[Belita]

9 weeks!!!

Today was a busy day. We went down to the Cape to celebrate my mom's birthday. It's actually Tuesday, but with schedules we celebrated today. We went to a seafood restaurant and I managed pretty well! I went outside for some fresh air a few times, but I found a pasta dish that would work well for leftovers (scallop parmigiana) and that I thought I could stomach. I also had some stuffed mushrooms. Pretty tasty!

I gave my mom her grandparents book and a recordable Guess How Much I Love You book so no matter how long my mom is around the baby can hear her read a story. I went ahead and gave my dad his grandfather book as an early Father's Day present because it wouldn't be much of a surprise at this point. I wanted my mom to experience getting a birthday card from a grandchild, so I found a cute Winnie the Pooh card that also works for a baby in utero and gave that to her as her birthday card.

My mom also had some gifts for Bert and me! I got a baby names book and Bert got a book called So You're Going to be a Dad?. My mom also got a stocking for the baby. My mom made stockings for each of us when we were born and I wanted her to make one for the baby, too. She bought a kit, but apparently is having problems with her rotator cuff and can't actually do the sewing necessary. My parents still gave me the stocking figuring I might want to try to sew it. I'm not a good sewer, but I should be able to do this. At least I have 8 months before I'll want to hang it up!

We stopped at the mall today to exchange my bras, but the mall closed earlier than I thought. I thought it was open until 8 on Sundays, but it closed at 6. I guess I'm driving to Hartford tomorrow to get the bras exchanged because I have no desire to drive towards Boston tomorrow with the marathon traffic! I think I might also get a pair of maternity pants that has the thin elastic band. I think those might fit me and I'm tired of the belly band. I have two, and they work, but as the week goes on the material stretches and they don't hold up my pants as well.

I posted the new belly pics. I feel like my bloating is slightly less, but at this point I'm not really expecting it to go down much more. I'm just expecting it to become more round as my uterus continues to rise and pop. I'm not sure if I'm feeling the right area because I can't find the heartbeat anymore (I really think the other day was just a fluke!) but if I am feeling the right area my uterus is bigger and higher than when I had my ultrasound. I feel it just lower than the band of my pants in the photo. I'll find out next week I'm sure!

[junie22]

Glad today was such a good day, minus the bra situation.

I'm not sure about the position of the uterus. I know that it stays behind the pelvic bone and moves up only gradually through the first trimester. I'm just not sure quite how much. Also, you know the baby is so little, he/she can hide out in different locations, and your placenta can also move around making it more or less difficult to find the baby. I'm just glad you got to hear the heartbeat once. You'll be able to find it every time before you know it.

[Lav]

I can totally relate to the age thingy too. My DH graduated from high school when I was born lol! Yea, we're like 18 1/2 years apart.

Heyyy, you came to the Cape Where does your mom live? Wish you'd stayed a little longer, we could have met up

I'm sure Adrienne is right and you'll find your baby's heart beat every time very soon! You got very lucky with that early one!

[Belita]

Elli, wow! That's a huge age difference! My parents actually live just off the Cape in Marion. I'd have loved to do that but I was exhausted and needed to get home. We'll definitely have to get together soon! I'm out of work in June, so that will make it a lot easier.

[Belita]

9 weeks 1 day

Well, it's a good thing the stores were closed yesterday because DH was with me to exchange the bras and he was okay with waiting for about 15 minutes for me like I thought it'd take, but it ended up taking me hours to find just two bras!!! I first went to Soma since that's where I bought my online ones and I love their bras. Well, I measured as a 36DD there, although I started out this pregnancy as a 36C. I wanted room to grow and Soma didn't carry bras that big. I tried Macy's and JCPenney and neither one had bras that looked good or fit. I finally ended up at Nordstrom and found some bras. I ended up with two 36FF(36G) bras!!! No wonder the 36Ds I'd ordered online didn't work!!

I wanted to buy some maternity clothes at Kohl's today, but I was too tired after all the bra shopping that I just went home and will do that another day this week.

I think I wrote about this before, but DH had put moth balls in the attic to keep out flying squirrels and mice. The heat seems to bring out the smell of them and I just can't take it. There is nowhere to escape from the smell. DH says it's impossible to remove them because he put them into a bunch of tiny nooks and crannies that mice can get into. I need some sort of a solution because I cannot take this smell of moth balls anymore. And I'm someone who usually likes the smell! I called my dad and my dad didn't have much in the way of suggestions either. He said they shouldn't last that long in this heat, so I hope they are gone soon.

[Lav]

The age may be very different, but we're so much the same in so many ways haha. So June - that's perfect, I'll have all the time in the world come mid-May until I give birth to this little one.

I'm sorry you're still having problems with the smell. Have you tried using an air-freshener where it's worst or some anti-bacterial spray like lysol around the house where you can smell the moth balls?

[junie22]

I'm so glad that smell aversions have not been a pregnancy symptom of mine. Sorry you're struggling with that. The more intense your symptoms get, the more I think you're having a girl.

