Pregnancy Update!

[clk 3,519]

I'm just more than halfway done (phew!) and figured I'd post an update.

We just had an ultrasound and the baby is doing great. We had a few tiny scares in the beginning, mostly due to spotting (vanishing twin, doctor thinks) but things have gone very smoothly since. Development is going great.

We did get a peek at gender and it's pretty clear that we're expecting a girl.

I'll be 21 weeks on Monday and I'm up 15 pounds. I'm not thrilled with my gain but I'm not surprised, either. The reality is that I've always packed on pounds while pregnant (97 pounds with my first, 78 pounds with twins) so this is actually a really low gain for me. I was also on hormones for weeks as we did a frozen embryo transfer to get pregnant. Mentally, it's a very real struggle to put on weight, but I'm doing okay and trying to shelve all of that until after delivery when I can focus on my body again.

My biggest struggle right now is my inability to eat anything dairy - even a pat of butter to fry an egg will make me sick. I'm also having a really hard time eating Protein. I can only get my shakes in some days and most meat makes me sick. The smells of it cooking, the textures and even if I can get meat into my system I usually sick it back up again.

This has been a miserable pregnancy in that respect!

I actually MISS my very high protein diet. My inability to eat most things has me eating as much tuna salad as my doc will allow and lots of lentil Soup. I've been making seitan just to get by and get some protein in and that's helping. eggs also help but I still have a limited capacity. I remember the early days post op when I'd dream about carbs because I was restricting them. Now I'd rather skip a meal than eat another sandwich or more toast.

Attached are a few pictures. I hate that when I'm pregnant my face gains and my upper arms plump up, but I think I'm doing okay. I can still wear my pre-pregnancy pants with a band and I just wore a pre-pregnancy shirt yesterday so I'm probably not as huge and bloated as I feel. But my calves are swollen, so all of my cute boots from last year aren't working.

Hope everyone else that's expecting is doing well, too! If the worst complaints I have from this pregnancy are a difficult diet and fat calves, I'm doing pretty darn well and I know that.

~Cheri

Baby! 19w4d

19 weeks

20 weeks, front

20 weeks, side

[Lissa 2,631]

You look adorable pregnant!!! Congrats on doing so well. Hopefully everything will be fine.

[DanaInNewOrleans 513]

You look adorable pregnant!!! Congrats on doing so well. Hopefully everything will be fine.

Lissa took the words right out of my mouth!! You look great! So glad things are going well with you and your new little girl!

~Dana

[MsShaunaMarie 82]

Congrats and yes you look adorable

[Winningtheweightwar 25]

You look great!! There is nothing better than the happy glow of pregnancy! I'm sorry to hear about your eating difficulties, but it will be so worth it in the end!!

[ebthompson2010 126]

I thought I was alone in the pregnancy sickness diet situation. I'm only 10 wks and as of right now EVERYTHING I eat make me nauseated. I'm having such horrible all day sickness . I'm praying it gets better soon.

[NaomiesMommy 26]

Awww you look great!! Congrats momma!!