Thanks for all of your lovely comments on our news yesterday! Did you like how I snuck it in there? (Here's a pic of the tank in action if you're curious.) I promise to keep pregnancy posts to a minimum, but since it's kind of taken over my mind, it can't help but make it onto the blog occasionally, right? So here's one.
I'm a few weeks into the 2nd trimester by this point, but now that the word's out, I can do a little recap of what's been going on so far... And first, people of the world, you should know: pregnancy doesn't guarantee complete misery and throwing up all day! Usually people aren't discussing it early on and then later you just hear about the people who really felt bad, so I assumed the worst of how it would go. I was lucky to overall feel fine - though with the exhaustion and some other stuff, the first trimester still wasn't necessarily my favorite thing ever.
There were a few things that I found really helpful for coping in those rockier weeks, and I think anyone else might find the same:
1.
unlimited refills: no, not of beer - the pint glasses around here have instead been getting lots of use as big water glasses - I was sooo thirsty right from the get-go and needed water handy at all times.
2. a
ctivity: I kept up my normal exercise routines (though with a bit less intensity), and I'm convinced this was a huge help in feeling relatively good, crazy hormones considered. It was a good distraction when I was feeling a bit yucky or anxious, and it could be a serious boost to energy levels when I really needed that.
3.
permission to veg: though I often tried to get out for a walk as a fix when I really felt exhausted, sometimes you just have to give in and allow some rest - laying on the couch with Netflix on the iPad was the only thing that kept me awake until Peter came home for dinner on plenty of days.
4.
the internet: browsing pregnancy websites is probably not the best ever idea for a type-A worrier like me (I'm not allowed on WebMD), but they were actually quite soothing at times, like when I needed confirmation that those three pregnancy tests really could be right, even though I wasn't puking all the time like I expected after all the stories I heard.
5.
easy snacks: the only times I really got nauseous were when I got too hungry, so I quickly learned that I needed to eat smaller and more frequent meals, and have around easy snacks that pack a good energy punch - these
power balls were perfect to grab out of the fridge (until I developed a slight aversion, and then granola bars did the trick, or apple slices dipped in Nutella... one of the few indulgences I've allowed!).
(no pregnancy-specific photos of me in the 1st trimester, but we did get several of this one, including a cute little hand!)
It's kind of mind-boggling and crazy all the things that are happening inside of me - and how much more there is to go! I've hardly come to terms with what it's all going to be in the end. Although I'm barely showing yet, neither of us can quite get over the fact that my belly is actually starting to bump out a bit... it's so weird but also exciting - this is all really happening!
So because I think it's nice to take a little time to reflect (and I think it's kind of fun to read these), I thought I'd fill in the occasional Q&A. Here's the first trimester:
Due date? October 21.
Found out? February 10 (at only 4 weeks - so it felt like an eternity to complete the trimester!).
Lifestyle changes? earlier dinners have become a must - so hungry! Runs are still happening with the same frequency, but a bit shorter and progressively slower. Also, from day 1 of finding out, I started having to get up to pee, every. darn. night.
Symptoms? overall, really not bad. Almost no nausea, just weeks straight of feeling blah and under the weather - which made me a little cranky - along with plenty of low energy levels and sleepiness. (Oh, and the bloating. Ick.) By 17 weeks the tiredness has mostly passed; some round ligament pain has replaced any other abdominal stuff, but pretty much I feel good!
Cravings? nothing particular, though starchy things like bagels and crackers often sounded best, along with an occasional serious hankering for falafel.
Aversions? early on, hummus and bell peppers had to go, but that may be because I lunched on them every day for too long already... Also, I thought I would miss beer & wine, but they really didn't sound appealing at first. (Now I miss them.)
Maternity clothes? none needed in 1st trimester though pants occasionally felt a little snug by the end of it and shirts got a bit tight in the (
ahem) chest right away (and are now getting tight at the belly too).
Best thing so far? getting to tell our family and friends the good news after a couple of ultrasounds - hearing a heartbeat and seeing the little one wiggle around on an ultrasound (x2 since the first time they couldn't get all the measurements needed - I didn't mind the bonus viewing in the least) made it real and so exciting. And all of their excitement made it even better.
Looking forward to? feeling movement for the first time, which I hear could be any time now...
