12 Week Updates: Baby 2.0

It's taken me awhile to feel comfortable starting these weekly updates, given what we went through with losing one of the babies. I'm happy to say that after the grief subsided I've gotten to a place of peace with the entire situation, as it truly wasn't anything we could control. And with each day and OB appointment that passes I am feeling more and more confident and trusting in this sweet little miracle growing inside me, and as such, feel this baby deserves to have some updates to look back on as well! So here goes….

How far along? 12 weeks exactly today

How big is baby? I had a 12 week ultrasound today to check in, and this baby is measuring ahead of schedule! Looking more like 12w 3 or 4 days (the tech got a couple different measurements). Heart rate was 155, all organs & limbs were exactly where they should be, and holy cow if we don't have a MOVER and SHAKER on our hands! This baby was moving nonstop during the appointment. I swear I've already felt a couple tiny little pops in my tummy (which is what the first kicks feel like) even though it is way early for that… and watching this baby dance nonstop during the appointment made me think maybe I'm not so crazy. I think this one is very determined to let us know they are HERE and alive! Which I am grateful for. : )

Total weight gain? With Iyla, I hardly gained anything during the first trimester. This time around? I started at 110 (two pounds above what I started at with Iyla's pregnancy) and am already up to around 114.8 pounds. And it SHOWS. This belly of mine is pretty insane and hard to hide, looking like I did around 22-23 weeks with Iyla. And let's be honest, there is a whole lot going on in there. One thriving baby measuring ahead of schedule, one passed 8 week old fetus/sack/placenta, a 3rd little sac, plus Franny the fibroid. 

These photos are from last week at about 11w4d:

Seriously insane. No hiding this belly!

And here I am with Iyla at 14 weeks and then 22 weeks. I'm already at least as big as I was at 22 weeks with her, if not bigger!

Maternity clothes? I laugh when I look back at Iyla's updates and see that at this point I was just starting to wear belly bands. This pregnancy I started those at 5 weeks! I am now in full on maternity pants, and even those panels feel tight. My favorite thing right now is my maxi skirt and a few long layered black tops. And I've also had to pull out my old size D pregnancy bras.

Sleep? I was having a lot of sleep issues since the beginning of this pregnancy- waking up constantly throughout the night. Due to this AND the all day nausea I've been experiencing again, I've been doing the 1/2 Unisom + B6 vitamin cocktail each night, and I'm happy to report it's working great. The few nights I haven't taken it I've had much worse daytime nausea, so I am grateful for the twofold relief this is providing.

Food cravings? This has been a similar evolution to Iyla's pregnancy. From around weeks 5-10, I couldn't stomach sweets. Mostly I wanted simple, bland foods like eggs, toast, pasta, & potatoes. Was't wanting any veggies or meat- though I definitely needed daily protein. Then around week 10 I started craving and stomaching sweets again, and have also been on a big red meat kick. I've been a bit naughty this pregnancy and have been having a little bit of coffee every morning- usually 1/2 a cup. It's something I've surprisingly craved…. perhaps that is partly why we have a mover and shaker in there?

Food aversions? Lately cheese, which is interesting- as I craved this during my entire pregnancy with Iyla. I also can't stomach chicken or turkey or anything with complex flavors. I've also been turning my nose up at red pasta sauce- even though I craved that a lot several weeks ago.

Symptoms? All day nausea (curbed by my Unisom/B6 and constant eating). During the time I was pregnant with two babies I did vomit several times, likely from all of the excess hormones going on! Lots of fatigue- I've been trying to sneak in a daily nap and am usually in bed by 9pm nightly. My migraines were amazingly MIA during the first 9 weeks or pregnancy, but I've had around 3-4 since then. Happily if I take Tylenol & use ice packs right when the flashing lights begin I can avoid the headache pain. I've also had a very sore chest since before we even knew we were pregnant.

