Started showing at 16.5 weeks

This was originally written on Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Okay, so no one could tell five days ago at Thanksgiving, but either it was all the food I ate--or I've popped out now through my clothes!!!! (Although I'm still not in maternity clothes.)

I first realized this when Joe and I were in the car and he got the sweetest look on his face and patted me on the stomach. Normally I would have been like, "Excuse me, Mister!" but his grin was so sincere that when I looked down and saw my stomach sticking out in a round ball, I started laughing! He was like "Wow, you're really pregnant!"

It's true, I have never seen my stomach quite like that in my life! It's different when you're pregnant opposed to when you've just gained fat around the middle. At least in my experience, the latter is usually more, um, rolly polly, haha. But there is a bump on my abdomen that is weird shaped--and hard. Needless to say, I stepped on the scale this morning and I've already gained another two pounds just since my last blog last Wednesday! That makes a total of nine pounds since I became pregnant in August. I looked up online to see how much weight a 17-week pregnant woman has supposed to have gained and it said up to ten pounds. Whew.

Okay before you think I'm superficial or anything, let me explain that if I was reading this while not pregnant, I'd scrunch up my face and say "Why is she talking about weight gain at a time like this?! How selfish!" Of course every time I make a comment that "I feel fat" to anyone, they look at me like I'm insane as they all answer, "You're pregnant!"

I get it. There would be something really wrong if I didn't gain the recommended weight while pregnant. So NO WAY do I want to avoid gaining weight. I've read enough to know how important each pound is to not only the baby, but also the placenta, the uterus, etc. The thought of dieting--i.e. actually purposely putting my baby in jeopardy--brings tears to my eyes, let alone knowing there are some women out there who have a medical problem where their body doesn't gain the weight and then their baby has health problems. NOTHING is more important than the health of my baby right now, and so I'll take the weight gain.

I think my issue is more that I'm scared I'll never lose the weight afterwards--or that I'll just keep gaining a pound a week (what you're supposed to gain in this second trimester) for the rest of my life! This isn't a vanity issue, but rather a control issue. I don't normally think of myself as controlling--most people would describe me as easy-going--but I think that changes when I feel threatened.

Being pregnant is like this is not really my body anymore! It's a very helpless feeling. Aside from the nausea (which I'm "thankful" I didn't have for Thanksgiving last Thurs, Fri, or Sat. . .although once I was back home on Sun morn I threw up--SIGH), and the hunger (it's not the same as when you're not pregnant--you can't control it, this is like you're going to be sick or die if you don't eat, and it occurs every couple of hours! Like, over TG, I had no problem eating the big meals and then requesting food again while everyone else was still full from before!), I'm also experiencing major back pain now. I've since read it's because the pelvis is separating and the ligaments around the uterus are stretching. I would have thought it'd be my lower back then, but the burning strains from top to bottom and nothing makes it go away! It's worse when I sit down (however I am not supposed to be on my feet for long hours) as well as when I lay on my side (however I am not supposed to lay on my back anymore)!

Needless to say, I now have a new area of discomfort. Plus, I've been having sinus trouble, which I never had before. I would have freaked out the other day when I blew my nose and it was mostly blood, except that I read nosebleeds are common during this time of pregnancy, and women who are pregnant in the winter experience more sinus trouble than those who are not. Also, my breasts have been hurting which I guess is a good sign because they're growing (yeay Joe, LOL)--up until now they hadn't felt tender or had any changes associated to them in the entire time I've been pregnant, so I thought it'd be just my luck if the one good thing didn't happen for me! But now all of my bras are too small so I'm going to have to go shopping for some new underwear.

In addition, I've had cramps off and on the past week (I plan to discuss this with my doctor at my next appt. this Thurs), a lot of breakouts on my face (I feel like I'm in puberty again), my hair has never looked so bad in its life, and I'm farting, burping, and I've had constipation. (So much for the "best" second trimester.) Oh the joys of pregnancy! :p

I don't want to hurry up my pregnancy or wish it away. I'm really big on "stopping and smelling the roses" in life. I never want to just go through the motions of anything; I'm a passionate person and I want to experience every little detail of everything. Especially since this miraculous adventure is something I really wanted, and not everyone gets the chance to experience.

