I keep going back and forth on whether I think everything is okay or I think I'm having a miscarriage. You'd think they'd get back to crazy pregnant ladies quickly. Especially worried ones. (Which is probably all of them actually, but whatever.)

I hate not knowing. I just want everything to be okay. I'm really looking forward to my first doctor's visit (June 14th). I just want to hear it's little heartbeat and know it's okay.

In the meantime, I guess I just hope and wait and overanalyze.

Still Waiting

Still waiting on the hcg results, but I'm feeling a lot better and I think it will be okay. I only saw blood once, shortly after sex, and there haven't really been any bad cramps (just the mild, my uterus is growing kind I've been having the whole time).

In the meantime, I've developed a head cold. Yay!

Cravings

It makes me really happy that the baby apparently really loves fruit.

Blood

I'm at the eye of an emotional whirlwind.

Post-intercourse blood (red and more than a little in my opinion) last night led to calling the doctor the minute they opened this morning. I probably have nothing to worry about, but I was sent to Bloomington Hospital for an hcg test (I think for my own peace of mind more than anything else).

Now I wait.

Please stay, little one.