This is my first baby and I am soo excited! My husband and I have been married for 5 years and he has been incredibly supportive and happy about the newest addition to our little family! At the moment we are renovating our townhouse to try and sell it and move into a bigger house where we can begin to raise our family. Jeremy has been working like crazy trying to finish the townhouse, because around this time of year it can take a while to sell, and he wants us to have lots of time to move, settle in, and decorate the nursery in our new home before I get too big! I am in school, finishing two degrees, one of which will be done this spring before the baby comes, and I will need to make up 6 weeks of classes & 6 weeks of practicum for my other degree after the baby comes! Knowing that I will only have 12 weeks to finish, I'm thinking it shouldn't be too hard to go back after the baby is born! So far, everyone we have told has been very supportive and we are so thankful for the happy wishes that have been brought our way! We are also so grateful for the little life that is forming... and can't wait to go through all of the stages of development!
Saturday, 12 Jan
This looked like fun!
Pregnancy Survey
About You
Name?: Tiffany
Age?: 26
Height?: 5 `6
Pre-pregnancy weight?:135
About The Father
Name?: Jeremy
Age?: 27
Height?: 5 `10
Are you still together?: Yes! We have been together for almost 7 years, and married for over 5! He is amazing!
About Your Pregnancy
Is this your first pregnancy?: yes
When did you find out you were pregnant?: Dec. 5th, 2007 at almost 7 weeks
Was it planned?: yes!
What was your first reaction?: I was in a state of disbelief! We had been trying for a year with no luck, so I couldn `t believe it had really happened!
Who was with you when you found out?: It was 4 am, and I couldn `t sleep because I was feeling so nauseous... I decided `that `s it! I `m just going to take that test! ` and did it on my own in the bathroom!
Who was the first person you told?: I woke my hubby up straight away and he got really excited and went in for a hug! I still couldn `t believe it so told him to wait until we took another test... at 8 am I took another one, and it was also positive! Then I started to get really excited!
How did the father react?: Happy and excited!
How far along are you?: 12 weeks
What was your first symptom?: Extreme tiredness, nausea, and 2 week late period.
What is your due date?: July 24, 2008
Do you know the sex of the baby?: no, we are going to let it be a surprise!.
Have you picked out names?: We have some, but I am sure they will change... we have lots of time to decide!
If so, what are they?: Girl names: Alaura, Lillian or Eden, Boy names: Connor or Landon
How much weight have you gained?: As of today, two pounds!
Do you have stretch marks?: Unfortunately, I have some white ones on my boobs! (None of my bras fit anymore!. But I have been using cocoa butter religiously, and hope that will help!
Have you felt the baby move?: I have felt a light flutter unlike anything I have felt before on two occasions last week (both when I was in the bath). They say it is too soon, but it really felt like the baby! Who knows!
Have you heard the heartbeat?: No, but I have seen it on an ultrasound!
About the birth
Will you keep the baby?: Of course
Home or hospital birth?: Hospital
Natural or medicated birth?: I `d prefer natural, but it is hard to say until you are actually experiencing it!
Who will be in the delivery room with you?: Jeremy!
Will you breastfeed?: Yes
Do you think you `ll need a c-section?: I don `t think so, I have pretty wide hips!
Will you cry when you hold the baby for the first time?: I don `t know... I can `t imagine that moment! I know that I will be overwhelmed with happiness! I might just look at my baby and smile!
What `s the first thing you might say to him/her?: I love you!
Would you let someone videotape the birth?: Definitely not!
Are you excited about the birth, or scared?: Both! Mostly excitedSunday, 27 Jan
I took an eye colour predictor test and my child has a 50% chance of having brown eyes, a 38.7% chance of green eyes, and a 11.2% chance of blue! It was fun!
Tuesday, 19 Feb
Last night I felt my baby moving quite strongly, much like the sensation of something rolling around under my skin! I could feel the baby through the skin on my belly, but also with my fingers as I moved them over my belly. I was so happy to feel my little one again, as I haven `t had as much movement over the past week or so. I have my next (and likely final) ultrasound on Friday, I am so excited! I will post the pictures when I get them!
