Alone In My Paranoia (aka 24ish Weeks or Maybe 25)
July 02, 2008
Whenever I start getting a little uppity regarding our division of household labor (why am I the only one who remembers that the child needs to go potty before we go somewhere? why do CERTAIN PEOPLE seem to think our diaper bag is a magical fount of ever-regenerating sippy cups and snacks?), Jason manages to schedule an extended business trip. Possibly for the sole purpose of watching my lose my shit from afar.
I have to take the garbage and recycling out? All the way to the curb? I have to...make dinner? Every night? Why aren't these dishes put away yet? Why hasn't someone done something about that weird smell in the bathroom? Noah, did I feed the cat already? Why is he meowing? I swear I fed him already. Noah, come on! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THESE THINGS.
And it turns out that it's NOT a magic cell phone fairy who remembers to charge my phone for me every night. At least I'm pretty sure, unless she also had a conference to attend in Milwaukee this week. Maybe that's where the magic fairy who also remembers to buy milk went too.
***
Part of my flying solo this week involved taking Noah to my prenatal check-up this morning, and OH GOLLY GEE LET'S DO THAT AGAIN.
I shoved him on the little chair where you usually stash your pants and underwear, gave him a granola bar and a healthy dose of fear that if he DARED MOVE FROM THAT CHAIR TO TOUCH THE ELEVENTY BILLION DOLLAR ULTRASOUND MACHNE, God Himself would descend from heaven and take away his entire collection of spare buttons. He did not move from that chair, but then pitched such a fit in the waiting room over having to leave behind a basket of random beat-up Happy Meal prizes I could see the pupils of all the other waiting pregnant ladies dilate in terror.
I made sure to screech something about not going potty in the grocery store cart again as we left. Just because I am Mean.
***
I was shocked to learn that I'm at the point in this pregnancy where I go to the doctor every two weeks instead of four. This is alarming, since it seems to suggest that I will be having a baby soon. Somebody is not doing their math. I'll get Jason to look into it when he gets home.
My blood pressure is low -- really low -- and I'm constantly close to fainting. If I am not close to fainting, I am close to vomiting. I don't necessarily DO much fainting or vomiting (I find loosening the stays of my corset just a tad helps -- 17 inches IS a bit unrealistic at point, I suppose), but still. I feel rather delicate and Victorian, except for the hemorrhoids.
I always feel strange reporting my weight online, but with senility setting in fast (SERIOUSLY. DID I FEED THE CAT ALREADY OR NOT, PEOPLE? THIS IS NOT A DIFFICULT QUESTION.), I have to write this crap down somewhere, and my fingers are already ever-so-nicely positioned on the keyboard.
I'm not gaining weight. It's freaking me out. I gained one whopping pound since my last visit, which was the very first visit where I'd gained any weight at all (four pounds). So...I've gained...five pounds? Maybe six? At 24/25ish weeks? Doesn't that sound kind of freak-out-able worthy? My doctor is not concerned -- I guess my belly measurements are okay and the baby certainly looked fine at the ultrasound, but...I'm concerned. I keep telling myself that I must have put on a little weight in the early first trimester -- before the puking started and before my doctor started weighing me -- and kept it on, but my scale at home is not exactly wracking up the high scores either.
It's not for lack of trying -- we like to take Noah out for ice cream cones a couple nights a week, and it is understood that Mama Does Not Share Her Ice Cream. If I want a sausage McGriddle with hash browns, then goddammit, get in the car. Right now. Don't make me faint all over you or something.
I have no reason to question my doctor, except that he seems to be awfully old-school about pregnancy weight gain in the first place, and is almost congratulatory when he notes my chart. Uh. Yeah. I'm just gunning to get this fine ass into a maternity thong bikini over the holiday weekend. Sorry, fetus, Mama done got her priorities.
I started this pregnancy at a healthy weight (just woefully saggy and out of shape, as my Wii now informs me), and considered it to be a major accomplishment that I didn't lose weight in the first trimester again. I indulge my cravings with gusto but mostly eat pretty healthy -- we're very into unprocessed local foods direct from the farmer, which oh man, I never realized how delicious fruits and vegetables can be when they actually TASTE LIKE WHAT THEY ARE. Part of me is ready to embark on a non-doctor-prescribed regime of protein shakes and Ensure, while another part of me wants to just chill out and let my body do whatever it's doing, which I guess is rerouting all that ice cream directly to the kicking, squirming little parasite.