[Belita]

9 weeks 2 days

DH wasn't very happy about it, but he got up in the attic and vacuumed up what he could of the moth balls. We aired out the house last night and today it seemed much better. I'm honestly not sure whether the aversion to smell is the worst symptom I've had so far or if it's the nausea! Adrienne, I guess we'll find out in a few weeks! I'm running low on days to get the last two gender prediction tests done, so I need to get those done this week!

Today was a really bad day for my DDC. Three women posted that they found out they lost their babies on an ultrasound. One of those women was pregnant with twins. We're still getting losses every week and we have a lot of women who haven't even had an appointment yet because they've never had a loss, so it's getting really scary! I'm afraid that by the time all is said and done we'll be left with nobody in the DDC! I feel so badly for all these women and I'm not going to lie, it scares the crap out of me. I haven't felt as much cramping lately and I have only found the hearbeat on the doppler that one day. I'm trying to be positive. I know that symptoms come and go. I'm trying not to let their experiences cause me undue worry. That's the problem with message boards. It's a much more concentrated group of women and it makes losses seem more common than they are. It's still so hard not to get scared by it.

A couple of women in my DDC who have had babies before said they started feeling slight movement from their babies around 9 weeks and some felt them by laying on their bellies. Of course, I had to try laying on my stomach to see if I could feel anything! I felt a little bump just to the lower right of my belly button, but I bet it was just my pulse.

My morning sickness has been better today. I haven't even had any B6 today (not that I think it was doing a whole lot anyways). I also haven't used my nausea bands. I hope this trend continues! Even though I don't feel reassured by symptoms, I also feel a bit anxious when they ease up a bit.

I am still emotional. The other day I cried because the twisty tie was missing off the bread bag. Yesterday I was bawling during The Voice when Jesse Campbell was singing for his daughter and they were showing the pictures. I also bawled when the news was talking about all the water they had on hand for the Boston Marathon runners because of the heat. Pregnancy is certainly an adventure!

[Lav]

I'm glad your DH agreed to get rid of the moth balls as much as he could.

The death of the twins is truly heartbreaking. Every loss is, but I think the woman who is going through this right now must have it much harder than those who didn't carry twins.
It's sad that so many women don't get early appointments even though it's their first... I got one right away. I guess it's just a choice the gyn/ob makes...
I'm so sorry you're losing so many moms-to-be on your DDC board. I pray for all you ladies over there!

And don't worry, your bowie is just fine!

[junie22]

I feel so sorry for those girls in your DDC. When I joined the June DDC, there were so many miscarriages, myself included. It was so hard. I was kind of nervous about joining the August DDC because I was worried about seeing a lot of losses, when I was already anxious about this pregnancy. We have had a few losses, but we've been a really fortunate group for the most part. Now that we're all at least halfway through our pregnancies, the scares and worries have shifted from focus on miscarriage to hoping that we don't go into pre-term labor. There's always something to worry about.

As for the women in your DDC that felt movement at 9 weeks, I don't even remotely believe them. Not for one single second! It's physically impossible, when the fetus is less than 1 inch long and has absolutely no muscle or fat on it's tiny little body. I believe these women want to feel movement, but it's medically impossible!

Don't be worried if you don't start feeling much movement until closer to 20 weeks. It's totally normal for a first-time mom to not feel much until later on.

[Belita]

Thanks, ladies. I'm glad the August DDC was mostly lucky, but it does suck that I was one of the few unlucky ones in that group. I'm really trying to focus on being happy for myself with this pregnancy and that I'm still making it in this group, but it is hard sometimes. I talked to DH about it when he got home and I am feeling a little better now. We both agreed my boobs have gotten way to big for this pregnancy not to be doing well!

Elli, if you know Josie (JandJC) It was her with the twins. She had a horrible rollercoaster ride with this pregnancy and I wish I lived closer to her so I could do more for her.

Adrienne, I was thinking the same thing as you about it being impossible to feel movement this early. But there are quite a few of them who insist they felt it after a couple of us said we thought it was impossible and they have had multiple kids so they knew what it felt like. I didn't care to do the research to find out if it was possible. Early pregnancy is scary, so I'm trying to just remember that I shouldn't expect to feel movement until closer to 20 weeks and feel like if it makes them feel better and I'm not an expert it's not my job to call it into question. Like I said, I'm sure it was just my pulse and I was just doing it more for fun than any real expectation of feeling anything.

[junie22]

I knew Josie suffered a loss, but I didn't know it was twins.

I'm with you on letting women think that they feel movement. I was the same way in my DDC. Whatever makes them feel secure in their pregnancy is cool with me. I just like that when you really stop to think about the size of your fetus at 9 weeks. It's less than 1 inch long and weighs less than 1/10th of an ounce! If someone is feeling movement, their baby is seriously advanced in size!

[Belita]

Here is a photo of the difference in my new bras to my old bras. The underwire of the C cup is on top of the underwire to the G cup.

