It’s so different with the second pregnancy. We’re so much busier this time around. . .which is funny because I’m pretty sure I thought I was really busy the first time around!
Some things that are different with this pregnancy than my first . . .
- I just looked back at some pics and I was so much bigger at 17 weeks with Stratton. My nose had already spread considerably and I had already gained 7+ lbs! I’m getting bigger, but not anything major. It’s all right in my stomach making it hard and uncomfortable to wear regular pants. Especially since my colon surgery scar is right on my belly button, it’s really hard to wear tight pants! But I thought everyone said you “popped” out faster with the 2nd one- so far, I think I’m smaller this time around. My hips and rear end haven’t gotten any bigger at all- which is a change from when I was pregnant with S. I completely filled out those maternity pants at 16 weeks with him!
- I was so tired! I remember having to take naps when I got home from work! I don’t know if I just have more energy this time, or if it’s because I don’t have the option to take a nap so my body doesn’t think about it?? I have been going to bed early- 9ish most nights if I can get away with it! There were a couple of days last week when I was on my feet all day long and I had to come home and put my feet up. My legs feel like jello when I stand all day. So far no swelling ankles though!
- I had already picked out bedding and we had started setting up the baby’s room.(We are no where near that point yet!) I think we will use the same bedding that we had for Stratton. I like it and it’s gender neutral, plus we have so many other home projects and things coming up that are going to cost us a lot of money, so I can’t really justify spending $$ on bedding and décor when we already have stuff that is in perfect condition. Plus I don’t foresee us staying in this house for much longer, so I’d rather wait and do he/she a nice new room in our new house in a year or two.
- I was obsessed with finding a name(s). . .now I’m not going to worry about it too much till we at least know what we’re having. I’m still actively looking, but not nearly as consumed as I was the first time!
- I read pregnancy books all the time and was looking on the internet at my symptoms. This time, I don’t have any books- I let a friend borrow them- and I really don’t look up anything. I get a weekly newsletter from “TheBump.com” and that’s about as far as I have read about anything.
- I didn’t feel Stratton kicking till I was over 20 weeks. Maybe it’s because I know what it feels like this time? But I have been feeling flutters and thumps for a good 2 weeks or more.
- I was SOOOOO good when I was preggers with S. No caffeine, very little tylenol and other drugs, I didn’t eat anything that was on the “potentially unsafe list”- including lunch meat and Caesar dressing. . .this time around. . .Haha. All I can say is poor baby. I am letting my self have one caffeinated drink a day- it’s usually a tea or coke- and I’m not giving myself a hard time for taking tylenol for my splitting headaches and benedryl and zyrtec for my allergies and I’m also taking pepcid twice a day for the awful heartburn!! The way I look at it is, I did just about everything right with S and look at all the problems we had. I think of those people on tv who never knew they were pregnant and still had healthy babies! It’s too much to think about and worry about! So I am just trying use my head and do everything in moderation and not get too crazy about the rules!! Plus trying to keep up with a 2 year old without caffeine is impossible!
I have a whole lot more on my plate with work and Stratton now, I guess I just don’t have the time and or energy to keep up with things the way I did with my first pregnancy. To tell you the truth, other than being tired and hungry I don’t feel much different. I haven’t gained much weight at all, or at least not that I can tell. And my energy level has increased in the last couple of weeks! I started the progesterone shots last week, I will be taking them weekly till 37 weeks. Brandye came over last Tuesday night and gave the first one to me. It wasn’t bad at all. One down, 20 more to go hopefully!
Pregnancy Stats:
How Far Along: 17 weeks
Size of baby: About the size of an onion around 5 inches long and weighs about 6 oz.
Maternity Clothes: Just starting to need pants. There is a problem however, I can’t fit into my regular pants (or at least not comfortably) but my old maternity pants are way too big?? I’ve had to buy a few new things in the last week.
Gender: We get to find out in less than 3 weeks. . .or 20 days!
Movement: He/she is a hyper little thing, I can feel flutters and thumps pretty much all day but especially after lunch and in the evenings.
Sleep: I‘m not sleeping through the night, I have to get up at least once to go to the bathroom. And lately it’s just hard to get comfortable, I toss and turn a lot.
