The Second Trimester

THE SECOND TRIMESTER - for the momma-to-be

Congratulations - you have entered the fun time of pregnancy!!!

This trimester will just fly by so be prepared as you will be in the 3rd trimester before you know it!

I. Here are some questions that are common when entering the second trimester...

When will you feel baby move?
This depends on several things including:
- How heavy you were pre-pregnancy
- Where your weight naturally falls (if it is in belly, it will be longer before you feel things)
- Pelvic/Uterine tilt (retroverted takes longer to feel)
- Where the placenta is (if it is in the front and especially if it is also large you won't feel movement as much throughout the entire pregnancy)
- If it is your first pregnancy (you have a thicker uterus with the first)
- What you notice often enough to realize what it is!

I didn't feel anything until 19.5 weeks but some friends felt stuff at 15-16wks. My baby's placenta was large and in the front and even at the end, he wasn't waking me up at night moving though the monitors at the hospital (my multiple trips) indicated he was moving quite a bit. You will probably feel something for sure by 19-21 weeks. Most people say it feels like fluttering but to me, it just felt like gas bubbles moving and the first time I felt something for sure was after the finale of a Christmas concert. That's when I realized it was movement. Just because you can't feel it doesn't mean the baby isn't moving. That little one is having a party in there and flipping/swimming all over the place.

When will other people be able to feel the movements? It will probably be another month from when YOU feel movement before anyone else can feel the movement from the outside and then hubby will only get a shot at feeling baby (he must be very patient at first and wait a long time). Be patient! Everyone will be able to feel your little one from the outside before too long!

When do you show? Totally depends on your body-type and weight.
-Women who are very heavy will take longer to show
-First-time moms also take longer to show because it takes time and pressure to push out the uterus and for the muscles and skin to stretch.
-How you are carrying the baby and how that jives with your pre-pregnancy body-type.
-Torso length and full height: If you have a long torso or are taller than average you will probably show a little later because baby just has more room to expand inside!

My mom swears she could tell I was showing when I was 20wks but no one else could really tell until about 23wks and that’s when I started getting a cute little baby belly! Enjoy your beautiful new figure - you'll only have it for a few months and then the baby will be here! Never feel self conscious about the belly - the pregnant form is just a very beautiful thing! EVERYONE loves talking to pregnant women and asking how they are and when they are due, etc etc etc. So be prepared to say something when a random stranger starts talking to you and telling you all about their pregnancies too.

When do you find out what it is? Usually at the diagnostic ultrasound performed between 19 and 21wks. Ours wouldn't tell us we were having a boy until the end and it was a little anti-climatic. The technician won't be able to tell you if anything is wrong either but if you ask what things are they will point out the heart and stomach and feet/head/hands. In my experience U/S technicians are not necessarily the friendliest people so count yourself as blessed if yours is very chatty. It is a really neat special time to get your first big ultrasound! You will get pics and maybe or maybe not a DVD of the session. Ask the doctor about it.

II. Next stop: Things to plan to do and getting your finances in order!
-Register for birth classes! At about 18 weeks, it is a good idea to a least think a little about what you want to do for birth classes and go ahead and register. I know a few people who couldn't get into birth classes (even hospital ones) because they got booked up so fast. We actually started our private birth class at 20 weeks and loved learning all the info ahead of time without the stress of the “delivery” looming near (it was a 10wk class). Note that most insurance companies pay at least part if not all of a birth class fee (ours paid $65 regardless of the class) - just call and ask them what your policy says.

We did not take a hospital class but considering that ours was 2x as long as a hospital class and only had 3 couples I KNOW we got a lot more attention and information. The birth class mattered a lot to me because I knew I wanted to really try for an all natural labor and delivery. I also have talked to friends about their hospital birth class experiences and I honestly feel like our birth class was so much more informative and helpful all around for dealing with stages of labor physically and psychologically than the hospital classes. Here are some private birth class possibilities just so you can get a feel for it: I mentioned it before but here are some really interesting website I've found that go into different birth theories and styles: Bradley, Hypnobabies, Waterbirth (Friend in Knoxville swore by this), Lamaze, doulas (My friend Melissa's cousins are these). Note: You can buy home-study versions of these courses for discount on ebay.

Personally, we LOVED the Bradley course because it gave us tons of information, was much longer than typical courses (10wks vs 5wks), had a small class size (5 couples or less), and most importantly, really got the husband involved in the process and us ready to work as a team. It helped Nathan and I both understand birth and it made Nathan feel like he would understand what was going on so he wasn't nervous about it. He loved the birth process and wasn't afraid at all when it all happened. Oh the course was great! You can find teachers in your area from the Bradley link in the previous paragraph. (Again, note that this is more expensive that taking hospital courses but if you are interested in a natural labor and delivery, I highly recommend a specialized class as the hospital classes just aren’t geared towards successful natural births). I also bought a hypnobabies book for myself to learn how to relax better and it did teach me that. I feel like the relaxation techniques were one thing that really made my labor manageable. Last but not least, we had a “sleep CD” my mother in law had gotten us and I used that for relaxation music during my pregnancy and it also helped me during my labor.

