christelle
	Age: 37 Country: JP Province/region: TOKYO City: TOKYO Partner: Yohei Children: Yes, 1 Pregnant: No Due date: 15 Jun ,2008 Occupation:
	Online: 12 days ago. Last updated: 100 days ago. Member since: 315 days
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Welcome! My husband and I are expecting our first baby in June 2008. It's been quite a year for us since we had two weddings, one here in Japan and another in Canada. We got pregnant almost right away, which was a relief and we're both looking forward to this new stage in our lives. I know my husband is going to make a great father and hopefully I'll do ok as a mother! The timing of our baby is so perfect in many ways. Next year at Christmas, the baby will be 5 months old and we'll bring him or her to Canada to be introduced to my relatives. It'll be my husband's first "real" Christmas in Canada and my baby's first Christmas ever! This Christmas will be a quiet one, but that's ok because I know what's coming up :)

Wednesday, 12 Dec

Hi. I'm new at this VIP thing, but thought I'd give it a try. I really enjoy reading about everyone's experiences as they go along from week to week. My husband and I are very excited to be welcoming our first baby (not that we're necessarily planning on having more). Morning Sickness struck me pretty hard and has been going on since week 6. I'm really looking forward to the second trimester that everyone promises will get better.

Pregnancy Survey
How far along are you::	14 weeks
Cravings so far::	gravy, pancakes (not together)
Things that make you sick::	chocolate :(
Boy or girl::	Don't know yet
Babys name::	No idea yet
Advice for other pregnant women::	Hang in there
Baby Daddy::	Going to be a great father!
His reaction::	Unabashed Joy
Greatest memory so far::	The dancing baby ultrasound
Biggest fear::	Something going wrong
Strange symptoms::	Change of personal odour
Advantages of being pregnant::	People are nicer to me in general
Weird dreams::	Yes, but can't remember any now
Emotional outbursts::	Well, crying sessions yes, usually in private
Breast changes::	Size up!
Waist changes::	Yep
Things you quit for baby::	Coffee (including Starbucks Gingerbread Latte!), Chocolate, Wine/Beer
Most uncomfortable time::	When the morning sickness got so bad that I got really weak and was even afraid to faint in the shower
Worst part of being pregnant::	Nausea
Best place for maternity clothes::	Not Japan (can't fit the sizes)
Taking parenting classes::	Planning to take a few that are offered at our clinic
Pregnancy necessities::	Food, a big pillow, larger bra, novels about pregnancy
Grandparents reaction::	Thrilled
Aunts? Uncles?::	Thrilled
Godparents::
Where will you deliver::	Museum of Art Street Maternity Clinic (That's really the name)
When::	June 15th, 2008 or there abouts
Will you breastfeed::	Of course!
Will you use cloth diapers::	Of course not!
Books you're reading::	The Zygote Chronicles, Birthing from Within
Take this survey | Find more surveys Bzoink - The Original Survey Site

Sunday, 23 Dec

I have gone six days without throwing up!!!! I `m so excited by this, words cannot express it. It `s hard to believe that I have vomited at least every other day since the end of October. Still can `t eat chocolate but boy the turkey I had yesterday tasted great!!! Now I `m hoping for a little Christmas magic so that I can feel the baby move soon. Can `t wait!

Monday, 7 Jan

Went to the doctor today and saw our little growing miracle again, seemed to be having quite the little party in there, moving all about. For some reason unlike many on this site, my doctor says she can `t be sure if we `re having a boy or a girl until my 26th week. However, there wasn `t a lot sticking out from between the legs that we could see, and she said that if we don `t see a penis there in the next two months, we `re having a girl. I think it `s a girl, but then the legs look like arms and the arms look like legs to me through that machine! So who knows! Still, thinkin ` pink!

Thursday, 10 Jan

Definitely felt the baby move today!!! I know I felt it before, but was never sure. However, today I am sure. Bottom left side. So cute!

Saturday, 19 Jan

Regarding natural childbirth- not my first choice, but rather one being imposed on me by the culture of the people where I live. (No pain, no gain when it comes to childbirth in Japan). Unlike Jo-Mama, I am more than a little nervous about the whole thing, though my husband will be a great support and other foreign wives who have already been through the same situation are being a great support. Any advice from anyone on the subject of natural childbirth (including reassuring stories) is much appreciated!)

Thursday, 7 Feb

Looks like we're having a boy?! (Last month there wasn't anything there and the doctor said maybe a girl.) I'm interested to see next month's ultrasound- it'll be the tiebreaker.

