Written during my 7th week of pregnancy.
One of the first things I did after finding out I was pregnant was stock up on pregnancy books. I pride myself on being an educated person. Knowledge is my friend, and I like being well-acquainted.
Enter the pregnancy books.
And the beginning of my first trimester break-down.
It all started out great. I was soaking in the knowledge, reading everything I could get my soon-to-be-swollen hands on, and eager to learn all I could about what to expect when I was expecting the worst. I decided I could handle anything the pregnancy books threw my way as long as it was followed by the phrase: “this will return to normal after your pregnancy.” Great. Bring it on.
EXCEPT FOR SKIN TAGS!
I just read about these damn things the other night! Skin tags are skin growth that look like a small piece of hanging skin. Skin tags might possibly overtake needles as my biggest pregnancy fear, as they’re the one thing I’ve read so far that did not have the sacred “this will return to normal after your pregnancy” phrase after it. Those little bastards can stay the hell away.
But I digress.
As I’m reading through the books, studying the symptoms I should be experiencing with each week of my pregnancy, it suddenly hits me–NONE of this stuff is applying to me! I read things like: “Congratulations, you’re in week 6! By now your breasts have grown a full cup size and look like a road map of the state of New Jersey.”
Wait.
What?
This has not happened for me. Believe me–if they had grown I would have noticed.
Other symptoms the pregnancy books are currently consoling me about include constipation (nope, not me), morning sickness (no sign of that yet), food aversions (I don’t discriminate), and frequent urination (a symptom I had at first, but even that has gone down). Other than feeling tired, I’ve been so symptom free that I’m beginning to think something is wrong with me!
I know I should be embracing the fact that things are going smoothly so far, but instead I find myself worrying that something’s wrong and I’m not really pregnant. It’s driving me crazy! Until I get to hear this baby’s heartbeat or see this little baby in my first ultrasound, I’m looking to the symptoms to assure me that YES, THERE REALLY IS A CHILD IN THERE!
So far my symptoms suck at this task and are about as reassuring as a Magic 8-Ball.
Those damn pregnancy books give you all the doom and gloom, but they don’t assure you that it’s equally normal NOT to experience these things. So until my first prenatal appointment–or until I start vomiting profusely–I will continue taking at-home pregnancy tests whenever I need that little blue line to offset the crazy-making these books are doing to me.
Any leftover crazy shall be spent vehemently searching my body for skin tags.
I think all those books forget one important thought: Everyone is different and experiences pregnancy differently. Yay for not having morning sickness.
Other than one day of morning sickness very early on, like you, I never had any pregnancy symptoms. 14 weeks with a baby bump is a symptom enough
Enjoy every moment because it flies by and then before you know it, your baby will be turning 1. (I just experienced that yesterday). Congratulations!!
I haven’t yet commented on the baby news, so let me say, I am so excited for you & G!! I feel like one of my ‘real’ friends is pregnant! Your posts are always so intelligent and humorous I am so glad we all get to take this baby trip with you! Continued health & love!
having never been pregnant…i can’t exactly give you advice but i can tell you a story-
my friend elaina swore by fish oil while she was pregnant…and ended up having a baby who was pretty close to 11 pounds when he was born.
i say stay away…because just the thought of that hurts!
I felt the same way. Since we found out by blood test and not a little blue line, I always needed that one thing that made it seem real-the heartbeat, seeing baby on an ultrasound. Would you believe that I could deliver any time now and I still just can’t freakin’ believe we are having a baby??
Even with twins…I didn’t have any real symptoms either…which drove me crazy for a few weeks. After I found out it was twins, I stuck up on twin pregnancy books…well, suppodsely symptoms are in most cases twice as bad! I seriously doubted I was really pregnant…let alone with two!. Once you see the little one beating away then you’ll start to slowly feel lucky because all those symptoms really suck!. So knock on wood and just wait!!.
Re: skin tags…That’s one I did manage to have (out of all the symptoms I get this!!!?). Anyway, The Dr (regular OB) took it right off. It hurt a tiny little bit, but it was over in a matter of seconds š
Good morning,
Just remember pregnancy books are like the news. If there wasn’t anything interesting to talk about or to report, no one would watch. My 1st pregnancy I puked the entire time. My 2nd pregnancy (don’t judge me I have 2 under 2 LOL) I didn’t know I was pregnant until I was 16 weeks! She is the light of my life and I didn’t have any symptoms. (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!)
