T Minus One Month

I felt like hell Sunday night after the shower. Kept getting a sharp pain in my right pelvic area. I actually called my Mom on the drive home and cried. What a baby! It went away after about 15 minutes. She thought maybe it was from the higher incline elliptical use at her gym on Saturday then sitting for a long time while opening gifts on Sunday. Whatever it was, it was uncomfortable. I was crampy Sunday night and into Monday. The cramping continued Monday night when Tony told me it was probably Braxton-Hicks contractions. I guess I was expecting sharper pains for BH contractions but all I kept (and am still) experiencing is a dull period-like cramping. Tony was right though; the midwife said it was definitely BH contractions and not labor contractions. She said I won't be able to talk or walk with the real thing. Deep breathing will be the extent of my capabilities.

Yesterday, November 17, marked one month until Foo Foo's due date. I called in pregnant to work - not sick but pregnant - and slept in until close to 9. I talked to Tony later in the morning and he said, "Do you know what today is?" It's one month until December 17! During my relaxing day spent mostly on the couch with my Twinkie toes elevated, I went through some hospital paperwork and preregistered for my short term disability/maternity leave. Cramping got worse later in the afternoon and I texted Tony while he was in class. WOAH do I need to come home, he asked. It wasn't that bad. I did call the doctor's office though to make sure but not until after I showered and shaved my legs! What if she told me to come in right away and I had hairy legs! haha

The cramping feeling continued today. We had a doc's appointment at 3:15. Mary, our midwife, asked more questions about the cramping and felt my belly for the baby's location. She said the baby had dropped even more and was "engaged" and could come in 2-4 weeks! That was very exciting and scary to hear at the same time. I also don't want to get too wound up in case she arrives late, like most of my first-time Mom friends. Our next appointment wasn't scheduled until December 1 though and Mary sent the doctor an email during our appointment for her to hopefully fit us in next Monday. That made us think she thinks Foo Foo is in a hurry to make an appearance. Today's appointment also included a Group B Strep test and recording our birthing plan (stuff like breastfeeding rather than bottle feeding, Tony cutting the cord, yes (most likely) to the epidural, etc.). Things are coming fast!

The Adventure Known as Pregnancy

Nausea, swollen ankles, a dark line (“linea negra”) down your belly, stretch marks and the list continues. Why would any woman ever want to have a baby? Besides the obvious reward of raising a child, I’m finding that most women experience some – but not all – of these symptoms. And thankfully, they happen at different points in the pregnancy.

First symptom: cramping. For me this happened in the 4-6wks time frame. It felt like my period was coming but more intense. So I put off getting a pregnancy test. That lasted only a few more days. I bought a test; Tony bought a 12pack of Bud Light.

Second: tiredness. Right around week 9 as soon as Tony picked me up from work, I crashed. Slept most of the way home (rush hour on the Expressway = 45min-more than 1hr). The tiredness went away in the beginning of the second trimester when the placenta took over as the nourishment source for the then embryo-turned-fetus.

Third: heart burn. It’s only happened a few times but man is it painful! I don’t know how people live with that every day. It’s only happened 2 or 3 times and I already bought a big bottle of TUMS for my cube at work.

Fourth: sweating. Thank God the summer is ending because I have been a sweaty mess. This hormonal gift (insert sarcasm here) has required an extra set of underwear for gym visits in between cardio and lifting. Gross… My growing belly forced a towel change today too from my usual bath towel to a beach towel. Oh man…

Fifth: headaches. There’s only been a few but they usually occur during the most inconvenient times. My doctor said drink more water and snack more often. I'm on it! Apparently no matter how much water pregnant women drink, it's never enough! So I'm on a mission to drink A TON of water. Where's Meg? She is in the bathroom from drinking 4 gallons of water!!

Sixth: pregnancy brain, aka: momnesia. Hey, studies back it up!

And finally: sensitive gums. Hormonal changes and increased blood flow throughout the body can cause swelling and sensitivity. I told a newly pregnant friend today to book her cleaning in the first or second trimester, not third (though I'm sure it's different for everyone). There was so much blood coming out of my mouth on Tuesday, it looked like I lost a fight with Laila Ali.

Now after listing all of these not-so-fun things that can happen during pregnancy, I will definitely say that I've had a pretty easy pregnancy. No morning sickness, come on now! How lucky was that? I've also enjoyed feeling Foo Foo's movements (which have definitely increased this week - she's a wild one!). Now I just have to get Tony on board with the growing belly. He jokes around about it so maybe he'll come around sooner rather than later. After all, it's going to grow A LOT more at 28wks. I chased him around the kitchen after dinner tonight with my belly. I'm sure it was quite the sight. We were both in tears from laughing so hard!