{baby update} week 17
This week has been about discovery. The biggest thing I’ve figured out this week is that I was getting NO iron! My prenatal vitamins had zero iron in them, unbeknownst to me. I’ve been exhausted, and with the help of two friendly inquiries/reminders about my vitamins, I happened to see that little warning on Tuesday night. “This product does not contain iron.” Awesome. Even though I take vitamins every single day, they don’t have iron. One call to the doctor, and I’m now taking Slow Fe. I felt better by Wednesday afternoon. (I took the first pill at lunchtime on Wednesday.) It’s amazing at how proper nutrition and vitamins can affect your body. (For the record, we don’t eat much red meat, and the fact that I’ve WANTED steak and hamburgers for a while should have been a clue I wasn’t getting enough iron. I also don’t eat a ton of green vegetables – spinach especially – since it isn’t in season. So. No iron.)
How far along am I: 17 Weeks
Size of baby: McLittle is the size of the palm of my hand. Is it really my hand, or my husband’s hand? Who knows.
Total Weight Gain/Loss: I’ve gained just under 13 pounds since mid-December. This concerns me because I’ve been anal about numbers, and I still have over halfway to go.
Clothes: My jeans may be going to the closet after this week. Or I may be wearing them with the help of a belly band. Maternity pants have been the best thing ever (not the full panel ones, but the low-rise) and I may never go back to regular pants, even after the baby is born.
Gender: Ultrasound is scheduled for March 30.
Movement: Maybe some flutters? But since I’m not sure what I’m supposed to feel, I’m not 100% sure.
Sleep: I’ve been SO tired! So I sleep a lot. In fact, on Sunday, I glued myself to the couch for over 6 hours.
What I miss: Doing things for myself. I can’t do a lot of house projects or yard work without the assistance of someone else. As someone who takes pride in doing big projects outside while her husband works inside, this has been difficult.
Cravings: Fruit. And macaroni and cheese. (I think the mac and cheese came from Kenny being out of town for a few days, and me being able to eat it all I wanted. He doesn’t like to eat it often.) Oh and I ate my weight at Carrabba’s on Friday night. It was divine. And I brought home a lot of leftovers for Saturday.
Symptoms: The nausea has (mostly) gone away. Car sickness is taken care of with meds. My jeans may have to go after this week. We’ll have to see.
Best moment this week: Figuring out why I was so tired! One iron supplement showed me just how much I was missing.
A self portrait in the mirror. My photographer assistant left for his real job before I showered today, so this was the best I could get.
so glad you looked into your pills…you’ll be zipping around with energy before you know it!
And i’m seriously going to have to try Carrabba’s sometime…I think there might be one in Columbus!
*waving to McLIttle!
Weird that your vitamins didn’t have iron. Glad you’ve taken care of that, though.
I wish they had low-rise maternity pants back in the day. I’d have been in heaven.
No iron!! It is hard to believe that any pharmaceutical co. would manufacture pre-natal vitamins without iron, oh well. Get on the iron band wagon, red meat & fresh vegetables….I’m sure you’ll start to get energy soon. Thanks for the update, Aunt Linda How many lbs did you dr say you should gain??
I’m finding that not everyone realizes the vitamins don’t have iron – I actually saw a blog post on the same vitamins this morning, but the girl loves them.
My dr. recommended I gain between 25 and 35 pounds. I’m trying to stick to that. Healthier for me and McLittle – and it’ll be easier to work the weight off later.
That’s a good weight to shoot for……..
You said you might be feeling something but weren’t sure what you were supposed to feel: I liken the feeling to either a) gas bubbles or b) a little fish swimming around in there.
It can be really subtle at the beginning.