Week 13

Today I'm 13 weeks and officially starting the 2nd trimester!

I am still feeling pretty sick and have actually had a couple of days where the sickness was the worst yet! I have been vomiting everyday since last Monday which isn't nice especially after having reached 12 weeks with no vomit :(

Tiredness is pretty bad also. How I wish I could sleep in the day and sleep through a whole night! Even though my body is use to not much sleep it's still quite a struggle. I've had quite a few nights where I've gone to bed at 8:30 or as soon as the baby is asleep!

It has been a pretty emotional week. We found out we won't be moving into a bigger house and it's had me wondering how we are going to fit and how we are going to make 1 toilet between 9 people work! I know that God is in control and that it will work! but sometimes it's hard to trust that.

My uterus has definitely popped out. On Wednesday I was really sick and tired and had some pelvic pain and cramping. By Thursday morning my uterus was out of the pelvis and has flipped so it's no longer retroverted. I'm enjoying laying on my back and feeling the little baby bump now. It's much harder to see and feel when I'm standing up as my tummy wasn't exactly flat to start with. I know that carrying 6 babies to term has made things stretch a little :)

I'm very much looking forward to not feeling sick and getting a baby belly and feeling baby move!

I'm also looking forward to my ultrasound which is next Tuesday where I will see what's going on!

I'm enjoying crushing ice in my thermomix and adding a bit of juice. It makes the smoothest icy and it's so nice and refreshing!
I also had the best chicken and salad roll today. I'm hoping that everyday I will be enjoying food more!

Tonight Jay and I will be going out for dinner. It's been many months since we have gotten to do this. We are leaving all the kids with my parents. I'm just hoping I can enjoy the food!


-Kathy

Week 11 and week 12

I actually wrote a week 11 post but for some reason it's not publishing. It keeps saying it was successfully posted but is unpublished. I have no idea what that means though anyhow...
week 11 I was beginning to have times when I felt ok and the sickness started to ease up a little.

I had my first visit with Sonja, who is the midwife we used with Essence. I'm very happy that we have chosen to have another homebirth with Sonja as our midwife.

I was 12 weeks on monday.
I had my first ultrasound on Monday morning. I was pretty scared as I had been feeling something was wrong and that there may not actually be a baby there- but there was!
After a pretty rough morning where I lost the referral and had to go to the drs to get another one and when I could not find a car park I finally got to relax and see our little one. It was alive! I could see the heart flickering and got to hear the heart beating as well. The baby was pretty quiet and only did a few jumps towards the end. It was sucking it's little thumb and waving it's hands around it's face. I almost cried when I realized there was a little baby. I asked where the placenta had attached and the ultrasound technician showed that it was posterior but due to a very retroverted uterus it would in fact be anterior but then she found a second placenta. There was only 1 baby there but I have no idea if there originally was 2 and the 2nd baby didn't form or if there is 2 and we didn't see the 2nd baby or if the original placenta separated and is now joined by blood vessels. I get to go back it two weeks to have a second scan to see if we can see more as my uterus should have tipped back to the correct way. The baby also measure a week behind my dates. I'm still going to keep my 'guess date' for now but may tell people I'm a week earlier so when it's 'due' time I won't need to defend my reasons for not being induced if I go late.



Here is our secret one. Jay was surprised it looks like a baby even at this early stage. I still can not believe that this little one is inside me. It's so amazing!


and the little one in 4D. It looks so snug in there!

I am feeling so much sicker again and am definitely the most tired this week! I threw up for the first time this week twice in a row. I have been on the verge of it for many weeks but so far had managed to hold it in! I'm so so tired. I am wishing I could lay in bed all day! I would love to be asleep right now!

I am still looking forward to feeling better and entering the more 'safe' zone. Soon... it's so soon!

Week 10

I am 10 weeks pregnant today! 1/4 of the way there!!



I am still not really showing yet just feeling a little fatter.

I am really looking forward to the 2nd trimester which is finally starting to look a little closer.

I have had the worst morning sickness this week. I have had no relief even from eating. The only time I've felt somewhat ok is when I am laying down. Even then, as soon as I get up to go to the toilet the nausea sets back in. I am trying so hard to be grateful for this sickness because I am growing the most precious gift in the world-a baby but it's hard! I am thinking this could very well be the last time I will experience this!

I had a drs appointment on Wednesday. Just to get a referral for my 12 week scan. It's all booked in for the 21st of this month when I will be exactly 12 weeks. I'm very excited and scared at the same time. I just want to see that there really is a baby in there and that everything is ok.

