Week 13 -- 3 months

Today has been an interesting day -- a bit scary! I fainted in the shower this morning. Natalie had slept in so I thought I'd jump out of bed and get a shower in before she woke up. Well, I forgot I typically need to eat before taking a shower, especially when pregnant. I started to feel light headed so I sat on our tile seat in our stand-up shower. As I was asking Emile to get me something to eat, I fainted, slide off the tile seat while scraping my back along the seat and then hit my head. The next thing I know, Emile was tapping my face with me on the floor of the shower. Apparently I was out for about 15 seconds. It took me a while to feel ok with getting up off the floor -- I laid there eating crackers. I managed to get into the kitchen to have a bowl of cereal but unfortunately, about a half an hour after fainting, I threw everything up. I've been feeling queasy all day long.

I had Kinsey, our nanny, take me to my OB's office in the afternoon. Dr. Gaines checked my eyes to make sure I hadn't had a concussion. He also checked for the baby's heartbeat with a Doppler -- the first time I heard the heartbeat! Unfortunately, Emile wasn't there to hear it although we've seen it twice now. Everything is fine -- baby's fine, I'm fine. It was just a blood pressure issue with getting up from bed and into the shower too quickly and not eating anything beforehand -- pregnancy just makes it worse. Plus, apparently I have pretty low blood pressure to begin with so I need to make sure to drink a lot of fluids and not get up from things too quickly.

Dr. Gaines also commented on my c-section scar. He stated that if I have a c-section again, they'll remove the raised bump but in order to avoid it again (he stated it is a Keloid scar) that I would need to have steroids injected into my skin before the incision to avoid it forming again. Apparently, it's genetic and could form again.

I can't believe I'm starting my second trimester already. Time is flying by. Our baby is now the size of a peach, and has started to resemble a baby with well formed fingers and toes! Our baby's vocal cords have begun to develop, and more and more of the organs are functioning every day. All twenty baby teeth are formed beneath the gums. Our baby's bone marrow, liver and spleen have taken over the production of red blood cells. Although our baby's intestines were originally formed inside the umbilical cord, they are now moving into the abdomen. Fuzzy hair is beginning to form on our baby's head and is white (unpigmented) right now.

NT Scan

I had my NT scan today. Everything went great. The ultrasound technician measured the fluid level behind the baby's neck -- it was within normal range which is wonderful! This means the chance of Down Syndrome is low. We still need to get the results of my blood work back but so far everything looks good.

My main reason for wanting to do this ultrasound is to make sure the baby is doing well. Without this ultrasound, we wouldn't get to see him/her until my anatomy scan so about 3 months between my first ultrasound and the anatomy. Given I haven't had morning sickness or many other First Trimester symptoms (which is great), sometimes I don't feel pregnant so I get worried something is wrong. But as Emile expected, everything was great! Our little bean was moving all over the place - much more than Natalie did! His/her heartbeat was similar to Natalie's at this stage - 159 bpm (Natalie's was 160 bpm). We could see his/her arms, legs and hands -- it was wonderful! It's finally feeling very real and I'm super excited!

The ultrasound technician also checked out the cyst on my ovary. Turns out there are two of them. She said one for sure is a pregnancy cyst which provides hormones until the placenta takes over (which should be around now). She couldn't tell on the second one but expects that it is. They'll continue watching them. Apparently this is very normal.

The anatomy scan is scheduled for July 1 -- 5 weeks away. I'll be 17 weeks pregnant. Wow, that's coming up soon!

Week 12

Almost at the end of the First Trimester already! I seem to have escaped morning sickness again. I know I'm one of the lucky ones! My c-section scar still itches a lot as my belly starts stretching. A number of friends that had c-sections and subsequent births have said the itching around the scar just gets worse as the pregnancy goes on. Hopefully it won't be as bad as the itchy skin rash I had with Natalie. I'm still tired but not nearly as much as I have been the last few weeks which is surprising given that Natalie has started to walk so I'm chasing after her much more now! :) I do still have to urinate frequently but hopefully that will start to subside now that my uterus is moving out from under my pelvic bone. It's pretty much impossible to suck in my belly anymore. Comparing to my pregnancy photos with Natalie, I feel like I already look about 16 weeks pregnant! So it goes I suppose with a second pregnancy.

