A new door opened for me this week; I’m finally starting to feel better. I still get a little green at night but it’s been nothing compared to what I experienced last month, which was brutal to say the least. I’m happy to report that aside from the daily bouts with heartburn I’m feeling pretty OK. My appetite has dropped quite a bit as well and I’m not sure why that is as I was told that the second trimester brings with it the most cravings. I still have them but they pale in comparison to the first three months when I was baking cinnamon sticky buns at 9 PM at night, eating popcorn for breakfast, pancakes for dinner, an pierogies every minute of the day. Seriously, it’s laughable the number of things I have sought out after having seen a commercial.
Even the headaches have subsided but I am told that since I’m prone to them they’ll be back. I’ve been pretty strict with my pregnancy so far. I haven’t touched a drop of caffeine since I found out. I’ve avoided all sugar substitutes, no more diet drinks, Splenda, or the like. I no longer eat fish (although, I have had some shrimp, lobster, and clams). I have avoided alcohol (of course), unsafe cheeses, and most medications. (Advil was a difficult crutch to saw in half.) I have taken half a Tylenol three times (when headaches became unbearable) and I do shots of Mylanta for when the heartburn eats my face or I feel like partying. Other than that, I think I’ve been pretty good.
The headaches have been hard to deal with, however. The first month of my pregnancy brought with it two migraines, which I haven’t had since I was a menstruating teenager. Both times Tobyjoe covered my head with bags of frozen fruit and vegetables and I sat there in the dark, sobbing. I now realize why some folks contemplate suicide while suffering from a migraine. (Worst days of my pregnancy so far.) Since then, I have only had moderate to severe headaches, nothing compared to a migraine, but still a big pain as they last for what seems like eternity. Last week I had a headache for almost 48 hours. I took half a Tylenol and it didn’t help so I simply gave up. I spoke to my doctor about the headaches on Monday who suggested, that the next time I feel one coming on, I take more than just half a Tylenol and I wash it down with a caffeinated latte. Up until now, I have been trying to keep my baby caffeine free. But if baby wants to keep mama from jumping in front of the subway, baby will have to deal with the possible run-in with a jolt of caffeine.
The first 3 months didn’t bring me much in the way of weight gain, but I made up for lost time during the fourth month when I added 5 pounds to my measly 3. It is suggested that a pregnant woman try and keep her total weight gain between 25 to 30 pounds. And it’s best to aim for no more then 25. That means I should put on no more than 7 to 10 pounds by week 20. I am 16 weeks and 4 days today. Based on those numbers, I’m not doing so well. How is it I’m eating less and gaining more? I now weigh more than I have ever weighed in my entire life, which is a painful reality to accept when you were at least 10 pounds overweight to begin with. (And now for something I said I’d never do… here’s some unsolicited advice! To all those ladies who are thinking about getting pregnant: get into shape before doing so. Lose whatever weight you want to lose, gain whatever weight you want to gain, but do it before getting pregnant. I wish I had. I wish I had worked more on my core, that’s for sure.)
I do hit the gym nearly every day and on the days where I do not, I practice 50 minutes of prenatal yoga in my living room using a DVD a friend of mine lent me. Exercise has helped me out immensely. My hips are really sore at the end of the day and yoga helps alleviate that. And I think concentrating on my breath helps with all the headaches. I use the elliptical machine at the gym while I watch shows like Regis and Kelly, Rachel Ray, and The View. Daytime television leaves a lot to be desired, although I have grown quite fond of Regis over the last couple of months. I think I might even be developing a crush on the guy. Daytime TV? Regis and Kelly? The View? I’m well on my way to Exit Stereotypical Motherhood.
Maybe Regis is your new craving?
Now, that’s an interesting idea. I’m going to send him a Valentine’s day and see if the feeling’s mutual.
Happy Valentine’s Day… to you and Tobyjoe and the wee one.
Here’s hoping for a smoother second and third trimester than your first!
I get the feeling that the third is gonna be an absolute nightmare for me but Tobyjoe is always accusing me of being negative and, well, that’s exactly what I’m doing here, assuming the worst and all.
Thank you, guys. Y’all are sweet.
The View is probably the source of your headaches.
