Gestation Wars: The Nausea Strikes Back

For those of you who might be wondering (and for the benefit of those of you who don't care), I have decided to limit any updates/news of my pregnancy to one detailed post every few weeks. I figure many people who read this blog don't care about what nastiness is going on with my bod, so those folks only have one post in a blue moon to skip over, rather than trying to sort through a myriad of posts they do or don't want to read. I've also tried to make the title pretty clear so that people will know if it's a post they'll be interested in.

But...for those of you who are curious--and I've gotten a lot of flack from some of you for not writing more about Wee Willie--here is your semi-monthly news update. Kinda gross but not that exciting, so I'll let you decide for yourself if you really feel like reading.

First, the nausea has returned. This time it brought--as my college roommate Kara used to put it--"the throwup disease" with it. All yesterday my appetite was pretty low and I could barely shovel anything in, despite being pretty hungry. Last night, while brushing my teeth, I felt the impending doom approaching. Luckily I was hunched over a sink anyway. I called Adam immediately afterward for sympathy. After registering that I had indeed thrown up for the first time of my entire pregnancy, he then said very pragmatically, "Well, just turn on the faucet and wash it down!"

In less gross news, I have started showing. Well, it's apparent at least to me, when I'm nude, in front of the mirror. I'm pretty sure that tummy bulge has nothing to do with the two donuts I snarfed this morning on my way to work (I had to make up for the events of last night, right?). My jeans are starting to feel less comfortable to wear all day long, which is a little sad, since I love jeans more than most other things in life. But I've started wearing khaki fieldwork pants, because they "give" a little more when I'm sitting around the office. While I'm too early on to feel any movement yet, supposedly the Navel Orange (Wee Willie's size right now at 16+ weeks) can feel me when I poke and prod at my belly. That's kind of neat. Sometimes I poke a little and then say "This is your Mama! You better behave in there!" Other times I just sit around with my ever-growing belly in my hands and stare, amazed that this is really happening. It is completely unreal.

Exciting news:
Adam and I have been fortunate to have an extensive network of generous and thoughtful friends who have donated/lent their used baby items to us for Wee Willie's comfort and joy. So far, we have amassed many, many clothes, a baby Bjorn, a playmat-with-mobile, carseat, and baby tub from Seth, Sherry, Kai and Quinn; some fantastic books from Sarah and Steve that helped me make the decision to use the birth center; Wee Willie's first baby blanket from Art and Janice; and the ever-necessary cloth diapers from Trixi and Phoenix. Grandma Jayne, Aunt Shannon and Uncle Jake have given Wee Willie its first book, and Grandma Linda and Grandpa Cal sent baby its first spoon. Adam and I are SO excited and extremely grateful. Thanks to you all for your kind gifts and donations and to everyone for the caring thoughts and support.

Last piece of news:
Adam and I have made the command decision to leave the hospital that we've been working with in favor of the local birthing center. After a not-satisfying experience with my ob/gyn, a lot of extensive reading (I highly recommend "The Birth Book" by William & Martha Sears and "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer) and heeding my own personal beliefs and gut instinct, I've decided to follow human tradition and allow my body to do the work of giving birth, not doctors, nurses, drugs and machines. The birth center is staffed by certified nurse midwives, a doula and a massage therapist. I have a couple of friends who have delivered there and have been extremely satisfied with their birth experiences. Adam and I look forward to ours as well.

So that's it for week 16. Things are good except when I'm puking in the sink; baby is growing and continuing to wreak havoc on my digestive and excretory systems; and Adam and I look forward to good things yet to come.