I've been MIA for a while, mostly because I'm really busy and also because I'm so exhausted I still don't have the energy to do much after a full work day, which is a problem when you've got a rambunctious three year old, but we manage just fine.
Anywho, things have been okay. I got through most of the Yom Kippur fast without a problem. I had some unfortunate timing with a very delayed onset of morning sickness, so I started the day throwing up, but I'm fine now. At about 2pm, I started drinking a sip of water every 9 minutes, so as not to fully break the fast. This is the one fast that's next to impossible to get out of, so I'm glad it was relatively painless.
What was NOT fun, however, was that I started bleeding really heavily Sunday night, after my husband had already left for shul. The cramping was horrifying and the bleeding just wouldn't stop for a couple hours, and I really wasn't sure if this was the same ol' same ol', and I shouldn't worry, or if this was something new and worth worrying about. Since it slowed down within a few hours, I didn't pull my husband out of shul, but I was severely displeased. This did not put me in a particuarly good mindset for teshuva (atonement, for lack of a better translation).
I had an OB appointment this morning, and I got to hear the heartbeat, which is pretty cool. The OB said, "The heartrate is about 170, which I think means you're having, um, a girl. Or a boy. I can't remember which." No matter, I replied, because I'm definitely having a boy. All the men in my husband's family have sons, with one anomalous exception, plus I kinda want a girl, which totally means we're having a boy.
Near the end of the visit I asked the doctor how to know when I should worry. I mean, I've been bleeding for over 10 weeks, so this is nothing new, right? But it was pretty heavy and the cramping was pretty horrifying (though admittedly tolerable), so how do I know whether it's something new and worrisome? Well, it's probably nothing. Not too uncommon to experience bleeding in the first trimester. I'm almost 12 weeks, so still a bit to go. But, he said, why don't we get an ultrasound and see if there's a cause for it, eh? Fantabulous. I hadn't been planning on having an ultrasound today, but hey, I got to see the little parasite, so what more can I ask for?
When I got to the ultrasound room, the sonographer asked me if I'd ever had a transvaginal ultrasound. Are you kidding me? I've had like, 50. At least. Maybe more. It was pretty neat. It finally looked like a little creature and not some weird little blob. I could even see fingers and toes! He cooperated and gave a few little waves and kicks of his feet and he measured at exactly 11 1/2 weeks, which is exactly right. So it's all good. Mostly.
The kidlet looks great. But there <i>is</i> a reason for all the bleeding. I have a subchorionic bleed, which isn't a big deal, but there's nothing to be done until it's done bleeding. Eventually, it'll stop and that's all there is to it. Meanwhile, I shouldn't be doing too much heavy lifting or strenuous exercise or whatnot. So probably the apple/tomato picking on Sunday wasn't a brilliant idea (I picked and carried 20lbs of tomotoes, 20 pounds of apples, plus I bought and carried four small pumpkins, a medium sized pumpkin, two large spaghetti squashes, four pounds of sweet potatoes, six bunches of Indian corn, and a batch of basil). Meh. At least I know for next time.
The doctor thought everything (other than the bleed, and that's not too worrisome) looked fabulous on the ultrasound, and he's thrilled with where things are right now. Not without a little drama, but you know, a drama-less pregnancy wouldn't be mine. All in all, I've had it pretty easy. Not much morning sickness, just cramping, bleeding, and unbelievable exhaustion. None of the funky scary symptoms that show up in pregnancy books, no weird diseases... it's all good. So far, so good, as they say.
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