Hello Everyone! Yes, it is true, I am pregnant and expecting my first child some time in August of 2017. It is very exciting and wonderful news. I thought I'd intro this page on my blog by answering some of my most asked questions about my pregnancy, preparing for motherhood, and life in general. The great thing about being pregnant is that everybody is different. The symptoms, thoughts, reactions, stories, everything it is all unique to each person. Which means, if I am not doing what you did or would do with your pregnancy that is totally okay, but maybe we could share insight with each other about things that worked for you and didn't. I don't mind trying different options :)
1) How am I feeling? This is by far the question I get asked the most, the answer, for the most part, is that I am feeling good. Not great, not bad, just good. I have had no morning sickness. I have had 6-7 migraines, a bunch of smaller headaches, and I have been very tired (low energy). Really though, I consider myself blessed with that I have had. (Don't ask me how blessed I feel in the middle of a migraine, my answer might not be the same.) As of now, I am sleeping just fine, only minor discomfort in certain positions.
2) Do you want a boy or a girl? My answer is quite simple, I want a healthy baby the most. I would love either a boy or a girl. If I had to pick which I would like as a first child, I think I would say boy, but I would be elated with a girl too.
3) How did I find out? It is simple, I took a pregnancy test, it came out as an error, I waited 2 hours, took another, and it was positive. I was excited. This was the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
4) How did JT react/How did you tell JT? Well in order to answer this, I should say, JT and I were not trying to get pregnant, we were also not not trying, so it was kind of a surprise, but a pleasant one. I found out around 4pm on the Saturday, but I wanted JT to know and my younger sister, Bethany, was at our house, so I knew I had to wait until we got home from dinner at my mom's house. We got home, and while JT locked the door, I pulled out the test and laid it and a "World's Smallest Superhero" onesie on his pillow. When he came in the room, he was surprised and happy and hugged me. We talked for a long time, and eventually went to sleep knowing we were now going to be a family of 3.
5) How did your mom and JT's mom/family react? We are the first grandchild for both my mom and JT's mom, so both were surprised and excited. I told my mom over a plate of lasagna, and we told JT's mom with a necklace on Christmas. We are also the first great grandchild for both of my grandmothers, which is surprising since I am 8 years younger than the oldest grandchildren. Both of them were so surprised and excited. Gogger is the only one who made me cry like a baby (no pun intended).
6) Any cravings/anticravings? This is where is gets kind of funny. I cannot brush my teeth first thing in the morning before I eat. I don't know why, but it is terrible and makes me gag just thinking about it. I also hate the smell of butter. You never noticed that butter had a smell, did you? Oh, it does, and it's terrible. I also cannot smell corn. I can eat both butter and corn just fine, but the smell is definitely not my friend. As far as cravings go, I have mostly been wanting crunchy food and avoiding soft ones, which definitely has something to do with my super human gag reflex currently. Other cravings: Burgers (which is weird because I normally don't eat a lot of burgers, like maybe once a month, but right now, all day everyday, I'd probably eat one). Fruit and smoothies have been my go to when I feel like my blood sugar is low. I've also been drinking a ton of water. I've also been substantially hungrier than normal.
7) How far along are you/have seen a doctor? In case the title of the post doesn't tell you, I am 12 weeks and a few days. Which means I am almost done with the first trimester. I work for a midwife in training at least two days a week, so I've mostly been working with her and asking her to check on us both. I heard the heart beat for the first time 2 weeks ago at 10 weeks, and I heard it again yesterday at 12 weeks. It is strong, loud, and about 140 bpm. As far as we can tell, it is just one baby. For those of you who know to ask, my blood pressure is good 122/79. My plan for now is to go to the Atlanta Birth Center and meet with doctors/midwives there.
I think that is all for now, let me know if you have actual questions for me, I will try to answer them. I hope you enjoyed ready about the start of my pregnancy, and are now informed about how bad butter smells.
1) How am I feeling? This is by far the question I get asked the most, the answer, for the most part, is that I am feeling good. Not great, not bad, just good. I have had no morning sickness. I have had 6-7 migraines, a bunch of smaller headaches, and I have been very tired (low energy). Really though, I consider myself blessed with that I have had. (Don't ask me how blessed I feel in the middle of a migraine, my answer might not be the same.) As of now, I am sleeping just fine, only minor discomfort in certain positions.
2) Do you want a boy or a girl? My answer is quite simple, I want a healthy baby the most. I would love either a boy or a girl. If I had to pick which I would like as a first child, I think I would say boy, but I would be elated with a girl too.
3) How did I find out? It is simple, I took a pregnancy test, it came out as an error, I waited 2 hours, took another, and it was positive. I was excited. This was the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
4) How did JT react/How did you tell JT? Well in order to answer this, I should say, JT and I were not trying to get pregnant, we were also not not trying, so it was kind of a surprise, but a pleasant one. I found out around 4pm on the Saturday, but I wanted JT to know and my younger sister, Bethany, was at our house, so I knew I had to wait until we got home from dinner at my mom's house. We got home, and while JT locked the door, I pulled out the test and laid it and a "World's Smallest Superhero" onesie on his pillow. When he came in the room, he was surprised and happy and hugged me. We talked for a long time, and eventually went to sleep knowing we were now going to be a family of 3.
5) How did your mom and JT's mom/family react? We are the first grandchild for both my mom and JT's mom, so both were surprised and excited. I told my mom over a plate of lasagna, and we told JT's mom with a necklace on Christmas. We are also the first great grandchild for both of my grandmothers, which is surprising since I am 8 years younger than the oldest grandchildren. Both of them were so surprised and excited. Gogger is the only one who made me cry like a baby (no pun intended).
6) Any cravings/anticravings? This is where is gets kind of funny. I cannot brush my teeth first thing in the morning before I eat. I don't know why, but it is terrible and makes me gag just thinking about it. I also hate the smell of butter. You never noticed that butter had a smell, did you? Oh, it does, and it's terrible. I also cannot smell corn. I can eat both butter and corn just fine, but the smell is definitely not my friend. As far as cravings go, I have mostly been wanting crunchy food and avoiding soft ones, which definitely has something to do with my super human gag reflex currently. Other cravings: Burgers (which is weird because I normally don't eat a lot of burgers, like maybe once a month, but right now, all day everyday, I'd probably eat one). Fruit and smoothies have been my go to when I feel like my blood sugar is low. I've also been drinking a ton of water. I've also been substantially hungrier than normal.
7) How far along are you/have seen a doctor? In case the title of the post doesn't tell you, I am 12 weeks and a few days. Which means I am almost done with the first trimester. I work for a midwife in training at least two days a week, so I've mostly been working with her and asking her to check on us both. I heard the heart beat for the first time 2 weeks ago at 10 weeks, and I heard it again yesterday at 12 weeks. It is strong, loud, and about 140 bpm. As far as we can tell, it is just one baby. For those of you who know to ask, my blood pressure is good 122/79. My plan for now is to go to the Atlanta Birth Center and meet with doctors/midwives there.
I think that is all for now, let me know if you have actual questions for me, I will try to answer them. I hope you enjoyed ready about the start of my pregnancy, and are now informed about how bad butter smells.