Six Months (A Pregnancy Update)

I’ll be honest, some days it feels like I’ve been pregnant forever with baby number two.  I’m pretty sure time passed a lot quicker with Ben.  Then, there are days when I realize how much I’d like to accomplish before she arrives and I panic a little about how quickly time is slipping away.  

Although there are still some days when this baby is really quiet, I’m definitely starting to feel a lot more movement.  This little one is sitting much lower than Ben ever did and in a breach position.  I’m not too worried about whether or not she’ll turn, since I’ve elected to have a repeat c-section, however, her little feet are dancing on my bladder all day long which is very uncomfortable.  I’ve been feeling tired again, crawling into bed most afternoons for a nap and I’ve started to get heartburn in the evenings, like I did with Ben.  We’ll see if this baby comes out with as much hair as he did (though I’m doubtful the heartburn had anything to do with the crazy amount of hair he had at birth).  Other than a bit of round ligament pain here or there, this pregnancy has been relatively uneventful as of late and we’re trying to enjoy our time as a family or three before our lives change once again.  

Half Way (to Baby)

This week marks the half way point of my pregnancy.  Honestly, I haven’t written much about this baby because it’s been a bumpy road so far.  I found it hard to write when there was so much uncertainly in my heart.  My first trimester was challenging, both physically and emotionally.  In addition to the extreme exhaustion and all day nausea, I had a string of complications and couldn’t seem to catch a break.  In the first 12 weeks of my pregnancy, I had five doctor’s appointments, four ultrasounds and made countless panicked calls to the wonderful nurses at my clinic.  There were many days and nights where I didn’t think I’d get the chance to announce my pregnancy let alone meet this baby.  Although all of my complications have since passed and this baby looks healthy and has a strong heartbeat, I still wake up every morning and hold my breath, waiting to feel that first wiggle or kick of the day.

I don’t want this post to sound negative.  For me, sharing my struggles is about acknowledging that the past few months have been difficult and moving onto a better place.  I’m finally beginning to enjoy this pregnancy and connect with the quiet little being growing inside me.  A few weeks ago, we found out our baby’s gender and we’ve chosen a name.  The ultrasound tech “couldn’t see any boy parts” so it looks like we’ll be welcoming a little girl come May (I’ll still be packing a blue outfit and a short list of boy names in my hospital bag though...just in case).  Although our baby’s name will remain a surprise until she’s born, spring will be here before we know it...hopefully.

Everything grows rounder and wider and weirder, and I sit in the middle of it all and wonder who in the world you will turn out to be.

-       Carrie Fisher