Yeah, that show is one step above total suckage. Admittedly, and just to save whatever face I have left, I have only seen it twice and never in its entirety and only because I’m at the gym and nothing else is on.
Those ladies and their opinions! One must ask, “Why do we care what you think?”
Yet.
I gotta also add that daytime TV doesn’t do much in the way of helping women (SAHMs) act nicer toward other SAHMs. It’s no wonder there are so many mean, vindictive bitches out there. With shows like The View, Today, Judge Judy, and iVillage, it’s no wonder we all sit stew with insecurity and jealousy. What lousy TV.
I don’t watch it once I get home. The TV stays off until 6 PM or later.
morning tv is the best. though i hate rachel ray. so i need to find something else for that 10-11 spot.
Who is she up against? Is it her voice, Tien? Or her wardrobe? Her topics? Do you watch her at all? I have seen 1 and half of her shows. The one about boy/girl sleepovers and another with Rachelle Welche (sp?)
Dove chocolate. That is the secret to an active blob during those screenings. I had to go back a second time because of her position and saw someone who was back for a 4th time trying to get a good position to do the remainder of the level 2 sonogram (at 20 weeks). The lady at the desk told me to eat a piece of chocolate (she said Dove and who am I to argue) about 15 minutes prior to the appointment. That is when I found out I was having a girl. As I was walking back to the subway I saw a baby store and before I knew it I had my first outfit for Grace (which she wore once because it was so not practical).
I love Dove chocolate. You don’t have to twist my arm. So, lay off the espresso and instead eat some chocolate. I can totally do that.
Rachel, I gather since you went twice, you didn’t find out at week 20? When did you find out? The suspense is killing me!
it’s great to hear things are starting to even out a bit :) When you mentioned migraines I had sympathy pains. I get migraines a few times a year and the only thing that helps is soaking a cloth in cold apple cider vinegar and laying that over my forehead. The smell helps it pass faster, somehow. Also sometimes a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water will help – I have actually staved off a migrained once when I started seeing the lights by doing that.
anyway, there’s my unsolicited advice. hope things continue on the same vector they seem to be on!
Ashley, that sounds brilliant. I haven’t tried that one. To be quite honest, I really don’t mind unsolicited advice, especially when it’s in reference to something as horrible as a migraine. I will try that the next time I feel one coming on. Thank you!
I think you need to watch Days of Our Lives instead.
Listen here, Missy. I think I’m done listening to your advice. Ndugu isn’t allowed to read your letters anymore either.
Glad to hear you’re feeling better! My doc said most people start feeling better around week 16, so we’re almost there! Are you sure you’re week 16? My doc said 15 and change today, must be the time zones wink Also, my due date was changed to August 4, same as you! Now if we both have boys that will definitely mean there’s a glitch in the Matrix. We find out the sex March 13th. Here’s to hoping we are on the blue team! Oh and funny thing happened when we listened to the heartbeat today, the baby kicked at it. Ha! Crazy kids…
It was a week later. I was so bummed. She was not in position to determine the sex and they could not get a clear shot of her spine. The 20 week US is really time consuming. They document everything they can for analysis. I went to the screening by myself the second time because brian could not get off work. I have to say it was pretty awesome.
I looked at the print out and it said my anticipated due date was at earliest the 18th and the latest the 23rd. We had grace on the 20th and according to Greening, a week late. I think it is all chicken feet and runes.
I also gained 47 pounds and had a 7.4 pound child and 40 pound ass.
Mihow I can tell you what my doctor told me about the eating less and gaining more situation, as I had the same thing…. She said your digestive system becomes much more efficient during pregnancy, and slows down. More of your food is absorbed, to be used to build the little one. And just think, you are also carrying around all that amniotic fluid, and the placenta gets to be pretty big by the end of it all. It’s not all baby to gain! Baby comes with baggage. Although, 7 months post-natal, I have to say I wish some of that baggage would get up and go away now. ;)
Glad to hear you’re feeling better, hoolio. About time.
Rachel, you made me laugh long and hard when I read your comment. Thank you for that one.
also, Wendy, well that’s scary. I had no idea. Here, I’ve been pretty much eating as much as I want believing that my metabolism was way up and I could afford to. That’s coming to an end.
Dee, I might be 15 weeks. I am not sure.