Pregnancy / Health Update
With my hands cupping my womb, I could feel the baby moving around last night! The date would be just past 16 weeks pregnancy/14 weeks after conception. So far, I can only feel movement with my hands. I can’t feel it in my body yet. When I wake up each morning, a big bump sticks up when I lie on my back, but during the rest of the day, it sort of hides. (To clarify, my stomach doesn’t hide - just the womb. LOL)
I have my maternity clothes ready to go. I ordered some new things online. I hope they won’t make me look too hideous this time around. Fortunately, this was the first time I could buy tall maternity pants. What a relief! I still wear my regular shirts, and I can comfortably button at least three pairs of my non-maternity pants, but that won’t last much longer. I recently got out my box of stored maternity clothes and made a ‘keep’ pile and a ‘give-away’ pile. It is funny how the pants style has changed so much in just six years – not only the legs, but the back pockets of jeans. I had a great laugh at myself when I tried on some of my old maternity mom-jeans. If you think regular mom-jeans are bad, you should have seen these! The scariest thing is that they are in the ‘keep’ pile until I have the energy to go shopping for a couple more pairs in a nearby city. To my knowledge, there are ZERO places to buy maternity clothes locally. Sad, really. What do pregnant women do?
We stopped at a furniture store last night to look at their rocker/recliners. The one I used for my last baby was a very old chair that came from my grandparents. Years ago, we dragged the matching one to the end of the road on Big Garbage Day after one of the kids threw up on it. Both chairs were worn out anyway. I didn’t find a new one that I liked, but we only went to one place. There is lots of time. Then again, it’s hard to believe that in only a few short weeks, I will be half-way through this pregnancy. Yikes!
I have a new extra-tall bed rail ready for our king-size bed, and I bought new foam wedges for nursing in bed. These are two of my most needed baby items. My wish list also includes new slings, a wrap-around nursing pillow, a dresser for baby clothes, etc.
My eight-year-old daughter is knitting a blanket for the new baby. At first, she chose pink yarn, but she was encouraged to get white in case it’s not a girl! I’ll take a boy and/or a girl, but she would LOVE to have a sister. After all, when we thought she was getting a girl kitten, it turned out to be a boy when we took her to get spayed. LOL
This has been by far my most difficult pregnancy – both physically and emotionally.
Emotionally: Pregnancy following miscarriage is extremely stressful. I never expected it to be so hard. I also have worries of my husband’s job insecurity and the threat of moving hanging over my head.
Physically: I am thankful that the 24-hour morning sickness began to slowly ease at 11 weeks, and the last couple weeks have been much better. It was a rough first trimester. In the fall, I was feeling quite well most of the time, but within just a couple weeks of the pregnancy, the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome that I have battled since I was sixteen years old kicked in big time. I didn’t expect to have such debilitating fatigue with this pregnancy. I am particularly grateful for two things in this regard:
#1 I had the house renovations and house cleaning completely ready just days before I became pregnant. That makes me feel sooooooo much better, because even though I can’t keep up, and I am getting behind with the housekeeping, it is not as overwhelming as it would have been. I pray for strength to be able to cope if we have to move, and also for the basic nesting that I need to do.
#2 As always, I am very thankful for our homeschooling method. It has been so flexible over the many years of ups and downs with my health. The three oldest children are capable of doing their schoolwork with minimum or even no help from me if necessary. I do not fret over my five-year-old because I know there is lots of time, and as long as he continues to learn a little phonics and math facts here and there, he will do just as well as his brothers and sister. There were many times I was physically unable to put much into homeschooling over the years, yet the children are doing great.
I haven’t been very chatty on my blog lately because I am just too tired. I have mostly been posting links and quotes with the occasional commentary.
