Week 15, Day 6

Yesterday we had a doctor appointment! It was absolutely freezing outside and whenever that happens I always think about how the baby can't feel it at all - safe, warm and happy floating in my growing womb. Sweet thing.

The baby's heartbeat is good, good, good! It came across loud and strong at 156-158 beats per minute. Anywhere above 120 is good, so we were pleased. I have only gained 4 pounds! Which, my doctor repeatedly referred to as, "No weight gain in the first 15 weeks." So she said that the next visit is what she likes to call the, "get on the scale and cry visit." Mothers-to-be apparently are known to shriek, "10 pounds!? I've gained TEN POUNDS!" She said I only should be gaining around 1 pound a week from now on - which should mean that I have hopefully only gained about 8 pounds by the time of the next visit. Natalie Boudreau is responsible for making sure I don't get too fat in pregnancy. Way to go Natalie! You've managed the first 15 weeks well. :)

I'm actually pretty thankful that I haven't gained too much weight too fast. Once you gain it while pregnant, you aren't supposed to try and lose it while pregnant - and you always have to keep growing! So to be on track is very encouraging to my struggled w/childhood obesity body. I'm sure walking around campus, pre-natal yoga and swimming all contribute... but still. The thought of gaining roughly 20-25 pounds in the next 5 months seems sort of terrifying... what is that going to feel like? Probably heavy.

So Feb. 24th we find out the sex and on the 26th we have another regular Ob visit. We did a blood test (my blood-noninvasive) test to scan for spina bifida and other birth defects...if it doesn't hurt or pose risk to the baby in any way I don't mind testing for it. The lab tech bruised my arm, as always...sad story.

Baby and I managed to escape the plague that was hovering around our house this past week. Matt and Niko both fell prey to it. Matt ended up in the hospital and Niko waking me up at 4:00a to take him outside. (Niko never does this...) Poor guys. Matt has fully recovered though and is back at school - one ER trip and 3 liters of intra venous fluid later. Niko however is still slightly suffering. I think Matt being sick made him anxious - Niko being the most. sensitive. dog. ever. Matt (and every employee of Lanier High School apparently) was pretty worried that I would catch it - but since the only two people who seemed to contract the virus were Big Matt and Buck-Ups Matt - I felt safe. The Matt Flu can't touch Mandys or Babys.

So physical report as the pregnancy progresses? Sleeping is of course, ever so uncomfortable and it's starting to be uncomfortable to lie on my back. I have to arrange myself with 4 pillows surrounding me which Matt simultaneously marvels and curses at - being so that we can't really cuddle while sleeping anymore...me being the pillow girl and all. I also wake up all the time. I don't know what is causing that except perhaps maybe discomfort? I wake up every 2 or 3 hours and some nights watch the hours tick by one by one. I don't mind much as it hasn't affected my day times too much. I somewhat like to lay in bed and just rest so being awake isn't so bad.

I have taken to wearing only yoga pants all the time. I have 3 pairs of maternity pants - 1 pair of jeans and 2 cropped pairs. Since it's freezing that rules out the last two and the jeans are hard to wear because of the belly panel and my belly not being that impressive so far. It's there... for sure - but hard to notice unless you know me well or catch me not wearing a sweater/hoodie/coat.

I'm assuming that February will be the month of great changes. All the weight gain plus the growing baby... perhaps by the end of the month I'll look completely different. By the beginning of March we're already half way through! I'm beginning to get pretty attached to baby, although I don't really talk outloud to it very often. Matt does though and I'm pretty sure Niko thinks he is crazy.



There is baby! Can't believe it is getting so big! I can't wait to see it again on the 24th. I'm wondering how people in my classes are going to respond once I start growing...

In other baby news: Micah could come any day and Baby Proeger is soon to make an appearance! What an incredible year.