With that said, this has been the most difficult time in life to do that!!!! I definitely look forward to having my body back by May. I know that there will be new stress and new discomfort with a baby, etc., but I usually do better with external stress compared to internal.

I guess I'll look at this as a test. To prove to myself that I can come out of all of this at the end and not have lost myself. Maybe that will help me afterwards, since I know a lot of women complain of that feeling when becoming a mother. Maybe this is all to prepare me better for that stage, to make "the change" not so much of a shock to my system because it'll seem better than being pregnant when my body was all out of whack!

When I look at it that way, I'm more okay with going through this, since motherhood is a lot longer than pregnancy!!! For example, I recently heard from a girl who is due a month before me and when I asked her how she was feeling (and told her about me) she answered something to the effect of "I can't relate to being sick, I've had absolutely no discomfort or problems, everything has been great." My first reaction was to be kind of mad! I mean, here I am going through all of this while she is noticing no difference between her pre-pregnancy life and now! Wouldn't that be nice and make life easier?! I would love to be able to say "pregnancy is wonderful, I've never felt better, I'm having so much fun!" (As some women do. That reminds me of a message one of my writers group partners sent me. I still crack up when I think about it. She said: I should warn you Andrea - there are people out there who LOVE being pregnant. They love every moment and are sad when the pregnancy ends. They will pat your hand with serene smiles and say, "Don't you just love being pregnant?" That's when you nod politely and puke on their shoes.)

HAHAHAHA!

The more I've thought about it, the more I realized that this may be what works best for me. In life when I haven't been prepared for "major wake-up calls," I suffer a lot more. But when I go into situations transitionally, big events don't really seem like a "wake-up call." I handle them better and am happier and do better in the long run. Just as God obviously knew what He was doing when I didn't get pregnant during the time we were buying our new house and selling our old one (thank you!), I have faith that He's not giving me more than I can handle right now (in fact, maybe it's making things easier for me later)--and so I am doing fine and will continue to do fine after the baby is born!

I have copied and pasted the article I found on the internet this morning, as it says a lot of interesting stuff about being 17 weeks pregnant. It is so amazing. I teared up while thinking about my little baby going through all of the changes. I love him/her so much!!!!
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When you are 17 weeks pregnant, a lot of changes will take place in your baby. This is a rapid growth period.

During your 17th week, the baby weighs approximately four ounces and is around five inches long from crown to rump.

It means the baby and placenta are almost equal in size or the baby weighs more than the placenta.

The fat deposits will start to form underneath your baby’s skin and by the time of delivery the fat accounts for two to six percent of total body weight.

This fat will help the baby to maintain body temperature and metabolism when born.

In this week, hair is growing on head, eyebrows, and eyelashes. The lungs start to exhale the amniotic fluid. The heart of your baby starts to pump about 25 quarts a day. The circulatory system and urinary system are working.

The reflexes of the baby in your 17th week are entirely functional as the baby starts to suck, swallow, and blink. The movements of your baby become stronger and more frequent.

During this week, you may experience symptoms such as constipation, heartburn or indigestion, itching, headaches, breast changes, tenderness, fullness, and darkening of the areola, etc.

You can feel your baby’s first movements during this week. Your uterus will be about one-half to two inches from navel.

Due to increased blood volume, your secretions of body will increase. There is nothing to worry if you find runny nose or nasal congestion, increased sweating, or vaginal discharge as this is very common in women during their 17th week. These secretions will go away after your delivery. Take rest as much as possible.

As the baby is in this growing phase, there are chances of you gaining more weight. The average weight gain by now is up to ten pounds.

In order to avoid being dizzy, change positions slowly, particularly when you change from a lying position to a sitting position, and also from sitting position to standing. Also when you feel lightheaded, lie down for a moment or sit down and lower your head for sometime.

It is recommended that during pregnancy the pregnant women should not sleep on their back, as by doing this, the growing uterus puts pressure on some important blood vessels. This pressure on blood vessels decreases the blood circulation to your baby and yourself.

It is better for you to sleep on your side with a pillow in between the knees, which helps your hips in good alignment. You also can feel comfortable by putting the pillow under your abdomen.

In your 17th week, make sure that you are getting enough protein (as per your caregiver) per day. Also, follow the directions, suggestions, and preventive measures that should be taken during your 17th week given by your health care provider.