Total Weight Loss/Gain: I gained a total of 12 lbs. during my first trimester. 4 lbs/month isn't too bad since I basically ate and slept.
Sleep: Has been fine.
Movement: No flutters yet.
Cravings/Aversions: I'm wanting more flavor in my drinks, but OB said to cut back on my craving for juice. I love Trader Joe's pineapple juice! I'm trying to drink more water with lemon, instead.
Symptoms: Now that I'm in my 2nd trimester, I'm not as tired anymore! I have so much more energy now that I did some gardening over the weekend. My goal is get some things checked off my "to do" list before 3rd trimester.
What I miss: Eating sushi!
What I look forward to: I'm looking forward to finding out the gender of our baby. I think it's a girl and J thinks it's a boy. I wonder who'll be right.
Milestones: According to babycenter.com: Fingerprints have formed on our baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.
Something scary: Last night, around 9 pm, I felt some upper back pain. It led into feeling like indigestion and I went upstairs to lie down. The pain grew worse, I sat up, and I had severe chest pain. I couldn't breathe, my chest was burning, and I started to panic because I didn't know what was happening. I started to cry and called for J. I said we needed to go to the ER because I felt like I was having a heart attack, had hot flashes, was dizzy, and couldn't get my bearings. I told J to call his sister and thankfully she picked up. She suggested I take some Tums or sip some ginger ale. We had Tums and J gave me 4 tablets. I quickly chewed them and the pain subsided. I had HEARTBURN and it was awful! I never had heartburn before. If that's what a heart attack feels like, I never EVER want to experience that again! For the record, I'd like to die in my sleep or have a silent heart attack if I'm supposed to have one. Some of the acidic ingredients in my meal included whole grain Dijon mustard in the chicken marinade, tomatoes and vinegar in my salad, and a triple layer chocolate cake for dessert. It's a meal I will never forget!
Here's a helpful article from babycenter.org about heartburn:
Many women experience heartburn for the first time during pregnancy — and though it's common and generally harmless, it can be quite uncomfortable.
Heartburn (also called acid indigestion or acid reflux) is a burning sensation that often extends from the bottom of the breastbone to the lower throat. It's caused by some of the hormonal and physical changes in your body.
During pregnancy, the placenta produces the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the smooth muscles of the uterus. This hormone also relaxes the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach, allowing gastric acids to seep back up, which causes that unpleasant burning sensation.
Progesterone also slows down the wavelike contractions of your esophagus and intestines, making digestion sluggish. Later in pregnancy, your growing baby crowds your abdominal cavity, pushing the stomach acids back up into the esophagus.
Many women start experiencing heartburn and other gastrointestinal discomforts in the second half of pregnancy. Unfortunately, it usually comes and goes until your baby is born.
What can I do about it?
Though you may not be able to eliminate heartburn entirely, you can take steps to minimize your discomfort:- Avoid food and beverages that cause you gastrointestinal distress. The usual suspects are carbonated drinks; alcohol (which you should avoid anyway during pregnancy); caffeine; chocolate; acidic foods like citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, mustard, and vinegar; processed meats; mint products; and spicy, highly seasoned, fried, or fatty foods.
- Don't eat big meals. Instead, eat several small meals throughout the day. Take your time eating and chew thoroughly.
- Avoid drinking large quantities of fluids during meals — you don't want to distend your stomach. (It's important to drink eight to ten glasses of water daily during pregnancy, but sip it between meals.)
- Try chewing gum after eating. Chewing gum stimulates your salivary glands, and saliva can help neutralize acid.
- Don't eat close to bedtime. Give yourself two to three hours to digest before you lie down.
- Sleep propped up with several pillows or a wedge. Elevating your upper body will help keep your stomach acids where they belong and will aid your digestion.
- Gain a sensible amount of weight, and stay within the guidelines your healthcare provider suggests.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Avoid any tightness around your waist and tummy.
- Bend at the knees instead of at the waist.
- Don't smoke — in addition to contributing to a host of serious health problems, smoking boosts stomach acidity. (Ideally, smoking is a habit you should break before getting pregnant. If you're still smoking and are having trouble quitting, ask your caregiver for a referral to a smoking-cessation program.)
- An over-the-counter antacid that contains magnesium or calcium may ease discomfort, but check with your prenatal caregiver before taking one, because some brands contain aluminum or aspirin or are high in sodium.
Posts
