Wrapping Up the First Trimester

So, who knew one of the trickiest parts of pregnancy would be figuring out exactly when the first trimester ends and the second begins?  Before getting pregnant, I heard a lot about 12 weeks, so I just figured that was the end of first tri.  Then, once I started reading up more on pregnancy, I heard conflicting reports about 13 and 14 weeks each being the beginning of the second trimester.  So, for my own purposes, I've pretty much decided that since I'll probably have a truncated pregnancy anyway, 13 weeks is probably close enough to the end of first tri for me to breathe a sigh of relief, but 14 weeks is just around the corner, so either way, I'm almost done with the first 1/3 of my pregnancy.

How did THAT happen??
The first few weeks of the pregnancy draaaaaagged horribly.  We were extremely nervous about whether the babies would stick around, and it wasn't until about 9 weeks that I started to rest easy and really get excited about being pregnant.  Since then, the past few weeks have blown by and I find myself staring in the mirror in complete and utter shock when I see myself from the side.
I was pretty bloated from the get go thanks to the lovely side effects of IVF meds, so I've felt pretty puffy in the abdominal region for three months now, but in the last week or so that bloat has definitely transitioned into full on baby bump, in no small part thanks to my two little Frankensteins consisitently measuring about a week ahead.

I've been incredibly lucky that I've managed to almost entirely avoid any morning sickness.  For the first couple of months, I'd get nauseous if I was hungry, and I had one or two days when I didn't feel top notch, but I've never experienced anything that I would compare to the awfulness that other women go through.  I'm counting my blessings on that one.

The only real symptoms I've had have been the debilitating exhaustion, some pretty rotten headaches, the afore-mentioned bloating, and erm, irregularity shall we say.  In the last week, the skin on my stomach has been itching something awful, probably the result of stretching to accomodate my little parasites.  Happily, also in the last week, the daily headaches have abated and I'm feeling a lot more energetic.  I still tire easily, a two or three mile walk wipes me out, but I don't need naps every day, and I'm sleeping a more regular 7 or 8 hours a night and feeling rested instead of needing 10-12 to function normally.

And perhaps most exciting of all, I'm finally getting my pregnancy boobs!  They're still nothing to write home about, but I am getting close to growing out of my bras and may just make it to a B cup before this whole thing is over.  I'll never give up hope...  Somewhat more frighteningly, my belly button is already becoming alarmingly shallow.  I'm not quite sure where I'm going to put these babies for the next 6 months.

The plan for the next week is to figure out where I'll be seeing a doctor and schedule a 15 or 16 week appointment.  We're hoping that by then maybe we'll be able to find out the sexes, though we probably won't announce until the 20 week appointment when things are more developed and certain.  It's been a very exciting few weeks, and I can't wait to get into a house and start setting up the nursery.  We got so many tiny little outfits and hats and mittens at our shower, but it's still so hard to believe that pretty soon we're going to have some tiny little babies to filling out those clothes!

Comments

[The Incubator]

How wonderful to see all of you! You look beautiful, and I am so happy you are settling in and feeling so much better. Hugs and love:-*

[Jessica]

Yay pictures!

[Molly]

You look too stinking cute for words! And it sounds like the pregnancy has been pretty close to dreamy. If the 2nd trimester is even better than the first (which it often is, right?) you're going to be the preggo poster child.
Cheering you on as you grow those little ones! (...and your pregnancy boobs - was that over the line?)

[Solange]

You look super cute :) So exciting!!! I totally understand about the pregnancy boobs. I was always small and with this pregnancy the ladies are at a very nice C and beautifully perky. ;) Praying for the continued growth of your babies and your boobs! LOL!

[Elle Sees]

i am so delighted that you're having twins!! i've got tears in my eyes, and don't know how i miss the big announcement!! my friend i've mentioned before who had a baby via ivf just found out she's having twins too (ivf again)!!!
CONGRATSSSS

[Caro]

Absolutely love it! You and your baby bump look beautiful :)

[Natalia]

So exciting, you look great!! I'm currently in week 37 and just WAITING for my little guy to make his appearance. I found that eating 4-5 prunes a day kept away any constipation. Oh and drinking LOTS of water and coconut water too. I still can't seem to drink enough! Good luck in the 2nd trimester!!

[Elizabeth]

You look stunning, as always! Getting out of the first trimester was such a tremendous relief for me, but the pregnancy boobs never happened in my case--boo!

[Brittany]

You are so freaking cute! Look at that bump:)

[erin - heart in ireland]

I love the little fruits you are holding! Such cute pictures!

Good luck with the house search in Germany!

[Kristina]

I cannot even tell you how much I love the idea of taking pictures with the fruit in front of your belly :) So cute! Also, I cannot wait to hear about you living in Germany - that is so exciting and a wonderful adventure.

[katelin]

aw you look so cute and love the pictures with the actual fruit representation, haha.

[Heather]

You look great!! Glad to hear all is going well!