I just...really want the little parasite to be okay. I kind of like him, you know.
PS: Okay, look. I just checked the trash can and there IS an empty can of cat food, but do you think it's from last night or this morning? He seems hungry, but I also think he might be fucking with me.
At my 22 week appointment I had gained a grand total of 2.5 pounds. My doctor said it was fine. My nurse said "Oh, don't worry. You WILL gain." Remembering back, I think the first time I saw any substantial weight gain in the first pregnancy was in my 7th month, and I ended up gaining 36 pounds with her. We all do it differently, I guess, but I think it's fine.
I'm a weird person who doesn't gain any weight while pregnant - maybe 5 lbs total both boy pregnancies (alas, I gain it post-partum!!). I get really sick, but what I could eat was lots of fruit and more unhealthy stuff like cake and fast food and whatever. And my second baby was just over 9 lbs so obviously I can get away with not gaining any weight - food was just going straight to him clearly!
At 26 weeks my belly is ridiculously HUGE, but I had (at my last OB appt) gained a total of maybe six pounds. Which is totally fine with me; if the baby wants to hog all the ice cream for herself I'm happy to provide it!
If the baby looks fine, then you're fine. (Not to mention adorable!) Relax and have some more ice cream!
I'm currently 25 weeks with a boy also (2nd child too). So far I've only gained 6/7 lbs. so I think we are totally normal (that's what my doctor says anyway).
OMG what an adorable baby belly! I miss it. (uh, I miss MY baby belly...sorry)
With both my pregnancies with my boys I gained 37 pounds each time. And I'm only 5'1". Talk about looking ridiculous in that maternity thong! And when my doctor made a remark at a particularly large weight gain in a short amount of time (7 lbs in 2 weeks! yikes!), I told her it was because my hair was still wet from my shower. I don't think she believed me, but it stopped the eyebrow look. I didn't tell her I was eating the Chik-Fil-A super-sized 12-piece nuggets dipped in buffalo sauce with fries AND slaw and a large sweet tea nearly every day.
You must've gained a little more weight than you think you have...maybe some of is the difference between wearing heavy winter clothes and now wearing light summer clothes...unless of course you are weighed in at the doctor in your undies. Then my theory's shot.
And yes, you need to feed the cat. :)
I know nothing of normal weight gain levels or healthy blood pressure numbers, but I think your belly looks beautiful!
It's strange... I didn't gain really any weight during the 2nd trimester either with both kiddies.
And be so happy that you didn't end up with my last OB for my last pregnancy- she actually told me to LOSE WEIGHT !!!! while still pregnant even though I only gained like 2 or 3 pounds (if that) during the first trimester. I won't lie, I'm fat. Whatever. lol
But I was a healthy fatty (ate right, good BP, etc)and actually thought that she knew what she was talking about for a split second then. My point is- you look amazing and your belly looks huge and your doctor sounds awesome, too. Just keep poundin' those vegetables because maybe, just maybe you'll create the first toddler to love all of their vegetables.
LOL
I just wanted to let you know that you look GREAT, AND.... I didn't gain any weight in my second pg until my 6th month. That's when I put on a whopping 6 pounds and the Doctor had the NERVE to say something about my weight gain...um, being a negative. She obviously didn't look at the previous months....dork. SOOooooo, I guess what I'm trying to say is....my Landon turned out just fine. I ended up gaining 30 pounds in total the second time around, but just started late in the game. Hopefully that's all that's going on with you. :)
Try weighing yourself holding Noah if you want a mood elevator.
If you truly want to gain weight, butter. Add it to everything. A pat here. A pound there. Make a recipe off PioneerWoman.com. Her recipes sneak butter (tons of it) into EVERYTHING. That should give you some calories.
Oh, yeah, the cat IS fucking with you, but we haven't seen anything on the cat or dog in a while so it's nice to know they're alive. :-)
I lost in the first trimester, gained 5 in the 2nd and 10 in the third. I ate heathly but indulged my cravings (mostly fruit and ice cream) and walked all the time. Overall I gained a net of 9 lbs and had a 7 lb healthy as can be babe. Don't worry!
Delurking to add to the "don't worry" chorus! If everything else looks good, everything is probably fine! I gained just 19lbs and had a nearly-10lb baby. I got really really skeletally skinny everywhere but my belly - my fundus measurements were rising while my weight plateaued. Sounds liek the same may be happening to you - the wee one is sucking it all out you before you even pop him on the boob for the first time!
