Almost 6 weeks...

I can't believe I will be 6 weeks pregnant tomorrow. On one hand, time is going by fast, on the other, I sorta feel like I will be pregnant forever. 9 months is a looooooong time! One and a half months down, 7 1/2 more to go!

A couple days ago, my morning sickness arrived. Although I have yet to succumb to the porcelain throne, the nausea has been keeping me confined to the closest trash-can just in case. The fatigue has not let up, so this has resulted in me feeling pretty crappy. Sprite and saltines are my best friend! I feel pretty bad about it though, because I know I am not feeding my body like it needs to be. I can barely stomach most foods, so there goes my protein for the day. At least I am getting some nutrients from my prenatal vitamin and fish oil.

As a result of feeling so poorly, we've been eating out quite a bit. A lot of times I don't have the energy nor the appetite to fix food. This is really going to take some adjustment to my menu plans. We're going to have to buy more convenience foods, at least for the remainder of the first trimester. It's either that or running out for pizza and fast food every other night.

I've also had cramps, which has worried me a little bit since they are kinda strong and I've never felt anything like it before. It's probably just my uterus stretching? We'll see- my first appointment with the OB is November 12th.

Maternity Coverage Lies

Yesterday I was on the phone with our insurance company. I was very upset, because I learned they really won't be covering anything since I became pregnant within the first yr of it. And this is supposed to be maternity coverage?! After browsing online forums I quickly learned that the first prenatal visit alone can total anywhere from $200 to $2000. Wow. I am definitely going to be shopping around now that we have to pay pretty much all of it OOP. Hopefully, Rob will get a job at a church in time, and we will be covered under his group insurance (since group insurance can't treat pregnancy as a pre-existing condition). If not, we will probably qualify for medicaid.

Either way, I am still upset, because we have paid over $400 so far in just the maternity coverage part of our insurance. FOR NOTHING! That's $400 that could have been saved for doctor visits. I guess it just goes to show that insurance companies really are jacked up. When people comment that having a lot of kids are expensive, they are probably referring to the fact that each one cost around $10,000 just to pop out. I have heard stories of women who made too much money to qualify for medicaid but didn't have insurance or were under-insured like me, and they now have thousands upon thousands of dollars in medical debt just for being a woman. Because, people, the woman's body is meant to have babies, and that, apparently, is something we must try and combat with all our medical technology. When did having a baby, such a natural event that has been happening for thousands of years, become a disease that needs to be cured? When the hospitals realized they could profit from it, that's when.

Training for a normal birth:

I just don't believe that you should have to pay someone $5,000 to say "push" and cut an umbilical cord.

Yes, I think that the advancements in medical technology have helped save the lives of many women and babies, but the MAJORITY of pregnancies and labor have no complications.

Practically all babies are born in hospitals in the United States, the most in the developed world. Yet, our babies are not healthier for it- the infant mortality rate is ON THE RISE in the USA. 50% of all women have C-sections. C-sections are THE MOST COMMONLY performed procedure in hospitals today. Some hospitals are now forbidding mothers from giving birth vaginally if they have had a previous C-section.

The birthing system is messed up.

Moody with Milk

One thing I've noticed about my moods is that they are extreme. When I get happy, I scream. When I get sad, I start to cry uncontrollably! The cats are way too cute and TV shows are way too emotional for me. For example, I literally started bawling when I watched a Biggest Loser contestant see his family for the first time in 6 weeks. It wasn't even meant to be that emotional. Gee wiz!

I've been having cramps, but I think that it's my uterus stretching. Weird feeling for sure. My breasts are more achey, but so far MS has eluded me. I continue to be very tired- yesterday I took a 2 hour nap and fell right to sleep that night until 11am. They say my body is working harder than someone climbing mountains, so no wonder!

Yesterday I made my first appointment with the OB. Since it's not until Nov. 12, I get to wait in suspense until then! I will be 8 weeks by that time and will probably get an ultra-sound to see and hear the baby's heartbeat. How crazy is that?! My due date might change also based on the size of the embryo- or zygote or fetus- lol.


I bought 2 gallons of milk for the next two weeks, but I have a feeling that will not be enough. In just two days I have drank 1/2 a gallon. Our entire fridge will just have to be full of milk, haha! I am supposed to be drinking 4 glasses of milk a day, 4 glasses of water and eating 100 grams of protein. So far, I am doing ok but could definitely do better. Eating that much protein is harder than it seems!

First food aversion-- cottage cheese. BLah!

4 Weeks, 5 Days

On October 16th, around 5:30pm in the evening, I took a pregnancy test and watched it slowly reveal something I have never experienced before- positively pregnant! Not believing my eyes, I summoned my husband to the bathroom to get his opinion. Of course, after another test the following day, it was still positive and getting stronger. A baby is growing inside me!

After the initial shock at the thought of being pregnant and expanding, I began to get excited. Too excited to hold it all in, so naturally I began telling the world! At only just over 4 weeks, I am feeling pretty good still. My biggest symptom is feeling tired- WAY TIRED. Like, getting 9 hours of sleep and then a nap just to keep going. I also am constipated and have light headaches from time to time. The bathroom is certainly seeing more of me as I seem to pee every half hour. And of course, I am hungrier.

My mother already bought me some burping blankets, a pacifier and a pair of crocheted blue booties. Although we don't know what the gender is, it seems some people are already making predictions! My sister (C) also bought a bunch of tiny socks, the cutest bib and a pair of tiny pink shoes. Little baby is already being spoiled! Since this is the first grandbaby on each side, I am sure he/she will be receiving lots of attention.

The second test on the left was taken on October 19th. Yes- I snuck into the bathroom and tested again- just wanted to make sure baby was still in there and getting stronger!