Surprise!

[LadyBugLuv]

Just found out I'm about 4.5 weeks along. It was, of course, a surprise (see the topic haha) .

I've never tried to conceive before, so I don't know if I would have had problems... I know my hormones were a mess. I've been gluten free for about a week longer than I've been pregnant. haha. so apparantly, it was easy for me.

Does anyone have any good reference websites? Or any suggestions for good foods? I am HOPING not to deal w/ morning sickness... it's not typical in my family... but I, obviously, can't do the saltines. .

thanks!

[lizard00]

Congratulations!!

Get the book "What to Expect When You're Expecting". It was the biggest help for me, aside from a good doctor. You may not necessarily have morning sickness. I didn't with my first, and haven't with the second one (I'm 22.5 weeks). But I can't allow myself to get too hungry, or that does make me nauseous. And try to have some gluten-free snacks on hand because the first 3 months are exhausting, and some days, cooking just wasn't going to happen.

Good foods when you're pregnant is sort of relative. The first few months I couldn't bear to look at vegetables, which I normally love.

Try to maintain a healthy diet, and make sure to get enough protein. But if something totally grosses you out that you normally love, it's normal. Everything starts to calm down after the 1st trimester. I was able to eat my veggies somewhere around week 13 or so.

[LadyBugLuv]

Thanks lizsard00 .

I did pick that book up from the library yesterday, and my sister is getting me a copy from a book exchange thing she does... so far it's pretty interesting. this is our first, and they are a surprise .

I will be sure to stock up on good gluten-free snacks and easy prep foods. My naturopathic doctor has me on some supplements (along w/ my prenatal vitamins) to help w/ the stamina... I'm kind of tired today, but I haven't gotten much sleep . So that's normal. I did notice that eggs smelled funny to me (yeah, more so than normal haha)... and I kind of don't want to eat them, when normally, I eat a hard boiled egg and a banana or yogurt every morning. So I hope that gets normal. I will be sure to get protein. I always keep almonds in my purse as a snack, and also organic fruit leather... both are a pretty good pick me up snack in a pinch.

thanks again for the advice, and I'll be hoping to keep that morning sickness at bay. I normally eat small portions all day, so I will continue to do so.

thanks!

[tarnalberry]

Congrats! I'll share what I learned that's relevant at a recent training session:

* Get enough iron and enough protein. Really get enough protein. Your blood volume will increase by at least 100% in the next three months - you need protein to do that. Getting enough protein and iron can help reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia.

* From what I gathered about the 'have saltines by the bed for morning sickness' thing, the issue is (partly) one of blood sugar drops, as the hormones do not-so-fun-and-exciting things to blood sugar production and usage. So, find some other quick fix that you can keep at the bed (rice crackers? corn thins? an apple?) for the blood sugar.

* Fennel seed (just chew on some fennel seeds) is great for heartburn!

Oh yeah, and I highly recommend taking a prenatal yoga class. Might be my bias as a yoga teacher who is now teaching prenatal yoga , but still highly recommended!

[FMcGee]

Congratulations!!!

This is the advice I have compiled from my mother, who is a neonatologist (I hope you don't have to deal with one of her ilk, of course!) and from my best friend, who is an AMAZING mother:

* My mother's first words of advice to any new mom are DO NOT DO A BIRTH PLAN! (She wanted me to put it in all caps!) She says that is essentially guaranteeing the baby ends up in the unit. The hospital staff hates them, because they have to consider whether doing something life-saving or helpful to the baby is going against the birth plan and then take a lot longer to do what they need. My mom's point is essentially that you're never going to have complete control over your life again, so why try to hang onto it in this completely wild-card scenario?

* My mom and my best friend agree: be very, very careful about parenting advice books/websites, which often prey on fears. "What to Expect" is pretty standard, but weigh the advice you get from sources like that against common sense. You want to relax the best you can (yay, Mommy Yoga! Great idea!), not spend 9 months freaking yourself out over every tiny little thing.

*Mom: folate, folate, folate. It's the only known way to prevent spina bifida, and if you've been dealing with malabsorption, you definitely want to be sure you have enough (along with protein and iron, but don't over do the iron - talk to your doctor about how strong a dose you need based on your current levels). And, of course, prenatal care, but that goes without saying.

*There are a lot of guidelines now about how much weight you're supposed to gain while you're pregnant based on whether you're under-weight, "normal," or over-weight. My friend kept track of herself using these guidelines and stayed feeling pretty good during and after pregnancy. My mom seconds her advice and says the days of "eating for two" during pregnancy are over, because a baby DOES need extra calories, but not thousands of extra calories a day. Particularly after the first trimester, apparently, a few hundred extra calories a day is sufficient. That, of course, is all something you have to work out with your doctor.

Anyway, this is just what my mom and friend told me, so I'm offering it. Congratulations, again (and pass that to Dad, too, of course!).

[LadyBugLuv]

Thanks guys for your advice . it is all so helpful . I greatly appreciate it! and I'll be sure to pass the congrats on to my hubby, aka Dad (who is already wrapped around the baby's little finger. haha)

[darkhorse]

If you don't mind, can I ask what you mean when you say your hormones were a mess. My husband and I are starting TTC for the first time and my OB/GYN is doing preemptive testing for infertility because it appears that my hormones are a mess too. I'm hoping to have the same success you did.

[LadyBugLuv]

Don't mind at all

I was on birth control for roughly 3 years (started the month before we were married). I had to switch types a couple times due to side effects. Last year, I started having menopausal symptoms. I was 26. Not a good thing. My grandmother went through menopause at 38 and my aunt at 40 (looking back, I'm convinced my grandmother had celiac, but that's another story). I still got my monthly visitor, but I had major brain fog, skin changes, hair changes, hot flashes, and several other symptoms from the list of menopausal symptoms. that's when my whole quest to figure me out began . I stopped bc last June. gained 15lbs that month. skipped my monthly for a few months, and suffered HORRIBLE back, and achiles tendon pain. I had horrible fatigue, also. Either way, it took several months to somewhat straighten out, and I didn't straighten out completely until I started seeing my chiropractor/naturopathic doctor... figured out I had some adrenal issues, started me on female supplements, and then figured out the dietary issues (gluten and soy), and I've been great since. I became very regular again (until recently haha). I wouldn't despair yet. But I went from specialist to specialist and back again, only to get 'everything is normal... it's all in your head... take some antidepressants'... so don't give up is the best advice I have. good luck, and keep me posted!

[darkhorse]

Well... everyone kept saying 2months after going gluten-free and guess what... I'm pregnant! OMG I am still in shock.

My hormones were messed up and yet somehow this worked. I was charting using FAM and my charts showed lack of ovulation, irregular cycles with breakthrough bleeding, and luteal phase defect where my luteal phase was always less than 10 days. The doctor tested me and found my estrogen levels were too low, my FSH was elevated and I had possible thyroid issues. My doc also suspected PCOS, but my testing didn't confirm that. This cycle I ovulated really early and it was by chance that we DTD on the right days. I had spotting on day 18 of my cycle and was mad that I was starting AF so early. Then, I read something about implantation bleeding and on a whim I tested. And it was clearly positive! I'm due March 14th!

I am really worried that it won't stick, but I am thrilled that I know I can get pregnant at the very least. LadyBugLuv, I hope you are still doing well. We are due around the same time, too!

Good luck to anyone still trying!