Well, as of today I am 8 weeks pregnant. Our official due date is July 13th, 2008. Today I found out that all of my college roommates from my freshman year are also pregnant and expecting their first child. How weird is that? Julie is due April 8th, Kenzie is due in March 13th, and Cheryl is due around the same time I am due in July (We think the 14th). So, there was my "shout out" to the pregnate rommate club! This is how I found out about the baby blog!
So, Michael and I found out that we were pregnant 3 weeks into the pregnancy. It was an accident and we were not planning it, but I knew there was a "possibility" of "exposure" (if that's what you want to call it) so I started testing as soon as I could. I started taking folic acid "just in case." I took a test on a Monday and it was negative. That very same Friday, I had a positive test. Woopsy! So, that very same day I made a doctor's appointment and went to the Perinatal Center. We were a little concerned at first because I had been taking some medication that could be detrimental to the health and development of the baby. But, at our second visit, we found out that taking it within the first three weeks would not have an effect on the baby! YEAH!! The first ultrasound was so early there was nothing to detect. But, the second one at six weeks yielded a little blob the size of a grain of rice and a REALLY REALLY fast little heart beat. YEAH! IT'S ALIVE!!! Hearing the heart beat for the first time really made everything register.
Aside from hearing the heartbeat, I guess you could say the pregnancy has been "real" to me because from the Sunday after we found out until now I have been super sick. The doctor gave me nausea pills which keep me from throwing up but do not keep me from still feeling like I am about to throw up. Other than that, I have been extremely exhausted. I can't cook, clean, go shopping, or barely drive. I get car sick and tired. I tried going to the store twice. Both times I had to sit down in the floor to rest. I can't really eat either. I'm hungry but as soon as I eat, I feel sick again. And, nothing tastes good. If I do have a food craving, I ask Michael or Mom to run and get it because that usually means I will actually eat. . . and I do! But, cravings are rare right now. I have actually LOST weight since I first got pregnant. The doctor's said that is normal in the first trimester if you are sick a lot.
I tried teaching at first. But, pretty soon it became clear that my body just did not have the energy or the stability to stand up in a classroom of kids all day long. I could barely get out of bed and take a shower! As of November 19th, I have been on medical leave and will be out for the rest of the semester. The doctor's say that I should start feeling better in my second trimester (December 31st - I'm counting the days) and I can start taking my medicine again. So, hopefully, by January 7th, I will be feeling more like myself again and can FUNCTION! Right now I am home in Morristown so that Mom can help take care of me. I'm kind of high maintenance right now. :)
Monday we went to the doctor again. My progesterone levels were low so they had to put me on some pills, which sort of made me more sick. We got to hear the baby's hear beat again. This time it was 7 weeks and four days old so it wanted to make sure we heard it. It was LOUD, FAST, and CLEAR! We found out today that my screening for Cystic Fybrosis came back negative, so that's good!
So, at the time I am writing this, we really haven't told many people that we are pregnant. The first thing the doctor said to me when I saw him was, "You know, one in four women have a miscarriage." And then he proceded to tell me all of the aweful details. I was horrified! It was really hard to be excited with those grim statistics. But, I was told that after establishing a heartbeat, our chances for a miscarriage have gone down to less than 9%. So, I think I feel like it is safe to tell people now.
We have our next visit on the 20th for some more screening and I should have another ultrasound picture then too! I'll be sure to post an update and a new picture if we have one.
I know no one will read this right NOW, but when we share this site, I want to be sure to thank everyone for their prayers and support. We need it! I'm not a huge fan of Hillary Clinton, but I think she was right when she said "It takes a village to raise a child." (Even before they are born!)
baby ticker