Wednesday, 5 Mar

Well, just felt like updating. Big news this week is that my left milk machine leaked a little the other night (which was exciting for me and a relief to know that all seems to be in working order). Still having trouble coming up with boy `s names. However, we `ll see tomorrow at the Doctor `s if we even need boy `s names or not. Was our little baby playing tricks on us last week or is that really a little `chin chin ` as they say in Japanese. Either it `ll be bigger or it will have disappeared. I don `t care either way- I am getting so used to the idea of a son, that it `ll take me a while to readjust if we `re told girl again. I `m getting really excited to meet our little one! Wondering what he or she will look like. Apparently the baby can hear already and this week is forming hair and next week will open his or her eyes (which will be blue in the womb but I `m betting brown after birth- think this baby is going to take after Daddy). Wish I didn `t catch this cold, but it could be a lot worse. The baby often wiggles around after I cough, poor thing- likely saying `Mommy I `m trying to sleep, stop coughing! ` Still not wiggling strong enough for Daddy to feel, but all in good time I guess. I `m glad I `m not too big yet, it `s easy to get around and I can still bend over and pick things up etc. I don `t feel to heavy (although I `m pretty sure I `ll get another lecture about weight gain again tomorrow. Happy pregnancies to all!

Monday, 17 Mar

Happy St. Patty `s Day!

I was inspired at work today for some reason. Here is are some altered lyrics for Mambo No. 5- (It `s the Pregnancy Mix!)

A little bit of leg cramps in the night.

A little bit of heartburn all the time.

A little bit of peeing when I sneeze.

A little bit of leaking from my boobies.

A little bit of backache when I stand.

A little bit of hemmroids on my can.

A little bit of nausea, now long gone.

In just a few months I'll be a MOM!

Da da da da, da da da...

Tuesday, 18 Mar

Had my first two week check up today at our new hospital. Baby seems fine- nurses and doctor still really nice! I was happy to get a form for us to fill out about our birth plan!! And another one about giving birth `freestyle ` as they call it here, which just means not on your back. One small concern, sugar in my urine. If it `s there again next time they `ll do the diabetes test (they don `t do it unless there are other signs). I have a question- did anyone who tested positive for GD have other signs in addition to failing the test? Oh and they had me lying on my back in a hot room for a while before the ultrasound and I started feeling really bad and had to sit up which led to a horrible case of the dizzies and I got so hot that I had to take my top off and stay in my bra. Then I had to lie on my side for a bit and I started feeling better. The nurse was surprised that happened to me already- she said it usually happens later (that the baby cuts of circulation when lying on your back). Rings on my hands are getting tight too so (boohoo) time to take them off for now.

April 10th

My tummy is starting to get really big. I can't believe the baby will double in size between now and birth (which means my tummy will also double!) I worry about weight gain cause they are so strict here. I gained 1kg (2lbs) in two weeks last Doctor's appointment and they were telling me to be careful. It's only been a week since then and I think I've gained the same or more already!! Because I lost 6 kgs during morning sickness, I've only actually gained 4 or 5 kgs since my prepregnancy weight (11llbs) but I was already 20 lbs overweight. So, have I gained more than 10 kgs starting from my lowest weight during morning sickness or have I gained only 4 or 5??? I worry that I'm gaining weight too quickly and not eating healthy enough and that it will affect the baby. The last few weeks I've been so bad, eating chocolate, chips and stuffing my face til I'm bursting with regular meals (always regretting that afterwards, yet still stupidly doing it again!) I also find it difficult to eat in the mornings again, slight nausea has returned and I have to be awake for more than an hour to eat (unless I've gotten to sleep in). That means I eat at work- again not as healthy- I need my whole wheat cereal with milk. I'm worried about not getting enough calcium (though I take supplements). I just feel guilty basically for how I've been eating the past few weeks. And my main exercise is going to the washroom! At least I still have a couple months left to try and eat healthier. I hope my hunger level goes down and my cravings for bad things goes away. I'm not so big on the will power. I started off writing this in a good mood, but now I feel down :(

April 21st, 2008

I am feeling better about the whole weight thing and ended up not having gained as much as I thought I had. However, I am noticing that my moodiness is starting to get a little out of control! I am not only emotional and can cry easily (and then I get mad at myself for crying and cry about that!! I feel like a teenager again !) I also have the patience of a two year old. People are getting soooo annoying, even some friends, even just the way the talk (how horrible eh?) Drivers who get in my way make me crazy and I yell at them from my car even though they can't hear me. Then I worry about how my anger/emotion is affecting the baby. People at work can annoy me too (some more than others). there doesn't have to be a reason, sometimes it's just the tone of their voice (high voices are especially grating). People I didn't like before pregnancy I really hate now. Wow, I sound horrible. I feel pretty horrible too! It's not ALL the time,but it definitely is increasing in frequency. I always worried about how I'd be pregnant cause I can be pretty moody when I'm not pregnant, but until the third trimester I wasn't really very different from usual. Now I feel sorry for my husband who probably feels like he has to walk on eggs around me. I hope this is just a short phase and I'll get over it soon, but reading ahead in the weekly comments, it looks like the bigger I get, the scarier I may become!