-Call the hospital at 18 weeks to find out what other sort of classes (non-birthing) they offer and what the cost/wait is (baby care, baby massage, fathering classes, sibling classes, breastfeeding classes, etc.). It was crazy with our hospital - you have to call at least two months in advance to have a chance to get into some of these classes which are offered once every other month on certain nights - (here, most run $20-$40 per class for two people to attend). You can take CPR courses too. If your hospital doesn't offer these classes, you can always call a bigger hospital and take them there - they don't ask if you are giving birth at their hospital or anything and want to get information out there!! I truly enjoyed some of the non-birth hospital classes and learned/was reminded a lot about babies and what they needed/liked. Also, if you aren't taking the hospital birth classes, you want to sign up to take a tour of the hospital. Find out about the rooming arrangements then too. Again, I had a 2 month wait to get my tour as it is only offered 2x a month on Sundays. While on the phone, get transferred to billing and find out general ranges for births in the area just so you know. Generally an uncomplicated vaginal birth up here runs $4K-$8K while a Caesarean with complications (unplanned) can run up to $32K. Of course you won’t have to pay those numbers as insurance companies get discounts but it is a good thing to know the prices in your area just in case! You can look up your hospital online too and find some of this information. I gave birth at a Womens and Babies (only) hospital and it was just a wonderful place to give birth (I could even use a birthing bath there) and they actually had very good food. If you have an option of giving birth at a specialized hospital, I highly recommend it!!!

-Call your insurance company! Find out how the birth is billed and if there are any guidelines, etc. Questions you want to find out about are how bloodwork/ultrasound billed (is it part of the “global billing” package)? Will you and the baby need to each meet your own deductibles at the hospital? How about the immunization coverage for babies (our immunizations had a $500 limit and we reached that with just the 2mo and 4mo immunizations – we didn’t have to pay 6mo out of pocket though because most pediatricians can give you a list of dates for free immunizations given by the state)? How are well-baby visits billed and is there a copy?

-Call/Talk to your OB/GYN. How do they bill their services? Many bill pregnancy care as a “package” and as long as you fall into the “normal” range of pregnancy visits and have a typical labor, you are billed “globally” which means just one charge for all the visits during pregnancy and the services rendered at the hospital (usually includes one post-partuum visit too). It is paid after you give birth so there are no copays during your visits and if your pregnancy spans two years then you only have one deductible to meet. You are also charged a separate fee from the hospital for their room/board/equipment.

-A lesson we learned about FSA accounts: If baby will be born the next year, put aside MORE money than you need as when the baby is born, a "change of life" status occurs and you can LOWER this amount within a month of the birth since you'll know how much you cost at the hospital. If you try to do it the other way around (put in a low amount and then raise it after the birth) a problem can occur if you have any unexpected pregnancy hospitalizations. Any money added to your FSA account through a change of life status can only be used for expenses incurred the day of the baby's birth and after. So, if you don’t have enough in your account to pay for unexpected hospital stays, you won’t be able to add to it until after the baby is born. Email me if you have questions.

-Look up and contact someone in LLL so you can check out a meeting meeting in your area for more info on breastfeeding when the time comes (can find link to local chapters). They love when pregnant women visit.

-Go by Babies R Us (BRU) and get a calendar of events. They tend to have free classes on all sorts of stuff (diapering, breastfeeding, organization, safety, etc.) that are actually interesting. Usually they show a video and show you products and stuff. We went to one or two and got free $5 gift cards, freebies, and some really good ideas we liked!!

III. Other Topics
Round Ligament Pain
Yes - it is true - it feels like a growing pain kinda. I was worried when I felt this at first but it is completely normal. Here's a bit to read on round ligament pain. It's usually in hips/near hip flexors, or groin area. Your bones/ligaments are relaxing and uterus is growing putting more pressure on those areas. If it is positional, that's round ligament pain (meaning if you can change positions and find a comfortable position where it doesn't hurt). I always thought it helped to put my feet up and take it easy and they passed. They do go away and then come back and change locations and all in all aren't something to dread or be afraid of. I have heard more of my shorter friends complain of this than my taller friends.

Eating Well/Exercising
This is a GREAT plan for eating well for yourself and baby: Pregnancy Food. If you are finding you are really tired and need to sleep a lot (and assuming your iron/sugar are fine from your 28 week test)...really really consider eating more protein. You should get 80-100mg of protein every day as you near the third trimester. That is 3x what the average woman who is not pregnant eats. I started increasing my protein intake and after a week I felt SOOOO much better and was sleeping my normal amount again without a nap. Remember to take all that milk for calcium too because your prenatals don't contain 100% calcium (you can't absorb that much calcium and iron so they have the iron in the pills at 100%). As far as exercising - walk for 10-20 min a day if you are comfortable doing so – just listen to your body!
*To prepare for childbirth and to help you with any bladder issues you might have in the third trimester, practice Kegeling - try to get up to 200.
*Sit on the floor as much as possible to encourage the baby to face inwards (easy for labor). Sitting in a recliner all the time can encourage the baby to face outwards which means lots of back labor – BOO!!
*Pregnancy squatting is great for labor so practicing now will strengthen those muscles.
*Water water water - if you are having contraction twinges you aren't drinking enough water - if you are swelling you aren't drinking enough water either. Drinking water minimizes swelling. I had a trip to the hospital from some contractions only because I wasn’t hydrated!!! YOU NEED A LOT OF WATER! Lay down and drink a big glass of water and see if any contractions ease off.

