5 weeks and first belly picture!

On 9/23 I was exactly 5 weeks pregnant (for those who don't know they count from your last period not conception!) and wanted to get on the ball with taking weekly belly pictures.

I'm now sorry that I didn't take a picture at 4 weeks or even the day I found out to more accurately document my 'pre-pregnancy belly' - I thought I had plenty of time!  But at 5 weeks I have most noticeably grown a pot belly of bloat.

Yes ladies and gentlemen that is NOT a baby belly you see there that is most decidely bloat.  I'd also like to note that in this picture I have a cold and could really have lived without having my beautiful face puff documented in the bowels of history but I'll consider it one among the many sacrifices I'm sure I'll be making for our growing spawn - aka the lizard baby.

Lizard baby because this is what our little bean looks like at this stage of development - salamander-like in my opinion!  Actually this pic may still be in the 4 week development range but you get the picture.  I am growing us a lil' lizard!!  :-D

Symptoms so far haven't been too crazy.  Only one cookie tossing episode so far and some moderate queasy moments.  I've definitely had cramping though, and a ton of gas (even for me!) and massively sore and expanding boobage.  For some reason my cats seem to think now is the most excellent time to walk on said boobage despite my numerous attempts to explain that in reality it most decidely is not!  Dang critters!

Also of note - the first appt was scheduled for 10/13 which will mostly be a 'history and labs' appt, and the first u/s is scheduled for 10/28 at which time I will be 10 weeks.  Our little bean's first picture!!  Squee!  Immediately following the u/s we will have our first meeting with the midwife as the first appt is run by a nurse coordinator.  It is insanely nerve-wracking to wait for these appointments to ascertain that everything is going along as it should be - so many things can go wrong in 1st tri..  But with every cramp (without bleeding) and every moment of queasiness or sore boobage I remind myself that this is a sign that our little lizard is growing strong and hanging in there.  But for this reason we've optted not to share the news with extended family until the end of the 1st tri (or at least after our u/s if we can't wait!).

We will also be able to tour the Anna Jaques birth center in Newburyport on 10/21 - one week before the first u/s and midwife meeting.  I like this because it will allow me to see the facility and meet the practitioners.  I am not 100% set on where we will give birth and want to fully explore all of our options to ensure the best fit, however I had already had care established with Women's Health Care which operates out of Anna Jaques so have set up my initial appts with them.  I also would like to tour the North Shore Birth Center in Beverly as well as the Coastal Family Birth Retreat in Stratham, NH as free-standing birth center alternatives, and plan to interview a few homebirth midwives as well.  This is an exciting time full of big decisions but it's good to have some dates set and things set into motion already!

September 13, 2009

First Positive Pregnancy Test Day!!

We spent a week around Labor Day on Cape Cod, and it was our last day of vacation that we found out we were having a baby.  While trying to conceive, I was charting basal body temperatures to track ovulation and stay on top of my cycles.  When I took my temp on the 13th, it had jumped high when it normally would have dipped low as a signal of my period coming the next day.  Knowing this was typical of pregnancy I jumped up to head to the bathroom and test.

Here is a picture of my final chart resulting in pregnancy:

I took two tests before bringing them to Jeff who was still in bed.  They were light positives because I was only 11 days past ovulation, but they were clearly positive.  We were going to be parents!!  Jeff was in slight disbelief - not sure whether to trust the test, not wanting us to get excited and disappointed.  I took another test to be sure - still positive.  Still pregnant.  All smiles, we told our parents the good news.  Due date 5/26/10.

First positive test:

 

And the first digital test (there really is something in seeing it spelled out for you - I think this is really when Jeff finally started to believe it as well):

Welcome!

Welcome to Our Hippy Baby!

Jeff and I hope you enjoy your stay as we make our path through the forest of parenthood.  We both may do some rambling here as we try to make sense of it all, but promise to also update with all the 'important' info as well such as weekly belly pictures, dr visits, and all the signs and symptoms the mommy-to-be experiences (some you may or may not have wanted to know!!).