Originally posted to the anonymous pregnancy blog September 6, 2008.

Before I was pregnant I read everything I could find about what I should expect. Several books recommended that I keep a journal of my pregnancy. This seemed like a good idea so I started this blog. However, I think these books forgot to mention that, at least for me, the first trimester of pregnancy is pretty boring. This is probably good. It’s much better to have a boring, predictable pregnancy than an exciting one filled with unexpected complications.

I still feel lousy most days. However, I’ve only thrown up three times. I have food aversions and bloating but I haven’t experienced the other potential first trimester signs such as fatigue.

Currently, my husband and I feel like we’re in a holding pattern. We’ve only told my family and a few friends that I’m pregnant but it’s getting harder and harder to avoid accidentally telling people. I have my next doctor appointment Monday and, assuming everything sounds normal, we’re thinking of starting to spread the news after that. It’ll be a relief to finally tell people, especially my co-workers. Every morning I’ve been carefully analyzing my wardrobe and once dressed, I’ll ask my husband, “does this make me look pregnant?”

Originally posted to the anonymous pregnancy blog August 26, 2008.

My mother sent me a fascinating article from the American Academy of Physician called “Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery.” Only the abstract is online but if you happen to be near a library that carries it, it’s an interesting read. I was particularly surprised to hear epidurals slow labor down (338). From the anecdotal stories I’ve heard, I had received the impression that epidurals sped up the process of labor, not slowed it down. I suppose this is yet another reason it’s important to make decisions based on research rather than assumptions :)

Originally posted to the anonymous pregnancy blog August 21, 2008.

I love peanut butter. Adam’s Peanut Butter bought in Costco-sized jars permeated my life growing up. Our morning breakfasts almost always included peanut butter in some form. We often ate fruit toast* but sometimes we’d just have waffles with lots of peanut butter and syrup on top. During the Christmas season, my mother would always make “Christmas Candy” which inevitably included peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate.

Several years ago, when I started researching pregnancy, I was appalled to discover that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended atopic women avoid peanuts while pregnant and breastfeeding. The theory was that the baby could develop an allergy to peanuts from this early exposure. I’m atopic and my brother-in-law is allergic to peanuts. I glumly decided that for the happiness of my child later in life, I would have to abstain from consuming peanuts for several years.

However, just a couple months before I actually became pregnant, the American Academy of Pediatrics reversed their stance on peanuts! According to them, “At the present time, there is lack of evidence that maternal dietary restrictions during pregnancy play a significant role in the prevention of atopic disease in infants” (source). I’m excited and very relieved. This past week toasted peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are one of the few lunch items I don’t have any aversion to eating. I can’t imagine what I would be eating if I had to avoid peanuts. Maybe almond butter and jelly sandwhiches? It just doesn’t sound right.

Neither my husband nor I have food allergies but both of our immediate families do. When it comes to food tolerances, I’m really hoping our children take after us rather than our family.

* Fruit toast is toasted whole wheat bread slathered with peanut butter and topped with some sort of fruit sauce, often applesauce.

Originally posted to the anonymous pregnancy blog August 16, 2008.

It’s ironic that as soon as I have something worth writing about, I don’t have any time to write. A week ago last Thursday, I had my first official prenatal visit. My husband came along as the receptionist had said that I was going to get my first ultrasound. I had no idea they did ultrasounds so early in a pregnancy. We learned that our baby does have a heart beat, is correctly implanted in the uterus, and there’s only one in there.

My morning sickness hasn’t gotten any worse. I suppose I should consider myself lucky. However, I have developed an aversion to vegetables and dark chocolate. Before I was pregnant, I was very diligent in making sure I was eating tons of veggies and huge green salads. Now I can’t stand them unless they’re deeply hidden in some other dish. This is particularly distressing since I have a CSA share and have been receiving large quantities of vegetables. The vegetables have been sitting in my refrigerator glaring reproachfully at me every time I open the door.

Most of this last week I’ve been gone to a conference in Canada. To my relief, I managed to keep my food down the entire time though there were some tricky moments in the airplane coming back. It was a good conference but I’m very glad to be back home.

Originally posted to the anonymous pregnancy blog August 1, 2008.

I’ve heard stories of women who claimed they knew the instant they conceived. I did not have this flash of insight. In fact, I’ve been fairly convinced that the three positive pregnancy tests have been the result of some huge misunderstanding. I just didn’t feel pregnant. Today, I had my first bought of morning sickness. I feel pregnant now. However, I have good news: Morningstar Veggie Patties don’t taste bad coming back up.

