Fourteen weeks pregnant, they say you start to feel “normal” again. Which is a relief because I don’t remember what “normal feels like. Throughout my fourteenth week however, normalcy hasn’t really come back. I was blessed without much nausea, but the exhaustion hit me full fledge this pregnancy and I’m still feeling it. I sleep plus hours a night, and still battle with extreme fatigue while at work. Working forty hour weeks is really taking a toll, and I sleep almost all weekend long.
The biggest change this week has been the awful pains I get when I move too fast or sneeze. The pain is excruciating, although only lasting thirty seconds or so. It’s apparently a completely normal pain induced by the round ligaments stretching to accommodate the growing little alien inside. Changing positions, getting up, or sneezing causes them, and I’m literally doubled over for the duration. Luckily, its short lived, and I’m able to move on with no lingering pain just moments after it strikes.
Although sleeping has become a frequent pastime, actually staying asleep is a different story. The frequent bathroom trips were one issue, but the lack of comfort is now creeping up. I’ve hogged every pillow on the bed, one for my knees, one for my side, one under my head, one to hug onto. The pillow hogging is getting ridiculous, and the poor other half is left with one pillow (if he’s lucky). Usually, I wake up to him wrestling a pillow that I’ve stolen from beneath me.
Staying hydrated has proven to be a challenge. My cardiologist instructed me to drink 1.5-2L of water a day. I have a hard time swallowing down one, and I feel like I’m literally drinking all day long. I can tell when I’m dehydrated because my heart flutters uncontrollably. (Thank you SVT!) I’m definitely not looking forward to being pregnant throughout the summer, as from my short experience everything is more miserable when you are pregnant. I’m sure the heat will be one of those miserable things. Luckily, I’ll only be just getting huge when the summer is ending.
Baby bump still hasn’t emerged yet, much to my dismay. I’m tired of just looking thicker, and hoping to start looking like I don’t just have a beer belly! Although, gaining weight has been a very scary thought to me, being that I started pregnancy overweight (even after a 30 pound weight loss). I’ve been managing weight gain by avoiding sugary drinks and fattening foods, and filling up on mostly fruits. I do however; give into little more cravings than I should (chocolate….).
Next week is another appointment, but no ultrasound for me, and another six weeks until I can find out what this little alien is going to be!