One interesting change in my lifestyle has occurred after an appointment with another naturopath. I have searched for health answers since I was a teenager. I have tried many, many things – sometimes with good results, but most of the time, nothing helped. During the past few months, I have been desperate to find answers. I don’t know if this time will make the difference, but I am giving it my full effort, even if it kills me. So, with the goal of achieving better health, I have gone vegan! In the past, I was familiar with the vegetable juicing and vegetable smoothies and nut milk and all, but I have never completely eliminated meat/fish/eggs/dairy at the same time before (still using butter). I am also doing no-sugar again. It has been eighteen days, and I have seen no improvement, and unfortunately some negative effects. I will stick with it religiously for a while yet, and I hope to keep at least some of the new habits for the rest of my life. The children have been doing great as well. They are not eating vegan or even vegetarian, but their diets have improved greatly with a salad almost every day and no junk – yet. Over the years, we have gone through many times of eating healthy and eating poorly. I have always found it very discouraging when a strict healthy diet did nothing for my health. Hopefully, this time will be different.
I haven’t been doing too much during the past few months except trying to cope. One helpful thing has been our amazing winter! I have never seen a winter with such little snow and such great weather. We are having another sunny day, and the forecast is amazing! I haven’t had the strength to enjoy being outside, but in many ways, the weather has been very encouraging.
Hmmm… what else would you like to know? 
About The Author
Hi Carol! I just came across your blog while researching spanking. And, I LOVE IT!!!! Wow, we are kindred spirits in many ways.
I have health problems as well as a result of Lyme Disease. Have you ever been tested for it? It is sometimes hard to diagnose, as there is a high rate of false-negatives with the test. Many people get tick bites without even knowing it. That was the case with me. Anyway, it might be worth looking into…
Another thing I wanted to mention is your new vegan diet. Typically, vegans are very unhealthy people. We need those good, healthy fats (especially during pregnancy!!)…
Blessings to you!!
Casey Staats
Awww! I remember the first time I could feel Hannah move.
I always feel my babies move IN my body first… and usually around 13 weeks pregnant. My doctor didn’t believe me, but *I* know that’s what I feel!
I absolutely love a rocker recliner for babies. I’ve had one for the last four. I would never be without one, now. They’re awesome.
I know how hard it is to have a pregnancy after a miscarriage. I was so afraid to bond with Hannah in the womb, because I thought I would lose her, too. But the second she was born… wow. I’ll remember that moment forever.
I’ll never be vegan – like my grass-fed beef too much
– but I do understand being off foods. My naturopath has me off of some different ones that I tested “allergic” to, and also the ones that Hannah tested “allergic” to. Hopefully it helps.
Glad to hear your morning sickness is getting better!
Hi Casey. Lovely to meet you. Sorry you have health problems. Not fun. Thanks for the info, and thanks for commenting. I have been researching health and wellness for about 22 years, and it seems I haven’t found two people who agree. It’s a little frustrating.
I never dreamed or wanted or planned on trying the vegan diet. EVER. I could have easily been the one to say, “I’ll never be vegan.” For that matter, I had no intention of ever eating vegetarian. I have always been described as a protein burner. This pregnancy (due to extreme nausea when smelling meat and feeling revolted when eating it) seemed to be a first step, then I was led to this new naturopath, and then to agree to try the vegan thing. There is no doubt that it is a huge nutritional improvement in the way I’ve been eating during this pregnancy. I have always been lactose intolerant anyway. I am getting lots of fats, protein, and Vitamin B12 – all concerns for vegan pregnancies. I am extremely conscientious about diet and pregnancy. I don’t believe vegans are more unhealthy than other people. I will likely continue what I am doing for a few more weeks and have the naturopath check my blood again. If I feel better and if the test results are improved, then great! If not, then I am back to square one.
Hi Adeena. Thanks for the comments.
Carol, you probably already know this, but just in case: it is normal to have detox symptoms when switching to vegan, perhaps that is why it seems like there is no improvement. Just a thought. Praying for you.
Oh and if you make smoothies, put flax oil or ground flax in them, great healthy fat. And don’t forget your avocadoes. (sp?) Also, I put goji berries in them–protein off the charts!
Thanks. I have green smoothies twice a day and each time I add 1 Tbsp. flax oil and 1 Tbsp. ground flax seeds. Thanks for the other hints.