Friday, 22 Feb
We had our 18 week ultrasound today! Everything looked great! The tech said that my uterus is 3-4 inches above my belly button, which I think is quite high! We really loved watching our baby moving around in there, it `s face is so developed from the last time we saw it at 12 weeks, when we saw the baby face-on it looked like a real little baby! It even yawned, so cute! My baby's heartbeat was at 139, and at my last doctor's appointment was 140, so it has been fairly consistent throughout!
Wednesday, 27 Feb
My doctor `s appointment went great today! All of the results of the ultrasound were good, and my baby `s heartrate was at 135 (all of these lower heart rates now have me thinking the baby is a little boy!). The doctor measured my tummy for the first time (although I feel it has grown like mad each week from about week 8!). I also found out that I have gained 5 lbs since my last visit, so 6.5 altogether... I feel like this is quite a lot... I was shocked! I had expected maybe a 2 lb weight gain! I have decided to focus on the fact that my baby is healthy rather than worry too much about my weight, but I will restrict those unhealthy snacks I have begun to crave this month (like ice cream and squares) and focus on eating healthy foods only!
Saturday, 8 Mar
I am so happy that my baby is moving more frequently now! (Or at least, that I can feel him / her more frequently). Yesterday, I could feel the baby in the morning during class, driving home, while at home, driving to work, at work... etc.! Then last night Jeremy felt the baby move again just by placing his hand on my belly! This morning, I was talking to my Dad on the phone, and the baby began moving around again! I placed my hand on my tummy, and felt the little kicks and rolls without having to press my hand down at all! I love this little person so much.. this is the most exciting time! On another note, our friends had gotten a 3D ultrasound done about a year ago, and told us the price that they had paid, so we let my Dad know, and he had agreed to pay for it! Today I went to the website, and the price is now double what it cost our friends for a 10 minute scan with only 1 picture. (Our friends had gotten half an hour with a CD!). Anything more would be 4 x the price... so I don `t think I `ll be getting a 3D scan after all! Baby will just have to keep mom guessing until the big day!
Thursday, 20 Mar
I am going to visit my Mom and brothers this weekend and am so excited! I have such a close, loving and supportive family! My mom is so happy about the baby, she is always looking at baby stores, and telling me about the cute things she has found. She doesn `t have a lot of money, but has been saving up to take me shopping this Saturday for baby things. It means so much when people don `t have a lot, but are willing to share what little they have out of love. I think we will have a really great time spending the day together! I am also excited to see my brothers, as many of them haven `t seen my belly since Christmas (other than through emails) and they are all so excited and curious about the baby and the pregnancy. I have four younger brothers, and one is having a birthday party on Friday (he is turning 11) and the other just got engaged, so we are having an engagement party for him on Saturday. It should be a very fun weekend! Seeing my family reminds me of what a wonderful support system my baby will be born into.
Monday, 24 Mar
The weekend with my family was really fun! Everyone got a chance to feel the baby and listen to it `s heartbeat and kicks with the fetal listening device I brought. I am beginning to feel frustrated by the fact that our townhouse is not selling. My husband and I are debating taking it off of the market so we can begin to convert the office into a nursery. At the same time, there is a hope that it might sell, and that we might be able to raise our family in an actual house . I really want to begin preparing my baby `s room...!
Tuesday, 25 Mar
I have gained about 10 lb altogether so far, which I understand is normal, but recently I have been feeling sooo fat! If I had just gained the weight, and it was all in my tummy, I wouldn `t feel this way! It is the fact that my thighs, butt and arms seem to also be growing that makes me feel this way! I really haven `t eaten more than I normally do, so I don `t know why this is happening! I am glad the nice weather is beginning to come out though, I really want to begin going for more walks! (I started prenatal yoga too, and it `s pretty fun, but I think I `d rather buy a video as I find it hard to commit to a set time of going, as I am almost always tired out from practicum during the times that it is offered! Well, that is my rant for the day!!