Cravings: Food. . .basically any food in general. But I want REAL food all the time, not sweets and snacks. I had a cheeseburger for breakfast one day last week and it really hit the spot! And Tea- I like mine 1/2 sweet 1/2 unsweet and I want it all the time!
Symptoms: Starting have those round ligament pains and OUCH they hurt! I’ve always got horrible heartburn, frequent headaches and I am already gettting SO forgetful!
Best Moment This Week: Getting my first progesterone shot and watching Stratton watching me get it! He smiled and laughed! Little stinker!! Then he told my mom and dad that I cried!
Gender Test!
I did this with Stratton, three weeks before we found out the gender and I was so WRONG!! So let’s see about it this time around. . .
The Real Deal guide to pregnancy (which just happens to be my FAVORITE book on pregnancy) has this check list. . .
It's a boy if. . . .
- When you add your age at the time of conception and the number of the month you conceived, the sum is an even number.(Otherwise known as the Chinese predictor, which was right with Stratton!) ~ Yes
- The dad-to-be is packing on the sympathy weight.~No
- You skipped morning sickness.~ Yes
- Headaches are a regular occurrence.~ YES
- You've never looked better!~ Baahaa. Definitely a NO
- You look like you stuffed a basketball up your shirt.~No, I really just look a little bloated
- Your nose is getting wider.~ Not yet, I don’t think?
- Your leg hairs are growing like weeds!~ Yes
- Your pee is easter-egg yellow.~ Yes
- You crave salty or sour foods or proteins.~ Yes! All the time! Especially pickles!! (just like with Stratton!)
- Your baby's heart rate doesn't exceed 140 bpm.~ Yes
- Your tooties are chillier than usual.~No
- Your hands are as dry as the desert.~ Yes, and elbows and knees. . .
- Your bump rides low.~ Yes, the “bloat”
- A ring swings back and forth when dangled from a string over your belly. ~ No, it goes in a circle
So that's 8 Yes and 6 No and 1 not sure!
It's a girl if. . . .
- When you add your age at the time of conception and the number of the month you conceived the sum is an odd number.~ No
- Your age when you conceived and the year you conceived are both even or odd numbers.~ No
- Your Junk is in the trunk and your hips rather than your tummy area.~ No, in fact the only thing that is getting larger is my stomach
- You got intimate with morning sickness during your first trimester.~No
- PMS is nothing compared to your pregnancy moods.~ No, I don’t think I’ve been moody. . .but Jarrod might have a different opinion.
- Pregnancy doesn't become you.~ Yes, I feel fat and icky all the time
- You look like you stuffed a watermelon under your shirt.~ No, I'm not big enough to tell
- You look like you got a boob job.~ Yes
- Your left breast could beat your right if both were in a wet t-shirt contest where size mattered.~ No
- Your hair turned slightly redhead.~ Not sure?? My roots are grey, not red!?
- Your pee is a dull yellow color.~ No
- Sweets are your craving of choice~ No, currently I am addicted to pickles and oranges with lots of salt!
- Your baby's heart rate is at least 140 bpm.~Yes
- Your face reminisces the breakouts of your teen years.~ No, it’s actually not been too bad
- You are carrying high.~ No
- A ring swings in a circular motion when dangled from a string over your belly. ~ Yes
So that's 4 Yes and 10 No and 2 not sure!
The jury is still out for me. I felt like it’s a boy from the start- but then again I thought S was going to be a girl?? I honesty don’t care. Once you’ve had a little boy, it’s hard to imagine having a girl though!! I have bought something for this baby already and it was for a boy- So I probably jinxed that and it will be a girl for sure!! Haha! Stratton says it’s a baby brother, and he used to waiver back and forth- but he hasn’t said anything about a sister in over a month! I hope he doesn’t get disappointed! We will try and take him to our next appointment since the next time they should be able to see the parts better! Plus he did so good and seemed to have fun. They make it special for him, so it’s worth it.
I have consulted a professional baby namer for her help! She is a good friend of Kristen’s and she is just a person that is super interested in names and does it in her spare time for free. She has her own facebook page called “Namefreak” if you want to look her up! She sent me a questionnaire to fill out and it was fun! Then she sent lots of interesting ideas based on the information she got! She didn’t just send a list of names- each name she recommends has a meaning that is associated with some of the personal information we provided her with- super neat!! If you are in the market for a baby name I highly recommend her and I can give you her email address if you want it!