I forgot to mention that during my first u/s my doctor noticed I have a cyst on one of my ovaries. She said it's nothing to worry about and they usually go away over time during a pregnancy but that she'll be watching it to see how it progresses. This apparently is very common.

By now, nearly all of our baby's organs, structures and systems are fully formed. The heart has begun to pump several quarts of blood through his/her body every day. Our baby has also begun to develop nerves and a spinal cord, allowing him/her to feel some types of pain. While our baby's brain is not the same size it will be at birth, it does have the same structure. Fingers and toes have separated and hair and nails continue to grow. Our baby is approximately 2.5 - 3.5 inches and weighs about 12 - 14 grams. Also, the external genitals can now show definite signs of male and female gender. Before, where there was only reflex movement, our baby now moves spontaneously and at random, although his/her movements are still too slight to be felt.

Tomorrow is our NT scan. I'm looking forward to seeing our baby again and hearing the heartbeat.

Week 11

My appetite has changed lately. I'm just not as nearly as hungry as I normally am. A lot of things don't sound appealing. I'm more repulsed by smells and the thought of certain food than I was with Natalie. Unlike last time, I actually haven't gained any weight yet even though my belly is starting to stick out. My uterus is already the size of a grapefruit and I'm pretty sure it's already moving up given how my belly feels. My c-section scar has been itching like crazy lately. I'm sure it's only going to get worse as time goes on and my belly starts really stretching. It probably doesn't help that I have a raised c-section scar (hypertrophic scar). I'm also still extremely tired all the time.

Our baby's organ systems are now functioning and s/he has a skeleton, nerves and blood circulation. Our baby's tiny feet are fully formed and shaped and could stand on an adult's fingernail. The most critical part of baby's development is now over, and the remainder of the pregnancy is about rapid growth, organ maturation and getting ready for delivery. Our baby's eyelids are fused now and the irises are developing. S/he will begin to get baby teeth, fingernails, toenails and hair follicles this week, too.

Week 10

I'm roughly 25% of the way done! This week marks the beginning of the fetal period, which lasts until birth. Our baby's body systems, such as circulatory, nervous, reproductive and digestive, are fully formed during this time. His/her heart is beating approximately 160-170 beats per minute. Our little one is now the size of a small plum and weighs less then 1/2 ounce, or 4 paper clips.

Our baby will become much more active then before, but unfortunately, his/her movements are still too small for me to notice. Our baby will be moving his/her arms and legs, which can be seen on an ultrasound. The baby's joints are fully formed, as are his/her tiny hands, feet, fingers and toes. At this age, our baby would be able to grab an object, if it were placed in his/her hand. Our baby's eyes are open most of the time but the eyelids are beginning to fuse - they will stay that way until I reach approximately 25 to 27 weeks. The external genitalia are beginning to be able to show our baby's gender and both the external ears and upper lip are completely formed now. In addition, our baby is breathing, "breathing" amniotic fluid.

For me, it's been pretty much the same as the last few weeks. Mostly just some abdominal achy-stretchy feelings. Still no morning sickness!!! So far, this pregnancy has been very similar to my pregnancy with Natalie. With working and taking care of an almost 1 year old, I haven't gotten that much time to use my prenatal work-out DVDs. I'm hoping to get more into exercising soon! I do manage to get a few walks with Natalie during the week though.

Week 9

I am now finally 9 weeks pregnant. Because Dr. Anya moved my EDD, it felt like it took forever to move onto the next week. Not much has been going on for me this week since my ultra sound. I still have the achy abdominal feelings on and off throughout the day and so far, no morning sickness (yay!). It's getting harder to suck in my belly (even though I'm only 9 weeks). I'm hoping to make it to at least 10 weeks before I pull out my maternity pants but it's definitely getting uncomfortable sitting in my jeans. Natalie has been sick today and yesterday, and I think I picked up what she has because I've been feeling pretty awful all afternoon and evening but this isn't really pregnancy-related. Hopefully we both start feeling better tomorrow.

I am still breastfeeding Natalie but will be starting to wean her in about 2 weeks. I had planned to wean around 12 months (I'm pretty excited that I made it to my goal!) and if all goes according to plan, she should be fully weaned by the middle of June (I'm planning to take a month to wean her from her four feedings). I was starting to feel sad about weaning because I enjoy the time together with Natalie but now that I'm starting to feel sore and tender from being pregnant, nursing has not been as comfortable. Plus, her top teeth don't help! But I'm very glad I was able to nurse her this long and we had this close bonding time together!