Thursday, 27 Mar
Madame Zaritska `s Prediction:The day you deliver, outside will be slightly overcast. Your baby will arrive in the evening.After a labor lasting approximately 10 hours, your child, a girl, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 6 pounds, 4 ounces, and will be 20-1/2 inches long. This child will have green eyes and a lot of hair.
Friday, 28 Mar
I had my doctor `s appointment today an the baby `s heart rate was 145. The baby was so active while the doctor used the doppler! It kept kicking at it and rolling around, the doctor couldn `t believe how much of its movements he could feel on the outside... my doctor guessed that the baby was a boy based on how active it was... Lots of people seem to think this little person is a boy! I still sort of think girl though... I guess we `ll find out in July! =) Oh, and I have gained 6 lbs in the past 4.5 weeks... that puts my total weight gain at 12.5 lbs. I asked my doctor if he thought I was overdoing it and he said he isn't concerned about my weight at all... and that I'm definitely not getting fat... so that made me feel better =)
Sunday, 30 Mar
We got an offer on our place today!! I am so happy.. the subjects come off on April 9th.. then it will be definite! I am excited to look at houses now!!
Saturday 5 April
I have so many
assignments due, and my life is so crazy right now. We sold our house
(as far as we know the offer is going through just fine... it will be
set in stone in 5 days). The people who made the offer want us out by
April 26th, which means we can't really start packing until the 9th,
but then have a short amount of time to get ready... We put an offer on
a cute little house, but won't have possession until July 1st, and in
the meantime we will rent a townhouse in the complex we just sold from
(owned by our realtor). In the middle of all of this moving, I have
exams, major projects, and a three week practicum, which is an hours
drive away (I will be up at 5:30 every morning, and not get back home
until about 5:00 pm each day). I am feeling overwhelmed by all of this.
I really just wanted to have a house that we could set up for the baby,
and make to feel welcoming and like home when we became a family. On
top of it all, I have started to get really tired again... maybe from
the stress, maybe from the pregnancy, I don't know! My little one is
doing just fine, and is oblivious to all of this stuff! He/ she moves
around all of the time, and I love feeling those little kicks and
rolls. I wish I could just focus on what is important, my baby and my
family.... but I know that I need to get all of this school stuff
done... I am taking a year off next year, and then coming back to
school to finish off the last 12 weeks. I can't wait to be a mom, and
concentrate on my baby and my family - for so many years my priority
has been school! Only a few more months until then!
I really liked this chart - it is the first one that I have found that made sense!
First Trimester | 1-4 weeks=1 month | 5-8 weeks= 2 months | 9-13 weeks=3 months |
Second Trimester | 14-17 weeks= 4 months | 18-21 weeks=5months | 22-26 weeks= 6 months |
Third Trimester | 27-30 weeks=7 months | 31- 35 Weeks=8 months | 36-40 Weeks = 9 months |
Saturday, May 10th
Huge updates! Our house sold, and we ended up moving twice in one week! We are now renting another townhouse until we can get into our new house on June 1st! Jeremy is going to renovate before we move into that one, so it will probably be July until I am actually in! Now that we know our baby is a little girl, I feel so much closer to her! She is moving so much more, and her movements are getting so strong! My mom has been so excited about her first grandchild being a granddaughter that she has gone out and bought about 14 little girly outfits so far! She is already so spoiled! I went and bought her 7 more little outfits yesterday... baby girl clothing is just so cute! Especially the little sundresses and jumpers for summer. I just finished my first week of practicum, teaching the high school kids! It is a lot of work, and I get so tired by the end of the week, but it is going well... two more weeks of intense teaching/ planning and hoop jumping to go and then I can just relax and enjoy my little girl kicking and rolling around in my tummy and my husband. My body is beginning to feel achy... I will wake up with a leg cramp, my belly feels so heavy, my back is beginning to hurt, and it is getting hard to get up! The funniest thing is trying to shave my legs.... I feel like a sea lion because I have to roll my body from side to side to reach certain parts of my legs... all in all I feel great though! I really love being pregnant!
