Changes

Since I've been pregnant, a lot of changes have happened to me.  I'm sure this is not surprising to anyone, least of all me, but I'm sometimes stunned by how much things have changed.  Quite a bit has changed and I'm 17 weeks 3 days.  I'm sure I'll face even more changes in the future. Here is a current list (and is likely not all inclusive):

1.  My Body
Yes, this one is the most expected of them all.  My body is shifting and changing.  I started noticing a small baby bump around 8 weeks.  Chris was able to see it then too, but no one else.  Clothing hid it quite well.  Now, my bump is large enough to show.  There are some weeks where my waistline grows an inch and others where it grows 2 inches.  I measure every week. Also, I think I may be feeling the baby, although not every day.  Sometimes I'll feel little flutters.  I wasn't sure what I was feeling, but mentioned it to my doctor who made me think that I am feeling the baby.

Additionally, I have a bit of lower back pain on occasion and hip pain.  My body is stretching to accommodate Baby G, so this is to be expected.  Oh, and let's not forget my boobs---what I prefer to call my "girls".  I've always been very blessed in that area, but now, I'm even more so.  I've already gone up one cup size and I'm about to go up another.  I'm just trying to delay buying some new bras a bit because that gets expensive.  To be honest, I was hoping that since I was already blessed that I would need to grow anymore in that area.  Boy, I was wrong.  That being said, I've lost 12 pounds since getting pregnant, and while I've gone up almost 2 cup sizes, I've now gone DOWN one band size.  Wow.

2. My Appetite
For the most part, my appetite has decreased.  I think the main reason for this is the morning sickness that still hasn't gone away.  I did start to lose my appetite a bit before morning sickness started.  I just wasn't that hungry.  Over time, my stomach has shrunk.  Now it doesn't take a lot to fill me up and make me full.  However, there are some days when I feel constantly hungry.  Again, though...it doesn't take much food to satisfy me.  I can eat a small thing of applesauce or watermelon or even 2 small Nilla Wafers, and I feel sated.  On days I'm hungry like that, I just end up eating a lot of small snacks every couple hours.

3. My Taste in Foods
My tongue has now decided that somethings that I used to love, don't work for me anymore.  And, there are some things I NEED to eat.  The first change I noticed (and noticed with my last pregnancy) is my tolerance for spicy foods.  I must be clear before I explain.  I have not had any issues with heartburn yet.  So, the tolerance is NOT related to heartburn.  Before I was pregnant, I used to LOVE spicy foods.  Now, I can barely eat spicy foods without feeling like my mouth is on fire.  My lovely husband does not appreciate spicy foods, but doesn't mind a little kick.  His idea of a kick used to make me laugh. ("What kick, honey?  I don't detect anything." I would tell him.).  Now, I'll be going on about how my mouth is on fire, and he looks at me like I'm crazy.  His usual response is "This isn't spicy.  I can detect somewhat of a kick but it is barely noticeable."

Other taste things--I'm not a huge fan of bread rolls anymore.  The just don't taste right to me.  They are no longer satisfying.  The same thing with hamburgers.  They do nothing for me.  They don't taste great, but they don't taste awful.  There is a bit of a bland taste to them.  However, salad is awesome!!  I'm loving salads and craving them.  In particular, I crave the Pasta House Salad, a good restaurant quality Caesar salad, or Olive Garden salad.

4. Breathing
I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 7 or 8 years old.  I never grew out of it.  However, it hasn't been bothering me much in the last several years.  A blessing!  Until recently, that is.  Starting around 10 weeks, I started having issues with my asthma.  I actually found myself needing to use my inhaler 1-2 times a week.  Then, at 14 weeks, it got even worse.  For a few days (until I got into the doctor), I would walk 4-10 feet and have to sit down to catch my breath.  I was using my inhaler not only every day, but multiple times in a day.  So, now I am on Advair and it is a major blessing!  I can breath again!  Apparently, 1/3 of pregnant women have their asthma get worse.  I guess that had to be me.

15 Weeks 1 Day

Wow! I can't believe I made it this far! After 3 losses, I'm still a bit more nervous than I think most pregnant moms without losses would be though. I really believed that after that last ultrasound I would totally relax. I was wrong. Instead, I find myself still in constant prayer--speaking to God, Jesus, Mary, Joseph, St. Gerard, and my patron saint, Saint Catherine of Siena, asking for this baby to continue to be strong and healthy so it can be born to Chris and I in April. In the future, I suppose I can use this worry to my advantage when I can guilt my child by telling them I've worried about them since before they were born. LOL! I know this is only the beginning and the worrying won't cease until I do (which hopefully won't be until I'm at least 90.)

Part of what makes me worry, I suppose, is that fact that I'm still in an in-between phase of pregnancy. My baby bump is slowly growing everyday, but not to the point where others can tell quite yet. After all, I still can wear the clothes I was wearing before I was pregnant (for the most part, some of the shirts are too tight across the bust now so....). I'm also at a place where I can't feel the baby moving yet. That can start to happen anytime, but I've heard that since I'm a plus size girl (or as my cousin calls it, and I love, a "fluffy" girl), I might not feel this baby until I'm closer to 20 weeks. I did have an awesome dream this week where I saw my baby as it would look now. The hand was pushing against my belly to the point I could make out it was a hand and the baby's face was pressed as well so I could tell some details of the face. While I know this dream was unrealistic, I found it a bit reassuring. It was like Baby G was saying hello to me in my dream!

One thing I am ready to come to an end is morning sickness. There are days, even weeks, where I begin to believe that it is easing up. Days where I still get sick in the morning but the all-day nausea is gone. I can handle getting sick in the morning. It is part of my daily routine now. (Sad, huh? LOL!) But then, just when I think it is over, I eat dinner and then lose it soon after. The next day I end up with the all-day nausea again and barely eat (although I try). That part, I'm done with. In the last 2 days, though, I have only had dry heaves in the morning and no more nausea the rest of the day (although last night I had some before going to sleep).

Part of my concern about the morning sickness, at this point, is the fact that I've been losing weight since being pregnant. Who knew that being pregnant would be a great diet plan? I sure didn't mean for it to be. Honestly. Because I am a "fluffy" girl, my doctor told me that I should only gain 15-20 pounds during this pregnancy. At that first appointment, I was already down 5 pounds. Since then, I've dropped another 7 pounds which puts me at 12 pounds lost. My goal was to maintain my weight for a while, until around 20 weeks, because I know most women really gain weight in that 3rd trimester. Losing was never my plan. Once this morning sickness goes away in full (hopefully) I imagine that I'll be able to gain back the weight I lost. I really shouldn't be losing any more weight. We shall see if my current reprieve will last. Unfortunately, I'm not counting on it. Just enjoying it for now.

Hello 2nd Trimester!!

Well, it is official! I made it through the first trimester and am now into the 2nd! We saw the doctor this morning and had an u/s. The baby was beautiful and was even waving at us!! Too cute!! Even more positive than that, it had an amazing strong heartbeat at 166 and is now measuring ahead. Based on the last u/s, it should have measured at 12 weeks 6 days today, but....it measured at 13 weeks 2 days instead!! Yay! We go back in 4 weeks for our next appointment.


I can't wait to meet this little one! I'm not as nervous now as I have been. A lot more hopeful since now the miscarriage risk has dropped to 1%. I'll keep storming heaven with prayers though!