What I Know Now: Week 22

I started these "What I Know Now" posts at 18 weeks planning to do them every 4 weeks until Baby S arrives. I totally stole this idea from Oh Brooke's blog. I cannot believe that 4 weeks have passed already. So here is what I know now at 22 weeks.

1. Cravings can come, go, change, come and go again. My newest obsession is salad, or any fresh vegetables for that matter. I have been having this salad for about two weeks now at lunch: mixed greens (from a co-worker at my husband's office who grows/sells her own), cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes and sunflower seeds. Once in while I'll throw some chickpeas on there. Mmm..chickpeas. And mini carrots?! WATCH OUT. I'm hoping all of these vegetables translate into Baby S being a good eater ;) Oh but it would only be fair to also mention that my craving for sugar has appeared. I downed 3/4 of a box of Trix in the past 24 hours. And I wonder why I'm on the high end of weight gain!

2. I also think it is interesting how people's opinions on what is good advice or what a good book is varies. For example, Baby 411 (which I haven't read) was both recommended to read and to stay away from. Funny. I was talking with my friend JP who had a baby 5 weeks ago and she had the same thing to say about Breastfeeding with Confidence, which a friend gave her with rave reviews. She said she threw the book out at 3 AM one day. "Do NOT read this book" she said. (Her actual story about this was way more entertaining.) I do like (and often solicit) advice but it is funny how varied and different it all is.

3. This sort of follows along with #2. Although I enjoy reading pregnancy books, I take everything with a grain of salt. I learned this way earlier than 22 weeks when I wasn't exactly having all of the symptoms at the time points suggested in the books. I find it WAY more helpful actually talking with people who have had babies, especially recently. I think I learned more in a 30 minute conversation with JP than in reading 5 books. Again, everyone is different and just because one person had an experience doesn't mean that I will, but I still like to hear personal stories. This led me to craft this whole book idea during one night's insomnia episode. Maybe I WON'T go back to work and try to sell my book idea instead, ha ha ha.

4. It helps to have your mom on speeddial. I have talked to my mom way more than I did in the past (and it already was a lot) since being pregnant. See previous post. In some ways, this has also freaked me out because once you become a mother, you are forever a mother - no matter if your kid is 2 or 29.

5. Baby S will now kick you! The movements is becoming increasingly stronger and more frequent. And sometimes, they even annoy me depending on the location and intensity of them. My husband has felt the baby move a lot, and JN felt it when we were over there for dinner. A few nights ago my sister was staying at our house and I asked her if she wanted to feel - 2 seconds later, her niece/nephew gave her a good kick. "WOAH". It is still really weird to think of something living inside of me. Sometimes if I think too much about it, I start to feel a little lightheaded. The Belly Book journal that I have been filling out asked when I first felt the baby move, when I first felt the baby hiccup and when I first felt the baby kick. I wasn't aware that hiccups were suppossed to feel different so I don't really know when that first started. There are these distinct movements that feel like the baby is doing a somersault or flip in my belly - maybe that's a hiccup?

6. I don't know how single mothers go through this. I am very spoiled and I like it that way :) My friend CD and I were just talking about this as well - she in terms of having a one year old. I am so thankful for my husband, our families and friends who have been such an amazing support thus far. Pre-pregnancy, I was pretty spoiled by my husband but having a baby inside me really upped the ante. My friend CH told me early on that pregnancy is the only time it's all about you because once the baby comes, everyone's attention turns to the baby. I have found this to be very true - everyone sort of treats you nicely and is always asking you how you are doing when you are pregnant. This is definitely one thing I enjoy about pregnancy.

7. Even though I have a little belly, I still cannot fathom having a big one. I went to a baby shower last weekend. JR is 8 mos pregnant and measuring large. I just kept looking at her thinking, "I can't imagine being THAT pregnant" even though I know it's coming! Little by little, more of my pre-pregnancy clothes are NOT fitting.

8. Every day I look at my body with fascination/horror. My preggo friend HC recently emailed that it is weird to watch your body go through so many transformations. And even though I sometimes whine about pregnancy being SOO long, these changes happen so quickly. I think my feet are starting to swell already. Oh jesus.

9. Women who have given birth always say that once you are in labor, you have no more shame about anything about your body - you just want the baby out. I think this might already start with pregnancy. I talk about things that I wouldn't normally talk to certain people about. For example, yesterday I was talking to my boss (a female with 2 kids) about cervixes and boobs. Definitely not a conversation I would have had with her pre-pregnancy. Consider yourself warned...

10. Running is becoming more laborious (pun intended). I don't know that I will make it to 40 weeks. My pregnancy 5K is tomorrow. I have a feeling it is going to be a train wreck.

11. You sweat like a mother when you are pregnant (pun intended, again). I imagine with the coming summer months this is only going to get worse. My mother and a woman from the upholstery store were telling me stories about laying naked or nearly naked under a fan when they were pregnant to try to cool down. Oh boy.

12. I have been trying to practice good posture, but it is really hard not to walk with your belly sticking out.

13. JUST ASK THE DOCTOR. I don't know why but I feel like if I ask a question or call the doctor's office it is dumb. It's that independent streak in me, I guess. But if I would have called the doctor's office about allergy medication WHILE I was actually having the allergies, I would have felt relief much sooner. By the time I actually asked about it and found out Claritin was ok, I wasn't really suffering from allergies anymore. Same with the round ligament pain. Instead of freaking out for 3 hours, I could have called and calmed down way sooner. Lesson learned...I think.