The Pregnancy Diaries 1

My most recent visit with the midwife was yesterday (with less than eight weeks left I have started going at two-week intervals and towards the end it will be every week) and here's a little status report, if you're interested :)

Mother
- I'm smack in the middle on the belly growth curve (I aim for Swedish lagom), right now 31 cm if that says anything??
- Okay iron levels but need to continue taking supplements, which I've been doing since week 8
- Blood pressure 105/60, which is low and hence good
- Weight 71 kg, which means I've now gained 11-12 kg during this pregnancy. I have never ever weighed more than 70 kg so it was a bit scary* when I first saw this number glaring at me on the scale but I have got used to it now :)

Baby
- Average heart rate 150 (at previous visit it has varied between 140 and 150)
- And most exciting, the baby's head is now down. I think s/he turned around properly a few days ago because in the last few days I can really feel him/her under my ribs (and I know now that's her/his little butt or back).

I'm been keeping a diary since the start of the pregnancy, well, it was a bit of a slow start so I've only written regularly since week 20 or so, i.e half-way through the pregnancy. Some highlights:

8 May - Started thinking "hmm, I should have got my period by now..." I made this entry after the fact obviously.

9 May - Really started thinking "what if I'm pregnant?!". Talked to Peter and we decided to buy a pregnancy test the next day.

10 May - Bought a pregnancy test after work. Can't believe I waited all day because I could just think of one thing, but I wanted to take the test with Peter. Was really thinking "it can't be" but hoping so much it would be so!

The test was positive! Was really, really surprised, couldn't believe it was true even if part of me had known since realising my period was late (which it never is otherwise), and felt so happy and excited (and scared) I was shaking! Peter reacted just right - hugged and kissed me and said "congratulations". It felt like he took it more natural than me (but later he's told me that he probably didn't really comprehend how huge it was and is.)

22 May - Mum's birthday - called and gave her the best (?) birthday present ever :) (Would have told her in person if it wasn't for Peter's sister's wedding the same day.)

1 June - First visit to the midwife at week 8+1

End of May/early June - Morning sickness started (can't remember exact date)

13-15 June - Experienced first hand that morning sickness and migraine is not a great combination!

12 July - First ultrasound scan at week 14+0 (but we thought at the time that I was at 13+2). Wonderful to see that it's actually something in there. The baby was so cute and we took a very good and clear picture home with us. The risk of chromosomal abnormalities was 1/20,000, which is the lowest possible risk - hope it's correct! - and everything else looked normal too! (As I have a brother with a mental disability, not due to a chromosomal abnormality though, I have been a bit extra worried but I try not to think about it too much.)

30 July - Felt the baby inside me for the first time, little butterflies or flutters (week 16+4)

3-10 August - I felt the baby kicking for the first time (and then it doesn't stop :) (week 17-18)

18 August - Second ultrasound. All was well! The doctor went over the whole baby - limbs, spine, head including the brain and the face, and all internal organs (kidneys, liver, heart, etc.). We could see the heart beat and she zoomed in on the heart to see that the chambers and valves were healthy and intact. It's so cool that it's possible to see that much detail! The pictures turned out so-so as our little one first moved around too much and then fell asleep!

We also found out that my placenta is positioned at the back of the uterus and the baby in front. This can apparently vary from woman to woman and from pregnancy to pregnancy, as it depends on where the egg attaches itself after conception. Women with the placenta towards the back usually feel the baby earlier and more during pregnancy. Me likey! I had no clue of these variations before I was pregnant!

The due date was adjusted from 14 to 9 January.

20 August - Both Peter and I could actually see the baby kick, i.e. on the outside of my belly (week 19+4).

21 August - Peter felt the baby kick for the first time - he has always been "too late" before :)

22 August - The feeling of having a constant companion is getting stronger and stronger. I never sleep alone. My little friend.

23 August - Threw up** before breakfast, I really thought morning sickness would be long gone by now at week 20+0. My morning sickness had got a little bit better during August but was still very much a fact. Weighed in at 64.5 kg. First signs of pregnancy related nose problems in the form of very light nosebleed. Apologies for the details!

That was the first 20 weeks! Next 12-13 weeks coming soon!


* Though it was even scarier when I weighed in at 66.6 kg for almost a whole week a while back; the devil inside me? ;)
** I've been able to manage my morning sickness pretty well by having Peter bring me breakfast in bed for months on end. That way I have "only" vomited twice a week or three times at most.