A Big Sigh of Relief and my Dealings with Debbie Downers

Hi Again! It's me – Andrea. I'm now in my 17th week and here is my pregnancy update for you:

I am so happy to start off by telling you that my OB found the heartbeat at my last appointment! Yes! It reassured me beyond belief and the sound actually brought tears to my eyes. It was nice not going into cardiac arrest again, ya know?

Also at this appointment I learned that I have gained 10 lbs so far. This sounds like a lot if you go by what all those pregnancy books tell you – that 20 to 30 lbs is the total normal weight gain for pregnant women. Please!!
Most women I know who have been pregnant gained at least 40 lbs. I gained 50 lbs when I was pregnant with Grace. I mean... sure, I ate a chocolate bar everyday and sure, I stuffed my face every chance I could get, but what pregnant woman in her right mind only eats salads for lunch and carrot sticks for snacks? As if.

This time around I will also eat what my body is telling me it needs – lots of pizza, Kraft dinner, and of course the odd handful of candy.

I am still feeling fantastic. I may look pregnant, but I definitely don’t feel it. Things are really starting to look up. I no longer have to go bed at 8:00pm – I now have enough energy to last until at least 10:00pm and this really makes me feel like a party animal.

I think my husband, Chris really likes this too. I think he considered me a bit of a “wet rag” going to bed at the same time as our 16-month-old...but he’s a man…and since a man will never understand what it’s like to be pregnant, I forgive him.

I am dying to find out the sex of this baby. I don’t know how much longer I can take the suspense.
I have my next ultrasound booked for the end of May (May 17th to be exact), so really, I only have another month to go...but seeing how I lack patience (I was born that way, so it’s really not my fault...I thank my Mom and Dad for this), waiting a whole month to find out this very important information is next to impossible.

A lot of people have asked me if I have a preference – I do not. Another little girl would be nice because I have so many cute girl clothes that I would love to use again, but a boy would be nice too because then I’d have one of each.

Last time, I told myself repeatedly that I was having a boy. I did this to prepare myself mentally because I secretly wanted a girl.

With this being my second child, I am finding that I am being told a lot (by other mothers with more than one child) that I am really in for it. As in, any free time that I have now with one kid is really out the door with two.

These mothers are telling me that I don’t know what busy is until I have two kids running around.

Okay – please tell me, has anyone ever believed that having two kids was going to be a cake walk? Is that even possible after seeing how much work just one is?? Why would anyone want to be a Debbie Downer about this??

Having a baby and raising a child is an unbelievable thing – no matter if it’s your first, second, or 25th (okay…maybe I take that one back). I don’t believe that it’s necessary to tell pregnant women how much work they have in store for them.

If there’s anything I’ve learned about being a mom – it’s the only job that is truly rewarding...and if you ask me – that is worth a little hard work…and even being pooped on. So please, if your name is Debbie Downer, go rain on someone else’s parade.

Tidbits about me, first prenancy first trimester adjustments

Hi everyone, my name is Virginia Morgan, but my Vancouver and London, England family and friends call me Ginny and my Toronto friends and coworkers call me Virginia or V...

I now pretty much answer to anything that starts with a "V" or a "G!"

I'm 33, living in mid-town Toronto and currently 18-weeks pregnant. My husband is Tony and this is our first baby.

A little about me…I am the oldest of three and grew up in Fraser Heights (Surrey), B.C.. My husband (also from Vancouver, and also from a family of three) and I lived in London, England from 2004-2006, got married in 2007, and moved to Toronto early 2009.

Unfortunately, all our families and close friends are back in Vancouver which might be a bit ‘painful’ with the baby experience (no free babysitters!). This baby is also the first grandchild for both families – our mothers are very excited.

I love hobbies. I sew quilts and sock monkeys, make jewellery and greeting cards, paint figurines and have attempted canvas. I’ve made tumbled marble coasters and etched glass; I love to cook and bake, and read Harry Potter!

Needless to say, I’ll miss all these things when the baby arrives. I'm trying to do as much as I can before my due date.

For work, I'm an investor relations manager for a mining company downtown, and last year I travelled extensively for work. This year I won’t be travelling as much with my 'condition.'

My last big trip was to Cape Town, South Africa, when I was 8-weeks pregnant and it was terrible. My boss didn't know I was pregnant yet and there were at least three days I was pure green with morning sickness or unable to keep food in.

The 21 total hours of flying time was uncomfortable and thankfully I didn't need a barf bag because I knocked myself out with Gravol!

There is nothing more terrible than awful economy plane food when you feel like you're going to die or only able to keep down green apples, green grapes, mangos, cheese, lobster, prawns and crab.

Thankfully that phase of my pregnancy only lasted three weeks because the seafood was getting expensive!

I was really jealous to read Andrea’s morning sickness went away at week 11.

I didn’t shake morning sickness until week 15 1/2, and I didn’t discover Diclectin until my first OB appoint at week 12. I wished I knew about Diclectin five weeks earlier!

At week 10 we returned to Vancouver for the Olympics, but it felt like I spent most of the time in bed or camped in front of the TV.

I’m happily in my second trimester now and finally enjoying pregnancy. I have more energy, I can eat more foods, finally look pregnant not just oddly thick in the middle, and feeling the baby move sometimes makes it more real… alien-like but real.

Next week we’re off to Jamaica for a beach holiday… our last holiday alone as a couple. I wanted to lie on a beautiful warm beach and do absolutely nothing while my future responsibilities are still inside of me… rather than on the outside screaming and crying!

With all the travels I do, my OB recommended I buy these medial flight socks to prevent veins and swelling but holy-expensive! They were $140 but happily they really do work and I would highly recommend them to other mommies-to-be.

