Rogue hiccups and other events in the wild world of the 4th month.

Hello everyone!  I know it’s been weeks upon weeks since I’ve blogged.  The reason is good, however – my pregnancy has been delightfully uneventful.  For the record, I’m now 14 weeks and one day along.  The OB I saw two weeks ago confirmed (as I had suspected) that I was at least a week ahead of what the first ultrasound showed.  My new, adjusted due date is now February 27, 2008 (and yes, 2008 is a leap year). 

My only quasi-complaint is that I have rogue hiccups about 3 times a day - not 3 bouts of hiccups; 3 total hiccups each completely out of the blue.  It’s like my insides are tickling my abdominal wall, or something.    That and sometimes I wake up in the night in the oddest of sleep positions (like sleeping sorta on my side resting on the top of my head instead of the side – which can lead to some *awesome* neckaches). 

 Some exciting things have happened too. 

 Every once in a while (at this point, it’s like once every 3 days), when I’m winding down for bed I have the oddest sensation: it’s like someone very gently poking me with their finger – but from the inside.  It makes me laugh because at the size our baby is, that’s like the hugest karate kick ever made for me to even feel it (an action very enthusiastically acted out by my friend, Latisha from work).

Morning sickness is (as I’m counting it) officially over.  I’m even almost up to eating most of what I would consider a whole meal before I was pregnant (not very much, but more than the fistfull-maximum per sitting that it was the last time I posted).  I’m VERY excited about this.  I’ve never been so excited to gain weight.  So now, as long as I pace myself and don’t rush through my meals, I can keep it down – YAY! 

We bought a car (with the wonderful help of our Church), about two weeks ago.  We had hoped to go vehicle free for a while – then we discovered I was pregnant, and I get really worn out too fast for hauling groceries home on a bike to really be feasible.  So, we’re now the proud owners of a ‘93 Ford Probe GT that was previously owned by a mechanic.  We’re so incredibly grateful for the provisions that came into play for us to acquire what is turning out to be a pretty darn reliable vehicle. 

 I’ve finally, with much anxiety, made my decision in the OB/Midwife debate.  After meeting the midwives who run the Birth Center here in Bellingham, and the OB that was available for my due date, I (along with Matt, of course) decided to go the midwife route.  I know a lot of people think we’re crazy – especially for our first baby.  For one, I’m not thrilled with St. Joseph’s reputation (or rather lack-thereof)  for healthy, non-overly-invasive childbirths.  For two, the OB I saw seemed overly intent on doing everything his way.  Now, in general, for doctors treating something like cancer, this would be a good thing.  I do not have cancer, just simply having a baby – a normal biological process.  If my pregnancy proves to be anything other than a normal, low-risk pregnancy, I will gladly take the care and advice of a Perinatologist.  Until proven, however, I’d like to be treated like a human, not a number like I was in that OB’s office (a friend of mine at work wasn’t thrilled with his care either).  For example, I waited in an exam room, wearing naught but a little paper sheet and my t-shirt for more than half an hour before someone made any attempt to tell us what was going on.  Quite to the contrary, our visit with the Midwife left us feeling empowered, cared for, and genuinely valued as human beings going through the biggest event of our lives.    In short, it felt good.  And considering the stress of having a baby, having a practitioner that makes you feel like “you can do it”, and that you have a partner and coach (besides your spouse) in making it all work out, makes all the difference.  I also like knowing that with the midwife, I can labor and/or deliver in a birthing tub, but also have all the same tests and pre-delivery procedures done that an OB would do, plus immediate transfer to the hospital (a two minute drive by car) if any complication arises.  So finally my decision is made: I’m not going to give birth in the hospital at all.  (For more info, check out http://bellinghambirthcenter.com/)  My next appointment is on Tuesday, September 4th. 

Let’s see… what else?  I think that’s pretty much it.    Love you guys!  (I also really enjoy your comments!)

9 weeks 4 days and counting…

Hello friends.  Wow, what a week.  I’m SO incredibly glad it’s the weekend. 

 Last week, I had a couple of days where I thought, “Huh? I wasn’t expecting morning sickness to back off this soon…”  Well, morning sickness taught me.  Friday afternoon I was exhausted – I even almost fell asleep while I was taking a donor’s BP!  Needless to say, I went to bed that night without passing GO, and certainly without collecting $200.  Unfortunately, I was up again in three hours, wide awake and dry-heaving until I had to get up at 5:30am for work – (the only moderate upside to this was catching a fascinating episode of NOVA about the latest in genetic research/gene therapy).  I got to work, and within an hour I was puking.  Fun fun.  Saturday was rough. 

Since then, I can hardly keep anything down.  I knew I was supposed to be eating smaller, more frequent meals, but this is getting rediculous.  I can only eat about a fist-full’s worth of food at a time or I’m running for the bathroom.  What this means: I’m hungry, a lot.  Because my schedule doesn’t allow me to just graze all stinking day long.  I’ve actually lost about 3 pounds since I discovered I was pregnant, thanks to this oh-so-yummy roller coaster.  By the end of this month, I should have gained at least 3.  Augh.  I hope I’m fortunate enough to have this yucky stuff for just a few more weeks rather than my whole pregnancy. 

So, now that I’ve gotten all the cons of being prego off my rather swollen and uncomfortable chest, some awesome things have happened as well:

1. My husband is AWESOME.  I may have to keep moving at work, but when I get home if I just need to stop moving, Matt is all over getting stuff done that needs to get done.  If the smell of the animal cages is bothering me, he gets right up and cleans the cages.  If the dishes are over-flowing and I can’t stand and move around without puking, he jumps right in and does a load of dishes or laundry so we have work clothes in the morning.  He’s my hero.  And he puts up with my crap.

2.  My  friends at work find me funnier.  They say I’m a little edgier, Matt says I’m a little mean.  I’m just trying to keep a good sense of humor when I’m not comfortable (though I’m concious of my ability to be difficult so I’m trying to be gentle).  But, if it makes work easier to manage, I’ll take it.

3.  It’s neat knowing that there’s something growing inside me that doesn’t need to be oblitterated with antibiotics (like most foreign growths…)  I like reading the week-by-week plays on WebMD that tell me what my baby’s growing is doing this week – this week, for example, arms and legs are getting longer and fingerprints are forming!  Pretty neat stuff!

4.  Stuff I might otherwise stay away from, I can eat – red meat, cheeses, nearly exorbitant amounts of fresh fruit and potatoes in pretty much any form…  Of course this is great so long as I can keep them down, but those are the foods I crave almost constantly lately.  When I was dieting I had cut red meat and cheese almost completely out.  French fries, not a chance.  Now, not only to I have the assurance that “if baby wants it, baby needs it for something”, but most of the pregnancy nutrition articles say too that lean red meat, and cheeses pack some of the best nutrition specific to building a healthy baby.  Very cool.

5.  Cats and dogs aren’t the only species that enjoy a good belly-rub.  My lower abdomen, with all it’s growing, really enjoys a good rub now and then.  Very satisfying.

 Well, that’s that for now.    I love you all.  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.