May 27, 2008
We have the name narrowed down to two. Alayna Summer, or Alaura Eden. I love the sound of Alaura, but love the nick names that could come with Alayna, and think its a pretty name too! (Nick names would be: Laynie, Layne, Layna, or Allie). I hope we will just know what name she suits when we meet her!
June 2nd, 2008
I had another doctors appointment today. The baby's heart rate was between 140-150. I have actually not gained any weight in the past two weeks. The doctor is pretty sure that my baby is not only head down, but engaged in the pelvis area... he kept asking me whether I have had any contractions/ pressure, braxton hicks, etc... I have only had a bit of pressure, but no contraction like symptoms. This makes me wonder whether my little girl will come early? I would love to meet her, but we aren't quite ready for her yet! Jeremy has pulled the carpet out of our new house, and the hardwood looks to be in good shape! The kitchen has been more difficult for him as there was stick on tile glued really firmly to the hardwood. He still has to tear the bathroom apart completely, then sand & finish the floors, paint the entire interior of the house, rebuild & tile the bathroom, and change out the countertops in our kitchen.. I have faith in him but I know that even with him working really hard on it (he is still working full time too) it is going to be a tight deadline to get it done by July 1st. I am really proud of what a hard worker he is... he is even finding time to go for walks with me in the evenings. Onto another topic, my boobs are growing again! They are huge, I am pretty sure I am out of my D cups now, and I just bought a new bra... I think I will just suck it up and wear too-small bras because there is only 7 weeks until my due date, and bras are expensive! I can't believe how heavy and gigantic my boobs are! I can only imagine what they will be like after the baby is born and my milk comes in... geez!
June 12, 2008
It is a very different feeling to know that I haven't got any deadlines, or schedules or work to do... On one hand I am feeling very relaxed, and on the other I am looking for things to keep me occupied. Luckily, I have some great friends who I can go for walks with as now Jeremy is too busy to go for walks with me in the evenings. My weekly schedule consists of prenatal classes on Wednesday evenings, a mommy or mommy-to-be group I attend with a friend on Thursdays, and the option of drop in prenatal yoga on Tuesday and Thursday evenings... I still want to take up water aerobics! I love knowing that I will have time to spend with my baby when she arrives, but in the meantime I am at a loss for what to do. I have begun to enjoy housework... haha! Who would have thought? It could be the nesting instincts coming in... or just general boredom! There are only 6 weeks until baby's due date... I toured the maternity unit at the hospital last week, and it was soo nice, each mom gets a private room with a built in bed for dad, and a huge bathroom! They include a flat screen tv and CD player with MP3 hookup. There are even refreshment stands around the hallways with snacks and drinks for the parents to be! I was beginning to think that maybe the experience wouldn't be so bad, until I had the prenatal class on comfort measures yesterday.. where labour was described as the "most intense experience you will ever have" and "the most pain you will ever feel"... they had us place frozen ice packs between our hands and hold them there for the length of a contraction while our partners practiced massage and pressure techniques to assist with the pain! Then, they had our partners attach clothes pegs to our ears, combined with the frozen ice pack on the back of our necks and practice relaxation breathing techniques!! They had our partners practice saying reassuring things like "You are doing great!" and "Excellent breathing" and then they had to practice the breathing techniques with us, which made Jeremy and I both feel very silly and begin giggling.. I know it is important to know the different kinds of breathing and etc. but you feel like a lunatic doing it when you are not really in labour!
June 23rd, 2008
I had a surprise baby shower yesterday, it was really fun, and just so nice to see all of the people who care about me and my little one! I had swelling of my feet and hands yesterday, and as of today it hadn't gone away, so I went into the doctors to make sure it wasn't a concern. My blood pressure, and the baby's heart rate were fine, but there was a large amount of white blood cells in my urine, which indicates an infection... they are sending it in to find out what is going on.. In the meantime, I am going to try not to stress out about it, I was just relieved that the baby's heart rate was normal!
