Weeks 11 & 12

Well I didn’t mean to leave you all hanging with no weekly updates. Everything is good, nothing to be worried about, I was just suffering the lovely side effects of pregnancy and wasn’t feeling like posting.

But I want to have this digital weekly pregnancy journal for 3BB, so we’re going to combine weeks 11 and 12 into one post. (We won’t talk about the fact I’m writing this when I’m already 13 weeks.)

Week 11 was a tough one. I was feeling really depressed and lonely. I didn’t feel like doing anything and just felt really blah. It felt very reminiscent to the early pandemic when everything was shut down and I only had the four walls of my house to look at.

I think a lot of it was that it was REALLY hot here in Chicago and I didn’t leave the house for a few days because of it. I really overheat quickly, even this early in pregnancy, so I thought staying in was the best plan. Well, it’s really not. Because when I left the house later that week, I felt 1,000 times better. So now I know, even if it is 100 degrees, I need to leave the house, even to take a drive around. Because my car has really cold AC.

And then on top of that, I started spotting. Not red blood, but brown, old blood, but it was still more than I was comfortable with and was super worried. I reached out to my doctor and she said it was normal and as long as it wasn’t red, there isn’t anything to worry about. Unfortunately I went down the Google rabbit hole, though, and saw that brown, chunky discharge is a sign of miscarriage. Thankfully I love this doctor’s office and they said “if you want to come in for some reassurance, we can fit you in.” At first I didn’t want to be THAT pregnant lady, so I declined. But then I was like “this is what they are there for! Take the appointment!” 

So I did and 3BB was looking good and the heartbeat was strong. My doctor said it can be from so many things, because the cervix is so sensitive right now and it has tons of little capillaries that can burst at any time, including from pooping, so it really is nothing to worry about. But the reassurance was worth one million dollars and I’m glad I went.

Little 3BB is now officially a fetus in these weeks! No longer an embryo! And growing like a weed!

There is some differences in the size of 3BB at 11 weeks. The What to Expect app says 11 weeks is a large strawberry. The Bump app says a lime at 11 weeks. Which those things are about the same size.

At 12 weeks, What to Expect says we’re at a lime and The Bump says a plum (two things that are also about the same size). Thankfully, it appears these apps are back on the same page at week 13.

I have to say Week 12 was way better than 11. I can tell I’m getting closer to the second trimester because I am starting to feel better. I have more energy! I don’t need naps every day! And the nausea is getting a bit better. It still is a nuisance in the evenings, which really makes delivering food a challenge, but it isn’t as bad as it was just a few weeks ago.

The new development this week is that I throw up when I brush my teeth. It literally has happened every. Single. Time. It’s as unpleasant as it sounds. 

Those of you have followed along with my life in my old blog know that my mouth and teeth are the most expensive thing I own and that I’m no stranger to the dentist. So obviously, since I’ve spent so much money there and don’t want to anymore, I take my dental hygiene very seriously. So the fact that I can’t sufficiently brush and floss my teeth is really annoying. But I will take that over puking. I was really hoping to not unlock that pregnancy achievement.

So, sorry back teeth, I’m only brushing you every couple of days.

I’m still looking just chubby and bloated, but I feel like I’m bigger. I feel wider, like my hips have expanded. I also feel like my belly is bigger, but my clothes are still fitting. A little tighter, but not too bad yet. I think most of the full/bigger feeling is just bloat. The uterus has expanded over the pubic bone and is taking up more space, so everything above that is going to get a lot tighter with less space.

I also need to go bra shopping. I’m outgrowing mine (ALREADY!) and the cups are overflowing. I’m scared to see what size these jugs will be in 6 more months. I better not have milk supply issues at this point! (I’m kidding, please don’t send me a message about this.)

Whew! That was quite the update. This is more reason to do these every week! 

Next week I have another doctor’s appointment, so hopefully we will have a new ultrasound photo of 3BB to share. And this appointment I should get to HEAR the heartbeat. I cannot wait!

#3BBOnBoard