Well, here I am. 29 weeks and counting. My stomach is huge. My digestion is strained. My heart-burn is looming. The baby is making his/her presence known nightly at eleven or so, and early in the morning at, like, four. I hope this is not a sign of future sleep patterns...
This pregnancy, in so many ways, is very different from my last. I pay very little attention to it - mostly because my life just doesn't give me the time to indulge. And so, today, let's indulge a little...
I think I will think about how different the experience of pregnancy number two is from number one.
To begin with, I am much less sensitive to such comments as 'My you carry wide', or 'You're starting to waddle', or 'You've really blossomed'. That's my favourite one right there!
I used to really get upset. In fact I told a coworker who commented on my roundness to back off.
Yup. I was sensitive and snappy.
This time, neither...Well, less anyhow; my hubby may disagree with me. I am still very much striving for order, organization, and declutter - much like pregnancy number one; and this need for structure and control over my environment makes me less than easygoing in the eyes of poor jb.
And yet, regardless of my urgent need to clean, I do feel less hormonal all around. My emotions aren't quite so wonky. With the last pregnancy, I remember losing it on several occasions and feeling very justified in so doing. I should have known all along that I was having a girl. Those female hormones can be a bitch! ha ha!
So what I do find myself doing this time is wondering if a different pregnancy means a different baby gender? Well, I won't find out until the big day (which btw, me hopes is at least a week or two before e's second birthday - how am I gonna throw her the ultimate Dora-themed-shindig if babe is just born or being born???)...
I suppose that is one glitch I will not be able to control or predict...
Boo.
Issues for another day.
Okay, back to the comparison game. Last time, you could have bowled me over when I found out I bore a baby girl. I was beyond over the moon -- I was extatic! I didn't think I would be so lucky! I didn't even plan for a girl: ask anyone! e's nursery is everything boy! I was so so thrilled to hear the words it's a girl utter from the good ol' doc's mouth! Not that there's anything wrong with boys, but I was raised with four brothers and no sisters...I felt due for some estrogen/bonding in my life!
I was so sure I was having a boy, in fact, that when I was in labour, I asked the Resident if there was any correlation between hairs growing on one's chin and having a boy? The logic would follow, don't you think? Hairy=testosterone=boy...I was shameless. Truly shameless. I mean, who admits to a hairy chin? Well, now you know.
But no hairy chin this time.
Last time I had big boobs.
This time I have big boobs.
Apparently big boobs means baby girl.
But what of the change in how I feel hormonally? Or LOOK hormonally for that matter?! I no longer HAVE to see the waxer every three weeks...
hm...
I am in a pickle. A conundrum.
And some say I have gained and carry differently this time. I am not so sure. I see pretty much the same round girly as last time...
In fact, I remember this phase from last time all too well: my thighs are rubbing together and I am starting to waddle...Yup. That's the same as last time...
And so , I ask any of you who've had babes before: are any two pregnancies the same? Can one predict the baby gender after a history of baby producing and bearing? Are there any full-proof signs other than the ultrasound confirmation?
Oh!
One more thing: I was much less nauseous this time around; though my digestion is much worse...
Why do I even ask or worry since I didn't want to know the gender, you may be asking yourself?
Fair question...
Because, while I have little time to indulge, it is fun to ponder and spend a little time focusing on this little lucky miracle that is happening to jb, e and me.
Now, let's see if I am so happy indulging in pregancy thoughts when I next visit my doc and she tells me how much weight I've gained over Christmas. At that point, I may decide it's time to change the subject altogether.
Until then, happy eating!