the details

July 2, 2013

well, a summary
because at 7:31 pm, my bedtime is fast approaching.

oh MY i forgot how much i dislike the first trimester.  last time, i had stars in my eyes — i had yearned for a baby for so long, and i was grateful every day even just to be reminded that i really was pregnant.

this time, i’m still grateful.  but not as distracted by the miracle of life, and therefore i am . . . noting more how much the beginning of pregnancy is basically terrible.

reasons:

i have a gross taste in my mouth at all times [there’s even a name for it!  dysgeusia]
i am extremely tired [like, extremely]
i am extremely unmotivated and sluggish
i feel huge and feel like i am showing already, which is completely ridiculous at this point because our little one is the size of a blueberry.  
i already wake up 2-3x/night to go to the bathroom [this happened to me very early last time, too]
nausea quelled only by carbs, carbs, carbs
weird food aversions and attractions

that’s basically it.  last time, i remember all of these magically abating and feeling like a rock star around 12 weeks.  and the rest of pregnancy treated me pretty well — i remember having pretty good energy and was able to run the day before delivery at 40 weeks!  but the first part is the worst.  only 5ish weeks  to go!

7 weeks


you know it’s just the beginning when “baby” requires a label

7 weeks this week.  so, i feel like i can only consider myself ‘a little bit pregnant’, despite the above.  i know there is no guarantee that this pregnancy will work out, so the baby is just a theoretical construct at this point.

gotta start somewhere . . .

i know that many of you followed along in my drawn out and rather painful infertility journey and were wondering what went on this time around.  the truth is:  absolutely nothing.  we weren’t trying, and this was a total shock.  i was still running — 27 miles the week before i found out — and at a BMI that did not seem to let me cycle normally before, even though it is in the ‘normal’ range.

given my history, i did not have any desire to use birth control after annabel, so i didn’t.  [plus, i figured that any surprise baby would be a happy surprise — which this definitely is!].  annabel had her last breastfeeding session sometime in mid-april.  i never experienced a period, which was pretty much status quo for me before, so i didn’t think about it too much.

until one day in june i felt some twinges that felt . . . well, a lot like the twinges of early pregnancy i had with annabel.  i ordered a 25-pack of tests on amazon [figuring . . what were the odds, REALLY?  do you know how many negative tests i’ve taken!!?] and was shocked to find two dark lines staring back at me on a monday night.

this picture was taken right after finding out
[cut off b/c a. happened to be naked for some reason 🙂 ]
josh was instantly thrilled, though also quite surprised given my history!  i have to admit i had an initial few days of panic [they are going to KILL me at my job! child care! finances! omgomgomg how am i going to deal with two kids at the grocery store!?] and then i got used to the idea and now am very excited too.  i really hope things work out.
logistics
i’m planning on telling my job right after i start in august – i will be about 13 weeks then [and at this rate, probably in full-on maternity gear].  question for any MDs who have gone through this:  any tips for how to approach this?  i would ideally like 12 weeks of maternity leave [happy to take any/all of it unpaid and would rather NOT use my vacation] but could also probably survive with 10.  i’m thinking i should offer to take extra call before to make up for the time later — does that make sense?  
because i will only have worked for ~6 months by the time i deliver, FMLA will not apply for me . . . and i won’t have much vacation time accrued, either.  just fervently hoping they will not completely flip out when i tell them the news. 
gratuitous pic, but so pretty
i can’t believe this little muffin is going to be a big sister!! 

10 Comments

  • Reply Hotpotatokate March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    Wow- I have been hanging out for these details, knowing your history. Yay miracle baby!!! PS- are you not worried about your job finding out through your blog?

  • Reply Jennifer March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    Who knows? Maybe the wonderful luck that led to a pregnancy without trying after a tough journey for your first pregnancy will continue, and your second trimester rock star stage will start a little earlier this time. Despite the first trimester misery and the logistical challenges, it really is wonderful, and I always love to hear about spontaneous pregnancies for families that had to work really hard for previous children. I definitely relate to no desire to use birth control after the infertility journey — I’m pretty sure I laughed in the OB’s face when she brought it up during her rounds visit after delivery and again with my primary OB when he brought it up at the 6 week checkup. I have actually heard that many couples do find it easier to get pregnant the second time around because of the changes the body goes through during pregnancy (though with my particular fertility issues, I think I’m highly unlikely to follow in your footsteps).

    I hope you get more feedback on how to broach the topic of leave with your new job, since I can imagine how big a stressor that is. I know how we typically handle such situations here, and how particular cases have played out, but it’s such a different environment culturally (non-faculty employees at the medical school of a large university, no clinical responsibilities) that I don’t think I could translate it into any helpful advice for you.

  • Reply @runnerstrials March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    I am so, so happy for you Sarah! It’s crazy how hard it was to get pregnant last time and how easy it was to get pregnant this time! I haven’t had a successful pregnancy since Wyatt yet (obviously), but I have a normal cycle despite the fact that I’m still breastfeeding, at a lower weight than I was last time, and running. It makes no sense to me!

    I hope you feel better soon <3

  • Reply Red Stethoscope March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    Hopefully, things work out at the job! The timing seems like it couldn’t be better, though…you’ll be rolling into FL just in time to have family closer by. What a happy surprise!

  • Reply Katie March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    This is so heartening to hear, based on my own infertility. My Shirley is just a little older than your tiny, but even though I feel blessed we were able to have her, I always have that thought hanging out in the back of my mind, what will it take to have another? So happy for you! I know things will go smoothly.

  • Reply Susan March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    This is so exciting, especially after all the work and emotions that went into little A! What an amazing surprise!

  • Reply Denise March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    Congratulations, Sarah and Josh! So excited for you guys! Can’t wait to see you guys soon and welcome baby #2 in February!

  • Reply Chelsea March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    Bodies are such strange and mysterious things. Even though it complicates thing with your new job, I’m so happy "T"TC was so much easier for you this time around. I admit I hope the same is true for us when it comes time for #2.

  • Reply Monica March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    Congratulations! Very exciting news. Hope all goes smoothly with the many transitions that are coming. You will do great. Lots of deep breaths and yoga.

  • Reply Andrea March 10, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    I am SO excited for you, and especially glad you never had to go through the struggle of TTC again! Congratulations!

  • Leave a Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.