First Trimester Recap: Weeks 0-12 + Week 13

This is going to be a lot of recapping for one post! So if you get burned out halfway through, I'll understand. I just want to remember all the details that I can! (so I never do this again...I kid, I kid)

I was so good about writing things down about my pregnancy as they came to mind --just a scribble of facts, feelings, and letters to baby --but I was terrible at taking photos of my bump! I blame this on the fact that for the first half of my first trimester I had no clue I was pregnant and the second half I was too sick to smile for a photo!

As I mentioned in this post, Steven and I didn't find out we were pregnant until the 6th week was almost over! How is that possible? My periods are so irregular that being a week late is common for me and I never even thought to take a pregnancy test. I was bummed I didn't start my period before our Cabo trip, but the possibility of being pregnant didn't even cross my mind... Until about halfway through our trip when I started experiencing nausea and fatigue. When I got home and took the test my head was spinning and I did a quick calculation and discovered I was approaching 7 weeks! I couldn't believe it! I made an appointment with my Naturopath (who is also my OBGYN and  will be baby's Pediatrician!...she is a women of many talents!) who confirmed my test results and sent me home with prenatals, book recommendations, and the numbers of some highly recommended midwives in the area. 

8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 13 weeks

The cami I'm wearing for the 12 week photo is a little too big. I think that's why I look so large ;)

Baby: Baby is 13 weeks and the size of a peach! Fun fact for this week is s/he now has fingerprints!

Weight: I haven't gained any weight so far, but my midwife says that's completely normal for someone who experiences lots of nausea during their first trimester. I have noticed my boobs have gotten larger though, which means I have to go maternity bra shopping soon. Any recommendations on those?

Symptoms: Weeks 1-5: Nada. 

Week 6-7: I started experiencing a lot of nausea and fatigue. I thought the sunshine in Cabo was simply killing my energy levels, but now it all makes sense! In Cabo, when we'd go back to the hotel to shower and get ready for dinner I would take a nap. Everyday! I thought that was so weird because I've never been a daytime napper. 

Week 8-12: Intense nausea! Some days I would throw up 3 or 4 times, other days I wouldn't throw up at all, but everyday I felt terrible. Motion of any kind would trigger my gagging reflex and up would come anything I'd eaten that day. Work was terrible. I felt miserable because of the nausea and I could hardly keep my head up while sitting at my desk. The fatigue was overwhelming in the evenings. It wasn't uncommon for me to be in bed by 7:30 or 8. To make matters worse, I was dehydrated due to a strange aversion to water. I think because of the throwing up and the dehydration I started to experience intense headaches. Also started having difficulty sleeping because of restless leg syndrome in my right leg. I have no idea what causes it, but I think the fact that my workout routine has changed may be a factor.  Cramping. I started to feel small cramps in my lower belly. Nothing too intense though. Apparently it's from my uterus stretching and growing.

Week 13: Only slight nausea in the mornings, but no throwing up! The last day I threw up was on Friday. Since then I've noticed the nausea, fatigue, and headaches all gradually subside. I have been overjoyed these last few days and hopeful that the worse is behind me! 

Sleep: I loved my sleep early on and could easily sleep 12-13 hour nights! After work I would feel so exhausted I laid on the couch and snoozed on and off until bedtime. Needless to say, pretty much nothing got done around the house! :) Now that I'm in week 13 I feel my energy levels coming back. Now the only downside is how often I wake up at night to use the bathroom!

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing until week 6. During week 6 I started to crave watermelon and tuna fish. Not together though, thank God. I craved watermelon until I started throwing up. (After throwing up quite a large serving of watermelon that craving quickly ended!)  As for aversions, those seem endless! I had an intense aversion to red meat of any kind, which is kind of terrible since we just butchered our cow and have about 150 lbs of meat in our freezer, and water. Even a sip of water would make me puke. 

Now that I'm at 13 weeks, I still crave tuna fish and love any carb/starch to start my morning (it helps settle my stomach first thing). I no longer have an aversion to water and have been trying to drink as much as I can during the day! 

Workouts: Week 1-5 I did hot yoga 3 times a week and went on many walks/hikes with Steven in the evenings. I had no clue I was pregnant or I wouldn't have done hot yoga. The extreme heat is not good for baby. And this is a terrible confession, but since week 6 I have only worked out twice! I simply felt too sick to do anything! My plan was to continue yoga at home, actually use our elliptical that's all dusty in the garage, and take lots of walks before Seattle rainy season hit, but I simply couldn't. Any kind of movement made me puke so working out was out of the question. I hope to get into some sort of routine again now that the nausea is going away.

Huckleberry: A lot of you have asked how Huckleberry's taking the news ;) Steven and I have no doubts that he'll be a great big brother! Huck is gentle and obedient so I have no qualms about him being near our baby and I can't wait for the two to meet! I don't think Huckleberry has sensed any changes yet, but I feel certain he will. After reading this book, I'm convinced dogs know a lot more about what's going on around them than we give them credit for!

me: Huck, there is a baby in my belly. You're going to be a big brother!

Huck: Momma, I want a treat!

More recaps to come, but I promise they won't be as long! Happy Thursday!!