As promised, here is the second major pregnancy post, where I will share every detail of every symptom I have experienced thus far. Okay, not every detail, and certainly not every symptom. But it's definitely a detailed overview of how I've been feeling thus far.
I'll start with weeks 4-5, when I still didn't know I was pregnant. I don't know how it is with other women, but for me, I didn't even suspect anything (even when my period was late) because I still felt like I was going to get my period. If I may go on a slight tangent here, I find it interesting that women say they have PMS on the first day of their period, especially since the "P" in PMS is for "
Pre." I truly experience PMS
before I get my period. That's how I know I've ovulated, and that a period is on its way.
So I felt the same way I normally felt, and I wasn't worried when it didn't show up as scheduled. But after week 5, I started experiencing strange things with my appetite. I would get
suddenly hungry, and not long after I had eaten. Normally, a breakfast at 6:00am would hold me over until about 11:00, and that's when I would eat my lunch. But when I was at work one day, my stomach started growling, loudly, at 9:00am. Then, as soon as I had a tiny snack, I would be absolutely disinterested in food until about 2:00.
It was at that point that I bought the pregnancy test, because I'm in tune enough with my body to know that that wasn't normal.
When I took the test, I was nearly 6 weeks along. I've read that typical pregnancy symptoms usually show up around 6 weeks, and that's exactly what it was like for me. I had my first experience with morning sickness about 4 days after I took the test. I also experienced horrible fatigue that week. (However, I blame that on the fact that we just started house sitting and attempting to recover from moving week, all at the same time. I haven't experienced any fatigue since then.)
I realized at some point that I was also quite moody. I tried my best not to show it on the
outside, but on the inside I was Grumpy
McGrumperson. I also managed to embarrass myself with a bout of inexplicable
weepiness, even though I was alone. I literally started sobbing for no reason whatsoever. It's nearly happened on the bus or at work a number of times, but I've managed to control those episodes.
An increase in acne is another fairly common one, and I guess I've got a little bit of that. It's not too bad though. I've also had trouble sleeping, which the doctor said is common, but it's hard to know if that's pregnancy related or not. Art also had a difficult time sleeping while we were house sitting, and he's certainly not pregnant. Even back in our apartment, I find it difficult to cool down enough to fall asleep at night, but that happens to me anyway.
But the main symptom that overshadowed all the others was nausea. Nausea was my near-constant companion from week 6 to week 10. Let it be known that I have never thrown up, not once. All food has thankfully stayed down. I understand now how pregnancy nausea is different from other nausea, and how I am somehow able to eat even while feeling gross. I'm also quite aware of how lucky I am that my morning sickness was relatively mild. However, it was still very unpleasant and annoying, and I'm glad that, for the most part, it's behind me.
Back when I was feeling queasy, I was almost completely disinterested in food. I didn't want to eat
anything. Except toast. I don't know if you can necessarily call that a craving, but it was quite literally the only thing that appealed to me. Then one day, I actually had some toast, and I was quite disappointed. After that, it was back to wanting nothing at all. I started consuming a lot of yogurt, because it was easy. No preparation, and mild on the stomach.
Overall, I felt like eating was a nuisance, and I almost forced Art to eat out every day, because I didn't want to cook, because I didn't want food
at all.
Of course, I HAD to eat, and I'm very thankful for being able to use the barbecue at the place we were house sitting. Cooking inside really turned my stomach, but being able to barbecue made me happy. I quickly discovered how easy it is, and I'm looking forward to having one of our own (which I'm pretty sure we can do, thanks to our fairly large deck).
I'm also thankful that I discovered some remedies to make it a bit easier. I ate saltines every morning before I got out of bed, and I had a cup or two of peppermint tea every day. Both of those things made the nausea much easier to handle. It was important that I start with the crackers and tea, because if I could take care of my morning sickness right away, then I was set for the rest of the day.
After week 10, I started to get my appetite back, and I became interested in food again. I've discovered that I'm a very picky eater now, but at least I actually
like food now. Things that really gross me out that I used to like are: Mexican food (this one is the worst. Art ate a burrito the other day, and I wouldn't even let him get close to me after. I could smell it, and it turned my stomach).
I also hate burgers and fries. Fries used to be my most favorite food. There is a restaurant here that serves high quality meat burgers, and you can choose to have the patty sans bun, and on a bed of spring greens instead. They also make amazing sweet potato fries. I used to want to go there every day. Now I can't stand it. This makes me sad.
Chinese food is a no-no. And anything battered or fried is basically off limits. If it's considered a "heavy" food, I will most likely not want it. I'm not even a big fan of chocolate or ice cream or sweet things in general. I realize that I basically listed every food I shouldn't be eating anyway, but it's hard to avoid all those foods, all the time. Especially since my husband, his family, and all our friends still love those foods. And I used to like those foods, and would enjoy them on
occasion.
Along with the return of my appetite came the cravings. For the most part, the cravings are brief, and often unidentifiable. Like, I think I can smell or taste something, and then I REALLY want that thing, but I can't figure out what it is. Then it goes away after a minute or so. I've also had brief cravings for jello and hot dogs (at the same time), grilled cheese sandwiches, cereal, cheesecake, that watered-down tangy punch they always serve at church, and some others that I can no longer remember.
I also have a few foods that I want all the time, with all my heart: salt and vinegar chips (I buy a bag every time I go to
Haggen, which is at least once a week). Garlic bread is another, and I got to fulfill that craving yesterday, and I still want more. Homemade mac and cheese. This one I haven't given in to (yet), but I've been thinking about it for weeks, so you know it's going to happen at some point.
Am I making you hungry with all this food talk? I told you, my life
revolves around food and eating now. It's pretty much all I think about. I'm definitely making up for those 4 weeks when I didn't want anything ever.
And don't worry, I am eating pretty healthy now. I feel like a bad mother already, because I know it's crucial to eat super healthy in the first 8-10 weeks, but I found it hard to eat anything, healthy or unhealthy! Now I'm finding it easy to eat the things I'm supposed to be eating, and I'm quite enjoying it.
Aside from the food obsession, I'm feeling great, I'm enjoying my slowly growing tummy, and I'm excited for things to start coming together, with the midwife, and all the baby stuff we have to get. And speaking of those things, I've got one more major post coming up, where I will fill you in on some pregnancy and baby plans.
