Getting Big

Even though I've been thin most of my life, I've always been pretty conscious about my weight and my body. But, I really wasn't too worried about gaining weight during the pregnancy because I figured I probably wouldn't gain that much since I was thin to begin with. Well, turns out, since we found out about the pregnancy, I've gained about 10 pounds. 10 pounds in 14 weeks. 7 of those pounds were gained in about 3.5 weeks, which according to the doctor is about 3-4 pounds above average. Great, just the area where I wanted to be above average.

Every single book or article I've read about being pregnant keeps saying, " you probably still fit into your regular clothes now," and "you won't be needing maternity clothes for a few more months." At 14 weeks, they finally say "your belly is just starting to pop now and your pants are starting to feel tight." Um, yeah, that happened to me like a few weeks ago. I officially cannot fit into any of my pants, except for one pair of jeans, which has spandex in it. All of my button-down shirts are too small because of my enormous breasts. So, I pretty much feel just fat. Not really pregnant because my belly doesn't have that pregnant shape, and isn't quite that big yet. So, I just feel like a big, no-waisted person. With big boobs.

I haven't been able to bring myself to buy any maternity clothes yet. The pants totally sick me out with their huge elastic bands. So, instead, I resorted to spending $26 a piece at Pea in the Pod for 2 "belly sashes," which are basically just bands of spandex that you wear over your unbuttoned pants. Ridiculous price, I know, but way better than having to buy maternity pants, which are no bargain either. Or having to just continually buy bigger sized pants. Well, thank goodness for Rampage and Forever 21. My two new favorite stores. The only downside to shopping there is having to admit it when people compliment you on your outfit and ask where you got it.

Heartbeat

On Monday we had a doctor's appointment and were able to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time. This was a cool event, but not the mind-blowing, heart-fluttering thing all the books describe it to be. Probably because we've already seen the baby 3 times on ultrasound due to the initial scares we had during the first trimester. The last one was especially cool because we could really make out the baby: its head, body, limbs, digits and features! We got the classic ultrasound photo of the baby in profile with its hand near its face. So, that was very, very awesome. The heartbeat just sounded like someone blowing repeatedly into a microphone. But, good to know it's beating normally.

In a few weeks we will be going for some prenatal testing. AFP screening where they test for down's syndrome and other potential defects/abnormalities. Not too nervous about it yet. We've decided that if the baby has Down's we will terminate the pregnancy. Of course, this is a much easier thing for us to say than to actually go through with, I'm sure. For now, I'm not thinking about it much and just carrying on as usual.