LOL! I hardly had any symptoms my first/second trimesters either, except for being tired. Everyone is different and the books won’t always be right (this also applies to to the childcare books – each baby is different too!) I never got skin tags either, and didn’t even know this was a side effect! You are not too far away from feeling movement and finding out the sex – it will all seem more real after that!
Haha! You’re a lucky woman! I’d say forget the books for a bit & relish the fact that you’re having an easy pregnancy!!
Take pregnancy books easy..they go by what one person thinks. I never felt symptons much either besides a little sickness.
I recommend the Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy if you haven’t already picked it up. It is hilarious (I thought so) and so true!. I laughed so hard I cried many of times thru that book.
The books freaked me out so much I stopped reading them altogether. Stopped reading too much into thebump posts as well. Every pregnancy is different. I am 26 weeks along now. -Katie
Hang in there, there is nothing wrong. Your pregnancy sounds just like my first one, and I had a healthy incredibly sweet baby boy. Everyone I knew that was pregnant was jealous of how good I felt.
I’m now pregnant with baby #2 and feel totally different this time. Everyone and every pregnancy is different.
Hahahaha I have the same exact feeling about skin tags… they skeeve me out!!!!
Ugh, D. I am expecting, and guess what: I have the dreaded skin tags. They are on my neck on either side and in my armpits. I had NO IDEA that they weren’t going to go away though. Thanks for the news. I think.
Hang in there. You’ll hear that heartbeat soon.
jbhat
We are similar… I am also a read-everything-possible type of person as well as a symptom-free pregnancy girl. I didn’t have any of the typical pregnancy side effects until I was 7 months pregnant. That’s when the skin tags came! Ha! I now have an 8 month baby girl and the skin tags in both arm pits to prove it! Don’t worry… they are harmless!
Best of luck with your pregnancy. It’s such a wonderful life stage. 
I never had any typical pregnancy symptoms either, so try not to worry!
I did, however, have a bunch of barely noticeable skin tags that grew on my neck and chest (I could feel them, but to look at them, they only looked like freckles). My son is now 8.5months old, and all of the skin tags have vanished!
Sounds like you’re reading WTEWE and that book will cause you to fear! Try to pay no mind and be happy by the lack of symptoms . . . trust me, I know how hard that is to actually act on as I had few symptoms as well.
I never had skin tags – don’t fret them! My boobs also didn’t seem to grow until the end and only a little bit – they are nice and full though as soon as I started nursing – I love my cleavage for a year! I won’t tell you what happens once you stop nursing though…he he
Oh – best pregnancy book ever – Your pregnancy, Week by Week. These doctors also wrote Your Baby’s First Year, week by week – fantastic up to date books!
I think you have no symptoms because I had them for both you and me in my pregnancies. You’re welcome (not really, though. It sucked).
Every pregnancy is different but the books don’t always tell you that. Both my pregnancies were different with symptoms. With my son, I was hardly sick and craved bacon and tomatoes like a crazy woman. With my daughter, I had every symptom in the books. You name it I had it. Just try to enjoy the moment, it goes ever so fast. My son is 2 and daughter is 2mths now.
I totally recommend getting “Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy” and “Girlfriends guide to the first year of motherhood” – which saved my life during the first year. Their totally a fun read and make you feel normal when things are a little crazy.
I was in the same boat as you when I was pregnant. I avoided most symtoms throughout my pregnancy.
Oh and as for the books, it won’t get any better once you have the baby. Then you are constantly comparing your sweet child to the book rather than yourself.
Skin tags!?! I didn’t know that one. Uh, I hope I don’t get those! Unfortunately, I have had sore boobs, nausea, and bloating. So, I am pretty jealous you had such a great first trimester. But, secretly hoping you throw up once or twice š hehehe Perfect bump you have started by the way!
i was just as crazy reading pg books [and then baby books, but realized once the baby is here there is no time for that!] i can’t even count how many tests i took before i felt movement!
I didn’t have any of the symptoms either — and I didn’t even feel the baby until I was 7 1/2 mos pregnant. Sometimes it’s like that. But here’s is a tip: Slather on the sunscreen every single day. Even when it is rainy. Turns out pregnancy can make your skin hypersensitive to sun and prone to large brown “liverspot”- like blotches .
