A Bun in the Oven

It's a new chapter in life: I'm expecting a baby! At 17 weeks along, I'm feeling pretty good.

Before I got pregnant, I had a list of questions.  I've received answers to the questions from friends and loved ones in the past, but the truth is, everyone and every pregnancy is different.  Now, I can provide answers of my own. 

1.  What does it feel like to be pregnant?
Tried, queasy, boob hurty, emotional, wonderful, scary - a little bit of everything.  It doesn't feel like anything you have ever felt in the past.  Oh, and bloaty.  You will look twice as pregnant at night as you do in the morning.  No one told me that and it freaked me out!

2.  How bad was the nausea?
It was awful for me for one week.  I was literally sick all hours of the clock.  I managed not to throw up, probably because in my opinion throwing up is one of Life's Most Horrible Bodily Functions, and because I ate a lot of saltines.  I switched prenatal vitamins and saw instant relief.  It was about three more weeks before general "icks" and "queasies" went away. 

For me, the fatigue was a lot worse than the nausea.  It is a kind of fatigue normally only brought on by taking too much Benadryl, or lots of Tylenol PM.  You run out of steam very fast.  Fortunately, it gets a little bit better when you get to the horizon of the second trimester.  Now, it's a lot better, but I still poop out easier than I used to.

3.  What do you do when you find out you're pregnant?
Here's what I did:
- Took about ten additional tests, from several different brands
- Told my hubby
- Freaked out
- Cried a little
- Started a new prenatal vitamin, stopped alcohol, limited caffeine
- Three days later, made an appointment with the doctor, who I saw at 7.5 weeks

4.  What do you crave?
This is most definitely different for everyone.  I'm not having too many cravings these days.  I just love to eat, but I still love fruit.  Here's a list of my craving culprits:
-BBQ sauce, especially smothered over Quorn cutlets in a sandwich
-Cheese
-Fresh fruit, especially pineapple, kiwis, strawberries, and plums
-Lime flavored Topo Chico
-Dr. Pepper
-Doughnuts (I actually dream of doughnuts)
-Bahn Mi (thanks to Food Network)
-Yummy mayonnaisey sandwiches
-Mac and cheese
-Tuna salad
I had Dr. Pepper once.  It was a Dublin Dr. Pepper, the little bitty bottles, and it was delicious.  And since that initial craving I haven't wanted it again. As far as doughnuts are concerned, I had a stale one a few weeks ago and that banished the craving almost instantly.

6.  Can you exercise?
Ask your doctor before you head out the door for a jog, but most probably, yes.  Sadly, running kind of stinks for me because I don't like the impact of it.  But I love to walk, hike, and cycle.  Spin class is my favorite hard-core cardio workout, and I really enjoy a weekly hike with my co-workers in the very hilly neighborhood behind my office.

7.  Words of advice?
Take care of yourself!  Want to be Superwoman?  Guess what, you're making a baby.  That is pretty darn super (I'm telling myself this right now, too).  Rest, get manis and pedis, hire a house cleaner if you can, and take naps.  Exercise if you can, it really does help!  Eat healthy foods that you enjoy.  Don't eat too much refined sugar.  And - treat yourself to occasional indulgences (pain au chocolat, pimento cheese, pad thai with tofu...)

And, pamper they skin: you will start to look like a teenager again.  Treat yourself to fantastic exfoliants and great skin care.  Skin care regimens can be simple: I cleanse my face with Castille soap.  I got a face scrub brush which really clears out those clogged pores, and witch hazel is a great, cheap astringent.  Get yourself some shea butter and cocoa oil, mix them together and slather your entire upper body to get that skin supple for lots of growth and itching.