Fighting down food and watching politics

13w 6d

Ok, I usually don't like making complaining posts, but I feel myself justified in this case.

I've developed a complete intolerance for evenings.  When I can fight down some dinner, I lose it about a quarter of the time these days.  The nausea medicine seems to work best to get through my day without being nauseous, but it doesn't help much at mealtimes.  Breakfast and lunch are my main sources of food that stays down, and that doesn't end up being very much food.  My weight had gone down, but now it seems to be remaining stable although the baby bump makes it look like I'm gaining.

I've also developed an intolerance to reclining.  It's an annoyance because that used to be my most comfortable position to relax in the evenings.  I have to lean forward every now and then to stop the nausea and be most comfortable.  It isn't helping my back any nor are the pillows I try to use while I sit up.

We have another pressing concern as well.  With our government not coming to an agreement on the debt ceiling, I worry we may be at risk of losing Medicaid.  If the government defaults, they can choose to stop entitlement programs altogether.  For me it would mean no more doctor visits for a while, including delaying the ultrasound to find out the gender of the baby.  I have an appointment in 2 weeks that I'm prepared to cancel if I find out Medicaid isn't functioning as it should.  We just can't afford doctor visits without it.  Plan B in that scenario is if I develop a complication that D and I get a legal marriage so I can get health insurance coverage.  We don't think that's necessary, but it's an option we are willing to accept.

So while the nation watches current politics for the sake of our economy, I watch it right now for the sake of little squirmer.  Either way, I'm sure they'll be fine, but I would still prefer to be seen by a doctor regularly at this point.  In the meantime, I'll continue to endure these 2nd trimester aches and come up with creative solutions for them.

Shy and Uncooperative

12 weeks 4 days

This all happened 2 days ago, but since we've had company, I didn't get the chance to relay the frustratingly entertaining story of Thursday's ultrasound to check for down's syndrom.

We started out by being taken back first to the ultrasound room.  It's the first time they used the on-the-stomach reader because I'm far enough along now.  The technician told us that size-wise the baby is right on track, and they are 2 inches long now.  She did the standard stuff, taking measurements of the baby and pointing out all the body parts for us.  However, baby decided it wanted to be uncooperative.

The baby was just barely in the position where the tech couldn't see the back of their neck to get the measurement she needed for the down's syndrom test.  She was already pressing on my stomach quite hard to see the baby, but the technician felt it necessary to bounce the reader up and down on my stomach to get the baby to move.  I watched the monitor with apprehension as the baby continued to float around, at one point getting the hiccups from all the movement.  When that didn't work, the technician decided to use the vaginal ultrasound.  It's not the most fun way of getting the ultrasound, especially considering that the technician was still jostling my stomach to get the baby to move.  This all took 30 minutes, and I was so sore that every movement made my abdomen hurt.

Eventually the technician gave up.  She told us that we would come back in after she'd done ultrasounds for a few other patients.  In the meantime, we were to see the docor.  I was glad for the break, but I dreaded going back for another torture round.  As I walked around, I willed the baby to wake up and move.  After waiting for the doctor for about 10 minutes, the technician came into the room and told us happily that she could get another attempt because someone canceled.  I was not too anxious to get back on the table, and I just hoped that baby had finally moved.  It didn't look at first as if they had, and the tech had to push on my stomach again in an attempt to get them to move.  Hardly daring to breath, I saw the baby slowly rotate.  For a fraction of a second, baby showed the back of the neck to the technician.  They backtracked in the recording and found the frame they were looking for.  I gave a sigh of relief as I knew the torture session would now be over.

Now she could focus on getting us some pictures for our baby book.  The baby had turned back to the position it was in before, then it did something the technician had never seen before.  The baby was facepalming!  Repeatedly!  D was laughing, and I was so fascinated that I used all my will to keep from laughing and losing the picture.  Baby has confirmed that it is indeed our child, and it is a story they will likely hear for the rest of their life.