Pregnancy Clothing
Places I've found deals at:

• Kohls - look at the 75% off rack near the pregnancy clothes there are usually only one or two - I got a great pair of nice jeans and kakhis my size for $13. Just after the seasonal clothes peak they will put them on sale.
• Old Navy - if there is one near you with a maternity section - you can find great deals just after season (and esp after Christmas). This is a good place for cheap tops esp if you are a small or large person –because at sale-time they will still have your size. Note: if you buy online you can return to any store and get a refund.
• Target - Some really cute reasonably priced stuff - Liz Lange fit me well and there is some very professional stuff there
• Good Will - yes, I got a great easter dress here for $2 just by looking
• Kmart - if you need some tshirts check out Kmart's selection - it is very small - I could not find a maternity section at our Walmart.
• Motherhood Outlet - they have salesracks and if you really dig through them you might find a pair of nice pants for $18. Note: Every piece of clothing in that store has a different clothing size and one large may be a medium in a different style so be prepared to spend time trying on EVERYTHING as they have a rigorous exchange policy.
• Borrow from friends - ah the best way to save money if you have friends who are close to your size. Friends will also have suggestions for where to shop for clothing.
  
  

A NOTE ON CLOTHES: Expect to buy a second round of clothing in the third trimester due to season changes and your burgeoning belly - you stop being able to fit into the second trimester clothes!

IV. COUPONS!!!!!

If you don’t use the coupons you can either give them away to someone you know who does or you can get involved in a “mom” coupon train or you can sell them on ebay or craigslist. So, it is useful to have them!

Diapers:
Pampers: coupons for diapers and other Pampers products, samples, enewsletter **We had the most luck with no leaks with Pampers**
Huggies: coupons for diapers and other Pampers products, samples, enewsletter
Luvs: "offers, updates, and savings"

Formula:
Enfamil: up to $60 in formula checks (coupons) and samples, free diaper bag
Similac: formula checks, free diaper bag
GoodStart: formula checks

Baby Food:
Gerber: Print coupons here, sign up & print childrenswear coupons here. Join Growing Up Gerber here.
Beech Nut: Sign up for special offers newsletter
DelMonte: enewsletter with coupons
Heinz: enewsletter, feeding info, coupons
Earth's Best: printable coupons

Here is my FAVORITE website with baby deals and all (I got the sign up list earlier in the email from her website). She lists diaper deals of the week and just all other sorts of deals and has a review on the most you should ever pay for diapers,etc. Oh, it is just a great site with great links to things! Know that September is baby safety month and you get great deals on the previous year's equipment (we got our carseat for $80 less and free shipping) and October is when places tend to put the baby furniture and stuff on sale if a "newer" version is coming out the next year! Just things to keep in mind! Britax also has a great sale the last week of February to the first week of March. Other places to buy online that I've googled for coupon codes w/ free shipping and often tax-free and such are: babyage.com, store.babycenter.com, babyuniverse.com, tinyride.com, albeebaby.com

I hope all this helps!!! And I'm sure that's enough to digest for right now!! Enjoy this fun exciting stage as you feel the baby move and grow!!! It is soooo amazing!

V. Registering

It seems like the most wonderful fun thing to take a trip to BabiesRUs and register but I will warn you as I was warned - this store is very intimidating and overwhelming for the first time mom! I left bewildered about what to buy and what was safe and what wasn't. There just too much stuff in this store!!!!! So, there is a book has really helped me as I registered. It has a ton of info in it too about just general baby care and common sense suggestions. It's called "Baby Bargains" and be sure to get the most current edition as it is updating every other year. It is not a book necessarily about getting the cheapest thing (it does tell you what to buy on a budget) but also about getting the most safety, best quality, best features for what you are spending. It tells you what is important and what isn't. Some parents really want to look into consumer reports and I did but was very disappointed after reading the Baby Bargains book. Just go to a big bookstore and skim through both for an hour and you’ll see what I mean. The Baby Bargains book includes consumer reports and also takes into consideration parent preferences from parents who have used the items. They actually give a list of the most commonly known manufacters which is great.

Newborn Checklist - some checklists are too long (see all babystore checklists) but this is a good simple one. BTW - you will get too many blankets BUT you will be surprized at how many you really do use IF the baby is a little cold natured. Our baby was and did not like his onesies at all so we hardly used those - instead he wore a lot of footie pjs and we got them on sale at Kohls.

Registering online

I did a lot of registering online because I found it less distracting than going to the store but after I registered I did go by the store just to check a few items out too. You get a gift pack if you start your registry at Babies R Us in the store so you might want to do that and then continue online. We registered at Babies R Us and Target. Be wary of Target’s exchange policy. With a gift receipt you can only return for an item from the same department. Target has an awesome online presence though so I went ahead and used them.

