Pregnancy (so far): The good, the bad, and the strange
Besides taking weekly(ish) belly photos, I haven't done much in terms of documenting pregnancy. However, it occurred to me that at some point, someone might ask me a question or I might be pregnant again. If that time does come, I'll be mad at myself for not writing these things down! So the function of this blog post is simply to document some of the things that I have been thinking and experiencing (so far)! Most of these thoughts are random, but I don't think any of them are "TMI". Either way, I put the bump pic at the top for those who aren't into my random thoughts. :)
Here is the bump at 33 weeks, 2 days:
Here is the bump at 33 weeks, 2 days:
The good:
- I actually really like having a pregnant belly. I haven't had a need to don a 2-piece swimsuit (duh, winter in Minnesota!), but if I did, I think I would feel pretty comfortable doing so! The reservations I normally feel ("I look bloated from lunch," or, "Man I need to do crunches more") aren't an issue because those things just don't show through my belly. Thanks, baby and uterus!
- Running (exercising in general) has (for the most part) felt really good! My running pace has gone from a 9:00-10:00 pace to about an 11:00 pace at 33 weeks, and I am running about 4 miles each time. I have been running 3 times a week consistently since I have gotten pregnant (didn't hurt that I was training for a 10-mile race when I got pregnant). This may not sound like much to some, but this is more consistent than I usually am!
- I was never *super* tired in the first trimester. I started laying down around 9:00 pm and was always asleep by 10:00 pm during the first 12-13 weeks, but I never felt the need to crawl under my desk and take a nap in the middle of the day! BUT, I completely feel for those who do feel that way!
- I was never *super* nauseous in the first trimester either. Again, I completely feel for those who have this unfortunate experience!
- I love to feel the baby move!! So cool. Since about 30 weeks, I have been able to feel body parts, and it is so fun to guess what they are ("Is that a butt or a foot??").
- Bella Band is the best $10 or $15 investment ever!
- I love baby gear, I could browse Amazon all day. Can't wait to start using all of this great stuff!! Amazon's registry works really well, and it is universal.
- I feel like I won the lottery getting to ask for a bunch of maternity clothes for Christmas. I haven't had to buy more than a couple of shirts and a Bella Band (best investment ever!). I also don't think you need that many maternity clothes. I don't have or need a huge wardrobe to begin with, but I have been OK with 1 pair of jeans (still wearing my regular jeans with a Bella Band as well), 3 pairs of work pants, 2 sweaters, 5 long sleeve shirts, 3 tank tops, 2 blouses, 4 t-shirts (maybe that is a lot?). At 33 weeks, I still wear regular pants (with Bella Band) and regular shirts on occasion. Once I can no longer mix in regular clothes, I am OK with wearing the same outfits over and over!
- Lululemon's cool racerback tanks have been perfect for working out and still fit awesome now. Tighter, stretchy tanks have been best for working out for me... t-shirts are not flattering and don't stay put. Workout capris have been fine the whole time. No need to plop down a ton of money on maternity workout gear... if anything, just use it as an excuse to buy another tank top from Lulu!!
- I was never *super* tired in the first trimester. I started laying down around 9:00 pm and was always asleep by 10:00 pm during the first 12-13 weeks, but I never felt the need to crawl under my desk and take a nap in the middle of the day! BUT, I completely feel for those who do feel that way!
- I was never *super* nauseous in the first trimester either. Again, I completely feel for those who have this unfortunate experience!
- I love to feel the baby move!! So cool. Since about 30 weeks, I have been able to feel body parts, and it is so fun to guess what they are ("Is that a butt or a foot??").
- Bella Band is the best $10 or $15 investment ever!
- I love baby gear, I could browse Amazon all day. Can't wait to start using all of this great stuff!! Amazon's registry works really well, and it is universal.
- I feel like I won the lottery getting to ask for a bunch of maternity clothes for Christmas. I haven't had to buy more than a couple of shirts and a Bella Band (best investment ever!). I also don't think you need that many maternity clothes. I don't have or need a huge wardrobe to begin with, but I have been OK with 1 pair of jeans (still wearing my regular jeans with a Bella Band as well), 3 pairs of work pants, 2 sweaters, 5 long sleeve shirts, 3 tank tops, 2 blouses, 4 t-shirts (maybe that is a lot?). At 33 weeks, I still wear regular pants (with Bella Band) and regular shirts on occasion. Once I can no longer mix in regular clothes, I am OK with wearing the same outfits over and over!
- Lululemon's cool racerback tanks have been perfect for working out and still fit awesome now. Tighter, stretchy tanks have been best for working out for me... t-shirts are not flattering and don't stay put. Workout capris have been fine the whole time. No need to plop down a ton of money on maternity workout gear... if anything, just use it as an excuse to buy another tank top from Lulu!!
The bad:
- Thankfully, not much in this category!
- I have to say, I do miss having a beer every now and again. I think I will partake in a few Leinenkugel's this summer, if I had to guess!
- I wish I hadn't been so stinkin' busy during this pregnancy! In addition to a full-time job, I have written the lion's share of a dissertation, taught my first class, and am still working on various graduate school projects. By the end of the pregnancy, I will (hopefully) have secured a job for next year and graduated with my PhD! It'll all be worth it when Charlie gets here, but I haven't been able to think about being pregnant as much as I'd like!
- Heartburn, from about week 30 on. Not all the time and not insurmountable, but not fun!