May 8th, 2008

One more week of work left before I start maternity leave! Yay! That has definitely put me in a better mood. And last weekend Dh's family took us shopping for baby things and bought us a car seat, a crib and mattress and a bunch of other things I can't even remember. We felt guilty that they spent so much on us, but they seemed to enjoy shopping around and picking things out. They were good though and checked with us if we really wanted/needed things. There were like nine of us in the baby store here shopping. Even Dh's aunts are so excited, it's almost like the baby is their grandchild. It's nice though to see others so excited about our little bundle. I've seen such a wonderful side of dh's family which has been nice too.

Baby is doing well in there. Until now he's been such a gentle kicker, but now that he's running out of room he's stretching and wiggling more and I think it's the stretching that is kind of uncomfortable. I still love feeling him move, but I can see how this could get almost painful as he gets bigger and has less room. He's poking me as I write this, must be his head or hands cause it's lower. Funny how I know now, legs or arms. Legs are definitely stronger though! I can't believe how much I love him already! Dh is getting impatient for baby to make his appearance. It'll come soon enough I think- time is starting to fly (although may slow down once I'm on maternity leave).

We still have things to prepare. The crib will come next week and I ordered Dreft online which should come soon so we can start washing the baby's things. But we started cleaning our own stuff and organizing to make room for the baby's things. Sorting clothes was fun- whole new categories now rather than just winter/summer. While putting away my winter clothes, I also put away the summer clothes I don't have a chance of fitting. Boohoo. I did find some things that should fit after the baby comes (drawstring skirts etc.) Also, since I won't be working I put away my nice work clothes. My new job after September will be working with really little kids (3 to 5 years old) so I'll be wearing more casual clothes from then too. It was hard going through all my clothes, I should have gotten rid of more, but I just couldn't! God knows how long many of them will be in storage based on my job/weight etc.

Hmmm, this is the longest update ever. I guess I'll finish off by saying I went to bed at 6pm last night!! I thought I would just nap, but only woke up to go to the bathroom at 12:30am! I had had a busy day at work and had only gotten five hours sleep the night before, but still, crazy! I've never gone to bed at 6 before, 7 yes, 6 no. I guess that third trimester fatigue is seeping in a little, though honestly I still feel pretty great overall (anything compared the the first trimester has been great!) Then at 1:00am we had a series of earthquakes that woke me up and kept me up for a couple of hours. It's unusual to get more than one and they were pretty big and lasted pretty long! I never know whether or not to stay in bed and wait til they finish or prepare to try and escape from our house! Another fun thing about living in Japan.

Wishing everyone who visits my profile a very enjoyable and comfortable last few weeks of pregnancy!

May 28th, 2008

Last stretch!! I'm hoping the baby will come on a Wed. or Thurs. cause the hospital stay here is five days which would keep me there over a weekend and would be really convenient for people to come visit the new baby. (I'd prefer that to home visits for a while). Ideally, I'd prefer the week before my due date, but I guess I could deal with the week after too. I just want the baby to come on his own, without being induced. I have a feeling he will, but he seems pretty content to be where he is right now. I'm loving maternity leave and the lovely weather we're having. Getting lots done, cleaning, organizing, even organizing my huge box of photos (before a million more get added of the baby). It's tough throwing away photos (possibly even tougher than throwing away clothes) but somehow I managed to cut my box in half!

June 7, 2008

Well, tomorrow I'll be 39 weeks! I have a feeling I'm going to give birth on Friday the 13th. I don't know why, it just sounds like something that would happen to me (had locker number 13 for two years in a row in high school and then dorm room 1313 in university). That's ok though, that number has treated me pretty well and would be kind of a funny birthday. And it would mean I wouldn't go overdue. We'll see if I'm right in a few days I guess eh? Overall feeling pretty good still, a few "bad" days here and there with crying or discomfort. But I never got as big as I thought I would (though getting pretty heavy in there now). Standing up from sitting or lying down is the hardest thing as is picking up something off the floor. I've officially started trying to bring it on- raspberry leaf tea, long walks, pineapple, and this weekend a little special time with hubby will hopefully do the trick! Wish me luck!