Cool baby stuff to check out that is fairly new and very trendy right now and that you might not have heard of:
Robeez - Aww…cute baby shoes and booties that dont come off. Check out Pediped too. You can find Robeez for as cheap as $16 including shipping at endless.com and amazon in January. I’ve also heard you can find them in the Land’s End department at Sears on clearance. Old Navy and Target also have versions that look like these soft soled baby shoes; however, they only last 1/3 of the time so if you want to use them from child to child then you might want to be sure to get Robeez brand as they are well made.
Trumpette - These socks are just adorable - you get a multipack of 6 colors.. EVERY TIME he wore the “Johnny” socks out he got compliments. They have so many kinds now that work for boys including cowboy ones (and of course the girls ones are precious). Beware the size only lasted us 3mo – then we got into Robeez and he outgrew his 0-6mo Robeez at 4mo. I must say though that Sammy has very big feet! I also dried these socks a few times in the dryer and should not have. Note: try to air dry all baby socks because they shrink easily.
Baby Legs - for girls or boys and are so cute and especially are good for crawlers or when momma wants to show off those cloth diapers. I’ve been told that Target carries a limited selection.
SwaddleMe and Miracle Blanket - Swaddling blankets - We swear by our Miracle Blanket!! That's like my most favorite newborn baby thing!!! It made sleeping on his back possible and lovely!!! It is very different from the swaddlme you see at BabiesRUs in that it pins the arms down and can wrap really really tight. This thing is just amazing and it really is impossible to swaddle with normal blankets!! He was sleeping so well when he was itsy bitsy…it’s just when he hit 2-3mo that we started having problems. Another twist on the swaddle idea is baby toes . It’s great if you live in a cold climate and want to be able to use for carrying from the car places and There is also the halo sleep sack swaddle.

Moby Wrap - I LOVE MINE. A variation on the Moby Wrap that is easier to wrap and transport but with lots of positions is The Baby K'Tan or try a Peanut Wrap or Make your Own and here are some sling rings. A friend just did this:

• 6 yards (yes, yards!) Interlock fabric (like a stretchy t-shirt material)
• fabric will probably be about 58" wide
• cut in half lengthwise and taper the ends, so you'll have two strips of fabric that is 18 feet x 29" (approx.) Then taper the edges.
• Go to mobywrap.com for wearing instructions - the "newborn hug hold" is great for tiny ones

Ergo Carrier - These also fascinated me and I thought about getting one on ebay too but they are more pricey.
QuickZip Sheets - seems like a good idea to me!
Cart Covers - just too cute. We went with one and use it a lot.
Cozy Me - It's like the "new bobby" which mom's swear by these days - apparently also makes sitting much more comfy for mom after birth too. I liked my boppy just fine tho!
In Utero - we aren't going to get this because it is expensive but it's amazing that they have something like this and that the baby responds.
Dunstan Baby Language - just a cool thing - can buy on ebay for less.
Sleep System - again - not necessary but interesting thing out there...they have CDs of white noise too - we just used the hair dryer and bathroom fan though!
Nursing Nest - Oh, I wish I had had one of these!!! I really recommend learning how to breastfeed laying down as you won't lose sleep and this will help you feel better that you won't roll on baby!
Sleeping Alternative for Colicky baby
Breathable Crib Bumpers - yes, those adorbable big packs of baby decor, bumper pads...comforter and matching diaper bag and more. The bumper pads are a suffocation hazard and you can't put a comforter on a baby.
Cloth Diapers (Here's a cost analysis on them too and cost effectiveness of them). Cloth diapers are NOT what they used to be. Even if you don't want to do cloth diapers but want to be environmentally friendly for about the same price as disposables, check out gdiapers...you can flush the insert and it is biodegradable. All of these patterns are soooo cute!!!
BumGenius - These are the diapers we use and we like them a lot!!! They grow with baby. You get a 5% off code for signing up for the newsletter. It is sooo easy to cloth diaper and you don't even have to use the toilet with these!!!
Signing - Again, something you could register for - more and more parents are doing this as it encourages early communication skills and minimizes "frustration tempertantrums."
Clothing Extenders - I found this one day on the internet and got me curious.
Pacifiers - These soothies are the only ones my breastfed baby would take at first (all hospitals use them) and then he also started liking the Gerber ones that are "gentleflex". They are lighter weight and stay in the mouth better than soothies.
HandsFree Bottle - I'm curious about this one!
Hooter Hider - I very much like mine! The material is light weight and I even use it for pumping in public or for breastfeeding when extended male family members are around too! (Can get on ebay too).
Black and White cards - wish I had had these awhile back - we just got a black and white book and our baby loves it!! (Called "Black on White")
Mirrors - Babies like them - this might help with tummy time.
Toys - well, ours didn't need toys for awhile but now that he's older, he really does like the Lamaze toys more. Isn't that amazing? Two of his favorites are the Flower Chimes which light up when you touch them and are easily grabbed and his Moose we added the moose to his play gym and he plays with it the most. He also likes the cloth characters in the rainforest mobile - we take them off now and let him play with them. He likes his ball too as it is soooo easy to grip!
Bedside Soothers - This really works and will get our baby back to sleep - it has different lights that dim and light and bubbles and sounds - yup - very interested and sleepy for baby!
Baby Books - been out of the loop for awhile? These will help you know what is age appropriate- you should read to baby from the beginning!!
Always check out ebay for this stuff as there are some great used deals as also on Amazon!
Bath tubs - I got one that was fine for the first 3mo but once he started to arch, he didn't work in the sling part and hated the formed plastic as he'd kick and arch and hit the plastic and cry. So, I got this one to go in our tub and it's a hit! I think I'd still recommend a sling for newborns but again - the formed plastic tub didn't work for ours.