[HopeTea]

Caught up! Yay!

I'm still shocked about those bbs of yours! That's a huge difference! In fact, I wouldn't worry too much about your weight gain so far because I bet it's all boob!

Also, about the age difference thing...I know what you mean. I noticed it from time to time in the beginning of our relationship. Sometimes DH and I have had conversations that end up feeling a little creepy if you think about it. Like me being in middle school while he's at uni or something...it's weird bc in my head I imagine if we knew each other then, it would have been so so wrong. But of course at this age, it makes no difference.

Just as a sidebar, so glad I caught you after the TTC#1 chat! Been too long!

[Belita]

I didn't realize you two have a similar age difference!

you're probably right about the weight all being in the boobs!!

[Belita]

Originally Posted by junie22

I knew Josie suffered a loss, but I didn't know it was twins.

Yeah, one of the twins was a blighted ovum and the other had a faint heartbeat that stopped beating at around 6 weeks.

[junie22]

Originally Posted by Belita

Yeah, one of the twins was a blighted ovum and the other had a faint heartbeat that stopped beating at around 6 weeks.

I wish there was a "dislike" button. This is just awful.

[Mrs.Paradise]

so i just started with this last page! but I feel you in the boob department! I use to be a 38 G and that was when I was 19! I had a breast reduction and now Im DDD again... but since Ive been pregnant I havent had to get any bigger bras... which is CRAZY! I though by now FOR SURE I would have grown!!! but Im sure I will once my milk comes in at the VERY least! lol

I HATE the early stages of your pregnancy when your in a DDC because of all of the m/c... its heart breaking! and it doesnt help your stress and anxiety at ALL!!! but you just have to think my baby has a HB! and my baby is good and growing!!! I know easier said then done... but yeah... I think whatever is going to help you get through this tough time you have to do... even if its taking a step away from your ddc... HANG IN THERE!!! and I have a feeling this little baby of yours is your RAINBOW baby!!!

[Belita]

Wow, Jess! I have a friend who was a DD before pregnancy. In fact, she has planned for years to get a breast reduction after she was done having children and she told her husband that when they were first dating!

9 weeks 3 days

I bought some maternity clothes today! I bought them at Kohl's so the prices were pretty reasonable. I just bought a couple of essentials: a pair of jeans, black capris, and khaki capris. I also bought a couple of maternity camis and a nice maternity t-shirt. I figured the maternity camis were essentials because of how big my boobs have gotten. Need to keep the cleavage under control!!

I then went to Walmart figuring I could get some inexpensive T-shirts and new underwear for as I'm growing. Turns out the Super Walmart has absolutely nothing for maternity! I bought a couple of cheap t-shirts there, but then realized I probably should have just saved the money for a few more maternity tops at another store! Oh, well. I bought the shirts in larger than usual sizes and they were only $4.50 each (no sales tax on clothes in MA), so it's not like it cost a lot of money. I also needed new sports bras for sleeping.

I was amazed at how well the maternity clothes fit already! I don't know why I was hesitant to try them out! They are super comfy and there is no zipping pants for me for the rest of the year!! DH doesn't want me buying too many maternity clothes, and I should manage to be on the low end of needing clothes since I won't be working after June. My mom is also buying some maternity clothes for my birthday present, so that'll help. DH gives both of us an allowance, so I figure if I want more maternity clothes than he feels is necessary I can buy them with my allowance. He already told me the baby will get his/her own allowance soon enough, so I can use that to buy baby stuff.

I feel so good today! No nausea as long as I stay on top of my eating. I'm actually making dinner tonight! DH is going to be so surprised! I was going to make a Mexican chicken dish, but I forgot to defrost the chicken before leaving for shopping, so I stopped at a seafood store and we're having stuffed clams (quahogs actually), lobster bisque, crab cakes, and a nice salad. I'm so excited for tonight's dinner! DH is going to be so pleasantly surprised when he sees that I've cooked.

Today was a better day in my DDC. Only one loss today, which is better than the three yesterday. I feel like getting out today was good to keep my mind off of the losses and get excited about pregnancy again.

[Lav]

Originally Posted by HopeTea

Also, about the age difference thing...I know what you mean. I noticed it from time to time in the beginning of our relationship. Sometimes DH and I have had conversations that end up feeling a little creepy if you think about it. Like me being in middle school while he's at uni or something...it's weird bc in my head I imagine if we knew each other then, it would have been so so wrong. But of course at this age, it makes no difference.

Just imagine an adult falling in love with like a five year old lol Yes, it creeps me out quite a bit when I think of that regarding DH and myself

Robyn, I agree the weight gain is probably all in your boobs - I mean wow, look at that difference in bra size! Holy crap! I'm almost jealous haha.

I hope you enjoyed your dinner. How did DH react?

Maternity clothes are awesome! I was told that they are supposed to/designed to fit from non-pregnant through all 9 months. ...