20/20 hindsight.

[rivka]

In retrospect, I didn't have very strong pregnancy symptoms with my miscarried pregnancy. At the time I certainly felt tired and nauseated, but there's just no comparison to the way the first trimester is beating me down this time around.

It's not totally intolerable, and in fact I actually find the symptoms reassuring. I need all the evidence of pregnancy that I can get. But... it's the difference between having to be careful about what I eat and sometimes being unable to eat; between often feeling tired and often needing a nap to get through the day; between outgrowing my regular bras and outgrowing my maternity bras. (ZOMG I have outgrown my maternity bras and I'm only just entering the ninth week.)

I produced pregnancy hormones last time - enough to make a placenta, even though it had nothing to support. My pregnancy symptoms were real. But they were a shadow of what I'm experiencing now that I'm churning out enough hormones to support an inch-long fetus.

Comments

[fairoriana.livejournal.com]

Yay inch-long fetus! All good news, except for the bit where I'm cheering you feeling like crap. :-)

[going-not-gone.livejournal.com]

Sorry about the nausea and exhaustion, but it's good to know that you're definitely sensing real differences between this pregnancy and the last one, and that you're feeling a little more confident as a result. For somebody who's only a half-inch long, a fetus can certainly make its presence known, can't it?

[ex-serenejo.livejournal.com]

This is getting exciting. I mean, I'm sorry you're feeling poorly, but still, little squee!

[droewyn.livejournal.com]

You're pregnant again! With the move, my LJ reading has been really spotty -- I totally missed it! What wonderful news!

[elisem.livejournal.com]

*cheering for progress*
*sending anti-nausea wishes, and general good wishes for stamina and everything you need*

[geekymary.livejournal.com]

What size bra do you need? I have all my nursing/maternity bras and would be happy to send them to you.

[lydy.livejournal.com]

It's always odd to congratulate someone for feeling poorly. Still, congratulations. I hope this is a smooth, if somewhat uncomfortable pregnancy. What does Alex know about it? I don't think you've said.

watgw11b! :)

[(Anonymous)]

May your discomfort and fatigue continue normally until they blossom into nearly unbearable pain and you are rewarded with a bloody, screaming bundle of joy! Seriously though, you're in my thoughts (and what pass for prayers) every day. I miss seeing you around and look forward to getting together (if possible!) over the summer. (Also: truly jonesin' for an Alex hug, here.)

[acceberskoorb.livejournal.com]

D'oh. That was from me. (which, I suppose was obvious, from the subject line)

[rivka.livejournal.com]

The ones I have just outgrown are size 38E. I think I need something along the lines of an F or G cup, and I could probably make do with anything from 36 to 40 band size.

If these improbable proportions happen to fall within your range, I would be so incredibly grateful.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

What does Alex know about it? I don't think you've said.

Once we saw a heartbeat, we thought it right to tell Alex. We had told her about the previous pregnancy, but because there was no evidence that there had ever been a fetus we didn't present the miscarriage as a death: "we thought I had a baby growing inside me, but I didn't - I was just very sick."

A fetus with a heartbeat is a different story to me. Even if we lost it this early, I would have still wanted Alex to know that there was a baby who died. Although of course the risk of that drops considerably once a heartbeat has been sighted.

Alex is very excited. She has lots of questions. (Is the baby going to be a boy or a girl? Are she and the baby going to be twins? What will the baby's name be? Is my tummy getting big yet? How big is the baby? Can she see pictures of the baby coming out?) She has been very interested in looking at pictures of fetal development and has many theories about what we ought to buy for the baby.

She is also, as one might expect, enjoying pretending that she's a baby. I am relieved that this is happening now, when I can still lift her bodily and do pretend infant-care things for her.

Oh: and she thinks she should get an allowance now that there's a baby on the way. Six cents. She lifted that idea, including the amount, directly from Russell Hoban's A Baby Sister for Frances.

[netpositive.livejournal.com]

Sorry you are having such discomfort, but may you feel better soon and continue on with your great mantra: NBHHY. *hug*

Re: watgw11b! :)

[rivka.livejournal.com]

May your discomfort and fatigue continue normally until they blossom into nearly unbearable pain and you are rewarded with a bloody, screaming bundle of joy!

Awww! That's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. :-)

We do indeed usually skip church in the summer, but that doesn't mean we don't want to see our church friends. We leave for SUUSI on the 20th, but what's next weekend look like for you?

[namedphoenix.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad that things are going positively for your little bitty one, if not so swell physically for you.

Many wishes of good luck and the reassuring discomfort you feel. But maybe baby-one can continue doing great while giving mommy a break or two? I'll send thoughts and prayers of whatever you might need or want to happen for you!

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Good news that things are progressing normally! I hope the annoyances calm down for you soon.

(And if you get to where you need 38L bras, let me know.)

nbhhy

[(Anonymous)]

Good to hear that all is still well, apart from the hideous nausea etc. Funny how it's easier to endure when it is an indicator that NBHHY!
best
Emma

[bosssio.livejournal.com]

yah, you are exhausted and sick as a dog. Huzzah!

hmm, no, that wasn't actually meant to be sarcastic...

I am sooooo looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks!

[ailbhe]

Hurrah for Rivka and her beautiful uterus!

Have you tried Bravado Designs style bras? They are more size-flexible than most, I believe, so if you're going to go on expanding like the universe (Monty Python earworm) that might be useful.

Royce make a 30G nursing bra, so weird sizes are available...

[baratron.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! Hope all is still well. I missed the original announcement due to generally not being on livejournal.

[womzilla.livejournal.com]

(ZOMG I have outgrown my maternity bras and I'm only just entering the ninth week.)

The temptation to shout "GIF! GIF!" is quite strong--too many years wasted on Usenet--but I will fight it off. Mazel tov on your continued progress, and remember, the discomforts constantly change but will never be more than you can bear.