Pregnancy Q/A

I found this survey on another baby blog I read. I thought it would be interesting to do...

How did you find out you were pregnant? During Spring Break I was DEATHLY sick. I can't emphasize how sick I felt. I had spurts with digestive issues so I went to the digestive doctor. A day later, I started thinking this can't be just a digestive thing. On a whim, I look a pregnancy test and it was positive. Took another it was positive. Hai was suppose to go get his glasses after work - I called him and told him to come home pronto. He thought something had happened to the dogs!

What kind of Pregnancy test did you take? I am not sure. I got the real expensive one because I thought it was more reliable.

How many? Five, I think. All but one were positive - the other one was inconclusive. So we took that to mean we weren't pregnant! Seriously. It was a week later when I thought maybe I was...and went to the doctor.

What were your 1st symptoms? Nausea. Nausea. Nausea. And I was also a little emotional too.

Who did you tell first? Hai was the first one, of course.

Who was with you when you found out? Max and Maddie. Max was emotional too. Ha!

My 1st reaction: I was very worried about the future. I literally had the next five years planned out! Perhaps, that's the best thing about Emma. She has made me relax and take things one day at a time.

Was your baby planned? Nope. Biggest surprise of my (our) life.

When was the baby conceived? Definitely, not a Wednesday like the OB has calculated.

How far were you when you found out? Very early. I was just around 5 weeks. The ultrasound tech said I was lucky to be able to hear a heartbeat on the ultrasound!!

How did your parents react? My parents were shocked. My mom loved the idea. She has wanted to be a grandmother forever. My dad took a while but once he saw the ultrasound picture he was good! Hai's parents were very excited. When Hai told his parents, Long (his brother), popped confetti!

My baby

Due Date: Wednesday, December 16 2009

Do you know the sex? Yes, a girl.

Any names? Emma Madison

Any Ultrasounds? I had one when I first found out. She was not even a peanut. Then, I had one at 20 weeks to determine the sex. She was such a superstar - she posed for a little bit (crossed legs and all) but then went to sleep :)

Have you heard the heart beat? Yes, the first time I cried. Hai makes fun now. But hey, it's a human heartbeat (other than mine) inside of me!! Now, it is just cool to hear her.

Who do you think it will look like? I think she would have a lot of Hai's features - skin tone, hair color, eyes. But I think she will definitely resemble me in someways. In the ultrasound, she resembles some of my family, I think.

Will the baby have siblings? Hopefully in the future. I want to try for a boy.

Have you felt the baby move? All the dang time! She is obviously getting longer as she pokes me in my ribs now!

Miscellaneous

Did you have morning sickness? Yes, yes...and yes.

Did you have any cravings? In the beginning it was spicy stuff. Now, I crave sweets. Which is sooo bad!!

Did you have any mood swings? In the beginning I did but it's calmed out a lot. More than anything I think now I am more calm and relaxed. Seriously, the world could be burning down around me and I think I would just be chill-laxing.

Formula or Breastfeeding? Definitely, going to try to breastfeed. I'm hoping it will go well. But it is a scary thought!

Have you bought anything for the baby yet? HELLO!! Of course. We have the nursery practically finished. Pack-n-Play. Stroller. Carseat. Lots of clothes. But we still need the other essentials - like a bottle warmer, diaper bag, diaper genie, etc. etc.

When did you start to show? Probably around 13-15 weeks. For a while though it looked like I had too much for dinner.

How long could you wear your regular clothes? My jeans were tight around 13 week-ish. I felt incredibly bloated. But, I wore a lot of my normal tops for a while or just bought bigger sizes. Those days are pretty much gone now.

Will you keep the baby’s clothes? Yes, in case we have another girl.

Home or Hospital? Definitely the hospital.

Natural or Medicated birth? Gosh, they better have that epidural ready when I walk in.

Who will be in the delivery room with you? Hai and my mother. Hai isn't very sympathetic when it comes to pain so I need my mom there for the sympathy factor.

Do you think you will need a C-section? Geesh, I hope not.

Will you cry when you hold the baby for the 1st time? Probably (sniffle, sniffle hormones, as Hai would say)

What’s the 1st thing you might say to the baby? "Hey, baby Emma." or some version of that.

Will you let anyone video tape the birth? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

Are you excited? Well, to see Emma I am super excited. To experience labor, not soo much.

Who will help you with the baby after the birth? I know I will go to my mom a lot for advice. But I am looking forward to experiencing this new experience with Hai.

What is your favorite thing about being pregnant? Hearing the heartbeat for the first time, or seeing the baby on the ultrasound for the first time, first movements. All those great things you never realize how great of an experience it will be until it happens. Nothing like it.

What is the worst thing about being pregnant? I think gaining weight has been tough for me. I've always been very conscious of my weight and it's hard to see your body transform in this way. Even though you tell yourself "It's for the sake and health of the baby" there are some days that pep talk only goes to far. Also, equally difficult is other people's reaction to your pregnancy. Everyone has advice. And everyone wants to comment on your belly growth. It gets hard after a while.

What’s one thing you miss doing since being pregnant? I pretty much can do whatever I did before now. Somethings are harder to do (like picking up stuff off the floor) but they are still do-able.

Any days you wish you were not pregnant? Somedays, it is really hard. You're swollen or really exhausted (you don't know tired until you are pregnant) or you are just having a bad image day. But I never do not wish I was pregnant - I just wish, sometimes, there was another way to produce Emma, sometimes.

Are you ready for a baby? I think I'm as ready as I'm going to be.

Do you have insurance? Yes. So thankful for that.

How many kids do you want? Maybe 3. Sometimes I think 2. But 3 sounds good.

Do you talk to the baby? Sometimes, but I'm not one to carry on an entire convo with my belly. It's strange to me. But she hears me, Hai and the dogs all the time. I know she will recognize my voice.

Do you still feel attractive? Sometimes. Other times you just feel like you need a Moo-Moo and the world will be great!

Have you had your baby shower yet? No. We are having it the end of October.

Do you like kids? I've always loved kids...hence, being a teacher. Though I think being a teacher isn't quite the same as being a parent.

How far along are you now? 28/29 weeks! Only approx. 11 more weeks to go...WOW!!!!