- Finding a daycare. They are expensive, and there is no hope that any daycare will ever meet all of my criteria!
- Thankfully, not much in this category!
- I have to say, I do miss having a beer every now and again. I think I will partake in a few Leinenkugel's this summer, if I had to guess!
- I wish I hadn't been so stinkin' busy during this pregnancy! In addition to a full-time job, I have written the lion's share of a dissertation, taught my first class, and am still working on various graduate school projects. By the end of the pregnancy, I will (hopefully) have secured a job for next year and graduated with my PhD! It'll all be worth it when Charlie gets here, but I haven't been able to think about being pregnant as much as I'd like!
- Heartburn, from about week 30 on. Not all the time and not insurmountable, but not fun!
- Finding a daycare. They are expensive, and there is no hope that any daycare will ever meet all of my criteria!
The strange:
- I no longer trust the guidelines of "about a pound per week" of weight gain from week 20 or so on. My experience was that I was on the low end of weight gain right at first, gained a ton from weeks 20-26 (I was NOT happy about this!), and for the last few weeks, I haven't gained hardly anything. Overall, I am on track for total gain right in the middle of the average range (30 pounds), so my advice to others would be that any guideline is rough at best and to not freak out if your doctor/midwife isn't telling you to be worried.
- Finding a doctor is usually a very easy experience for me, as I am pretty easy-to please and laid back. However, I am kind of picky about doctors all of a sudden (which I think is warranted!). Derek and I changed from our group of doctors to a group of midwives late in the game (around 30 weeks), and I am so glad we did! Worth it.
- I never expected how much the "girls" would hurt! This has been fairly consistent throughout pregnancy, although it was worse during the first trimester. They only hurt while running, though. Could be worse!
- For awhile, I peed a little when I coughed, sneezed, laughed, etc. (I noticed it around 22 weeks) This stopped though when I started doing kegel exercises. These exercises have also helped with pelvic soreness I was feeling after running as I started the 3rd trimester. After taking a week off of running and being more reliable about doing these apparently very important exercises, I have not had either of these issues!
- I'm not freaked out about getting the baby out (yet). So far, I feel really good about where I am at mentally and physically, how Derek will be as a coach/cheerleader/caretaker, and how the midwives will support us. I totally thought I would be flipping out!
- I have had a bit of swelling in my feet/ankles, which started earlier this week. The weird part -- running seems to be the thing which has the quickest impact in terms of reducing swelling. I'm sure staying well-hydrated also helps, in addition to other things.
- Cloth diapers -- way more complicated than I thought they would be! So many types, brands, accessories! Still, now that I think I have a good plan together, so fun to shop for them!
- Maternity clothes aren't very high quality, no matter where you get them from. I love my stuff from A Pea in the Pod (on sale around Thanksgiving), but most of it is not awesome quality (e.g., dress pants not lined, sweaters pilling a bit). This has been consistent across the Destination Maternity brands, Gap Maternity, Old Navy, all of the brands I have tried.
- Gap brands keep their maternity stuff with the baby clothes. I get it but still think it's weird. And some department stores (like JC Penney) don't even carry maternity or don't carry very much (Kohl's).
Anyway, just some random thoughts that I don't want to forget later! Can't wait to see what the next 6.5 (more? less?) will be like... who knows -- maybe I will have to completely change my list!
- Finding a doctor is usually a very easy experience for me, as I am pretty easy-to please and laid back. However, I am kind of picky about doctors all of a sudden (which I think is warranted!). Derek and I changed from our group of doctors to a group of midwives late in the game (around 30 weeks), and I am so glad we did! Worth it.
- I never expected how much the "girls" would hurt! This has been fairly consistent throughout pregnancy, although it was worse during the first trimester. They only hurt while running, though. Could be worse!
- For awhile, I peed a little when I coughed, sneezed, laughed, etc. (I noticed it around 22 weeks) This stopped though when I started doing kegel exercises. These exercises have also helped with pelvic soreness I was feeling after running as I started the 3rd trimester. After taking a week off of running and being more reliable about doing these apparently very important exercises, I have not had either of these issues!
- I'm not freaked out about getting the baby out (yet). So far, I feel really good about where I am at mentally and physically, how Derek will be as a coach/cheerleader/caretaker, and how the midwives will support us. I totally thought I would be flipping out!
- I have had a bit of swelling in my feet/ankles, which started earlier this week. The weird part -- running seems to be the thing which has the quickest impact in terms of reducing swelling. I'm sure staying well-hydrated also helps, in addition to other things.
- Cloth diapers -- way more complicated than I thought they would be! So many types, brands, accessories! Still, now that I think I have a good plan together, so fun to shop for them!
- Maternity clothes aren't very high quality, no matter where you get them from. I love my stuff from A Pea in the Pod (on sale around Thanksgiving), but most of it is not awesome quality (e.g., dress pants not lined, sweaters pilling a bit). This has been consistent across the Destination Maternity brands, Gap Maternity, Old Navy, all of the brands I have tried.
- Gap brands keep their maternity stuff with the baby clothes. I get it but still think it's weird. And some department stores (like JC Penney) don't even carry maternity or don't carry very much (Kohl's).
Anyway, just some random thoughts that I don't want to forget later! Can't wait to see what the next 6.5 (more? less?) will be like... who knows -- maybe I will have to completely change my list!