Originally posted to the anonymous pregnancy blog July 30, 2008.

I love the concept of exercise videos. They’re cheap compared to a gym, convenient, and can be done in the privacy of one’s home. However, many exercise videos require way too much coordination for my needs (I’m sorry, I can’t dance even if you try dressing it up as exercise). Before I was pregnant, I had finally figured out the ideal video combination for my daily workouts. I’d alternate exercises every other day between Kathy Smith’s Great Buns and Thighs Step Workout and a combination of Pilates Weight Loss Workout for Dummies, Total Body Toning One Minute Workout and Self’s Firm Flat Abs. This combination has taken me years to perfect. It gives me a decent workout without requiring too much coordination on my part. Yes, it’s repetitive but podcasts were invented to keep exercisers entertained

While the Kathy Smith video seems like it’ll work with modification for as long as I have the energy, I wasn’t sure about the other three videos. Particularly later when I need to start avoiding exercises on my back. This meant that I needed to start looking for alternatives. As one commenter on Amazon stated, it seems like most pregnancy videos were created in the 80s. There are quite a few newer yoga themed pregnancy videos. However, yoga and I don’t get along. With great trepidation, I checked out several pregnancy related fitness DVDs from my library to preview. One was yoga based, two were pilates based, and then one was titled Perfect Pregnancy Workout. The yoga and pilates videos I ruled out fairly quickly. However, I really enjoyed the Perfect Pregnancy Workout DVD.

Pros:

• Very easy to follow, doesn’t require much coordination
• Well balanced workout
• Shows beginner, intermediate, and advanced modifications
• Doesn’t require much specialized equipment (weights and steps are optional for the intermediate to advanced levels)
• The instructor makes a pregnant belly look sexy (okay, maybe just in my view but I’ll take any encouragement I can get )

Cons:

• Not much transition time
• No real breaks for water

I’ve ordered it from Amazon and hopefully will get it soon as I had to return the library’s copy.

Originally posted to the anonymous pregnancy blog July 26, 2008.

I lied to my mother-in-law. Thursday night I had just settled down to watch the first part of Laugh and Learn about Childbirth when my mother-in-law, S, called. My in-laws are in the process of moving and she called up to inquire if I wanted something that they were trying to get rid of. Jaeger’s mother can talk on the phone for hours (very handy when I need company as I clean the house). Just when I was trying to decide if she could hear me if I started munching on Chocolate Covered Ginger, she asks me as an after-thought, “you’re not pregnant, are you?”

All visions of chocolate ginger fled my head but they were not replaced with any other coherent thoughts. Unfortunately, Jaeger was gone and I didn’t want to break the news to his mother without him present (plus, we agreed to wait at least until week 6). I murmured something about our official plan not calling for me to be pregnant quite yet. This is true, we’re a month early. However, I’m quite sure in her head she heard me say, “I’m not pregnant.”

Now I’m feeling incredibly guilty about lying to her but what else I could do? Hopefully she won’t hold this against me when we make the grand announcement and she starts counting backwards . . .

BTW, the Laugh and Learn about Childbirth DVD is very informative. I’m sure they cover all this stuff in normal birthing classes but it’s always nice to hear another viewpoint. Everyone seems to emphasize slightly different areas so I like being able to get information from as many sources as possible.

Originally posted to the anonymous pregnancy blog July 24, 2008.

My concentration has been ruined. From first grade through high school my parents enrolled me in piano lessons. I enjoyed it quite a bit. However, my parents informed me countless times that my payment for these lessons is to play whenever I’m needed. As a result, I now am an accompanist once a month at church. I always have great intentions of picking out my music early and faithfully practicing but somehow this never happens. I play this week and I have picked out my music but the songs are very rough around the edges. I promised myself that I would practice for at least 1 1/2 hrs tonight.

My phone rang about half way through practicing. It’s the doctor’s office with my test results. The Rubella and Cystic Fibrosis tests came back with good results (immune and negative, respectively). In addition, it turns out I’m really pregnant (a hCG of around 900 mIU/ml). After two positive home pregnancy tests and no period this month, I’m not actually surprised. However, somehow it makes it more official when the doctor’s office confirms the pregnancy.

My next doctor’s visit is scheduled for the first full week in August where I’ll get an ultrasound. I had no idea they did ultrasounds so early in a pregnancy . . .

In any case, I’m now too jittery to finish praciticing.