Eleven weeks five days

Our second scan was taken at nearly eleven weeks, and Partner even saw the baby moving (he was in a better position to see the screen) at one point. The doctor said it's looking very good, with all its development right on track, and she gave me the all clear to stop taking my medication.

Because it is still kind of early days, we haven't done much preparation, but we've been promised clothing and other newborn items from family members. There isn't much I want: just the essentials. We are probably going to go with cloth diapers/nappies, and I have been tending towards a sling for carrying it around while it's still little, rather than a stroller/pram. The only thing I'm really bothered about getting new is a car seat, as I don't want one that could be damaged or in any way unsafe.

All the marketing towards new parents and children makes me want to do this as simply as possible. As the eldest child in a big family, I know that newborns don't want much and don't care about toys or gadgets. And personally I haven't been into fashion since I was about fourteen years old, so I don't see the need to buy trendy new clothing for an infant who won't notice.

I'm feeling a bit less nauseous than last week, and have gone walking a few times: this tires me out a lot, but I can go on quite a bit longer than previously. I went book-shopping again today and was able to manage the indoor air a lot better than last time. I've asked my work to try me out on a couple short shifts this week so I'll see how it goes.

Ten weeks three days

The horrible metallic taste I've had in my mouth since I first began getting nausea is not so bad now. I had a hard time drinking water because it would taste terrible. I'm drinking more now (thanks to Robinsons fruit squash--I can drink flavored drinks, but too much juice makes my stomach hurt, so a light dash of orange squash in my water solves my problems). I've been branching out in my food preferences as well, and am willing to try more things, though I still have to avoid greasy/fatty meats. And I just can't face vegetables yet, though I normally love my veg.

I think my nausea is also a bit less severe and less often. I had about a day and a half where my stomach felt like it was full of nails, but now I'm mostly just ravenous with a touch of sickness. I haven't been cooking because the smells set off my nausea, but I actually made a fruit salad the other day. And I washed a sinkful of dishes without retching once.

I have only had about two or three injections in the past week because I can't manage them. I don't think there is a single place left on either leg or buttock which has not had a puncture already. Imagine sticking a needle into a bruise. That is what it is now like. On the plus side, I'm seeing my specialist in two days to discuss it, and hopefully she'll give me the all-clear.

I'm still getting up multiple times in the night for bathroom breaks, and sleeping quite a bit, but I haven't needed a mid-day nap for a couple of weeks now. My most prevalent symptom now is hunger. It takes about an hour and a half after a meal for me to need another. I couldn't possibly say how many meals that totals up in a day. I've told Partner I think I have a tapeworm in addition to a pregnancy. He just rolled his eyes.

Nine weeks two days

Today Partner and I went into town to pick up some more books for me to read. It's the first time I've really been out of the house for two weeks. I had a very hard time while inside the few shops we went into, and had to leave after just a few minutes and get some fresh air. I felt a bit faint and nauseous, though the breeze made me feel a bit better. We normally buy our books from charity shops so we have to really look at them all to find any worth even trying. I did get about five or so, but the 45 minute trip included twenty minutes of sitting down on a bench and eating a sandwich, and then when we got home after another 45 minutes, I needed more food straight away.

So I'm still ravenous nearly all the time and get quite nauseous, but not quite as exhausted. My breasts are no longer so tender--they feel as normal, just a bit larger. I've been taking progesterone injects for about two months now and the muscles in my thighs and bum are hurting. Two months of injections...give or take 62 shots, 31 in each side. No wonder they feel flayed. Hopefully these injections will cease by the 25th, in ten more days, when I see my specialist again. And as I'm counting down the days to my second trimester, perhaps I will be losing the morning (make that all day) sickness and faintness. Actually my blood pressure is a little high, according to the doctor, though not enough to be alarmed about. I can tell my heart is pumping a lot more than usual, which may be making me dizzy/faint.

I feel a bit less tired, but today's excursion did wear me out, and I don't think I'm quite ready for work. I'll be visiting the doctor again to pick up another note, probably for two more weeks. It'd be no good to turn up and pass out ten minutes later. And maybe after those two weeks are up, I'll actually feel like working.

