Week 8

Well, I'm in week eight now. Haven't been feeling too well. I'm experiencing extreme fatigue and nausea. Yesterday and the day before I had a low grade fever with chills and aching. I called my doctor to see if i could come in soon and I found out that he doesn't deliver babies anymore. Talking about making a bad feeling worse! He was the most awesome doctor. Why couldn't he wait a little while longer before deciding that. I mean this is going to be my last one. Anyway, the nurse told me that what I was experiencing was normal and to stay in the bed for the rest of the weekend. I am to call them on Monday to see who he reccomends and if they will take my insurance. This just sucks!! When is it going to get easier, so I can enjoy this pregnancy? I feel so bad, it is hard to get my school-work done. Housework has just halted. Tim was suppose to clean today, but has gone to be in a golf tournament. He gets to have all of the fun. >:-[ Men should bare more of a burden during pregnancy. I sucks so bad to have to lie in bed all day because when you get up you can't breathe and feel like you are going to collapse. I hope I get better soon, I can't take it much longer.

Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to me! It has been 8 years since Tim and I tied the knot. 13 years since our first kiss. :) We don't have anything planned today. I asked him last night what we were going to do and he said, "I guess we will just sit around and stare at each other." We would do something, but between our funding and me being so sick I have to force myself out of bed, our options are limited. He did give me a very cute card though. He is a wonderful husband and I love him more now than ever!

Week 7

• Elbows form - Again, taking a peek inside you could see your baby's fascination with bending and flexing. Later you will swear you can enlist your child as the star of the next "Karate Kid" movie!
  


• Fingers start to develop - These digits often become your baby's first toy!
  Feet start to appear with tiny notches for the toes - It is fascinating that at less than a half inch, your little guy (or gal) already is leaving "footprints" on your heart!
  


• Ears eyes and nose start to appear - Although they may resemble an alien life form, these all "shift" soon enough into a more normal appearance.
  


• Intestines start to form in the umbilical cord - Did you know that initially the intestines are not formed inside your baby's body?
  


• Teeth begin to develop under the gums - Thankfully, right now you won't be dealing with teething pain!

Iron

Today was a better day. The first day in a while that I actually felt like getting out. I had been putting off going to the health department to get an official test for my insurance so I can go to the doctor. Today I did just that. I was searching last night to see if I could find anything on how I have been feeling. Well, what I found backed up what I had a hunch was the problem. Mostly what I found led all my symptoms to being anemic or not getting enough iron. So last night Tim made me eat one of his healthy cereals that is iron fortified. That may be why I felt better today. :) I'm still nauseous, but not quite as crappy-feeling as I have been. To top that off, the health department gave me some iron pills to take as well. Hopefully, that will make me feel better from now on. Now, just need to tackle my ever-turning stomach...

Bad Day

Today was my worst day yet. I had to force myself to get up this morning to make Tim his lunch. It was literally painful. I felt like I had a stomach virus or something, I was so nauseous. Also, my head was pounding. I eventually had to lay back down. It would not go away for anything. Finally, I had to force some food down. After about 40 mins. of keeping it down, I started to feel a little better. I still felt incredibly weak. What the heck is wrong with me. Am I carrying a boy this time, because my girls did not do me this way. Do pregnancy symptoms get worse with age? Tim came home for a few minutes on his lunch break today and saw how bad I was. He said that he was going to get a vasectomy so I don't have to go through this again. LOL He is much more sympathetic this time around than he was with the other two. I guess that comes with age too.

Week 6

Head and Neck

Jaw and facial muscles are now developing. The nasofrontal groove becomes distinct and an olfactory bulb (sense of smell) forms in the brain. Auricular (ear) hillocks become recognizable. The dental laminae or teeth buds begin to form.The pituitary, which is the master gland responsible for growth of hormones that regulate other glands, such as the thyroid, adrenal glands, gonad) begins to form.Trachea, the larynx and the bronchi begin to form.

Thorax

The heart begins to separate into four chambers. Diaphragm, the tissue that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen, forms.

Abdomen

Intestines begin to develop within the umbilical cord and will later migrate into the abdomen when the embryo's body is large enough to accommodate them.PelvisPrimitive germ cells arrive at the genital area and will respond to genetic instructions to develop into either female or male genitals.

Limbs

Hand region of upper limb bud differentiates further to form a central carpal part and a digital plate. The thigh (rostrolateral part), leg (the caudomedial part) and foot areas can be distinguished in the lower limb buds. Digital rays in appear in the foot plates and finger rays are more distinct.

Spine

Trunk becomes straighter.

Pregnancy Symptoms

Here is a list of symptoms I have had up until this point:

• Irritability
• Breast Tenderness
• Nausea
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Sleeplessness
• Lower Back Pain
• Side Twinges
• An abundance of CM
• Feeling of faint
• Emotional (crying)
• Bloating
• Acne
• Congestion

Not all necessarily in that order, but most within the last week.

Depression

Pregnancy is known as being a time of elated joy in a woman’s life. Even though she might experience some mood swings because of the changes in her hormones, on the whole pregnant women are happy. And for the most part this idyllic picture is correct. However, for an estimated 10% to 20% of pregnant women, their perfect time is overshadowed by depression.
Possible Triggers Depression during pregnancy can be caused by a number of things. Hormones may be to blame, but there are other factors that can affect a woman’s mood and outlook during pregnancy. Here are some of the main risk factors for developing depression during pregnancy.

