As I near the end of my pregnancy, and anxiously await the birth of our second son, I thought I’d take a look back at how things have gone over the past nine months.
First Trimester
- Weight gain: I actually lost three pounds because of my lack of appetite and picky taste buds
- Food cravings: fruit (especially fresh pineapple and cantaloupe), juice, salad (with ranch dressing!), beef (burgers from Braum’s were the best)
- I stopped drinking coffee until the second trimester, and switched to hot tea.
- As with my first pregnancy, it was nice that most of my first trimester morning sickness coincided with a semester break from teaching. I found out I was pregnant at the beginning of December, and only two weeks of the semester left. By the time spring semester started, I was almost to my second trimester.
Second Trimester
- My queasiness and fatigue lasted longer this time than with Benjamin. Not that I was throwing up all the time, but I remained a picky eater, was sensitive to smells, and found myself napping a lot or going to bed early.
- I started wearing maternity clothes around 13 weeks this time around. My belly poked out that early, making it difficult to fit into my regular clothes.
- Food cravings: I had to force myself to eat regularly so that I wouldn’t feel dizzy or yucky, but I didn’t start enjoying food again until several weeks into my second trimester. When I did have cravings, it was for things like milkshakes and burgers and grapefruit.
- I started feeling the baby move around 15 weeks, a few weeks earlier than with Benjamin.
- Weight gain: I gained back the three pounds that I’d lost during the first trimester, but I didn’t gain any additional weight.
- Sonograms: At our first sonogram, we found out we were having another boy! At the second sonogram, he was acting all cute, putting his thumb in his mouth, moving his head from side to side, and showing off his fuzzy hair.
- Brad and I had a fun trip to Las Vegas at the end of March/beginning of April. Walking around Vegas wore me out, but wearing my pregnancy band really helped keep me going.
Third Trimester
- Weight gain: All my weight gain has come since about 31 weeks, I think. I’ve gained a whopping 6 lbs. At this rate, I should weigh less right after having the baby than I did when I first got pregnant. I’m guessing that the baby weighs more than 6 lbs. I’ve actually lost weight in my arms and legs during this pregnancy, probably because I’m constantly on my feet chasing Benjamin around. My doctor isn’t concerned that I haven’t gained more weight, because the baby has grown steadily.
- Food cravings: Here’s where my weird cravings started in full force – root beer, Twizzlers, Tang, chips and queso, more Braum’s burgers, more chocolate malts. Needless to say, I found my appetite and enjoyed eating to my heart’s content.
- Vitamins, supplements, etc.: Shortly after my third trimester began, I began experiencing unpleasant acid reflex/heartburn, particularly at night when I was trying to sleep. So my doctor prescribed a prescription antacid. Best thing ever! I haven’t had any problems since. In addition to that, I take a multivitamin (has the same exact content as a prenatal vitamin, but costs a good bit less), fish oil caplets, and four vitamin D/calcium tablets a day. I started on the Vitamin D a couple of months ago, when my blood work revealed a Vitamin D deficiency that I had before I was pregnant. My doctor says most Americans are probably somewhat Vitamin D deficient now that we spend so much time covered in sunscreen, riding in our cars, sitting inside, or otherwise hiding from the sun.
- Well, the big appetite lasted several weeks, but then when I hit about 34 weeks, the Texas heat got the best of me, and I started having what I refer to as “spells.” I started getting dizzy, nauseous, tired, and generally icky feeling if I didn’t take care of myself, meaning I had to get plenty of rest, drink plenty of water, and eat several small meals a day. The nurse told me to eat protein to prevent dizziness, so I always keep a protein rich snack nearby – granola bars, raw almonds, peanut butter, etc.
- Unfortunately, my first spell occurred when I was on a dinner/dessert date with Brad. I learned that it was a bad idea to eat a tapas style meal, followed by coffee and dessert at an outdoor patio bar. The combination of too much food, the Texas humidity, and cigarette smoke resulted in an ugly consequence – me getting sick in the parking lot. It was just as gross as it sounds.
Since then, I’ve been paranoid about leaving the house, especially when it involves eating out. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve cut out eating out all together. Not worth the risk! (Even though that date was the only time I actually got sick.) - I’ve still managed to get out and have some fun: visits to the pool, went to see Wicked with my mom, saw another musical at Fair Park with Brad, had a pedicure, enjoyed a girls’ movie night, and most recently saw the terrific movie Inception at the theater. It was totally worth the risk of getting out of the house. I can remember that as the last movie I saw in the theater before it became more difficult for us to get out on dates.
- Obviously I remember more about my third trimester than the other two. I didn’t write down many details this time around.
- Based on the amount of time he spends moving, and the amount of energy he seems to have, this baby is feistier than Benjamin was. When Benjamin was in my belly, he was mostly content to stay curled in a ball and I remained quite comfortable throughout the pregnancy. This time around, baby boy is movin’ and groovin’, stretching out his feet, pressing his head down putting lots of pressure on my bladder (!) , moving around in the middle of the night, etc. I think we’re going to have our hands full when he is born!
- We’ve enjoyed talking with Benjamin about his baby brother. He likes to give him hugs and talk to him. We’ve captured a little of this on video. Hopefully they will be best buddies once he’s born, too!
- I am down to the final days of my pregnancy now – 12 to be exact, since if I haven’t gone into labor by my due date, I’ll be induced that day, Wednesday, August 4. I’m sure I’ll be tired of waiting by then, if I make it that far! Meanwhile, I’m trying to take it easy, since my parents are currently on a vacation to North Dakota, and my doctor just left for a ten day vacation! He’ll be back in the office on Monday, August 2. Cutting it awfully close! I’m already dilated to 2 cm, and the baby has dropped into position. Now all that’s left is to wait and try to get some rest. Stay tuned…























































































































