Pregnancy: Weeks 14-17

July 6
Fourteen weeks today, which means it’s the start of my second trimester! I’ve always thought I’d love being pregnant and so far that’s holding true. Let’s just see what this second trimester has in store for me!

I shared my 12 week ultrasound pictures with some friends the other day and my friend Allison asked if it was weird to see. I replied, “It IS really weird to see! It’s almost like its happening to someone else; not me. During the ultrasound I was watching the baby moving all over the place on the monitor and was thinking, “Aww…look at that baby! How amazing!” I kept forgetting that HOLY HELL that’s actually MY baby, and it is CURRENTLY INSIDE ME! I think once I start showing and getting more of a baby belly (and find out the gender) it’ll seem more real to me, but right now I totally keep thinking this is happening to someone else and I keep having to remind myself that I’M pregnant!”

July 9
We had our 14 week prenatal appointment this morning and everything looks great! It was just a short check-up so we were pretty much in and out. The baby’s heart rate is currently 156bpm which they said is great, and the best news was hearing the results of our first trimester screen. They said the average risk of having a baby with Down’s Syndrome for a woman my age (based on age alone) is 1 in 2,000. Well according to how our little baby looks so far and my recent blood test, our baby’s risk is only 1 in 6,000! Such great news! They also tested for Trisomy 18 and Trisomy 13 (chromosome disorders which sadly may not support life) and our baby’s risk is only 1 in 20,000! We were pretty thrilled to hear that our baby’s risk is so low and that everything looks great so far!

Additional Pregnancy Week 14 Posts:
G&D and Baby Makes 3!
Baby Talk
14 Week Baby Bump

July 13
Week 15! The first week of my second trimester has just ended, and I’ve officially gained the first pound of my pregnancy. According to my doctor, I can expect to gain about a pound per week from here on out. I’m so excited to grow and get more of a baby bump! So far all my regular pants are still fitting, but I think that will change very soon. I may even have to start using the rubber band trick on my pants buttons by the end of this week.

Our little baby is now the size of an orange and can now wiggle its little fingers and toes. Just a few more weeks and I’ll be able to feel all that movement myself–I can’t wait!

July 15
I knew it! The last time I wore my favorite pair of “skinny” jeans I had a feeling it would be the last time I’d get them buttoned. I took a picture of my outfit that day and even snapped a photo of my ass–just so I could kiss it goodbye. Well, I was right! I put them on today and was unable to get them buttoned without sacrificing my comfort. I tried to do the rubber band/button trick, but I only needed about an extra inch of room and I couldn’t find a rubberband small enough for that. So I turned to my new maternity belly band to keep my jeans up. It was a little awkward to get used to at first, but I think I’m getting the hang of it!

July 17
I could get used to this elastic belly band thing! Today my co-workers and I went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch and with my newfound stretchy waistband I can really pack away the food! I’m pretty sure people were scared to dip their hands in the chip basket for fear I’d bite them off.

July 18
WE HAVE MOVEMENT! I’m 15 weeks and 5 days today, and I’m pretty sure I felt the baby move for the first time! G and I spent the day in Milwaukee, WI going to the museum and doing some sightseeing. This evening we were killing time before dinner so we went to a movie (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen). It had already been a long day on my feet and I was beginning to feel tired so I drank a 20oz bottle of Dt. Pepsi right before the movie–only the 2nd time I’ve had caffeine during my pregnancy so far, which may have been what got the baby going.

As we were sitting in the movie theatre G lifted his arm over the seat divider between us to hold my hand. His arm was resting on my belly as he was holding my hand in my lap and I started feeling these little twitches right where his arm was leaning. At first I thought his arm must be having a muscle spasm–you know that feeling when you get a twitch in your muscle? That’s what I thought was happening–only to G. But a few minutes later when he took his arm off my belly the little twitching feelings STAYED! I realized they were coming from INSIDE MY BELLY! They were sporadic and lasted for about 10 minutes. I continued to feel a few more random twitches here and there a couple more times throughout the night.