Eight weeks one day

Yesterday I met my midwife for the first time and filled out a ton of paperwork and had some blood taken. She came here to the house for our appointment, but it was still pretty tidy from last week's guests (Partner's sister and daughter came for the weekend).

At eight weeks, I'm still feeling very nauseous for most of the day, and quite hungry. It is very difficult to find food that I can choke down, especially when I have to do so every hour and a half. I've told Partner, quite seriously, that what I really want is a drip. That way I don't have to worry about finding it, putting it in my mouth, swallowing it, and having it come back up again. Plus I wouldn't have to worry about drinking either. Even water tastes horrible and I can only take small mouthfuls at a time. This from the woman who normally drinks about two to three liters a day. I'm lucky if I get through half a liter in a day now. I still drink a bit of juice and ginger ale, but my fluid intake is way down.

I've got a two week note from the doctor so I'm not back at work. The midwife actually told me not to hurry back. We can't really afford for me to not be working, but we both agree there are some things more important than money. This little spark of life means more to me than anything, and work was making me even more ill. At home I can sleep and retch as much as I need to.

I do have a tiny rounded belly, but I think it's more fluid and possibly gas than any noticeable baby just yet.

Six weeks six days

We had our first scan yesterday at the doctor, and she found the embryo straight away and she has said everything looks very good. We even listened to the heartbeat. Partner was very excited to see and hear it. I asked him and he says it feels more real to him now. Of course, it seems very real to me because I can feel all these small changes happening in my body. It was about the size of a little jelly bean and the sac itself was maybe small plum sized. No wonder I'm starting to stretch at the seams.

My mother and Partner's parents have been told, but we've asked them to keep it quiet from the rest of the family for another month/six weeks. I have my next scan in four weeks, and I will feel easier telling people when there is less of a chance of miscarriage. Not that I'm really at a particular risk of it, but these things do happen sometimes.

TV and computer screens both make me feel nauseous so I have been doing a lot of reading. Not so much blogging or gaming. I can eat rice krispies, orange juice, brown toast, ham and mustard sandwiches, and bean burritos. Anything else is a probable no. Still have not actually puked, but a few times have retched. My sense of smell is heightened and many things smell disgusting to me now.

We have a due date: March 18, 2010. I will be seven weeks along tomorrow.

Sixth week

The nausea continues though the lightheadedness is not as bad. Mostly, I think, because I am not so exposed to heat. I am working in a cooler environment and not standing for such long periods.

I am, however, very hungry nearly all the time. I can eat a large meal and be starving an hour later. I'm trying to focus on good fresh foods like lean chicken, eggs, cottage cheese, salads, fruits, nuts, and wholemeal toast. The only problem with most of these food items, though, is that they don't leave me very full. But anything that is greasy/fatty or sweet makes me want to throw up. Partner had some parmesan on his dinner the other evening and I had to leave the room, just from the smell. Butter also makes me a little icky. And all this makes it difficult both to cook and be cooked for.

Still very tired and trying to sleep when I can. I'm thinking I may take a nap when I get home from work. Which is now.

Fifth week achieved

From the third week, I was definitely waking up at least twice at night to pee. I knew right away, from this and from the bloated feeling: I was pregnant. Pregnancy was confirmed in the fourth week.

From the fourth week I was beginning to feel a bit lightheaded, tired, and dizzy, especially after standing for an extended period, or in heat. So work started to be a bit bad. I was asking for sit-down breaks constantly, culminating in an early finish one night because of faintness. I have asked my boss to be switched out of the kitchen, at least until I feel a bit more stable.

From yesterday I have begun to have bouts of nausea, though no actual vomiting. The fatigue has increased, or maybe just amplified because of the queasiness.

I am in part thrilled to have symptoms, because they say that means everything is going right, but still a bit terrified that something will go wrong. Partner says this is irrational and I don't need to worry until something actually does go wrong. I will try. I've wanted this very badly, and only recently recovered from an ectopic pregnancy, so I think the conflicting emotions are likely to continue.

Fifth week has now been achieved and I am now in my sixth week.