I am not getting very much sleep. We have been having temp of 40+ for the last week. Finally a cool change came yesterday which I'm enjoying a lot. Unfortunately Essence doesn't feel the same way and has wanted to feed 10 times a night! I'm desperate for sleep.

I've been a bit emotional these last 2 weeks. I have had big decisions to make and have felt quite drained. We have decided to put the boys back in school. They start tomorrow.

I have been using the freezer meals that I made earlier on although I'm pretty much out now.

I am not really enjoying any food at all but I can not stand bread. Even the thought of it makes me want to run to the toilet.

I am looking forward to booking in my first midwife appointment sometime this week.

I believe I have felt the baby move twice this week. The first time I was laying on my back on the lounge praying that the baby would be ok when it fluttered about 6 times! I really believe it was the baby even though it's extremely early. I think I felt it again today.



-Kathy

Week 9

I am 9 weeks pregnant today.

I have known that I've been pregnant for just over a month now!

I am too tired to write this post but I will try...

This week I can feel my uterus on my right side when I lay on my belly. I usually have a retroverted uterus so I thinking it's probably just tipped to the right at this stage.

I am reading way too much about all the things that can go wrong with pregnancy on the internet. This has me freaking out that something is wrong or something will go wrong. I am seeing my Dr on Wednesday and will get bloods done and book in for my 12 week scan.

I have felt a few flutters that I swear are the baby even though I know it's not medically possible. I have felt another this early (although I can't remember who) so am thinking perhaps my placenta is posterior this time. So far I have had a posterior placenta (at the back) with my four boys and an anterior (front) placenta with my girls. It will be very interesting to see where it is this time!

I am still really sick although today I have felt a little better. I'm thinking Yah is being kind as I have been wondering how on earth I will be able to homeschool 4 boys and look after 2 little girls while being sick. Today was our first day back and it actually went ok. There were a few moments I had to just stop and sit but that's ok.

I am not showing yet. I have lost a couple of kilos so far. I don't usually pop until at least 12 weeks but my pants are feeling a little tight when I'm sitting down. I love having a pregnant belly and can't wait to have one again!

I am still very tired. At the end of the day I'm exhausted and can not wait to get into bed (like right now). I'm not sleeping great but it is probably more to do with this incredibly hot weather we have been having lately. I almost rang my friend (who is married to an electrician) to ask how much it would cost to install a fan in our room! It's just so hot! I'm glad I'm not at the end of my pregnancy when the heat would be even worse!

I still haven't contacted the cruise ship yet but plan to do it soon.

I'm looking forward to hitting week 10 as it seems so much closer to the 2nd trimester!!


-Kathy

Week 8

I am 8 weeks pregnant today!

I am feeling overwhelmed by this morning sickness. At first, earlier this week, eating gave me some relief but since Saturday that no longer works :( I am not throwing up but constantly feel that way even through the night. I know that if I only had myself to look after I would be struggling, but I don't - I have myself plus 6 children and a husband *sigh* I guess now is the time to lean on YHVH! Only He will get me through this. I am still managing to eat- not as much as normal but more than the last time I was pregnant.

I have been having a fair bit of ligament pain. Still scary sometimes but I'm pretty confident the baby is where it should be and not in a tube! I guess once you've already had 6 babies everything is a bit stretched!!

Essence has been feeding all the time which is starting to become a little painful especially now as there is not much milk there. She doesn't seem to mind though!

Still no physical signs of the 'bump'. I think it's a bit harder to tell when it looks like you've only just had a baby! Lol

I have been a bit constipated (tmi I know but I want to keep a record of all the highs and lows!) which is pretty normal for me in pregnancy. I'm going to have to figure out ways to avoid it!

I have been watching lots of birth shows which is exciting and scary all at the same time. They are American and make me very glad that I am having another homebirth. I could never go back to hospital knowing the things I know (unless of course there was a real emergency).

I had a dream that I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. It was a super fast birth and only my midwife and Jay made it there. It's arm fell off during the birth (which was quite normal) and my midwife just snapped it back on! I always have bizarre dreams when pregnant. It did make me wonder if maybe it was another girl as so far I've only thought of it being a boy!

I am trying to decide whether I will have the 12 week scan or not. I wouldn't have it for medical reasons as I would never abort if there was something wrong but it gives me a peace of mind when I see the baby on the screen and it's little heartbeat.

A friend of mine just miscarried at 8 weeks. She had an ultrasound on Wednesday and saw the baby and it's little heartbeat and then that night she lost it. It's so very sad. Please pray if you think of it. It makes me realize how precious life is and I am trying to praise Yah for this sickness!