• a personal or family history of depression x
  
• experiencing an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy x
  
• dealing with marital or financial problems x
  
• going through significant life changes, like the death of a relative or changing jobs
  
• experiencing medical problems or complications with the pregnancy
  
• suffering a previous pregnancy loss x
  

The Warning Signs

It is important to recognize and be able to distinguish pregnancy depression from mood swings. While mood swings can make you feel low or sad at times, it is not the same as depression. Once you are able to identify the symptoms of depression, you can begin to seek help. Some of the most common signs of depression are:

• trouble concentrating x
  
• extreme anxiety x
  
• extremely irritable x
  
• troubles sleeping or insomnia x
  
• fatigue x
  
• change in eating habits
  
• loss of interest or pleasure in activities you use to enjoy x
  
• exaggerated mood swings x
  
• constant sadness x
  
• thoughts of hurting yourself or others
  

Pregnancy depression is most common during the first trimester and towards the end of pregnancy.

Getting Help

It is important to receive help and treatment for your pregnancy depression. If left untreated, it could get worse. Additionally, experiencing depression in pregnancy puts you at a higher risk of developing postpartum depression. Seeking help now may help prevent it. If you recognize yourself in the list of symptoms and have been experiencing them for more than two weeks, then make an appointment with your health care provider. If you have thoughts about hurting yourself or others, suffer from panic attacks or are having troubles coping with your daily responsibilities, contact your health care provider immediately.

Treatment

There are a variety of treatments available to women suffering from depression during pregnancy. Depending on the severity of your depression, you may have to take antidepressants. If you are concerned about the safety of the drug, rest assured that many have been deemed safe for use by pregnant women. Regardless, be sure to discuss any apprehensions you have over the medication with your health care provider. Your health care provider may also recommend psychotherapy for your depression. If your depression is mild to moderate, your treatment may simply require you to attend a support group. Talking with other women who are experiencing the same problem can be very reassuring and can help break the feeling of isolation you may be feeling. If you have been prescribed medication, you may want to supplement that treatment by attending a support group. Studies have shown that women who are taking antidepressants recover faster when they also attend support groups. Preventing Depression Just as talking can be a form of treatment for depression, it can also be a form of prevention. Talk with your partner about your worries and fears with the pregnancy and listen to what they have to say. Also, look to do more activities together. Take a vacation or weekend break if you can afford it. Look to strengthen your relationship now so that it will be stronger than ever before when the baby is born. Spend time with your friends. You may not be able to see them as much as you would like once the baby arrives, so get those girls night out in now. You can also draw on them for additional emotional support. Although it may not seem possible, try to relax as much as you can. You and your health have to be your top priority right now, not working overtime. Sit down and put your feet up, stay in bed a bit longer, or read a book. If you feel guilty, then just remember that you’re doing it for the healthy of yourself and your baby. Exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet can also make a big difference in your mood. Exercise can be especially helpful since it can help combat stress. Taking a prenatal yoga class cannot only help you stay fit but it can also teach you proper breathing and meditation methods, both of which can help you stay calm. The techniques will also come in handy during the labor. You can also reduce your stress by avoiding major life changes. While some changes cannot be avoided, like a death in the family, others can. Changing jobs or moving across the country may not be the best decision when you are pregnant. Even just moving down the street can be quite stressful, so if it doesn’t have to be done right now, then put it off.

I wish I had some friends. I need someone to talk to about this. Everyone I try to talk to says, "You should be happy. This is such a blessing." I know it is a blessing and I want to be happy. I don't want to take meds. I just want it to go AWAY!

Week Five

Cool Site and Pictures:



http://www.visembryo.com/baby/14.html

Cry~Baby

I don't remember being this emotional with my other two pregnancies. Don't get me wrong, I was emotional. Now, I feel like crying constantly and I am so down I don't feel like moving. Sick and depressed is what I feel like. With my other two, I was sick and very tired, but I was happy. What is the deal? I don't like feeling this way! I did have my first positive thought about it last night. I was laying in bed, trying to go to sleep, when I thought about how it felt to actually feel life inside of you. It was the most incredible feeling for me. Usually, in my previous pregnancies, I noticed it more at night right before I went to sleep. I guess that is why I was thinking about it last night.

Callin' Ralf

Not quite to that point yet, but man do I feel nauseous! I think it is finally setting in. Tim came home yesterday and the first thing he said to me was, “How’s my pregnant woman doing?” It’s still weirding me out, but I’m feeling a little better about being preggers again.

Surprise, Surprise!

Well, our mission to tta until May has failed. I took a pregnancy test yesterday to "ease my mind" because I was a little late. I was so stunned to see those two big, bold lines pop up, that I almost fainted. I think I'm still in shock. I was just getting use to the idea that I may not try anymore. So much has been going on in my life and I have been so stressed out, I was not expecting this.
I think for some weird reason, I ovulated early this past month. I had fertile quality cm very early on and even my program said that it was too early, so I dismissed it. I guess I shouldn't have done that. Just two months ago I was trying to conceive. Why am I not ecstatic? I feel like I get a little freedom in myself and BOOM, I get sent back to self-imprisonment. Why do I feel like that?! I should be very happy. Hopefully it is just my hormones.

Our Journey to Five has Officially Started!!