Here's a quick summary of weeks 3-10
Weeks 3-6
We found out at week 3. I called the doctor as soon as I got the positive test and they got me in several days later. I had blood work done and an ultrasound. Nothing showed up on the ultrasound (which scared the crap out of me) but they reassured me that it meant I was just too early to see the baby. I learned that visit that you can't see anything on an ultrasound until week 6 or 7.
I went three different times to check my HCG levels (pregnancy hormone). They were looking to make sure my levels increased (to show a viable pregnancy) and waiting until they got to the level they thought we could see something on the ultrasound. All this was done because we had no idea how far along I was or a due date since I had irregular periods. (As a frame of reference, I got pregnant with Landon after not having a period for 3 months. My doctor calls me a "blessed woman who doesn't ovulate regularly but still gets pregnant". That's what I call Jesus.) :)
Once my levels got up to a place they thought we would see the baby, I had my 2nd ultrasound. The only thing that showed up on that was my placenta - still no baby. Again, I was assured that was a good sign and we'd try again next week.
I should add that this was exhausting and emotionally draining. I also wasn't seeing my regular doctor because she was on maternity leave. I was seeing a brand spankin' new Nurse Practitioner. Nothing at all against NPs, this girl was super sweet....she just came across very inexperienced and made me really nervous at times. Plus, continuing to have ultrasounds and not seeing a baby was really tough. I've had several friends suffer miscarriages over the last couple years so that was always in the back of my mind as well.
Finally about 10 days after my 2nd ultrasound I went for my 3rd and sure enough there was the little pea sized baby with a flickering heart beat on the screen. Relief flooded me and Ben and I were so happy to know how far along I was (6 weeks) and have a due date. Landon went with us to that appointment and that's a memory I don't want to forget. We were talking about watching the TV on the wall (the ultrasound screen) and when the baby popped up, I gave Ben a fist pump and Landon wanted me to give him one too. It was just a really sweet moment as a family. :)
Week 6 was also the week I started feeling really nauseous. I got a prescription for Diclegis that I take before bed each night. I started taking 2 pills but could hardly get out of bed in the morning I was so tired. After talking to another friend who took it too she suggested 1.5 pills. I did that up until week 9 when I upped it to 2 pills again because I was feeling worse.
Week 6 was when I told my best friends as well.
Oh and I started noticing more emotions than normal. I'm an emotional person, but I was getting emotional about silly stuff. :) Plus, nothing sounded good to eat at lunch. I've been eating oatmeal for several weeks now for breakfast, but lunch was hard for a while. I made egg and cheese sandwiches for a while at lunch and ate them with tomatoes on the side. But I got sick of those after a week or two.
Weeks 7-10
Now that we had a due date this felt like a real pregnancy and I started to think of it that way. Not that I didn't before.....but not seeing the baby for so long and not knowing exactly what was going on was tough. I was so happy to know and move forward.
Week 8 we went to the beach with my family and told them there. They were so excited. It was tough at the beach because the heat about did me in. In fact, 2 different mornings I almost over did it. I realized I had to stay in the shade and out of the heat to be able to function. It was great to get to nap on the beach, under an umbrella, while Landon napped (and my Dad stayed in the condo with him). Week 8 is also when I started noticing more of a "baby pudge". Then week 10 I feel like it was more definite as a "bump(ish)" :) It was getting a lot harder to hide it.
Week 9 is when my morning sickness hit it's peak (and has stayed there since). I upped my meds to 2 pills at night to help some.
I also told several more friends at week 9 as well. It was nice to have more people know.
Week 10 I started eating deli meat again. (heated to steaming in the microwave to kill the listeria bacteria risk) I started liking salads again too. This week is also when we told Ben's family.
Here's some snapshots from weeks 3-10.
Weeks 3-6
We found out at week 3. I called the doctor as soon as I got the positive test and they got me in several days later. I had blood work done and an ultrasound. Nothing showed up on the ultrasound (which scared the crap out of me) but they reassured me that it meant I was just too early to see the baby. I learned that visit that you can't see anything on an ultrasound until week 6 or 7.
I went three different times to check my HCG levels (pregnancy hormone). They were looking to make sure my levels increased (to show a viable pregnancy) and waiting until they got to the level they thought we could see something on the ultrasound. All this was done because we had no idea how far along I was or a due date since I had irregular periods. (As a frame of reference, I got pregnant with Landon after not having a period for 3 months. My doctor calls me a "blessed woman who doesn't ovulate regularly but still gets pregnant". That's what I call Jesus.) :)
Once my levels got up to a place they thought we would see the baby, I had my 2nd ultrasound. The only thing that showed up on that was my placenta - still no baby. Again, I was assured that was a good sign and we'd try again next week.
I should add that this was exhausting and emotionally draining. I also wasn't seeing my regular doctor because she was on maternity leave. I was seeing a brand spankin' new Nurse Practitioner. Nothing at all against NPs, this girl was super sweet....she just came across very inexperienced and made me really nervous at times. Plus, continuing to have ultrasounds and not seeing a baby was really tough. I've had several friends suffer miscarriages over the last couple years so that was always in the back of my mind as well.
Finally about 10 days after my 2nd ultrasound I went for my 3rd and sure enough there was the little pea sized baby with a flickering heart beat on the screen. Relief flooded me and Ben and I were so happy to know how far along I was (6 weeks) and have a due date. Landon went with us to that appointment and that's a memory I don't want to forget. We were talking about watching the TV on the wall (the ultrasound screen) and when the baby popped up, I gave Ben a fist pump and Landon wanted me to give him one too. It was just a really sweet moment as a family. :)
Week 6 was also the week I started feeling really nauseous. I got a prescription for Diclegis that I take before bed each night. I started taking 2 pills but could hardly get out of bed in the morning I was so tired. After talking to another friend who took it too she suggested 1.5 pills. I did that up until week 9 when I upped it to 2 pills again because I was feeling worse.
Week 6 was when I told my best friends as well.
Oh and I started noticing more emotions than normal. I'm an emotional person, but I was getting emotional about silly stuff. :) Plus, nothing sounded good to eat at lunch. I've been eating oatmeal for several weeks now for breakfast, but lunch was hard for a while. I made egg and cheese sandwiches for a while at lunch and ate them with tomatoes on the side. But I got sick of those after a week or two.
Weeks 7-10
Now that we had a due date this felt like a real pregnancy and I started to think of it that way. Not that I didn't before.....but not seeing the baby for so long and not knowing exactly what was going on was tough. I was so happy to know and move forward.
Week 8 we went to the beach with my family and told them there. They were so excited. It was tough at the beach because the heat about did me in. In fact, 2 different mornings I almost over did it. I realized I had to stay in the shade and out of the heat to be able to function. It was great to get to nap on the beach, under an umbrella, while Landon napped (and my Dad stayed in the condo with him). Week 8 is also when I started noticing more of a "baby pudge". Then week 10 I feel like it was more definite as a "bump(ish)" :) It was getting a lot harder to hide it.
Week 9 is when my morning sickness hit it's peak (and has stayed there since). I upped my meds to 2 pills at night to help some.
I also told several more friends at week 9 as well. It was nice to have more people know.
Week 10 I started eating deli meat again. (heated to steaming in the microwave to kill the listeria bacteria risk) I started liking salads again too. This week is also when we told Ben's family.
Here's some snapshots from weeks 3-10.
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