First let me say that I really enjoy your blog! I’m pregnant also – with #2, and totally understand the uncertainty that can come with pregnancy. I stopped reading those books unless I was looking up a specific question, because they freaked me out…and we had enough issues with getting pregnant, miscarriage, etc. I did find something that brought me great peace of mind, however. I rented a baby doppler online, so I can hear the heartbeat whenever I want to! It’s just the reassurance I need. I got mine from babyfm.com, but there are lots of sites out there that offer it. Just wanted to pass on that bit of info
Thanks for all the reassurances and for the additional book recommendations. While I did take a break from pregnancy books for a while after writing this post, I’m back to diving back in and am looking forward to checking out your recommendations. Thank you!
@Staci M.W.–thanks for the well wishes–that’s so sweet of you!
@Ang–I’m taking fish oil, but I sure as hell don’t want an 11 pound baby! Eek!!
@Julie–that’s so exciting that you’re so close to delivery! Best wishes to you!!
@Andreina–I’ve always heard you had twice as many symptoms with twins, too. That’s so great that you didn’t go through that–good for you! Although I am sorry to hear about your skin tags. Good to know they’re not too painful to get removed!
@sabrina’s spot–Excellent point!
@jbhat–Sorry to hear about your skin tags. =( But according to hkcolterman’s comment in this post, it sounds like in some situations they DO go away on their own. Good luck!
@Sami–thanks for the tip about the sunscreen. I’ve been diligent about putting it on my face, but I didn’t realize that about the liverspot blotches. I could def. do a better job of making sure I have it on everywhere else. Thanks!
@Wendi–Thank you and congratulations on your second pregnancy! Thanks for the info about the doppler. I’ve heard about the in-home ones and I’m sure it would be amazing to have. I hope you are having a wonderful pregnancy!
Other than the belly getting bigger, I had absolutely no symptoms whatsoever…just tired more than usual. That was it.
I was totally in the same boat as you, never having experienced any of the typical pregnancy symptoms (save for two bouts of ‘morning sickness’ on a long car ride). I went 8.5 months with no signs other than the insanely expanding belly. But having witnessed by sister-in-law’s Pupps rash (I’m warning you, don’t google it) I’m thankful to have gotten away so easy!
Um. Skin tags?
O
M
G
No. As if I wasn’t already super freaked out about the things pregnancy does to your body I find out there are things called SKIN TAGS?
Holy crap.
@Katie–I’ll take your word on that and avoid Googling, lol! Actually I’ve banned myself from Google for this entire pregnancy. I’ve learned from other people’s experiences that Google is the devil when it comes to medical and pregnancy information. No thank you!
Hi, found your blog through Jenni’s… and I remember you from the D&R board (I’m fall-love on the knot/nest). Congrats on the baby!!! Mine just turned 1 (!!!) and my pregnancy was an absolute breeze… seriously, the worst thing I experienced was heartburn, which Pepcid Complete handled easily. Don’t worry… I was the exact same way… feeling “too good!” Up until my water broke… very lucky. I wish you the same! H&H 9 months! (or, what… 5.5 now?)
I just found out I’m pregnant, two days ago. No one but my husband and best friend know. I’m going to the dr tomorrow to confirm, though I’ve taken 9 pregnancy tests in the last 2 days to make sure! i’m already a reader of yours, but i’m so happy i can go back and reread these entries of yours regarding the pregnancy (I think I’m 5 weeks). The only real symptom I had was major dizziness (and a stuffy nose!) and just got nauseous today and I’m wondering if it’s in my head! anyway, thanks!!
@Weight WatchWoman–OMG, CONGRATULATIONS!! That’s so exciting!! I’m happy to hear you’re not having many symptoms–I hope that continues for you! I’m also honored to hear you’re going back through my old pregnancy posts! If you didn’t already know I have links at the bottom of my blog which should take you to the week-by-week stuff, but ALL of my pregnancy-related posts can be found by clicking on my “Pregnancy & Baby Things” label in my right margin.
Congratulations again on your wonderful news, and best wishes for a healthy and happy pregnancy!!
Ugh, These books totally make me crazy too!!! Your so blessed to have avoided many of these symptoms. I’m finishing up my first trimester and its been 3 months of every single symptom. TORTURE. I really hope it gets better and soon I’ll glaze over and forget all about it!
D