Today we have made it to the 18 week mark.
Went for an appointment at the hospital today and all went well. The midwife used the doppler to listen to the heartbeat which sounded strong and clear. Also a bit of sound with the baby moving about. (I haven’t told her we have a doppler at home that we are using too, as some health professionals aren’t very supportive of patients who have dopplers and discourage it).
I am starting to feel a few movements now which is good. Mainly when baby changes positions I think, I will all of a sudden feel a hard bit on the outside of my tummy. And over the last couple of days I am starting to feel a few minor little movements deep inside too which is perhaps bub’s wee kicks and stretches. Sometimes it’s almost constant. I’m looking forward to the time when Roger (his made up name for this blog) can start to feel the movements too from the outside of my tummy.
I also saw the physio too today who is pleased with the improvements in my lower back. Although, I have had Mum staying here for a while, so haven’t been into work for ages, so not sitting at my desk must have something to do with the improvement I think.
I had a really nice relaxing massage last week and got them to focus on my back and feet which was lovely. They specialise in pregnancy massage only, so I trusted they knew what they were doing and it was great to just have a really nice relaxing hour or so. Oh.. bliss!! I’ve booked another couple of sessions in over the next week or two and the physio said I should keep it up if it is helping… yah for that! I guess it’s not cheap but I am justifying it in my own mind by reminding myself we don’t have to pay for a private obstetrician and our IVF round to get pregnant this time was publicly funded (so that’s about a $15,000 savings anyway).
I am struggling big time taking the supplements I’m meant to be taking each day. A multi-vitamin, ferritin and most importantly, Calcium. I have been a bit naughty by just avoiding taking them at all. Very bad I know, but they make me throw up. I finally got some chewable / dissolve in your mouth type multi-vitamin and got a prescription for some water soluble calcium rather than the big pills I’d been meant to be taking. So with a bit of hope I finally tried the chewable multi-vitamin last night an hour or two before dinner, and then I dissolved the water soluble calcium in a glass of water during dinner, drank it and was hopeful things would stay down for a change. But about an hour later, up it all came… talk about annoying!! Just when I was thinking no more throwing up for me.
I can’t say I enjoy being sick!! Someone said to me the other day ‘but don’t you feel just so good after a spew’ but noooo, not for me!!
After having a chat with the midwife she has explained it’s really important I don’t skip taking the calcium (which is what I’ve been doing for the past month at least). Naughty me!! So I am going to have to just try to drink it slowly and even perhaps break the calcium tablet in half or quarters and take a little bit throughout the day. (I’ve just realised it’s almost dinner time now and I haven’t taken any throughout the day). Fingers crossed I won’t throw up dinner tonight!
I am feeling a bit more exhausted and have been a little more stressed than normal in the last few days. Been helping Mum buy a new car which has involved going out looking at car yards, going for test drives and finally negotiations and organising checks on the car etc. What a mission! All I can say is we pick the new car up tomorrow and I will be happy to see the tail end of car yards for a while. I must say Roger has been keeping a close check on me and refused to let me out two days in a row, so although I’m tired I haven’t been going at it non stop.
My tummy is big and fat like a buddha. I can’t believe I don’t weigh more than I do. I look (and feel) like I’ve put on about 10kg but in fact I’m not even back to my IVF weight. When I went through IVF this round I put on at least a couple of kg’s, so am just a bit shocked I don’t weigh more now because I look so pregnant. Perhaps the whole ‘muscle is heavier than fat’ theory is playing it’s part. I haven’t done any real exercise for so long, so not surprising I am turning into Mrs Blobby.
Anyway, good to know I have made it this far – 18 weeks, but still it is just one step at a time for us. Next week we have our 19 week anatomy scan but until then we are just planning to take it easy. Roll on the next milestone!!
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