journey of life

Throughout the pregnancy, I have been reluctant to use any medications. Other than the prenatal vitamins (which don’t really count), the occasional Tums (which are fine for pregnant ladies) and one Tylenol (again, safe in small doses) I have been drug free. Now that I am close to entering my second trimester, and of course consulted my doctor (as well as several other resources), I am now on drugs. Last night I broke medication sobriety and had my first dose of Zyrtec in an attempt to reduce the flow of mucus in my nasal passages as well as eliminate my sneezing fits that could quite possibly put me in the Guinness Book of World Records. I think if you have routinely been going through a whole box of tissues in two days with this pregnancy-induced mucus overload, you’d think about some safe decongestants as well. Plus, if you know me, and what I consider “normal” allergies, this has become insane. I plan on giving the medicine a few weeks to kick in and if I don’t notice a difference I might cut myself off. However, I am hopeful that I am able to curb the amount of snot and sneezing going on, especially when I’m eight months pregnant with a pea-sized bladder.

Just for the record, my friend Kristine, who must be a witch, or have been a witch in her previous life, knew I was pregnant. How? I don’t know, other than the fact when she came over for dinner last month she noticed I wasn’t having a glass of wine (oh, do I miss gorgeous red wines!), but was instead drinking 100% pure juice. Anyway, she somehow also knew how far along I was and has now predicted that I will have a boy. She’s got a fifty percent chance, but in order for me to grant her the official title of Witchy Woman, she’s got to be 100% correct in her prediction. So, for the record Kristine predicts a boy. If she manages to predict the due date correctly, I am going to play Ouija board with her and buy Powerball lottery tickets.

Many of our pregnancy fears went away this morning. As I told some family members, we are still scared, but no longer scared shitless.

The nuchal translucency exam showed us:
- The baby does not have excess fluid at the back of the neck, which is a good sign that the baby doesn’t have Down’s Syndrome. The technician checked to see if there was a nasal bone, which there was, another good sign that there aren’t chromosomal defects.
- Heartbeat was around 158 beats per minute and a closer look showed the heart valves pumping away and looking great.
- Amniotic fluid looks good.
- Cervix is closed and looks good.
- Placenta looks good.
- My right ovary is in good shape.
- The baby is growing on target and is a good size.

Another picture of the head with the nose to the left of the screen.

I’ve got my tennis shoes on, my dress hiked up and will muster up whatever energy I can find tucked away in hidden corners in order to jump over this hurdle. The end of February/beginning of March has been a point at which I have wanted to reach since the beginning of the new year. I’m very glad it is finally here.

Today has been a rough day on many levels. Physically and emotionally I am exhausted. After the trip to the grocery store I had some mild cramping similar to menstrual cramps, which of course, is scary (and annoying). To top it off I’ve not been sleeping well at night for several weeks now. I continue to be too drained to think about dinner lately, because I’m tired of trying to figure out what will sound good to eat, let alone what would be healthy for me to eat.

I have yet to gain any weight according to my at home scale (the doctor’s scale thinks I have put on three pounds, but with winter weather in full swing, I’ve been wearing insulated underwear, so I don’t think they get a true weight). However, my wardrobe selection has dwindled down to a week’s worth of slacks/pants and sweats. Most of my shirts still fit, with the exception of a couple of fitted oxfords that can’t contain my ever expanding boobs.

I am delighted to have several first time pregnant friends, both old and new, sharing this experience with me. I imagine that pregnancy is easier when you aren’t alone in new and unchartered territory.

And, on Monday, we have the nuchal translucency scan scheduled. We continue to be on pins and needles, hoping that everything goes well.

And, so the first trimester comes to an end. Round two is now in effect. *Ding*

Seriously, how did Martha manage to make wonderful gourmet meals when she was pregnant? Did she stock up on freezer foods? Have a personal chef? I know. She whipped up some gorgeous homemade hostess gifts and went door to door bartering her gifts and domestic skills in exchange for some grub.

Normally, I actually enjoy preparing dinner. I find delight in figuring out what meals to make. However, I am not enjoying it one bit right now. The smell of some foods can almost nauseate me, which makes cooking difficult considering I prepare a lot of stinky foods. Also, many of the “good for you” foods I have been eating (whole grains, salads, etc.) turn me off as well. And, lastly, nothing sounds/tastes good, so it’s hard to shop for meals ahead of time. As a result, we have been eating out much more than usual.

One of my girlfriend’s told me that she was told that at some point in time food takes on a whole new “flavor” when you are pregnant. I’ll let you know when I make that turn.

Photo credit : Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc.

Last night we watched “The Miracle of Life“, an Emmy award winning NOVA documentary from 1983. Both my husband and I had seen the video before, however, not through the eyes of expecting parents. I have to say I believe we were both a little disappointed. The majority of the film focused on how everything comes together before conception, with very little footage of the fetal growth and delivery. However, at the time, the documentary showed never before seen footage and it was a good starting point.

I have seen on that there is an updated version titled, “The Greatest Miracle” on the NOVA website and can be viewed through several online segments.

With one more week to go before the first trimester ends, I’m starting to really feel pregnant. Earlier this week I told my husband that the pregnancy is beginning to feel “real”. Maybe I came to the conclusion that whatever news I was going to hear at the doctor’s office on Wednesday, I was going to have some direction. A good, strong heartbeat meant good news and we would still be pregnant. No heartbeat or a weak heartbeat would be a warning sign, and possibly a miscarriage. Either way, I felt confident that things would be moving forward in one direction or another.

Some symptoms going on this week:

I have started having slight round ligament pain when I sneeze (which is quite often) or cough.
My breasts are still tender, sometimes terribly so early in the morning when I get up.
I have to get up to pee about every five hours at night, so usually just once at night. Also, when I wake up to pee, I’m fully awake, and it takes me a while to get back to sleep, something I am not accustomed to. In my past life I was known as a well-accomplished heavy sleeper, training for the Olympic trials for heavy sleeping. I am sure my body is now gearing me up for sleepless nights, where I am required to be cognizant of what I am doing at 3:23 am.
I’ll eat almost any food, as long as I don’t have to prepare it. It tastes much better that way.

A quick trip to the doctor’s office today (basically to see whether or not the baby still had a heartbeat) was successful. The nurse who took my blood pressure noted it was higher than usual and I’m sure my pulse was hovering around 100 beats per minute. The doctor had me lie down, squirted out the ultrasound goo on my bloated gut and with the Doppler, begin trying to find the baby’s heartbeat. After what seemed like an eternity (just before I began hyperventilating) she found the heartbeat, thumping away in the 170’s. Hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst, I let out a big sigh of relief. Then another breath to calm down my nerves (and my blood pressure and my heartbeat).

We concluded with me asking some questions, determining when I should make my next appointment and some meaningless talk about the inclimate winter weather brewing outside. Then, on home to continue this pregnancy.

Yes, it is way too early to even think about decorating a nursery, but I adore these wall stickers for a child’s bedroom. All of them.

One : Extra-strength (500 mg) Tylenol taken to alleviate neck pain. Multiple thoughts of how much better I would feel if I could actually take Advil, muscle relaxers and/or consecutive shots of tequila.

Two : Neck massages by my adoring husband (while I had my multiple thoughts, see above).

Four : Afternoon naps I have taken this week.

Five days : Until my next doctor’s appointment. I’m nervous, excited and anxious.

Fourteen days : Until I’m 12 weeks and out of the first trimester.

Two-hundred ten days : Until I reach 40 weeks. If I make it that far. That’s longer than an average public school year, people. Seventeen days longer.

Infinity : How long I have to wait before I can drink tequila again.