Start to learn about Breastfeeding
This is a great website with info on breastfeeding and you can also go to a LLL meeting in your area for more info on it (can find link to local chapters). They love when pregnant women visit. This is the standard book on breastfeeding that absolutely everyone I've talked to has recommended reading before baby arrives: "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding".

You might want to think about registering for a breastfeeding pump or renting one from hospital for $30-$40/mo. The ones worth having are very expensive but this is the most recommended Breastfeeding pump - (Here's a discussion on the cost effectiveness at the end). This is the best deal I found on the internet for an Ameda pump (by the way, this is the same pump as the Target branded "Lanisoh" pump) with freebies. Let me tell you what. If you can pump an extra bottle a day and your hubby can take the first feeding of the night - it is heavenly - the adult sleep cycle is 4hrs so if you do that you'll get enough sleep!! Then, you nurse the rest of the time. Most of the lactation consultants I saw recommended the mothers get the brestfriend pillow instead of the boppy. I needed something to get the boppy a little higher personally but my hubby loved the boppy as he put it around his waist and the baby slept in it against him while he played on the computer!

Oh, and registering for bottles - it's just tough because you don't know what the baby will take and some babies are picky...(best time to intro bottle is at 4-6wks) here are some breast friendly options: Adiri and breastflow. We've used Avent because of the nipple size and it worked pretty well - I liked the ones with liners because you don't have to wash them as much and the liners are really cheap ($5/mo) and we also considered Dr. Brown's bottles since they are so good for eliminating gas. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the podee bottle which is what we switched to when I found them and they are amazing and it is so nice to use to feed in the car and while out! I would suggest just buying ONE of each type of bottle you think the baby might like and then try them out and see what the baby has the easiest time with and the least gas with. So, don't register for those big packs of bottles. Oh, and the kind with bags are SOO great to travel with so you dont' have to bring a ton of bottles to grandmas! The bags are like $5 and last a full month. There's a lot of concern out there about BPA leeching into bottles when you clean them in the dishwasher so you may want to research that - glass bottle and medela-style and bags in bottles don't have problems...it's the completely clear plastic kind (like the Avent) that are up for debate but there isn't enough research on it either way.

If you happen to do formula - We all know breast is best but there are a ton of reasons you might want to supplement with formula. I did everything "right" and still had to supplement my "big eater" with formula. Be aware that you will have to learn what kind of formula your baby tolerates and boy are there a lot of them out there!!!! We had to supplement with formula and learned all about "Similac Sensitive" without the milk lactose, "soy" which is milk free but some babies have issues with, and "alimentum" which is without lactose and is partially hydrolyzed and easily broken down but it doesn't taste good. WE had to use 1/2 breastmilk/ 1/2 formula for a few days before he woudl take to formula and then he didn't like other formulas. Powdered is cheaper but baby will get used to the premixed kind if you use it at first and you can't by "single servings" of that so you have to use a whole can w/in like 48hrs or it goes bad. We also learned all about mylicon drops - they start working great at 4wks, gripe water too helps with digestion, and lots of nasal saline for that constantly stuffy baby nose. Sign up for these clubs and you get free checks for formula ($5 or so) that you can give to friends or use yourself if the need arises - you'll get free formula at the hospital too. Start a new email for the 'baby' to use when you sign up but I haven't had any problems with these websites sending spam.

Quick comments on registry things – keep an eye on craigslist in your area. There are certain products that I see come up in great shape quite often. These include: bouncy seats, swings, strollers, boppys, bumbos, highchairs (depends on this one), safety gates, entertainment centers (pick one with lots of toys) and jumperoos. I have also noticed that a ton come up before Christmas as parents are trying to clear out. You can also find very nice wooden 3 in 1 cribs too. Just consider registering for other things if you KNOW you will pick up some of these items on your own as your baby grows for about 70% off on craigslist. Then, you will get more things that you need.

That being said, be sure that you definitely have a bouncer and boppy - most babies like the bouncy and you can take into the bathroom and leave by the tub while you shower! AS for a swing - if you don't get one from your registry - try to borrow one or try one out in the store (you can try out all baby stuff on display at stores just wash the baby afterwards!) and see if the baby likes a swing - ours kinda liked his - like it was great for 4 weeks then he got over it! Watch on Craigs’ list for a JUMPEROO - I haven't heard of a baby not liking theirs - it is a life saver when you need to do stuff!! The jumperoo is a safe jumper and activity center all in one! We also found an activity center on craigslist in awesome shape that he used too. A Bumbo and tray is nice too - we traveled with ours and it was nice and will let you wait awhile on getting a highchair if you have space or finance issues. I was suprized at how much we used ours through the 4th month! Then he decided he didn’t like it so much. It was great for pictures and such too!