Most looking forward to? Starting to feel legitimate movement! Moving past the 14 week point. And- in two weeks, a girls' trip to Mexico with 6 of my closest high school girlfriends! I cannot WAIT for that… 4 days of R&R in the sun and surf…. a room all to myself… sleeping in…. all you can eat food… HEAVEN. The only challenge has been finding swimsuits that I feel somewhat decent in. I know, First World Problems.

And now I leave you with Baby Lambert 2.0's 12 week ultrasound shots from today. Our little warrior!

The Due Date Challenge

You may have noticed I added a pregnancy ticker to the sidebar of my blog, and that now I am suddenly 12 weeks, 5 days pregnant. From the beginning of this journey I have been calculating my due date based on the day I am 99% sure we conceived (March 8th)- which would put me at 12 weeks today, due November 29th. At my 7w4d ultrasound with Dr. Vaughn I measured 7w3d (so on track with that due date). Then at yesterday's N/T scan the sonogram tech pre-filled out my due date based on my LMP ('last menstrual period'- which was February 18th)- to show a November 24th due date. The doctor doing the sonogram said I was measuring right in line with that due date- showing around 12w3d yesterday.

So what's a girl to do?

Well, if you're THIS girl (over achiever, always looking to the future) it is pretty obvious- you take the earlier due date and marvel that suddenly you are 5 days more pregnant than you thought you were! That puts me 2 days away from officially entering the 2nd trimester and darn it- I'll take it. My new OB, Dr. Swenson, (who I met for the first time this morning!) confirmed we'll go with the revised due date. The only time the date discrepancy *could* be an issue is if I go past the 41 week mark and we have to decide what week/day to base our cutoff for starting labor induction.

*Side note: I've had to have blood drawn 2 days in a row now- yesterday for my N/T scan and today for my regular OB panel. I would like to give myself props for not fainting or getting a migraine either time! And the lady who draws blood at my new OB's office was AMAZING. Hardly felt any pain, and I thanked her profusely for it.*

Here are this week's stats!

How far along? We have catapulted to 12w5d

How big is baby? I am a plum verging on a peach right now. Almost all the major systems are fully formed, and we are entering the growing phase. My dear friend Jenny- who specializes in brain development & disorders- actually responded to a picture I sent her of the babe (the one of it waving 'hi') by saying "2 hemispheres, 4 lobes, yay!" I took that as good news.

Total weight gain: 1.2 lbs up, so I guess I can say that is my total first trimester weight gain. Wondering how much of that can be attributed to the fabulous 'D's' I am now rockin' up top?

Sadly, my expanding girth eclipses the D's

Sleep: Good- pretty sound overall. Still waking early, but I'm also putting myself to bed rather early (usually by 10).

Food cravings: I have been LOVING mango! Preferably pre-cut slices from the grocery store. I've been making an effort to eat greens every day, and also get my fiber in.

Food aversions: Tomato based things. I made some tortellini with veggies for lunch & smothered it in tomato pasta sauce. Bad idea, as that sauce is still sitting heavy in my belly. I've found I have the same reaction to tomato based soups. Tomatoes themselves are fine and delicious- go figure.

Symptoms? Still on/off nausea. Some days it is all day long, others just in the morning. I am also feeling sleepy.

Guesses on the sex? Still feeling girl- even more so after seeing the babe on the ultrasound! I actually find myself getting mad when people use the "he" pronoun or say the sonogram picture makes them think boy. My sister in law swears it is a girl- which she says DEFINITELY means it is a boy, as she says she is always wrong! We can't wait to find out for sure- and it sounds like that won't be until the 20 week point (which- thanks to my revised due date is 5 days sooner than it would have been!)

Most looking forward to: Starting the research & browsing of baby items. It is still way too early to buy anything, but I want to visit baby supply stores and have a good idea of what brands for items we like, and what we'll be needing overall. We know we love the BOB stroller, which also helps narrow down our car seat choices, as this stroller only has 3 car seat adapter kits (for Graco, Chicco, and Peg Perego). We are also looking forward to officially finding out the sex of the baby!