Thanks for reading my first mommy-to-be posting and I’ll try not to be so lengthy next time!

I’m really excited the new Sunnybrook wing is opening up before my due date as we live right around the corner and it sounds like it will be an amazing facility… if only my baby can hang on for the last nine days of its term… or at least until September 12th! Fingers crossed!

Cheers,
Ginny

A Little About Me, First Trimester Hurdles, and First Appointment Scare

First off, let me tell you a little about myself so you know who you are dealing with here. My name is Andrea Van Wieringen. I am 30-years-old and live and work in Toronto. I am happily married to Chris and have a beautiful 15-month-old daughter named Grace. I work in the commercial real estate field.

Okay...now let me tell you what you really should know about me: I grew up in a microscopic town (I really shouldn’t even call it a “town”) called Pontypool in the Kawartha Lakes where I had to sit on a bus for an hour to get to school, where field parties were where it was at, and the closest grocery store was a 25 minute drive away.

I was the middle child, and my parents would agree that I lived up to the idea that middle children can be “trouble." Let’s just say that I wasn’t an angel during my teenage years.

I eat endless amounts of candy and really believe that I could eat pizza everyday without ever getting sick of it. I am an avid reader...I mean borderline obsessed.

And oh yeah!...I am pregnant with my second child…hence, spilling all of my guts to you in this blog…now let’s get down to it:

I am currently in my 15th week of pregnancy and feeling great! Finally! There was a month there where I really felt like the walking dead. I felt so horrible. Luckily, the morning sickness magically disappeared the second I hit 11 weeks.

Then there was the fatigue.



Whoa!!! It really is horrible having to put every ounce of energy you have into staying awake!

Fortunately, I didn’t get fired from my job for disturbing my colleagues with loud snores or anything of that nature – and I am happy to report that the fatigue disappeared. Yay!

I had my first appointment with my OB the end of March. Here’s what happened: I could barely sleep the night before because I was so excited to hear my baby’s heartbeat. It’s just such a reassuring sound you know? Peace of mind.

Anyways, there I am at my appointment lying on the table while my OB searches for the heartbeat for like two hours (ok...maybe I’m exaggerating...it was more like two minutes...but it sure seemed like two hours!) and finds NOTHING!

As if this is happening to me! All I could think was that there must be something wrong, like a miscarriage! Upon seeing my distress, my OB sent me for an ultrasound immediately following this whole charade.

Well, what do you know? There, on the screen is my baby, and he/she is doing just fine, hanging out in my uterus like it’s a Club Med resort...and look at that…the heart is beating!

Okay, let this be a lesson. Your OB may not be able to find the heartbeat at 12 weeks, and if that is the case, do not have a heart attack. Everything is probably fine.

This pregnancy is different from my last in that I am going into it knowing I will be having a c-section. This brings me great relief. I feel this way because I am beyond terrified at the thought of pushing a baby out of me.

Have you heard of or seen the show "A Baby Story,"on TLC? Well I think I've watched one too many episodes of women horrifically screaming while giving birth that it really and truly traumatized me.

I was so intent on this c-section business that I even asked my OB to do one regardless. However, I was lucky enough to have my daughter remain in the breech position throughout my whole pregnancy, and therefore the need for my previous c-section.

I wonder if I somehow “willed” her into staying like that or perhaps she was just an extremely cooperative baby in the womb?? Who knows. I can tell you though that c-sections are wonderful...or at least mine was...thanks in part to the wonderful staff at Sunnybrook.

My next appointment with my OB is in a week, and I can’t wait. Hopefully this time there will be no issue finding the heartbeat. Please cross your fingers for me.

Meet our mommy bloggers

Mommy #1: Virginia Morgan

Due Date at Sunnybrook: September 19, 2010
Partner: Tony Morgan

Best thing so far about being pregnant? Boobs! I finally have boobs! :) On a more serious note: working from home more often and more ice cream!

Worst thing so far about being pregnant? Morning sickness, food aversions especially ground beef - I LOVE food and spaghetti and meatballs!

Pregnancy Cravings: Bologna and processed cheese sandwiches (which I haven't eaten), lots of apple pie, anything I see on TV that's not ground beef!

Mommy #2: Andrea Van Wieringen

Due Date at Sunnybrook: October 11, 2010
Partner: Chris Van Allen

Best thing about being pregnant so far: It's a tie between three things I'd have to say - the anticipation about meeting my new baby in September/October, knowing that my little girl is going to have a sibling and the guilt-free eating.

The worst thing so far about being pregnant: Tie between two things: the morning sickness/extreme fatigue experienced earlier and that in-between stage where I don't look pregnant, but rather look like I've ate one too many ice cream sandwiches.

Pregnancy cravings: Kraft Dinner, pizza and candy

Welcome to Mother's Touch!

Ready, set, go...

You've taken the pregnancy test (maybe several if you were anything like me - who gets tired of seeing those "+" signs and double lines and, hey, it's good to be sure!), confirmed with your doctor and have been given the all important "due date".

Now what?

The months to come are some of the most exciting, anxious and surprising you'll ever experience, all culminating with a very small new addition to your family. We've found a couple of women who share something in common: they're pregnant, due in Fall 2010* at Sunnybrook and have agreed to blog about their pregnancy journey.

* On September 12, 2010, Sunnybrook's obstetrical program, aka the "Women & Babies Program", will move from downtown Toronto at 76 Grenville Street to a fabulous new home at 2075 Bayview Avenue!

Congratulations to Virginia and Andrea and happy blogging!