Love your blog. Thanks for the entertainment!
Don't worry about not gaining weight - I know easier said than done. I gained a total of 5 pounds with #2. With #1 I gained about 30. Both are healthy and happy. Listen to your body and try not to freak out too bad which I know is way easier said than done. (really not trying to give assive, I swear :)
I gained 50+ lbs with all three of my pregnancies. I would have killed to have your problem. In fact, last baby was just 4 months ago, so I could still kill for it. Every time I lost the baby weight I got pregnant again. At least you won't have to bust your ass to feel sexy again.
At my last OB/GYN all the other preg women were tiny. Like they had basketballs stuck under their cute little maternity clothes. I however looked like I put a beach ball under my tent called a shirt, and another one down the back of my pants. So enjoy it. The baby is getting all he/she needs. :)
And feed the cat. Even if you already did it, maybe you won't have to listen to the meowing.
I was 15 lb. overweight when I was pg with my 2nd (Elle) and I only gained 3 lb. on paper during that pg. Obviously, the weight was redistributing itself. Though I did freak out A LOT one fated time when she decided to take a mega nap and I thought the absolute worst. The doctor thought she might be "lethargic" due to a caloric deficiency. :::guilt! guilt! guilt!::: Turned out to be nothing.
As long as they're measuring on target, you should be fine. You look absolutely perfect. I wouldn't worry about a thing.
About weight gain...I understand your freakout, because I have gained only 6 pounds. In 37 weeks. My doctor is not concerned, because I'm measuring fairly well, and baby movement has been fine.
I didn't gain much with my first, either (but more than this!!), and he ended up a healthy 7 lbs 12 oz at birth. So, try not to freak out too much. And just keep asking your doctor questions. Even if he seems old-school, you have the right to talk about any concern with him. He might even have you have an ultrasound for peace of mind--my doctor did so with my first baby, and it really helped.
(1) You look cute & pregnant, and if the dr. says you're fine, you should just be all "woo-hoo, I am supermodel pregnant, and I will be all skinny and svelte and cute all through my pregnancy, and afterwards." And mmm, milkshakes! I am 20 weeks, and have gained an alarming (to me) 12-ish pounds (which my dr. says is just fine & normal) half of which I think is in my now-freak-show-sized-heavy-as-lead-boobs-which-require-the-ugliest-bras-known-to-man. So, I'm envious. (2) On the cat: an old roommate had a cat that could con each of 3 people coming home at the end of the day into 3 meals. He was very convincing. If your cat is anything like that one, he can survive for a day or two (or a month on a desert island) without being fed.
Oh yeah- most importantly, is that a cute khaki-colored maternity skirt? WHERE DID YOU GET IT? I have been scouring the Internets for one, and when I found the perfect one on a site, all they had was XL. Gah.
Six Dinner Sid. Read it =)
And I *lost* 40-50 pounds with each pregnancy. Granted, I had it to lose to begin with but still. My last OB practically accused me of purging, and it was all that I could do to not drag her downstairs to the Ody and show her the fast food wrappers from my drive to her office. I ate just fine once the 20 weeks of m/s ended - I just had working, balanced hormone levels for once, and a sky-high metabolism. The babies always measured fine and grew well - as long as that's happening, forget about the weight, or lack thereof.
Color me jealous! If the doctor says you're cool, don't worry. I've already gained 15 pounds and I'm only 21 weeks!
With my first I gained 60 pounds. Went from 120 to 179...yet still I had rather thin arms. My mom said I was the only woman she'd ever seen who got pregnant in her butt.
This time around, it's the boobs. Roo (4) tries to kiss them whenever he kisses baby sister. They're SO BIG I think he's convinced I'm harboring some more siblings inside them somewhere...
Stacey
I think your weight gain is fine, but if you do decide to go the Ensure route, Pour the Ensure in the blender and add ice cream for a smoothie. I like to go vanilla with both flavors and then add fresh fruit. It's not the world's greatest smoothie, but it sure beats Ensure out of a can. You can probably experiment with the best ice cream/Ensure flavor mix. I'm just saying, Ensure is not exactly high on the yummy scale and I had to trick myself into taking it when I needed it (for non-pregnancy related reasons).