Already mentioned in first trimester email but if you want to find ultrasound centers in your area go to 3D/4D elective ultrasounds for much cheaper than in hospitals (lots of women are opting for this since many insurances only allow 1 ultrasoundand there are many not-too-expensive ones available now! I found a Thursday only deal for a 30min session, DVD of whole session, CD of 60 pics for $145)

I hope all this helps!!! And I'm sure that's enough to digest for right now!! Enjoy this fun exciting stage as you feel the baby move and grow!!! It is soooo amazing!

PS Yes, it is normal for those potty trips to starting increasing in frequency at night especially!!

The First Trimester

THE FIRST TRIMESTER - for the pregnant momma-to-be

Congratulations!! Pregnancy and especially the first trimester is full of excitement and anticipation. Yay! Here are all the sites and interesting stuff I've found on the internet about different stages in pregnancy. Have fun checking it all out!!

Oh, and let me know if the links don't work please!!

I'm not trying to be overwhelming - when I find something neat, I just save it in my favorites and that is how I got all this stuff. You can always google the topics too.

*Four things that will mess with your mind when you find out you are pregnant:

1. How far along am I/How old is baby? It is so confusing about the LMP (last menstral period) dating method being 2 weeks ahead of the baby's actual age and it's irritating to think of it that way but if you get used to using that terminology, it matches up with ultrasounds and doctor/nurse speak. I've found it confusing trying to convert from LMP to "actual" age in my head. Doctors won't refer to the baby wrt to it's actual age only the LMP age. Since the LMP method takes into account a 40 week gestation, then it makes up for that length by adding an extra 2 weeks at the beginning of the pregnancy long before the egg is fertilized. The baby technically is 38 weeks old when born but doctors are looking for you as the momma to be 40 weeks when you have a full term baby which again implies a baby that is 38 weeks old.

2. How accurate is my due date? As far as the accuracy of LMP is concerned, if your cycle was super regular and 28 days then LMP is most likely good OR if you used invitrofertilization of course that is super accurate. If not, you could have had a 1st trimester ultrasound. Of all the ultrasounds done during pregnancy an ultrasound done between 6-8 weeks (that's pregnancy weeks - when the baby is 4-6weeks old) is the very most accurate for dating a baby's age. In the 3rd trimester blog, I will expand the topic of what makes size/ultrasound more accurate since I've managed to go to many periontologists this pregnancy I got this question answered from the experts.

3. I thought pregnancy was 9 months? Well, if you count a month as being 4weeks, pregnancy lasts through the 9month month making the full pregnancy 10 mo!! This is what the doctors use again that matches up with the 40wk pregnancy. Oh, this gets so confusing when the general public asks you how far along you are esp later in pregnancy!!! I used to just say how many weeks until due date! :) Of course there is another way to think of this so that it turns out to be 9mos for the purpose of answering the general public. If you know when you got pregnant (say Sept 10) and then just count months (Oct 10, Nov 10, Dec 10, .... May 10, June 10). You will find out that your due date is very close to this date since a month is actually 2-3 days longer than 4 weeks. If your pregnancy includes February, then predicting your due date with this method will be a little off.

4. So when does the first trimester end? Is it when "I" am 12 weeks (and baby is actually 10 weeks) or when the "baby" is 12 weeks? I asked doctors and read several books and the answer is actually when "I" am 12 weeks (baby is 10 weeks). When you get to the beginning of 12 weeks is when you've both made it! Once you get past 12 weeks, it's easier to explain to people how far you are because people want to revert to "months" and at that point, you can say "I'm starting 3 months!" which actually sounds like something at that point.
You should know that the risk of m/c decreases a lot once you've heard the heartbeat on a doppler regardless of wether you've actually reached 12 weeks or not. Don't worry...The first trimester trudges by but the second trimester is just zippy and you feel so much better - energy, no nausea, baby movements - NEATO time!!! Hearing the heartbeat via doppler is soooo cool!!

6 Topics of interest

1. Nausea - help!:
-Preggie Pops
-Hum while brushing teeth - it stops the gagging reflux (some women have it)
-Smell ginger or lemons or eat/suck on sour things when feel nauseous.
-Eat small meals without allowing time between - an empty stomach makes it worse. Try to keep crackers by the bed and eat a few in bed before moving in the morning.
-Take prenatals at night instead of on empty morning stomach or switch to prenatals with antinausea stuff in them. Or check with OB about taking Flinstones vitamins - many allow and they are easy on the stomach (note: don't take Flinstones complete).
-Tums are fine to take during pregnancy (always check with OB though). There are heavier duty meds you can take with OB's approval/prescription too.
-Nausea should not be completely debilitating or dehydrating - if you are having that kind of nausea, call doctor because there are meds for you to take so you can make it through the day!! (There is even a condition associated with pregnancy and extreme nausea).
-It is totally fine if you don't have nausea or just a little indigestion - I had none.
-Some people have nausea all day, some in the morning, afternoon, or night and again all that is fine. All of your pregnancies will be different so just because you had nausea this time does NOT mean you have to have it next time.
-I've heard it gets much better by 10 weeks.

