14 Week Updates: Baby 2.0

How far along? Exactly 14 weeks today

How big is baby? According to my baby apps, our little one is now the size of a lemon and can squint, frown, & grimace. Thanks to my ultrasound today, I can tell you that our baby is now exactly 3 ounces and measuring 9 cm from the top of its head to its rump. Baby was measuring right on schedule (well, a little ahead!) at 14 weeks 1 day and had a 143 heart rate. All looked great- baby was still moving all over the place and dare I say- seems to have long legs just like Papa and big sister Iyla!

Baby leg!

Weight gain? Almost another 2 pounds from last week! Insane. 118.2 pounds this morning to be exact. The gain doesn't seem to be showing any signs of slowing, and I am officially up 8.2 pounds total in my first trimester. And happy to OFFICIALLY have graduated to the 2nd trimester!

Sleep? Not great the last few nights. I'm waking at LEAST 10 or more times, getting up to use the restroom or just waking between each sleep cycle. Leaves me feeling quite sleepy during the day.

Food cravings/aversions? I've been having an aversion to seafood this past week. Last night I cooked steaks and after the first bite didn't want anymore (which may have been entirely due to my cooking vs. an actual aversion to red meat)!

Symptoms? Both of my inner thighs feel like they are constantly pulled, which I remember from my pregnancy with Iyla. Not super fun, and I think has to do with the spreading of my hips and pelvis. I also threw up one morning this past week, which I haven't done since 8 weeks! I've been feeling extra tired and voraciously hungry overall this past week. And my skin has been feeling quite itchy.

Big sister? Still as sweet as can be, hugging my belly multiple times per day and saying "I love your baby! Does the baby like when I snuggle it? When I talk to it?" LOVE.

Snuggling the baby

Although she loves to lavish kisses on MY belly, these days when I try to kiss hers she likes to tell me "no Honey, the belly shop is closed." I die every time. : )

Most looking forward to? My "Plan B" trip for this coming weekend, which is replacing the girls' Mexico getaway I had to sadly cancel (did I mention F*** YOU ZIKA VIRUS)?!  I booked myself 3 nights at a local spa resort I love 30 minute outside of town, and am SO happy the forecast looks to be sunny and in the 70's- so pool time can still be had! Still NO match for a beach getaway, but at least I'll be in beautiful nature setting with lots of R&R and NO virus carrying mosquitoes. I'll take it!

F*** You, Zika Virus

Never heard of the Zika Virus? Well, neither had I, before yesterday afternoon.

(and no, I do not have the Zika Virus).

I've had a girl's trip to Mexico planned for months now- to join 6 of my dearest high school girlfriends for 3 days/nights of catching up and relaxation. I'd planned to surprise them all with my pregnancy upon arrival, and was SO looking forward to this time away. I had my suits purchased, had tried on all sundresses and found several that fit over my belly, had secured round-the-clock help with Iyla- you name it, I was READY.

Yesterday I happened to be posting on one of my Facebook Mama groups about recommendations for the upcoming Babymoon trip BC and I were hoping to plan. Someone mentioned that I should be sure not to travel to anywhere in South America/Mexico, due to an outbreak of the Zika Virus.

The WHAT?

I quickly replied that- ahem- I was supposed to depart for Mexico NEXT WEEK, and should I be concerned? I rash of reposes to the tune of YES had me immediately stalking Google.

I learned this was a virus transmitted by mosquitos, and wasn't much of a concern UNLESS YOU WERE PREGNANT. You see, this virus- which has NO vaccine or cure- has been linked to alarmingly increased cases of Microcephaly:

Microcephaly is condition where a baby’s head is much smaller than expected. During pregnancy, a baby’s head grows because the baby’s brain grows. Microcephaly can occur because a baby’s brain has not developed properly during pregnancy or has stopped growing after birth, which results in a smaller head size. Microcephaly can be an isolated condition, meaning that it can occur with no other major birth defects, or it can occur in combination with other major birth defects.

After growing increasingly alarmed, I decided the wisest thing was to call my OB here in Austin for reassurance. Mind you, my clinic here is comprised of extremely left leaning, liberal, granola type MDs and Midwives… and I pretty much expected they'd tell me my risk was so low that I should go ahead on the trip and enjoy myself.

No such luck.

When I got the nurse on the line she told me I was the 3rd call she'd gotten in the past 24 hours, and did I need her to write me a letter to refund my travel expenses? I asked if this meant they were advising patients not to travel right now, and her response was a definite YES.

That poor nurse had to then hear me sputter out a series of curse words in between asking over and over "really? Really!?"

And so it is. I have to cancel my long awaited girl's trip to Mexico FIVE days before I am set to depart. BC is so sweet and is encouraging me to book something else for those dates- but the problem I am running into is the last minute-ness of this all with availability. Plus the money I am getting back from the Mexico getaway (thank GOD for travel insurance!) doesn't go very far. A trip to Mexico is pretty much one of the most affordable bang-for-the-buck vacations one can get, so my current replacement options are severely limited.

Gah. What are the odds that this virus had to break out NOW? I am so sad and angry that I am going to miss out with my girls. And in the same breath it is absolutely NOT something I would chance fate with- we've worked way too hard for this baby and I would never forgive myself if anything happened to it due to my ignoring my doctor's advice.

So I say: F*** YOU, Zika Virus…. F*** You!

(Sorry to the Grandparents reading this post for my vulgarities).