Today I'm 14 weeks and am finally, officially, in the 2nd trimester. Yay!!! I know it's an arbitrary marker (obviously, since there are so many different ways to calculate it), but I'm enormously glad and grateful to be here, nonetheless.
We had a quick and dirty ultrasound on Wednesday just for my peace of mind. Smudgie still looks good. He was much more active than he's been any other time, doing the worm, shaking his little legs around, and generally putting on a show before settling in for a little snooze. He clearly likes to suck his thumb--at both this scan and the NT scan he had his little hand up to his mouth. It was so, so sweet and melted my heart.
We met another OB in the practice. This one performs about 1/3 of the deliveries, so I was glad to get to know him. He took lots of time with us after the scan, answering our questions about weight gain, acid reflux and delivering on Yom Kippur--that last being Lawyer Guy's concern (as I expected, there will be an OB on call even on the high holy days. No hospital janitor need deliver this baby, no matter when he comes).
The doctor told me I'll start to feel movement in not less than one month and not more than two. He also said that I'll probably be able to relax more after that point, but until then I can call the office and come in whenever I get worried. I really love how understanding my practice is!
Our next appointment is our level 1 anatomy scan at 16 weeks. It's the day after Easter. It's also the arbitrary point I've chosen to "go public" with our news--though not on Facebook. I don't know when or if that will ever happen. But I'm going to let my mom and in-laws tell relatives, co-workers, etc after the 16-week scan, if all goes well. And I'll have to speak with the director of my graduate program and the writing program coordinator where I teach about taking time off, keeping my fellowship, returning to teaching later next year, all that good stuff I'm too nervous to address right now.
For now, I'm still taking things slow. I'm getting back into yoga after a long break. I'm trying to get as much studying done as I can manage, while still falling asleep on the couch for an hour every afternoon. I'm trying to eat lots of fruits and veggies, some fish, and other healthy foods. I'm planning to tell a friend or two this weekend, but no more than that.
So much of what has happened and is happening doesn't seem real. Did I really suffer for two years to get to this point? Am I really growing a baby inside me right now? Isn't this all some big cosmic practical joke?
But that's a post for another time.
I'm back, and it's hopefully not a once-off!!
7 years ago
That's wonderful news! And yes, once you can feel movement, you'll be more at ease. Congrats on making it to the 2nd trimester. Enjoy yoga. Did you get the DVD link I sent you?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the second trimester! You're right, it's arbitrary but significant all at once.
ReplyDeleteOMG, your last paragraph really hit me. Amen, sister, amen. I'm so glad the u/s went well and Smudgie is all content in there.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I saw your comment on... uh... Fairytale Ending?'s blog - something about just feeling flabby and not 'showing' but definitely not feeling cute.
I completely hear you and wanted to send some love your way. Seems I'm somehow following lots of pregnant twigs right now and I feel like a heifer when I compare myself. (LOL, no offense to them, I love them all, but it's hard to not internalize.)
Here's the thing. Your belly will pop and it will "catch up" with whatever you're feeling is growing in the rest of you. I promise. It will even out. You're doing great - Smudgie is happy and healthy and that's all you need to worry about. (Yes, I'm saying that to myself as well.) ;)
Happy 2nd tri!!!!!
Welcome! What an awesome point to have arrived at! Hooray for Smudgie, Sloper, and LG!!! Keep nappin', girl. xoxo
ReplyDeleteYAY!!! I'm so excited that you're in the 2nd trimester already. Praying for another 26 smooth weeks for you and Smudgie!
ReplyDeleteSuper! Studying while pregnant has to be a huge challenge. I'm glad you're able to balance everyhting AND find time for yoga (good for you-- I think it will really help with the weight gain and discomfort of later pregnancy).
ReplyDeleteI hear you on the last paragraph-- it definitely gets more real when you feel the baby move. Soooo exciting.
Yay! I'm 13w3d so I've decided I'm crossing over into 2nd tri now since that's exactly a third :). Your OB sounds awesome. I just had an ultrasound yesterday and now don't get another till 18 weeks--how will I survive that long without checking up on the little one?! It's all nervewracking & surreal after all the struggle, but it sounds like you're starting to feel able to really enjoy & believe it, and I'm so happy for you!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful news! Things really do seem to be going smoothly for you. I'm very happy for you and sending healthy positive vibes your way!
ReplyDeleteYay, you're back!! So happy to see an update-- really missing your posts, but happy to see you on Twitter now & then.
ReplyDeleteI didn't feel "cute" & pregnant (obviously round tummy) until about 25 weeks-- from then until the end, I've never felt more beautiful in my life. The bigger I got, the prettier I felt. I think it was one of the few times in my life that I didn't struggle with my body image.
I felt Liam at 22 weeks-- it's amazing. I can't wait for you to experience it. Then, the worrying really does start to go away because you have a constant reminder that your baby is thriving. There better be a post on that one!!
yaay for 2T and getting another look at smudgie! are you guys going to find out the sex at the 16 week scan? i'm getting a strong boy vibe here. do you guys have a *feeling*? hope work magically gets done on its own and that time flies by for you so that it's all done and you can relax again :o) xoxo.
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! Welcome to the second tri! I'm doing a happy dance for you, LG and Smudgie:) Isn't the thumb-sucking the cutest thing ever? Woowoo likes to do it too.
ReplyDeleteDid you meet with Dr. B at this appointment? I absolutely LOVE him (and no, I'm not being biased since he's my primary...hehe). My 20-week scan is the day after Easter as well. I love that we're on the same schedule!
Enjoy your weekend knowing Smudgie is strong and healthy. Hopefully you'll start to be a little less tired now that you're officially in the 2nd tri.
Yay! So glad things are going well!
ReplyDeleteIt is an arbitrary number, but the general idea is still an important one. Loss community, we know too much for our own good, blah blah, but the most important point is that **everything is all still going right.** Which is all you can ask for, at any present moment.
ReplyDeleteUm, of course there's an OB on call. THese would be some amazing doctors if they had the hotline to the almighty to stop labor. My cobbler (what-EVER, fabulous shoes are almost as important as childbirth) is always so concerned people will be pissed that he doesn't work the high holy days. Dude, it's ok. You revitalize my expensive heels like no one else. (This story was relevant. Really.)
I whole-heartedly agree: feeling movement is built in reassurance. That is going to be SO AWESOME for your psyche (and it's just freaking awesome, too).
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, I couldn't discuss it on FB until the babies were safely in the outside world. So I totally get how you feel. Just take it a day at a time and see how comfie you feel sharing the news. The movement may make you feel better than you can imagine! xoxo
I'm thrilled for you to make this very big milestone! You give me hope :)
ReplyDeleteIt's not a joke at all but of course you'd feel that way. You're waiting for the balloon to pop but in that try to enjoy every single moment and second of it. Yoga is going to work wonders for you while delivering. I think it'll become so much more real to you once you begin to tell people.
ReplyDeleteAlways keep breathing and realize you're doing the greatest thing any human being can...creating a life.
p.s. how cute that he sucks his thumb!
FOURTEEN WEEKS! Slopie, my friend, this is such a wonderful milestone. You're in the 2nd trimester! This is HUGE! While I know you won't be able to relax entirely until this baby is safe and healthy in your arms, I just know everything is AOK. I think it's a boy, too, btw. For both of us :). xoxo
ReplyDeleteHooray for second trimester, Sloper!! Awesome.
ReplyDeleteKeep on growing smudgie!!
This is definitely a milestone! Congrats on getting here, babe.
ReplyDelete