Our baby's cartilage and bones have begun to form. The basic structure of the eye is well underway and the tongue has begun to develop. The intestines start to move out of the umbilical cord and into the abdomen as our baby's body grows and makes room. His/her fingers and thumb have appeared but are short and webbed.

First Ultra Sound

I had my first ultrasound today (Natalie is 11 months today!). Everything looks good -- we got to see the heart beat and confirmed that there's only one baby! As I expected, Dr. Anya thinks I ovulated later than regular cycles and so the baby is measuring smaller than based on my last menstrual cycle (LMP). Based on my LMP, my EDD would be December 3 and I would be 9 weeks pregnant but based on the size of the baby, I'm only 8 weeks 2 days pregnant. So Dr. Anya has moved my EDD to December 8, 2009. My next belly photo will not be until next Tuesday now.

Unfortunately, Dr. Anya only gave me one u/s photo and it's not even a close up. If you look back at my ultrasound with Natalie, we got to see a really close-up view of her but not today. This is a different office than when I was 8 weeks pregnant with Natalie --

maybe they have different quality of equipment. I think with Natalie I had to go to a separate place for my u/s whereas this one was in the doctor's office.

Dr. Anya also didn't tell me the heart rate; she only said everything looked good when I asked after. I know the heart rate doesn't tell you what you're having but I would have liked to have it for my pregnancy book and to compare to Natalie's. I'll have to make sure to ask at my next appointment. I will be going in for an NT scan in the next few weeks (not sure of the date yet) and my next doctor appointment is not till June 18th (I'll be 15 weeks).

We did discuss the probability of me doing a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) - something I'd really like to try given I feel like I missed out on something by having a c-section. Dr. Anya thinks my chance of success with a VBAC is only 40% (meaning I'm more likely to end up with a c-section anyways) based on how my body responded to labor last time. She believes that because my body didn't start picking up my contractions after I went off pitocin (because Natalie wasn't handling pitocin well) that my body may not labor well this time either. She does think we can wait and see if my body goes into labor on its own by my EDD and then, if not, schedule a c/s. Or I could plan to schedule a c-section up front (between 39 and 40 weeks). We have plenty of time to think about it though.

Week 8 -- 2 Months Completed!

Wow...2 months already. This week I met with the OB coordinator at my doctor's office. She went over the insurance information, gave me a bunch of reading material on being pregnant (obviously not something I need), and went over the schedule of tests and appointments for the next 7 months. Then I had to give quite a bit of blood and a urine sample. I really dislike giving blood and four vials of it is a lot! My next appointment is with my doctor next Thursday when she'll do my first internal ultra sound.

I'm definitely starting to feel more pregnant now. Mostly I'm pretty bloated and moody (I'm sure Emile can attest to that one). Although my weight hasn't changed from before I got pregnant, it sure seems like my stomach is already sticking out further. Given the baby is the size of a piece of rice and under my pelvic bone, this belly is all related to bloat and my uterus growing. I'm guessing it also has something to do with the fact that I had a c/s previously and my ab muscles were cut apart so they pretty much have no strength to hold anything in. Plus, I've heard you start looking pregnant sooner with the second and subsequent babies.

So far I haven't really had any signs of morning sickness. Like with Natalie, I've really only had a few days were I felt a little queasy but nothing more than that. I hope that remains the case!

I did start doing prenatal pilates again this week. Unlike with Natalie, I'm also hoping to still run on the weekends until it's uncomfortable to do so. The OB coordinator said this fine to do and I did run this past weekend with no problems.

An ultrasound done at this stage should show a fluttering heartbeat. Elbows are beginning to form in the arms and fingers are starting to develop. The leg buds have begun to show feet with tiny notches for the toes. Our baby's face continues to change as the ears, eyes and the tip of the nose is appearing. The intestines are starting to form in the umbilical cord. Teeth are developing under the gums.

Week 7

I'm 7 weeks pregnant today. There haven't been a lot of changes this week (as expected). I do feel more bloated, and I've become very emotional and moody (I swear I wasn't like this with Natalie). My abdominal muscles are still feeling achy but other than that, I can't really tell I'm pregnant (nor could I at this stage when I was pregnant with Natalie). It still doesn't feel that real to us but I'm sure it will kick into high gear after my first ultra sound in two weeks.