I have low blood pressure (and a rapid heart rate) so have three pieces of assvice to share:
1) Dehydration/Heat could be making things worse as you wander around; especially in big stores like target or the grocery store. So carry around something cold to drink. (Oh, and don't be afraid to take breaks and sit down if you can find a chair when you need one, even if it's part of a patio set.)
2) Strengthening your calf muscle (the soleus, I think) that returns blood from your legs back to your heart can help.
3) Additionally, if you do faint and have a good heart and otherwise normal pregnancy, ask your doctor about adding more salt to your diet. This is definitely a must-ask-the-doctor piece of advice, but for people with low BP it is one of the few non-drug methods of raising it. Although, ask.the.doctor.first. Did I mention that enough? It's a post-fainting, check with the doc, otherwise-healthy method.
phew. Hope Jason comes home soon.
The cat is lying!
I have a weird pregnancy story. Mine.
I heaved so much the first 5 months after all was said and done I gained 1 lb. That is what it looked like.
My baby was 9 lbs and 100% healthy!
Your belly is growing. Good sign! Don't worry!
if your cat is anything like MY cat...he ate the food real quick then decided to come hunt you down, squirm around your ankles and insist...yes, INSIST...that you forgot to feed him. sometimes i think cats are smarter than dogs. ok...probably not, but still. they know how to mooch and take advantage of their owners!
Thanks for all the reassurance, guys. It really helps to hear that lots of you didn't gain much -- it's not exactly a problem you can discuss with everybody, lest you get dagger eyes from someone who gained a lot and thinks you're being show-offy or something.
I gained 33 pounds last time, all very even-like and regimented from the second trimester on, and I was expecting the same thing this time. Surprise! YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ANYTHING, LADY.
For everybody asking about the skirt -- it's a hand-me-down from the lovely Linda at All & Sundry. God, I love the Internet. The tag says it's from Mimi Maternity, but alas, I imagine she got it awhile ago.
my dr. has a theory that every woman gains as much weight as she needs to. Don't stress.
You look perfectly healthy and beautiful from your side profile portrait, regardless of your weight gain (or lack thereof). Congratulations on the pregnancy!
Oh my gosh. The pooping in the cart hit a little too close to home as we had our first pooping in the cart experience on my daughter's third bathroom exactly one week ago. I've got nothing to say about the weight gain; I'm at 34 weeks and have gained 34 pounds...weird. Doctor put me on a GD diet even though I don't have GD. He FINALLY remembered how big my first born was (9# 10oz) and doesn't want this one being huge. I could so go for some ice cream right now...
Well, I don't know what my excuses are for forgetting to feed the dog . . . lemme see . . . :) Anyway, you look great. Don't worry!
I have a two month old boy (my second son) and not too long ago when I was 24 weeks I was right where you are, except I had only gained 3 pounds (and an evil physician's assistant made me feel like I was purposely starving my baby at my 24 week appointment).
I started the pregnancy on the small side (5'8", 125). By delivery day (40 weeks, 4 days damnit) I had only gained 18 lbs. more than my pre-preg weight (not including the 4 I lost and gained back in the first trimester).
I give birth to a perfectly healthy, perfectly amazing 8 lb. 2 oz. little boy who at two months is all smiles and coos, very alert, and *sleeping nine hour stretches at night*.
I say keep doing what you're doing, enjoy the ice cream, and relax.
By the way, you look adorable.
"I feel rather delicate and Victorian, except for the hemorrhoids."
I pretty much spewed my drink all over the computer. Thanks for making me laugh.
Well i am just glad you are taking everything so calmly!
best wishes and we are praying for you.
Everytime I freaked out about something that my doctor didn't seem too concerned about, my husband would ask, "Who went to medical school, you or the doctor?"
Seriously, if your doctor isn't freaking out, you shouldn't be either. You look great!
You probably don't need to hear this from yet another reader, but you nearly made me pee my pants! Seriassly!
And another thing! We too have a spare button collection! What's up with THAT?!
My doctor recommended an avocado every day. I LOVED IT...and by the end I had gained an unthinkable amount of weight...also with the help of ice cream and cashews. Healthy fat. That's the key.
I hope to look as good as you do when I get pregnant. My biggest fear is gaining so much weight and then hating my body and not being able to lose it. I am very vain I suppose, but I really just don't want to be all puggy.
I am thinking of getting a automatic feeder for my cat, very tired at listening to him whine because he doesn't have an endless supply and maybe if the magic machine tells him it is time to eat he will whine to it and not me.
