16 weeks

This is my first live post! It's been a little weird watching these posts go up. I wrote them weeks and months ago and it's been very private for me, writing them, but it's becoming public now; all my thoughts and feelings. I know some of them don't say a whole lot but still. It's more than I've said out loud to most people, maybe anyone other than Dave. And this is a completely public forum so anybody can read it. But I'm getting used to it; it just felt weird at first, watching these posts go live on the blog.

This past week I did have some issues. On Monday after lunch when I sat down at my desk I started feeling very weird twinges and stuff in my entire stomach area and up my right side in the front. It even included the area right under my ribs (really high up). Very weird. I figured they were just stretching/growing pains but wow they hurt more than I expected. And that night it was bad enough that it woke me up and I couldn't fall back asleep. I have a history of UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections) pre-pregnancy and those are more common during pregnancy. I feel like I've been fighting one for the past month. I know how to handle those, though, so I've been trying to handle it myself. BAD IDEA. Apparently a UTI during pregnancy can cause early labor and at this point the baby would not survive that. So I called the midwife center on Tuesday (also stayed home from work) and got tested for a UTI and got the antibiotic for it. If I don't hear from them, that's what the issue is. (I haven't yet and it's been more than 48 hours.) I did feel better after starting the medicine; the crampiness/twinges went away. So, who knows. They recommended I just keep taking the cranberry supplement the entire pregnancy instead of only taking it if I feel like something is coming on. I'm also drinking a lot of water, which should be flushing my system out.  It looks like now I will be testing for this more often just to get antibiotics if I do need them. (Thank goodness it isn't a blood test, yay!)

How many weeks: 16

Size of baby: An avocado and measures 11-12 cm or 5 inches. The baby also weights 100-150 grams or 3.5-5.3 ounces. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'm the same as I was last week so down half a pound. 

Maternity Clothes: Nope still no maternity clothes. My normal clothes still feel the same but I can tell that I definitely am starting to feel different, my actual stomach area. I don't know how to describe it. I think I'm getting to the point where it looks like I'm gaining weight but not obviously pregnant? Maybe the very early part of that stage. 

Gender: This past week I had a dream that we had our anatomy scan and they said they "think" it was a girl. I immediately told them that they were wrong- because I've been feeling like the baby is a boy. But it also really bugged me that they "thought" but didn't know for sure. When I asked what they meant by that, they wouldn't tell me.

Movement: At my last appointment, I was told that if I concentrate when I'm laying on my back in bed around 16-17 weeks, I might feel movement. I haven't felt any yet but I haven't tried.  And she said especially with it being my first time, I will really need to concentrate and focus. I'm not going to just feel it when watching TV or something. But I'm adding this to my list of weekly items to talk about because maybe soon... Maybe.

Sleep: I'm still sleeping well other than having to get up to pee. And honestly I attribute some of that to UTI. That's part of the reason I think I have one- I get up to pee in the middle of the night because I feel like I need to but I don't really have to. That's annoying. On Tuesday, after I had a lot of trouble sleeping the night before, I was exhausted and just laid on the couch all day. But in general, I'm still going to bed early and sleeping pretty heavily. Well, heavily for me.

What I miss: I miss running. I have the whole time. I haven't put that here because I could run if I had more energy; it's midwife okayed (and recommended actually). Well, as long as it's not super hot out, which it has been. I keep eyeing up races and thinking, maybe?! The next one I'm eyeing up is the Steelers Gatorade 5K on September 2nd. Honestly though I don't think I have enough time to get ready for it when I haven't run since May. Maybe I'll sign up to walk it. The raffle is for free Steeler tickets...... 


Cravings: I like sweet stuff but I still don't call that a craving because I normally have a sweet tooth. 

Aversions: I avoid the things that have been aversions so... same things? (Beef, chicken, eggs)

Symptoms: I am still getting really light headed! And I read somewhere (ok this is a bit embarrassing) that you produce more saliva when you're pregnant. I keep waking up to find that I have drooled big time. You know, the kind where you just run your hand over your whole mouth separating the slobber from the wet pillow and sigh. Ewwww! ;) Also, if I don't get enough sleep I really feel weak/tired. 

Best moment this week: We started looking at cribs and talking names. It's fun to be able to talk/think about this stuff. And overwhelming. But still. Fun. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to make a separate post with the nursery theme I just found. I found it as a joke but it's so cute I like it! I'm just not sure I'm ready to share yet. (Better watch out- someone else might steal my idea! Hee hee.)

Looking forward to: Our ultrasound on September 7. I know, I'm a broken record. I am not counting down days though so I'm not being over obsessed or trying to rush things too much; just living day by day right now!