Baby Update - 15 Weeks

It's been awhile since I have shared much about this pregnancy, so I figured today was a good day to get you up to date...

As of today, I am now 15 weeks pregnant with our second child. I am officially in the second trimester, so I can finally relax a little bit! Between weeks 6 and 10, I had spotting on four different occasions. It was never enough to be alarming, but it was enough to make me anxious every time that I went to the bathroom. Our doctor assured us each time that it was nothing, but I was still very happy to enter into the second trimester knowing that the risk of a miscarriage dropped drastically by doing so.

I have actually been feeling pretty well... only a little bit of nausea here and there, and I have yet to actually get sick from the nausea. I have found that (the same as it was with Reagan) as long as I eat lots of small meals or snacks throughout the day, the nausea is kept to a minimum. I haven't had any crazy cravings, but I have been craving hot and spicy foods. My sister nearly gagged just this afternoon when she saw me pouring hot sauce onto a piece of pizza! I'm also craving cheesy items... maybe I need to spend the rest of my pregnancy a little closer to Mexico to help satisfy my two major cravings! I also have a slight craving for pancakes (imagine that since I had to eat them morning, noon & night with Reagan) and I can't get enough fruit.

I have been tired, but nothing that hasn't been manageable. I honestly think that I was more tired with Reagan... I can remember several occasions that I came home from work while pregnant with her and skipped dinner to go straight to bed. That hasn't happened with this baby!

I was diagnosed with a UTI during week 11. Honestly, I think that I possibly had the infection from the very beginning of this pregnancy. Thankfully, a week of antibiotics (Keflex - the safest of any antibiotics to take while pregnant according to our doctor) cured that ailment and I am now feeling much better in that department!

I don't remember Reagan feeling as heavy as this baby already feels. There are days when I feel like he/she could possibly "fall out" from the amount of pressure that I have in my pelvic region. I can only imagine that this feeling will get worse before it gets better!

I am not sleeping very well, but I know that is to be expected with being pregnant. Between the umpteen dozen trips to the bathroom each night, and then the fact that I can't always fall back asleep once I have gotten up, I don't always get the full night's sleep that I so desire. It's okay though... I know that it is just my body getting back into the practice of the many sleepless nights to come with a newborn!

We heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time at 12 weeks, and it was clear and loud and strong at 170 beats per minute. According to an old wive's tale, that means that this baby is a girl. By that rule, a heartbeat over 140 is a girl, and a heartbeat under 139 is a boy. We have 2 ultrasounds coming up at the end of June, so we will hopefully know by the beginning of July as to if this baby is a boy or a girl!

The really good news is that I haven't gained as much weight this time around as I had already gained with Reagan. At 15 weeks pregnant with Reagan, I had already gained 20 pounds. With this baby, I have gained 12 pounds so far. Of course, I started this pregnancy 12 pounds heavier than I started with Reagan, so I'm still ahead weight-wise of where I was with her. As long as I don't gain close to 80 pounds like I did with Reagan, I will be happy! Most of that weight was from becoming toxic with preeclampsia... we hope and pray that I can make it through this pregnancy without that happening again!

Here's a baby bump photo that Ryan took of me just this morning...

For baby, there has been A LOT of work going on!

He/she currently measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of a large orange). The baby is busy moving amniotic fluid through it's nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in the lungs begin to develop. His/her legs are growing longer than it's arms now, and it can move all of it's joints and limbs. It can also grasp, squint, frown, grimace and maybe suck it's thumb! Although the eyelids are fused shut, he/she can sense light. There's not much for baby to taste at this point, but it is forming taste buds. The fingernails and toenails are growing, and the eyebrows and hair on it's head are also beginning to grow.

Here's a glimpse at what our little bundle could possibly look like right now...
So far, I have only felt the faintest of flutters of movement. I can't wait to start feeling the steady movement of this little one. That is my favorite part of pregnancy! I have a feeling that it will only be a couple of more weeks before I get that wish.

And then I will just be waiting for the day that I can hold this precious child in my arms!