My 3rd pregnancy I actually lost weight up until the third trimester. I gained a total of 12 pounds. He was a fine and healthy baby. Listent o your doctor. You (and baby) will be fine.
Feed the cat just to get himn to shut up. It won't hurt him!
I am supremely unhelpful and have no advice (or assvice even), and can only say that I'm thinking good thoughts for you. Also, I'd like to say that...
"I feel rather delicate and Victorian, except for the hemorrhoids."
...is one of the funniest things I've ever read.
I was at Big Baby Store in suburban DC last week. There were lots of happy, glowing, obviously pregnant women there picking out the perfect crib/bedding set/rocking chair with significant others and grandparents. Right in the middle of this suburban bliss my 18 month old threw an epic temper tantrum. I carried him out of the store telling him not to scare the nice pregnant ladies, then laughed hysterically when we got outside. What else can you do when they...ah...express their independance?
My boobs gained more weight than you have.
Unfortuneately - those went back to 'normal' where the rest of me...well, not so much.
You look adorable and healthy!
umm, not pregnant, not even close, just wondering where you got those flats?
I'm not sure how it's happening, but I think I've gained all the weight you were supposed to. Because I've put on a good 10 pounds in the past couple of months and I'm NOT pregnant. The universe is clearly screwed up. So please, stop eating the ice cream, you look fine, but MY hips can't take anymore. Either that, or fix the universe for me. Please.
my cat spends all day screaming (fortunately for me I usually miss that but my SAHD husband tells me) and then passes out about 6 p.m. from sheer exhaustion. cats, they are liars.
Mia - In a bin by the Old Navy checkout line. They're my absolute favorite shoes in the world right now.
PS JASON IS HOME AND WASHING DISHES. HOORAY.
Your bump is so cute! Also, cats are pigs and not to be trusted. At least mine are.
You look adorable! And I'm sure baby is growing just fine. But I'd up the avocado and nut intake, and drink an ensure every once in a while. It can't hurt, studies show that a weight gain of at least 25 pounds is best for the baby (especially in a thin woman) and it might help your low blood pressure. My low blood pressure is exacerbated by me not eating enough. Not a problem I've had in many a long day, unfortunately.
Don't freak out....I gained 60lbs and 50lbs with my first two, and then this last time, I gained only 8lbs by my 25ish week checkup...I went on to gain another 20lbs in the last 15 weeks, so don't worry..I'm sure baby Tivo will pack on the lbs...besides, I seem to remember with Noah that you (and I mean this is a nice way, LOL) blew up at the end, and were a walking beach ball and a 10lb baby...so I wouldn't worry!!!
You look fabulous. Good luck to you!
I wouldn't worry yourself too much about the weight gain (though, of course, that's doing *way* more than I required of MYSELF while pregnant) since I only gained a *whopping* 19 pounds my ENTIRE pregnancy. My doctor FITFULLY reassured me that all was well every single time I waddled my parasite-hosting, STARVING self into his office.
And yes, I ATE. I just don't know where it all went.
Baby was healthy beyond belief, and has been to this day, 2 1/2 years later... so apparently, the doctor *did* kinda know what he was talking about.
You are making yourself insane over nothing. Seriously. I don't think I weighed myself at all during pregnancy because this is an extra thing you do not need to obsess over.
If the baby measures fine on ultrasound and you're pleased with his activity and you're eating okay, the fuck it. You're fine. And even if you're not eating you're probably still fine. My poor friend was sick all through her pregnancy and could stomach nothing but quince and she LOST about 10 kilos but she still had a fine healthy baby at the end. The little parasite takes what it needs from you. It is fine.
Also, unless the cat is actually obese or something go feed him again. cats are nice when they are happy.
I think you look fantastic, and I also think you shouldn't worry - I've had a friend who didn't know she was pregnant until about 2/3rds of the way through her pregnancy, so I'm sure your weight will gain a bit more in a few weeks :)
At 19 weeks now in my first pregnancy, I've been surprised at the extent to which the weight gain has nothing whatsoever to do with me. I mean, when I get hungry, I eat, and otherwise I don't, and I'm gaining more weight than I might like, but what am I going to do about it? It seems to me that if you're eating when you're hungry and you're measuring right, everything else is pretty much in the baby's hands. So much of pregnancy is auto-pilot, despite what the books say, you know?