-Kathy

week 7

I am 7 weeks today!

So glad the time is ticking by. I can not wait to get out of the first trimester safely!

Sickness this week has definitely kicked in. I have been sick on and off for the last couple of weeks but it was definitely mild that was until Saturday night. Something changed and all of a sudden I could remember what real morning sickness was! I am especially sick when I have an empty tummy and so far it seems to get a little better when I eat. This is different for me as usually in the beginning I just can not eat. This time I am hungry and am able to eat. Hopefully things will stay this way and I won't get as sick as I normally do.

I haven't used any of the frozen meals yet and am waiting until I am really desperate.

The tiredness has also kicked in this week. I am so tired. I am totally exhausted by the night time hits! I'm crashing at about 9:30-10:00 most nights and am sleeping quite well (when I'm not woken up to breastfeed a baby or to the other 5 children who could be sleep walking, going to the toilet or just needing a cuddle!). I am having lots of weird and vivid dreams.

I have been having some pain on my lower right side and now it has moved over to the left. I was a little worried at first thinking of an ectopic pregnancy but am pretty confident now that it is just ligaments stretching. It's always a worry though when so many things can go wrong at this early stage of pregnancy!

I have been really enjoying eating ice blocks. It's been so hot here lately and they are so cold and refreshing. I have also gotten some fruit and veggie juice to sip on when I just can't stomach food.

This is the foot at 51 days and

just 9 days later! WOW!

This week your baby has an amazing growth spurt. At the beginning of this week, your baby is approximately 4 to 5 mm and by the end of the week it has more than doubled to 11 to 13 mm! Your baby weights approximately 0.03 ounces. Internally, cervical mucus is thickening and will form a plug in the cervical canal. The plug seals your cervix throughout the pregnancy and it will be expelled prior to delivery when your cervix begins to dilate.

In just 3 days the hands change from this...

to this!!

Your baby's leg and arm buds are longer now and they have divided into segments where the hands and feet will be. The hands and feet also have an area where the fingers and toes will begin to form. At this point of your pregnancy, the heart is bulging from the body and it has divided into right and left chambers. The brain's hemispheres are continuing to grow and the air passages into the lungs are visible. Your baby's eyes are beginning to get pigment. The nose is developing and the beginning of the face can be seen. The baby's abdomen is developing quickly and the appendix and pancreas are already present. Your baby's digestive tract is beginning to form and the hindgut is present. The shape of the talk can still be seen, but it will fade in 3 or 4 weeks.

*these photographs and information has been taken fro I am Pregnant

Week 6

I am 6 weeks pregnant today!

So far I am still feeling pretty good. I am finding myself yawning a lot more through the day and exhausted by night fall but I still have enough energy to do what I need to do to keep the house running.

I am feeling a little sicker each day. I am gagging when I brush my teeth. I also have the metallic taste that is common with pregnancy. I am still able to eat most things. I tend to go off milk and tea/coffee when pregnant and that is starting to happen. I will miss my morning cup of tea and my cup of tea I have before bed!

I am a little more moody than normal and seem to lose my patience easier than normal.

I am still managing to get meals cooked and in the freezer. It feels good to know that I am organized.

I forgot to mention a cute thing Ewan said to me the day after we told him he was going to be a big brother again. I want to remember these!

Ewan: “how big is the baby?”

Me: “oh, it’s only really small, about this big” I demonstrate with my hands just how tiny the baby is.

Ewan: “so does that mean if I hold my finger out like this” (he points his finger) “the baby could just walk and dance along it? How cool”…he is happy to play around with that though for a while.

Bella has now changed her mind and is positive the baby is a girl. I think she just wants the numbers to be a little more even! We are still outnumbered by the boys by two!

Essence is so clingy at the moment. It must be true when they say the toddler knows when a new baby is coming along! She is wanting to breastfeed all day. She is still feeding a lot through the night also.

*From week 6 to week 10 of your pregnancy, you will be in the embryonic period. This is a very important time of development for your baby and the embryo is most susceptible to experience developmental interferences at this time. Although the embryo is still very small, it is growing and developing rapidly. Your baby's early brain chambers are forming and the eyes are also beginning to form. Buds will appear and will develop into arms and legs in later weeks. The heart is starting up. The fetus` blood group may be different from your own! Facial features are visible, including a mouth and tongue. The eyes have a retina and lens.

The digestive system starts forming, beginning with the first cells of the stomach and the intestine.

There are small indentations in the head, ready for the development of facial features, eyes, and ears. The outline of the jaw starts to form.*

*these images and information are from the website I am pregnant.com