I've been slacking lately with working out (it's not easy with a 10.5 mo old; I can't imagine how I'm going to get in shape after baby #2). I'm hoping to still run on the weekends and start doing prenatal pilates again soon. Natalie and I do go for walks after work when the weather is nice.

Our baby is about 1/3 of an inch right now, the size of a grain of rice. Development of the arms and legs continue although the fingers and toes haven't yet formed. The brain is growing as well as the lenses of the eyes, nostrils, intestines, pancreas and bronchi.

Like last time, I've added a poll to the side of this blog for everyone to take a guess as to what gender Natalie's little sibling is going to be. We hope to find out around July.

Week 6

My first belly photo! Although I'm back to my pre-Natalie weight, my abdominal muscles still aren't back in shape since having a c-section. So it goes! Although I'm still weeks away from showing, I have read that women typically start showing earlier with subsequent pregnancies. I started showing with Natalie at 15 weeks. We'll see if I show before that with this one.

I go into meet with the OB Coordinator at Blue Ridge OB/Gyn on April 20th. Unfortunately, this appointment is to just go over my history, sign some forms and for them to give me pamphlets, prenatal vitamins and answer questions. I think this appointment is unnecessary given that I've been pregnant before, already take prenatal vitamins because I'm still breastfeeding, I don't need a pamphlet and I don't have any questions. My first appointment with Dr. Anya is April 30th (Natalie will be 11 months old that day!) in which she'll do my first internal ultra sound to date the pregnancy. Emile will be going with me to that appointment.

At 6 weeks pregnant, our baby's heartbeat will have begun! The baby is now an embryo and is about 1/17 of an inch long. Growth will be very rapid this week. The umbilical cord is developing. Our baby's eyes and ears are beginning to form as well as an opening for the mouth. The heart has begun to pump blood and most of the other organs are well under construction. Buds form on the body that will become the arms and legs. --- Wow, it's starting to feel more real now!

We're having another baby!

Wow! We have just entered the "2 under 2" parenting group! I'm pregnant! Natalie is going to be a big sister. I'm a bit in shock right now. We're very excited but didn't think I would get pregnant so fast given I am still breastfeeding Natalie. My OB, Dr. Anya, seemed pretty relaxed about the whole idea of me going off the mini-pill when Natalie was 9 mo. old. She thought it would take a few months before my cycles were regular and because I'm breastfeeding that more than likely I probably wouldn't get pregnant until closer to Natalie's 1st birthday when I plan to wean her. But apparently that's not the case -- I got pregnant the first month trying!

We had wanted our children to be close in age -- between 18 and 24 months apart. Looks like Natalie and our next little one will be 18 months apart. Right now, my due date is December 3, 2009 - day after my nephew, Hayden's, 5th birthday, but I think it will be pushed out a week after my first ultra-sound. I had been testing since cycle day 28. If I was back to my normal 28 day cycle, I should have gotten a positive test result much sooner than I did. Instead, I didn't get a positive until CD 38 which more than likely means my cycle was still irregular from breastfeeding and I probably didn't ovulate until CD 21 or so. Typical EDD (estimate due dates) are based on a regular 28 day cycle with ovulation occurring around day 14 or so. I'm expecting that the u/s will show the baby to be smaller than the calculated EDD would imply due to ovulating later (and thus, conceiving later). It doesn't look like I'll be getting in for my first u/s appointment until around 8-9 weeks. Things work a little different here at the NC office I go to than in NYC. Based on a December 3rd EDD, I am 5 weeks 3 days today.

So far my only "symptom" has been the achy abdominal feeling I had when I was pregnant with Natalie. And I also had implantation spotting around CD 35. I'm hopeful that I have a laid back pregnancy again like I did with Natalie, minus the itchy skin rash.

We told our parents, Kendra and Hayden over the webcam again. This time, we had Natalie put on a shirt that says "I'm going to be a Big Sister". I also told my brother over the phone (we need to get him a webcam). They were all pretty excited.

I decided to start a separate blog for my second pregnancy. Given that I don't yet want to tell everyone I'm pregnant (not until after the first trimester), I thought this would be a way to still post belly photos and update everyone on how I'm doing without putting it on Natalie's blog.