A Word From Your Host

I am actually the host to our fetus! This is Mom-To-Be posting.

The first few weeks have been documented, and they were thrilling. From that first double line on the pregnancy test (pee stick?) - to the first bout of queasiness - to the first craving (baby wants ice cream, of course!). After week 12 passed, I felt much more comfortable sharing the news and settling in for the long haul. We've been hoping that everything 'sticks'. As normal as healthy pregnancies are, we wanted to be on guard and cautious.

Now it's nearly week 15! The nausea is mostly gone, but the exhaustion is not. Fetuses are little parasites that make you want to sleep for many hours a day. They do have a big job, with all of the growing they are doing. I certainly don't begrudge my increased appetite or that no one lets me exert too much. My plan is to give the fetus enough sleep, and keep on watching what I eat, taking my vitamins and monitoring my health. Sleep is the hardest one. I can't seem to wake up before 8 am! Doesn't fetus know that I need to work?

My clothes aren't fitting quite right, so I'm already wearing the comfy maternity pants or loose jeans. They are too big, my other clothes are too small. I feel like Goldilocks! Fetus is growing quickly, so hopefully this won't last long. No one wants to see my plumber's crack.

About once a week, fetus-Dad and I read through the book 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' before bed. It's the ubiquitous tome, a nice overall reference if rather general. Lots of fun, though, to read the descriptions of fetal development and growth. Sometimes all of the size descriptions (which are always fruit or vegetables) make me hungry!

The next appointment will just be a physical and genetic screening. My estimate is that the 'fundus' (in this case, the top of my uterus) is just below my belly button. We will probably have another ultrasound at 20 weeks - I think that will be the 'anatomy scan'. We are going to find out the sex and will be happy to share that info. The names we have in mind are secret though!