Definately feel more pregnant these days...

12 weeks 1 day

The past few days have been torturous.  Not only was I trying to deal with wedding information packet mixups at Staples, but I just wasn't feeling well.  I haven't eaten dinner in a couple days because I've been entirely too nauseous.  I'm still drinking water religiously, but it never seems like it's enough water.  Also, I've noticed that whenever I get up too quickly or roll over in bed too quickly that my abdomen starts to hurt.  I've taken to holding it whenever I switch positions or stand up, and it seems to help.

The most troubling part though is that I'm losing weight.  I'm definately more noticeably pregnant now, but I've lost 4 pounds from my prepregnancy weight.  I'm not sounding the alarm bells yet as I was 40 pounds overweight anyway, but it's enough to make me start taking my nausea medication more regularly.  It's supposed to be a "take as needed" medicine, but I want to make sure I give baby every chance to be healthy by getting enough food.  Although I would love if I came out of the pregnancy at a more reasonable weight, I'm still supposed to be gaining some weight, right?

I go back to the OBGYN tomorrow to get some tests done for down syndrom.  I'll voice my concerns with the doctor and see what she says.  If she's still unconcerned, then so should I.

Disgruntled about information packets

I was having troubles converting my word files to be pdf's that could be easily printed.  We do not own a printer, so we have been going to staples for printing out our wedding paperwork (invitations, RSVPs, etc).  Because the pdf converter wasn't functioning, I made xps versions of the documents I needed as well as took the time to make jpg versions in case they can't read that format.  I wrote my instructions quite clearly for them and left the files and instruction paper with them.

When I got back, at first everything seemed in order.  I admit I didn't take a close look at everything before I left as I was tired and hot.  The information packets themselves seemed fine, but the font is off on the Rehearsal invitations.  Then I look at my carefully formatted RSVPs and see that the font is different there too.  They didn't follow my instructions and instead printed straight from the word documents.  My instructions told them they had to either print from the xps or jpg documents.  I had the word documents for my own records, not for them to use.

Not only did they print from the wrong documents, they printed the wrong number.  They printed the RSVP document 5 times even though I only had on the sheet I needed one copy of that.  The rehearsal invites were also printed 5 times even though my instructions stated I needed 21 copies of those!  So not only did she print from the wrong files, she printed the wrong number of copies.  I can't even use the RSVPs because the formatting went off because they don't have the fonts installed that I used.  It's why I wanted them to use the image file.  I know better now than to trust them with having the original word document on the drive when I want them to not print from them.

Now we have to go back tomorrow to reprint rehearsal invitations and RSVPs.  I'm so angry that I don't even want to work on getting envelopes ready for the information packets tonight.  How disappointing.

We have a squirmer!

10 weeks 3 days

We went in for our monthly checkup today, and much to our surprise they said we got to get another ultrasound.  It's because I'm not 12 weeks yet.  It's contrary to what we were initially told that we wouldn't be able to get another one until 18 weeks when we could find out the gender.

When we were first coming in the room, another nurse initially shooed us out so someone else could get an emergency ultrasound for some reason.  We waited around 10 minutes, then we finally got in.  They didn't make me strip all the way down this time, but I had to enough to get the ultrasound.  We were shocked to see just how much more it has progressed from the blob 4 weeks ago.

We could definately see it squirming around, moving its arms like it was swimming.  D definately choked up for a moment, and the only words I could say was "Wow".  I didn't really think about how big it was getting by this point, just that it was developing major organs.  It's definately there, and it's definately alive.

I ended up losing another pound although my clothes have gotten tighter.  I just hope this nausea lets up soon so that I can feel like I can eat normal meals again.  I've at least discovered cravings for spicy food and pancakes (as well as sour cream and onion pringles, but I could eat those all day before anyway).  I don't have another appointment for another 2 weeks, then I'll officially be second trimester!