Month: March 2013

15 Weeks Pregnant With #2

It’s so true what they say about each pregnancy being different. Emotional differences, without a doubt. But there’s been no mistaking the physical differences as well.

I had absolutely no nausea when I was pregnant with my son Mylo. While people said I was lucky for that, my lack of pregnancy symptoms during the first trimester, often left me feeling not pregnant. Which lead to many sleepless nights.

This time, I had morning sickness beginning around week six until about 11 weeks. According to a few friends who had horrific nausea during their first trimester, what I experienced was a cake walk. It was never debilitating, just rather annoying. And there. It was enough to remind me this time, that yes, I was definitely pregnant. Ironically, the only thing that seemed to get me through my nausea, which began around lunchtime and could stick with me till bedtime, was food! Bagels and oranges. I couldn’t get enough of these during those five weeks.

I’ve been a leisure runner since my early 20’s. The day I found out I was pregnant with Mylo, I had just from a four mile run. That level of activity pretty much continued up until my ninth month.

Other then the runs I took in December – the month I didn’t yet know I was pregnant – my losses, coupled with a harsh winter, had me staying put until after the first trimester.

Another thing that’s noticeably different this time around… my belly. I never did manage to knock off the last six pounds left over from my first pregnancy, but my burgeoning bump is more than just weight. It’s rock hard, already!

15 weeks pregnant

People ask if I’m tired all the time. I remember napping a lot the first time I was pregnant. Mainly because I could, I wasn’t working in 2010. But between my part-time job, running an animal rescue and keeping up with my ever-so-active 2 year old, I don’t have the luxury of being tired with this pregnancy.

One thing I’ve had my fair share of this pregnancy and that I continue to have, is headaches. My husband Jason reminded me that I also had them with Mylo. In fact I have one right now. This blog post, which could go on and on (I haven’t covered my bizarre cheese doodle craving yet) is coming to an abrupt close.

Finding Out I’m Pregnant

It was no deep dark secret that we’ve been trying to add to our family.

I miscarried for the second time last October and spent all of November trying to wrap my head around it. I just wasn’t convinced that I had carried two unhealthy babies. Nor did I believe that it was stress related. Thanks to the encouragement of a good friend who had went through the exact same thing, I pursued a doctor who would run some tests and then supported my efforts to keep my next pregnancy.

Never did I think the following month we’d become pregnant. When I missed my period around the New Year I took a pregnancy test. Minutes later, one faint line appeared. I tossed it in the bathroom garbage. I waited a few more days when I calculated 4 + weeks pregnant (if I was even pregnant) to take another. Again, I peed on a stick early in the morning. Minutes later, only one line appeared.

I lay back in bed and tossed and turned. I didn’t understand how I could be late, but test negative. Was I already in the process of miscarrying? Weeks four to five proved a crucial time in my prior pregnancies — it’s when I had had my two other losses. I didn’t want to start the suppositories if I wasn’t pregnant (they could prevent me from ovulating the following month) and yet if I was pregnant, the suppositories could help me keep the pregnancy.

Jason and I mulled it over in bed and decided I would make an appointment to see Dr. Brennan to have a blood test done.

Later that morning I was back in the bathroom when I saw the pink shiny wrapper of the pregnancy test staring back at me. Something made me pick it up and look at it. Yep, I garbage picked. I couldn’t believe my eyes, there was not one but TWO lines! One very bright and the other more faint. I dug deeper into the garbage and picked up the first pregnancy test. I pulled it out of its wrapper and same thing, two lines. One bright, one even fainter.

Top one was taken at 4 weeks 3 days. Bottom one at 4 weeks.

Top one was taken at 4 weeks 3 days. Bottom one at 4 weeks.

I called for Jason, who was in Mylo’s room, and blurted out “I AM pregnant!” There was a long hug and some tears of joy all while Mylo danced around us. It was a few days into the New Year, and one of the happiest moments of my life.

I’ll admit, patience has never been one of my strongest virtues. Knowing this, my husband told me, “it would have paid to be patient.” He was right. For once.

 

A Brother or Sister for Mylo

I am thrilled, relieved and pleased to share that we are 13 1/2 weeks pregnant!

Given last year’s losses, I was cautiously optimistic that I would ever make it past five weeks, let alone make it past the first trimester. But this time, I got a little help along the way in the form of vaginal suppositories. And I’m certain that’s why this baby has stayed.

I am grateful for the assistance I got from Dr. Brennan in Brooklyn. And I am so glad I pushed for the suppositories despite him pushing back at one point. On the other hand, I am happy to no longer have to wait up to an hour to see Dr. Brennan, or have my scheduled appointments routinely canceled because he has a mom in labor. I am confident in our decision to bring this baby into the world at home. And relieved that my insurance company approved our request to work with a homebirth midwife!

So much more about the highs and lows of this pregnancy but for now, we await patiently for September 2013 when we get to meet the child who will make Mylo a big brother!

baby2

12 week scan. I swear the baby waved at me 🙂