My Pregnancy Timeline

*To read my actual complete posts during my pregnancy, see the 2008 archives for August, September, and October.
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Before I continue copying my pregnancy posts here, I thought I'd share my pregnancy timeline from my journal (I recommend The Pregnancy Journal: A Day-To-Day Guide To A Healthy And Happy Pregnancy)!

August 17-19th, 2007: Conceived L.J.

August 23rd: I believe implantation occured

September 3rd: Took pregnancy test--positive!

September 5th: Had my annual exam; pregnancy was confirmed and hormone tests were taken.

On September 7th (five weeks pregnant): I began progesterone suppositories and felt I started showing (my hips seemed a little wider and my stomach wouldn't suck in). We announced the news to Joe's mom (and sister).

September 8th: Announced the news to my mom, stepdad, dad, and stepmom. (As well as my brother, Joe's other sister, and my grandparents.)

September 13th (six weeks pregnant): my first signs of morning sickness & fatigue (as well as craving chicken). No throwing up, but I spent most of the day in bed. Still no other pregnancy signs.

September 21st (seven weeks): Went to the doctor's office (appt #2) for my first ultrasound with Joe. Announced to everyone that we were pregnant!

September 25th (eight weeks pregnant): Began throwing up every now & then. Nausea was 24/7 by this point.

I scribled: Sometimes I get headaches and just feel really wiped out, but mainly I can't get comfortable because I'm always on the verge of throwing up. Not fun! I'm rethinking my next pregnancy. I'm going to need to wait a few more years and I'm only doing this one more time!

September 28th (eight weeks pregnant) I scribled: This was by far the worst day as far as all-day sickness. I spent four days this week in bed (so a total of 7 now) and was SO miserable today that between tears I prayed and prayed for this part of my pregnancy to PLEASE end! It's impossible to enjoy being pregnant right now. I have never felt worse in my life.

During this time I was craving cottage cheese.

October 1st: My face has really broken out and turned red & blotchy. It also looks rounder, maybe swollen?

October 8th (nine weeks pregnant): Doctor's appt. #3--Met with the nurse for official pre-natal appointment.

October 12th: Mood-Bad, Energy-Bad, Appetite-Major, Morning Sickness-Major, Cravings-Bad. I can't really write because I'm too sick. I spend the majority of my time in bed, unless I'm throwing up. I had no idea morning sickness could be this awful. I have tried everything but get no relief!

By October 18th I'd gained 4 lbs.

October 21st (11 weeks pregnant): I'm still horribly sick in bed 24/7. :-( My doctor said I'm a candidate for medication but a lot of people say this ends with the first trimester which is just one more week. . . All of my clothes are now tight so I went shopping a few days ago and bought my first maternity clothes. I don't need to wear them yet but at least I have them for when I can't fit into any of my clothes.

November 1st (almost 13 weeks): Doctor's appt. #4. I went by myself and heard the heartbeat for the very first time! It was 140 beats per minute. My doctor felt the size of my abdomen and said everything is going well and that a miscarriage at this point is extremely unlikely. No more need for progesterone.

November 2nd: Had gained 6 lbs. This past week I had a few days of being nausea-free! Even though I had a really bad headache on Halloween and threw up the next morning, I was feeling better than I had in two months.

November 9th (14 weeks): Unfortunately my all-day sickness has continued (my doctor said it doesn't usually turn off with a switch but rather gradually goes away) and I've started experiencing other symptoms such as sinus drainage, backaches, and still the acne. I've noticed my abs separating and can often times feel my stomach stretching. I'm looking forward to May when I can meet my little boy or girl and be able to see what's going on with him/her each day. I'm sure I'll miss my sleep, but I'm already getting a taste of sleep deprivation as I seem to wake up around 5 a.m. every morning--ICK. I don't know if insomnia is another symptom of pregnancy or what. Hopefully I'll return to normal sleep patterns soon!

November 23rd (16 weeks) was the last day I threw up during my pregnancy--and the end to any sickness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd gained 8 lbs.

November 29th: Doctor appt. #5! Joe went with me this time to hear the heartbeat. Our baby was really active--my doctor had to chase it around my belly, haha!

December 5th I'd gained 10 lbs.

On December 7th: People can finally tell I'm pregnant. I'm still not in maternity clothes but I am wearing bigger sizes. I seem to be growing rapidly now. The weight gain is uncomfortable but I know it's necessary. I'm craving cheese spread and meatballs. I'm so glad to finally be done with the all-day sickness and to have energy again! Also, I no longer have acne--my skin and hair have never looked better!

December 14th (19 weeks): Felt my baby kick for the first time!