It was like nothing I had ever felt before! I’ve always heard that baby movement feels like “fluttering” but these were definitely more like twitches. Or like little pulses or thumps inside. They were very light, but very defined with just one twitch/thump/pulse feeling at a time. It’s pretty hard to believe! Just last night G’s uncle was asking if I’ve felt the baby move yet and I replied, “No. It’s still pretty early for that. I think it will be a few weeks before I feel anything.” I certainly wasn’t expecting it to be the very next day! I’m pretty convinced what I felt was the baby, but I guess only time will tell me for certain!

Up to this point, I’ve only thought of the baby as a girl because I’M a girl and it’s so hard for me to think there’s anything but a GIRL inside of me. I’ve been telling people that I won’t believe it’s a boy unless a doctor flat out tells me it is because that just seemed so foreign to me. Well, after tonight the thought that this baby possibly could be a boy no longer seems strange to me. Only a BOY could get that worked up over the Transformers movie–non-stop action interrupted only with shots of Megan Fox’s ass or boobs!

Additional Pregnancy Week 15 Posts:
Teal & Yellow
Room To Grow
Scarf & Jacket in July
Teal Jacket…and Lots of Elastic!

July 20
Sixteen weeks today and I had my first stranger notice my baby bump–woohoo!! It might have helped that I was wearing a blaze orange form-fitting shirt and had to pee like crazy (so my belly was extra large) but hey, I’ll take it! I was in a meeting, sitting at a table, and when I got up the woman at the head of the table exclaimed, “Oh! You have a bump!” I then did my best back arch/stick my belly out as far as possible maneuver and proudly replied “Yep!”

Our baby is currently 4-5″ from crown to rump and can now hear outside sounds such as our voices. That’s so amazing to think about! And the most exciting thing is that I’m still feeling those same little thumps I first felt on Saturday night!

July 21
I’m definitely noticing an increased sense of smell. I thought this was something that came on at the beginning of pregnancy, but I’ve only been noticing it for the past couple of weeks–probably ever since my second trimester started.

July 22
Ever since I first felt the baby move on Saturday night I’ve been feeling him/her every single day! So far I only feel the little thumps when sitting, not when laying down–and only when I’m sitting still (like when I’m sitting at my desk, or when I’m driving). I’m starting to call him/her “my little thumper.” This is one active baby!

July 23
Last night I dreamt we were having a boy. We were at our ultrasound appointment and the doctor said, “It’s a boy!” He was 100% certain. I woke up this morning and told G we’re having a boy. And while I won’t be 100% certain until we’re told in real life what we’re having, I have to admit that ever since I felt this baby move for the first time I’ve caught myself referring to it as “he” or “him” or “little guy” without even realizing it. Suddenly the idea of this baby being a boy doesn’t seem so foreign to me!

Additional Pregnancy Week 16 Posts:
16 Week Baby Bump
Casual Green Dress
Running While Pregnant

July 27
Seventeen weeks today, and everything’s going great! I continue to feel our little thumper just thumping away inside on a daily basis. It absolutely amazes me. My belly continues to grow and I am just in love with it; I can hardly keep my hands off it. One thing I keep forgetting to mention is that I’ve noticed since being pregnant that food tastes so much better. And I’m not talking about gourmet food, or decadent cuisine. Oh no! I’m talking about plain, average food that you eat every day. Pancakes, salads, hashbrowns, butter–it all tastes incredible to me. Each bite is amazing. Like nothing I’ve ever tasted before. In fact, my mouth is watering right now just thinking about it! I can easily see how some women gain twice the amount of weight that’s recommended during pregnancy. Hell, if I stopped working out I’d be in big trouble. G would need to hide the pancake mix.

August 2
The last day of my 17th week and the baby thumps are getting more frequent and more pronounced. I now feel them when I’m sitting and when I’m laying down! It’s without question been the most exciting part of this pregnancy so far. I find myself talking to the baby now, too. Like when I eat or drink something and then feel the kicks I can’t help but laugh and look down and say, “Guess you liked that, huh?”

I now know for certain that the little thumps I first felt at 15 weeks and 5 days pregnant was the baby moving. It just amazes me. And I love that I first felt the baby with G’s arm on my belly. Although he couldn’t feel anything, I love that he was a part of those first movement feelings with me!

Additional Pregnancy Week 17 Posts:
Red Dress & A Windy Day
Skirt Dress