2. Constipation - help! It is completely normal to get constipated during pregnancy because of increased progesterone (thanks to the baby - esp in 1st trimester). Lotsa water and dried fruit really really helps with constipation that. You can take immodium but not with AD. Milk of Magnesia and benefiber are also allowed and work well!

3. Gaining weight - what do I do?: This pregnancy weight calculator shows where all the weight goes so it isn't scary to think about suddenly really tipping the scales! Here is another good weight calculator. This is just a quick little article on it too. Also, I would recommend not to try to gain weight the first trimester...you only need 300 extra calories per day and you don't need that much on the first trimester. There's no reason to go out and start having a fries and a milk shake every day in the first trimester. If you gain weight naturally then that's fine. If there are any foods you despise in the first trimester, that's okay...your appetite will come back soon. More on nutrician for second trimester. It is also completely fine if you end up losing weight during the first trimester (not on purpose but due to appetite loss and such.)

4. Is it really normal to sleep ALL THE TIME? - take a nap whenever you can - they make soo much difference! I tend to need one around 4pm for whatever the reason and even if i only get 30 mins, it makes a huge difference. Your hormones are soo much easier to manage! I was so much nicer to my hubby with that nap! If you are working - try to eat a quick lunch and then take a nap during the rest of your lunch hour - in car if need be, it will get you through the rest of the day.

5. My clothes aren't fitting but I don't look pregnant. For that "in between stage" where clothes aren't fitting with buttoned pants but way too small for maternity and to save on the maternity clothes: bella bands - they run about $25 but really stretch the amount of time you can wear "normal" clothes and help you wear your old clothes sooner after your pregnancy. If it's your bra size just don't buy many new bras because you'll need new sizes later in pregnancy and then different ones for too. Also, water retention will cause you to gain weight too so please please please try to start drinking 64oz of water now so your body is very hydrated during this time. If you can't keep water down, use watered-down gatorade or flavored water if you can. As far as when you show - it varies by person. I went through a bloated stage at around week 8 where my pants didn't fit but then started drinking more water and eating less pickles and it went down. I didn't start "showing" until 18 weeks and only my mom could tell - I started "really showing" around 22 weeks where it would be tricky to hide my little bump with clothes. After that my belly just took off without me! :) BTW - you will end up buying at least two sets of maternity clothes as the stuff for the 2nd trimester stops fitting well for the 3rd trimester! OR because you are in a completely different season for the beginning of 2nd vs end of 3rd trimester. If you do need maternity clothes in the first trimester that's okay too!

6. Recommended Books?:
The Pregnancy Journal by A. Christine Harris. Here is the coolest book that I've found (it was recommended from my recently preggo friend - Amy) - there are a thousand pregnancy journals but this one is really neat because it tells you what the baby is making/doing during each week!

What to Expect When You are Expecting is a great reference guide but I've been warned by several not to read it through in its entirety because although it has some neat stuff, it also brings up a ton of "worst case scenarios" that don't matter.

Quick info on the craziest preggo hormones!

Two hormones secreted by tiny baby that may be checked via bloodtest that affect pregnancy and more: progesterone and hcg. Hcg is only secreted by fetuses attached to a uterus and not made by humans after birth - this is the hormone that the preggo tests test for and why they are 99.9% accurate for positives. Plenty of women will take progesterone supplements so there's info on that.

Testing done during pregnancy:

1. On your first visit: you will probably have blood drawn and they will test for all sorts of things: Many of these tests are state mandated so it is hard to refuse...even if you are sure you don't have these diseases due to your history. Also, they check the same stuff every time you are pregnant which is silly since some thigns like your bloodtype/RH doesn't change! I was tested for: blood type/RH... AB Screen (?), Iron levels (hemoglobin) - want above 12, Hepatitis B - want neg, HIV - want neg, Syphilis - want neg, Rubella - this one they want positive because they are checking to see if you have the antibodies for this. They also took a swab for chalmydia/GC and did a urinalysis to make sure levels were good. Oh, and if you haven't had a recent pap they'll do that too.

2. Genetic Tests: There are certain tests you can read up on the internet for genetic stuff. Note you will probably be encouraged to have an early trimester ultrasound to make sure your dates are right or you will get the wrong info on these tests...if you get a weird result they may also check your dates and recalculate. You only have to do one of these usually though if you get a positive the docs may want to run another one for confirmation. Be aware that it can take up to a week to get results back so timing needs to be correct if you want to combine two tests.

-First Trimester Screening w/ or w/out Nuchal translucent US: (Done 11-13wks). NOT invasive. This is a relatively new test. Some OB's only have the capability to do the bloodscreening (first trimester screening) whereas the specialists do both of these on these same day. Involves taking blood and ultrasound. Be aware that MANY MANY people have false positives to this test and get stressed out only to find out later after more testing that the little one is perfectly healthy. There are a few conditions that can be treated during pregnancy with surgery so if there is a true positive and fetal surgery is an option, it could make a difference.

-Chronic Villis Sampling: (Done 11-12wks) *Invasive...very small risk of miscarriage - you do find out if boy/girl too.

