First Trimester Pregnancy Journals

So I'm not planning to do weekly pregnancy updates, but I reserve the right to change my mind. Before I got pregnant, though, I didn't really like reading them (especially when that's all they'd post anymore). They seemed repetitive, and kind of tedious and boring. Of course as soon as I found out I was pregnant, I went back and read a bunch of my favorite mommy blogger's old updates to compare symptoms and make sure what I was experiencing was normal.

So I think I might end up doing monthly updates. Our family lives really far away so I think this will be a good way to keep everyone up to date on our growing babe. Plus, like every other pregnant blogger before me has said, I want to remember it all, all the details, the emotions, the excitement and anticipation. So here we go....

(This was taken at 5 weeks. It will be fun to have this to compare to in the end.) 


How far along: 13 weeks. hello second trimester!

Size of the baby: Our little one has gone from the size of a poppyseed to a lemon. What a miracle!

Symptoms: When I first found out I was pregnant I was totally surprised because I had none of the early pregnancy symptoms I expected other than little twinges/ rumblings in my stomach. Around 6 weeks though is when I started to feel pregnant and the nausea set in. I didn't throw up (except for one time around 11 weeks) but definitely felt like I could. I felt especially nauseous if I didn't eat enough for breakfast (that prenatal vitamin is a doozy) or if I just didn't eat enough period, or drink enough water. I had some light cramping early on that of course is totally normal but a quick google search will also tell you it can be totally not normal. (Word of advice that I'm still having trouble following... don't google when pregnant.)  The cramping has stopped but I've been having some round ligament pain and some pulling sensations behind my belly button and around the side of my pelvis but this is exciting to me because it means baby and belly are growing! T.J. might testify that one of my main symptoms was out of control hormones...but I'll plead the fifth.

Sleep: At first sleep was really challenging because I was so keyed up and so excited that I could not settle down. I would wake up around 2 am (have to pee) and then not fall back to sleep until T.J. got up to go to work around 5. My brain was just running a mile a minute thinking about all the things. Now I can sleep pretty much through the night but before I was pregnant I would sleep on my stomach and that's gotten really uncomfortable because "the girls" are super duper sore. And I am not really a side sleeper but I know that's what is best/recommended for baby so I'm a little anxious about how uncomfortable sleep might become the further along I get.

Cravings: Nothing dramatic yet but I had a day when I really wanted BBQ chips, so much so that I texted T.J. this gem....
But for the most part I don't want anything twice and leftovers suck. If I think about making some of the same recipes I made during those earlier weeks my stomach immediately turns. We made BLT sandwiches for dinner one night and then T.J. wanted one for lunch the next day. When he was cooking the bacon I had to leave the room and ran straight to the bathroom gagging. I really don't like bacon right now...  I'm curious to see what sort of things I crave now that I'm moving into the second trimester and my stomach isn't so against me.

Best moments of the 1st trimester: I loved telling our families the big news on Thanksgiving and seeing their reactions. Everyone was beside themselves. I was also so excited to get an early ultrasound at 7 weeks and a couple days. Because I'd been having some light cramping early on, primarily on my left side, I was really fearful that it would turn out to be an ectopic pregnancy. Getting to see that the baby was growing in the exact right spot and had a little flickering heartbeat was such a weight off my mind. At 12 weeks I had another appointment and finally got to hear the heartbeat. And the midwife noticed that the baby seemed to be moving all around and that just blew my mind. What a privilege and a miracle to witness life at that teeny tiny stage. I can hardly believe that in 6ish months I'll be holding that same baby in my arms!

Looking forward to in the 2nd trimester: So many things. Oh my goodness I can't contain my excitement.   I can't wait to have an actual bump. I can't wait to feel the baby move! I can't wait to find out if we're having a boy or a girl. I always said I wanted to wait to find out the gender in the delivery room, like my parents did, but T.J. is really eager to find out as soon as possible and it didn't take much convincing for me to change sides.
I would say my belly really hasn't popped yet despite how it may appear in some photos (blame it on bloat), though at my 12 week appointment the midwife said she could feel my uterus had moved up out of my pelvis so we're on our way. Grow baby grow! Can't wait to see what changes the next month brings! 

Comments

  1. I'm so excited for you and T.J. and your families!! We got to be part of the wedding plans via blogs and now you are taking us along on this wonderful journey too! Thanks for including us!! Wishing you blessings upon blessings!

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    1. Thank you so much for your sweet comments always. I am so excited to share this new journey!

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  2. We are so excited. Love you very much.

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  3. Congratulations! What an exciting time in your life.

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  4. Baby M is so lucky to have you for her/his mama. You know which pronoun I was gonna use, right? Ha! xo

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  5. How exciting! I don't know how your mama sat on this news for so long! I would have exploded with happiness and running mouth the moment our daughter gave us such wonderful news. :)

    I understand completely the problem with smells. It got to a point with me that I couldn't even look at magazine pictures of food without getting icky tummy. Hopefully, the icky stage passes quickly for you. The only thing my first baby would let me hold down was Mexican food. He ended up marrying a sweet Mexican girl. Coincidence? Who knows. haha

    You're in my prayers for all to go well for you and baby. This is just so exciting! I haven't stopped smiling since I read your mama's "random thought" for this week. :)

    Have a blessed week.

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    1. Thanks for the sweet encouragement and prayers!! I haven't stopped smiling since that positive test. I am feeling much better in the second trimester. I've only had a little nausea when I made a recipe I had tried back in the first trimester. Turns out my stomach remembered ;)

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  6. Visiting you today because I follow your mom's blog and love it. So happy for you! Your updates are fun -- keep them up! I wish you the very best!

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  7. Hey Shannon, congrats on your pregnancy! I recommend getting pillows - a pregnancy pillow can really help especially as your belly starts growing to try and prop you into comfortable positions for sleep.

    You might not get any cravings - some people don't. Your aversions/cravings can change throughout pregnancy. I couldn't do pasta and bread - which was actually my first clue to being pregnant at 5 weeks!

    If you still experience nausea, I really recommend travel wristbands. They helped a few of my friends through their pregnancies. Also keeping some snacks next to your bed so you can eat something before you get up can help with nausea. However, hoping that stage has passed for you, and wishing you health and for everything to go as smoothly as possible!

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  8. Love it! Such exciting times! You're going to be so glad you have all of this captured! Stay off Google!!!

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