June 26, 2008
After trying various techniques that you ladies suggested about removing my wedding & engagement ring from my swollen hand, I finally gave up today. I went to the doctor's hoping that he would be able to find another solution... his solution was wrapping string tightly around my finger, starting at the top... he left the tip of my finger, and it ballooned and turned purple, the wrapping was so painful that I had to shield my eyes with my other hand and breathe deeply, tapping my feet on the floor (it was incredibly tight and felt like each wrap of the string was cutting my finger and it took forever). When he got to the base of the finger by the ring, he realized that he couldn't wrap anymore because all he had done was push the fluid from my finger down to the base, and that it wasn't going past the ring... my rings were cutting my finger at this point, it was terrible! He tried to slide my rings off of the swollen bubble he had created, and it cut my finger more. I begged him to unwrap my finger as it was excrutiating! After he unwrapped it, my finger was so swollen that he had no choice but to cut off my rings. This process was also painful because at this point he could barely get under them... after I left, I cried all the way home, then when I got home... It is devastating to see these rings that symbolized so much to me cut apart. My finger is still very painful and has cut marks where the rings were... also the swelling is not passing lower, there is still a clear indent where my rings were. I hope he didn't damage my finger by cutting off the circulation for that long. (This wasn't my OB, but a GP at his office). I asked the doctor about the mark on my ankle and he said "Don't worry about it, I don't know what it is, but it'll be fine".... I am seeing my OB on Monday, I hope he will say that everything is ok.
July 1, 2008
Today is Canada Day and the first year that I haven't made plans to go out and celebrate (we may catch fireworks later, but it isn't a priority to me! I had some professional maternity photos taken on Sunday, and will not get the chance to see them until after the baby is born, when we go in to take some newborn photos. (The photography studio is 2 hrs ferry from where I am ). Most of the photos involved me in nothing but my underwear, trying to cover the bb's with my hands, or sheets, or in some cases with my husbands hands... I am curious to see how they will turn out! Who knew that I would feel more comfortable baring all while pregnant, when I am swollen and feel like I have gained massive amounts of weight! I had my regular prenatal doctor's visit yesterday, and my tummy is now measuring at 37 cm!! My total weight gain at this point is 31 lbs, and I am hoping that it keeps at 1lb per week from here on out, as 35 lbs would be acceptable for me (I had been shooting for 25, but oh well!) I am still going for long walks, which I attribute to the fact that my baby's head is "very very low"... I asked my doctor to do an internal exam yesterday because I have been feeling all sorts of pressure and wanted to be sure that I wasn't dilating yet. The doctor couldn't find my cervix, so decided that I wasn't dilating yet, but could feel the baby's head almost right away... so I know that she is in the "locked in" position and assume that she will stay that way over the next 3.5 weeks. The doctor said that because she is already so low, labour should progress fairly quickly and there is an excellent chance that she will fit nicely through my pelvis, so I won't need a C-section. Her heart rate was between 135 and 140, which has been very normal for her! I started leaking colostrum yesterday which I knew could happen at any time, but was very shocking yet interesting to me! It isn't very much, but it is definitely there, which I take as a good sign that things are ready for baby. I asked Jeremy how he felt about my nipples leaking milk and he doesn't seem to find it that weird either... we had a good talk yesterday about his emotions towards the pregnancy, the labour and the baby, and I feel like I have a much better insight into how the pregnancy has been for him now. Once again, he is off working on our house, I can't wait for it to be finished!! My hands, feet and face are swollen, and now all of my rings have been cut off. My fingers still hurt when I go to grip something, like to unscrew the lid of a water bottle. Oh, I asked my doctor to guess how big the baby is at this point, and he guessed 7 lbs! Yikes!! haha (he also said that we can never go by guesses, as doctor's often guess bigger than the baby really is). 23 days to go!!!