December 18th: Doctor appt. #6. Our second ultrasound (we found out we were having a BOY)! My due date was moved to May 9th. Mood--Excellent! Energy--Excellent! Appetite--Excellent! Morning Sickness--N/A Cravings--N/A.

December 21st (my birthday) I'd gained 12 lbs. I never thought I'd say this, but I need to buy some "D" bras!!!!

January 1st (New Year's Day 2008) I'd gained 14 lbs.

On January 3rd (almost 22 weeks) Doctor appt. #7. We were told our baby is more active than most! I wasn't surprised--he kicked all of the time, every hour! Joe felt L.J. kick for the first time the previous week. I started to feel exhausted again, and never had a good night's sleep the rest of my pregnancy. I also began having pain in different areas of my body for the rest of my pregnancy.

January 9th I'd gained 16 lbs. That day I scribled: I'm experiencing A LOT of back pain and severe fatigue again.

January 14th I'd gained 18 lbs.

February 1st: Doctor appt. #8. My appt. was mischeduled by the receptionist so it took two hours from when I arrived to when I left! Fortunately Joe came with me which kept me company. L.J.'s heartbeat was between 140-150 beats per minute, as it always has. I'm measuring farther along than May 9th. . .more like May 2nd! We started childbirth classes last night; they end March 9th.

February 3rd I'd gained 22 lbs.

During my 27/28th weeks of pregnancy I was sick with the flu; had gained 24 lbs by February 18th.

February 22nd (29 weeks): Doctor appt. #9. My blood glucose test. Came back perfect. Unfortunately, I had been having menstrual-like cramps for 48 hours and so my doctor did a few tests on me to make sure I wasn't going into pre-term labor. Turns out it was a yeast infection! (Common during pregnancy.) I was given a prescription and in 24 hours it was gone and I was back to normal.

March 7th: Doctor appt. #10. She predicted L.J. will be 7 lbs at birth. I'm really glad that despite this being a difficult pregnancy for me, L.J. has always done really well!

March 8th: I've been feeling wonderful lately, better than at any other time in my pregnancy! (March was indeed my best month, December second, and all the rest tied for last place.) Had gained 26 lbs.

March 17th (32 weeks): Happy St. Patrick's Day! I'm pretty sure L.J. turned to head down last night so that is good news. I think that he's facing front, though. Had gained 28 lbs.

March 21st: Was supposed to have a doctor's appt. but I canceled because she was on vacation.

April 2nd (34 weeks): I'd gained 30 lbs. I really hope labor is near. (Once I get to 36 weeks L.J. won't be considered premature and so it's fine for him to come any time.) I experienced a little spotting and I've started having Braxton-Hicks which can be downright painful. I don't feel my stomach can get any bigger--it feels stretched to the max. It's 41 inches (normally I'm a size 6)!

April 4th: Doctor's appt. #11. L.J.'s heartbeat was the lowest it's ever been (130 beats per minute) but apparently that is fine for this stage. She said I am measuring big again--now as if I'm due the end of April! She's going to be on vacation the week of my real due date, so I hope I go into labor before then!

April 9th: Mood--Not good again, Energy--Low again, Appetite--Has decreased a lot because there's no breathing room!

April 13th (36 weeks): I have been depressed this week. I gained 7 lbs in 7 days which now makes me at 40 lbs total gained. I thought I might have high blood pressure because my feet are really swollen and the past few days I haven't been able to feel them and they hurt when I wake up in the morning, but I had it checked and I don't. Clearly I have fluid retention, although I've also been craving ice cream and eating it non-stop because it's the only thing that feels good in my stomach!

April 15th: I had my check-up and my doctor said I am between 3-4 cm dilated!!! She is confident this baby is going to come before my due date. She was concerned about him being big, though, and scheduled an ultrasound which came back with him at 7 lbs (whew--that's average) but w/ some above average amniotic fluid. She also did the strep test which I later found out was negative. The rest of that day I had menstrual-like cramps.

April 16th: I forced myself to go for a long walk just to see if there's any truth to it prompting labor. . .since then I've had more menstrual-like cramps!

April 17th: I think I lost my mucus plug! It happened so fast--I turned around to flush the toilet after going pee and noticed a brown/red clump going down! I wish I could have studied it closer to be sure, haha! No cramps, though, just feeling very fatigued and BLAH. Total weight gain: 42 lbs.

April 18th, 2008 (the day I turned 37 weeks pregnant): My water broke in bed at 1:53 AM! An hour later I arrived to the hospital and my contractions began. I'd chosen to do HypnoBirthing (natural techniques) and within three hours I was fully dilated and began pushing. It took four more hours (due to L.J. being face up), but my son entered the world at 10:30 AM weighing 7 lbs, 13.7 oz, and was 20.5 inches long! My doctor rocked. When do I get to do this again? :-)