Pregnant. Finally.

Today, after a miserable night, I went searching through my blog archives. Long term readers know this, but I was hospitalised while pregnant with Isaac, with fears of preterm labour (short story: 24 weeks pregnant, lost mucus plug, positive fetal fibronectin test, steroids, antibiotics, 3 days in hospital for observation).

I knew that I was about this pregnant when it happened, but I couldn’t remember all of the details. You see, I’d bled on and off through the entire pregnancy to that point, so one more period of bleeding wasn’t entirely a memorable event. Only what happened afterwards is what sticks in my mind.

I’ve been having braxton hicks contractions for the last few weeks, but they’ve intensified in the last couple of days. No major cramping, they’re merely uncomfortable and not coupled with any bleeding, or true signs of labour.

As I was reading back through my archives, my blog was able to tell me that the braxton hicks contractions started at about the same time with Isaac’s pregnancy. That at 27 weeks they were uncomfortable and irregular. That he was still born full term, after two weeks of serious prelabour.

This is reassuring.

When people tell first time mothers to write everything down because they’ll forget, we scoff in disdain. What is happening to us is SO IMPORTANT that there is no way we’d forget any of it. Six years later I look back on Amy’s pregnancy to find myself hazy on the details. I know I was sick. I know the nausea came back with its friends, exhaustion and joint pain at about 22 weeks. I remember being incredibly miserable.

But I can’t remember the details like when braxton hicks contractions got uncomfortable and how badly my ribs ached when my uterus forced them to stretch.

It’s why I’m grateful that I blogged the pregnancy with Isaac, so that I can refer back to it this time.

So far, this pregnancy seems a perfect mix of both full term pregnancies I’ve had. The nausea, pain and exhaustion have increased in the last few weeks. The braxton hicks contractions are uncomfortable, but not a sign of anything greater. My ribs continue to ache and my skin is breaking out and I’m spending a lot of time laying on my bed with a book.

All in all, things look perfectly on track to finish in the same way I gestated and birthed Amy and Isaac.

While I’m nauseous and exhausted and crampy, knowing that this happened last time too (and the result of that pregnancy is draped over my lap right now, stroking my hair) is reassuring. I’m not going mad and I’m not going into preterm labour. I’m just not very good at pregnancy.

So I’ll follow the advice of my midwives from previous pregnancies. I will make sure I’m only doing light things around the house. I will rest lots and I will eat good food as often as I can. I will medicate as necessary and I will drink as much water as I can hold without audibly sloshing.

And, it should all be okay.

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New this week:

My uterus reached the level of my ribs and has been pushing on them steadily, causing all sorts of havoc and mayhem. Namely dislocated ribs that either cause me to throw myself at Nathan’s feet wailing “FIX ITTTT”, or leap to my feet to relocate the ribs under my breasts so that I can continue to breathe. Fun times, fun times.

The rising level of my uterus is also promoting large amounts of reflux, extra nausea and a need to sleep propped up on four separate pillows, and that’s not counting the pillows supporting my hips. Which also hurt.

Have I mentioned pregnancy when you’ve got Ehlers Danlos is not much fun?

On the flip side, no symptoms of pre-term labour, or bleeding. So really, all the important bits are happening how they should.

Isaac finally felt his sister kick – but only because she kicked him in the head while he was trying to get a cuddle. I laughed. He wasn’t impressed.

I expect most blogging from now on will be done from bed with a laptop however, sitting up in my computer chair is getting progressively more uncomfortable. My blood pressure insists on regularly bottoming out, meaning that my feet need to be raised most of the time and it’s just miserable.

I’m holding onto the fact that at the end of this, I get a baby, all going well. I’ll be happier once I hit 27 weeks and happier again to hit 34. Til then, day by day.

And now I need a nap.

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This is also the post in which I start wearing proper maternity wear and remembering how comfortable it is. Why was I not introduced to maternity leggings a MONTH AGO? Internet, you’ve been slack.

Even better, the leggings were super cheap, because I refuse to pay anything over $20 for something I’m not going to be able to wear again. So, pffft to you, boutique maternity wear stores, with your $150 jeans and $80 tshirts.

I also made the move to a maternity bra this week. While they’re not as supportive as my adored regular bras, there is something to be said for both being able to breathe and not ending the day with underwire marks.

Fetal expansion is well underway, with last week’s ultrasound showing both that the baby is a GIRL, and that she is growing perfectly on track with my dates. This is something that is both fantastic, and confusing, because the other two kidlets always measured between a week and two weeks behind. It’s possible I am actually a little further along than I think I am – but it’s not a huge issues. She will be out when she’s ready.

Exhibit II – my belly button is popping out. The upside of this is that my belly button is sparkling clean, all of the time. The downside is that it feels weird and the kids like to poke it.

While I don’t have any new stretch marks, you can see the ones left by Isaac and I’m sure they’ll start growing again soon. If I’m really lucky, they’ll continue on the same path and I’ll end up with stretchmarks that look like flames. Or zebra stripes – I can’t quite decide which.

Stomach is also a strange shape. I blame those pesky internal organs, who insist on rearranging themselves around the baby.

Internet, I feel very large for 21 weeks.

New this week is reflux that is so bad I can’t physically function until it eases. I’m on a PPI for the floppy gastric system, but even Nexium is having a hard time keeping on top of this. Antacids are vaguely helpful, but the sensation of someone stabbing me in the breastbone and twisting the knife is not something I’m enjoying.

If you’ve got any remedies for reflux, I’d love to hear them. Otherwise, how is your Sunday going?

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