-Amniocentesis: (Done 15-18wks) *Invasive...very small risk miscarriage

-AFP/Multiple Marker Screening/Triple Test: Different names for the same test and can be called the quadruple test too (Done 16-18wks) *Does have high false positive rate - and only tells you liklihood of something whereas CVS gives you a "yes/no".

3. Later tests:
-Glucola test (sugar test usually done at 24-28wks pregnancy) - many doctors do the "1hr" test and if you fail that then you do the "3hr" test - some require fasting and some don't. You drink a sugar drink and wait 1hr and they take blood in 1hr test. Not sure on 3hr test

-Iron again (Hemoglobin) (usually done at same time as glucola) - want above 12 or they may be concerned about anemia.

-Rhogram (only if negative maternal bloodtype) (done at week 28...may need shot if positive)

-Group B Strep culture (close to due date) - this is a swab. You will get antibiotics during labor if this is positive.

General Interesting stuff:

*This is a link to Message boards through the same site I use - ivillage. Look at the "expecting boards" links on the right side of the page ... you can read without joining if you want. There are plenty of other places with pregnancy boards but I like this one - very nice folk. I've learned so much about pregnancy and about suggested baby stuff and treatments that help with everything (including nausea) that I just love checking these sites for info and asking questions. It keeps me from calling the doctor all the time and bugging them and helps me to know I'm normal - preggo normal that is. It is also a very clean board with nice people I think...of course never use real names or dates when signing onto these things - you can never be too sure if you are dealing with the internet. Also, if you are a stay at home mom (SAHM), having a group of women to "check-in-with" during the day really helps keep you from getting lonely.

*I like this online pregnancy calendar. And this fetal development site shows how the babies grows with respect to your body...you can scan through weeks by clicking "next". This is also a really different fetal development site with 3D pictures. You have to click through weekly in both development websites to see the different weekly developments!!

*This is a preemie doll website that makes dolls that I would never buy but they are neat to look at to so you can really see about how big the baby is! They have the dolls beside rings and thimbles and hands so you can see how much they grow! FYI...Some of the babies are based on babies that have been miscarried (NOT aborted) and the parents commissioned a doll's likeness and while that's kinda weird to think about, it's also neat to look at how much the babies grow. It's from a prolife group and I like finding the week I'm at and seeing how big the baby is.

Some nutritionists are recommending this website for keeping track of nutrition in life but also during pregnancy. Fitday.com. Again, more info on nutrician in second trimester email - just try to keep your food down in the 1st trimester and you'll be fine. And here's a link to pregnant exercise (Preggie Bellies) that's a trend in Australia!! Looks like fun!!

Last but not least...Here are some interesting links to some stuff that folks have suggested:

Baby's Eye Color - Just neato - we're supposed to have kids who more likely have green eyes but also a possibility of blue. Looks like they turned out blue!

Snoogle - I didn't need it in the first trimester and at $50, it's a luxury, but wow!! (I saw one at Burlington Coat Factory - in Baby Depot section, I saw them for $35). Start looking for one now. It is great for the 2nd and 3rd trimester. I did use mine then a lot. You will want something like this by that point - otherwise you deal with situating like 6 pillows every time you get back from the bathroom at night. Er...wait a second, I used the snoogle and 6 pillows of varying sizes at the end of my third trimester...but I slept great once it all got situated! There are a lot of pregnancy pillows out there. I took mine with me to labor with (those beds really aren't comfy and there aren't a lot of extra pillows without bugging the nurses for some). It was so awesome to have my own big pillow that I could prop and use however I wanted. I liked it in recovery to as it helped me get more comfortable. It's very interesting but I used mine a lot after delivery - it was much more comfy to "curl" up and sit on my snoogle in a recliner than a boppy in my opinion esp if you are using the boppy to nurse. So, for me, this was a great purchase.

Cloth Diapers (Here's a discussion or you can look here for reviews also on them too and cost effectiveness of them over the long run). Just something to think about in the future. This particular topic has gotten very technologically savvy with wicking fabric and snaps and more. These ain't your grandmomma's diaper anymore! They are sooo cute and seriously, if you just want the environmental advantage, check out gdiapers. You flush the inner layer and it biodegrades in the sewar system and you wash only the cover. They are super cute and my friends who use these say that the cost is equivalent to using regular diapers. In my opinion, (I will post on this later), they are a lot cheaper than disposables and healthier for the baby. I personally use BumGenius because they grow with baby! :) I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!! More on that in the second trimester!

A little early to think about right now but just to have it in your head...here are some really interesting website I've found that go into different birth theories and styles: Bradley, Hypnobabies, Waterbirth (Friend in Knoxville swore by this), Lamaze, doulas (My friend Melissa's cousins are these). Just be thinking about what kind of birth experience you want to have.

And if you are just really curious ... check out this website to find ultrasound centers in each area of the country that give 3D/4D elective ultrasounds for much cheaper than in hospitals (lots of women are opting for this since many insurances only allow 1 ultrasoundand there are many not-too-expensive ones available now!)

More info to come in the "second trimester" blog!!!

PS If you have them, I sympathize with those "I gotta go several times in the middle of the night" wake-up blues that disturb night-time sleep!! I've had to do that since 3 weeks pregnant - seriously - before we found out - and I have a really strong bladder!!