Pregnancy: 9w

It just hit me and DH yesterday that I'm 9 weeks. While I'm still a little anxious because I have no idea what's going on in there, the m/s and tiredness and aversion to all things coffee keep me convinced that all is well. ;)

Y'all remember C, who did my Shamanic healing about, oh, 9 weeks ago? He was at last night's Pagan meetup, where a friend and I hosted a group Mabon ritual. (That, by the way, was an absolute blast, and I think everyone enjoyed it!) He brought his baby boy, now 6 weeks old, and I spent a good part of last night with him in my arms. He was so tiny and precious! I did end up telling C last night that I was pregnant, how far along I was, and that I had him to thank for it. He counted back 9 weeks and laughed!

Anyway, as I was holding the baby, I had this baby sway going on, and he didn't cry once as I held him, fed him, and patted a couple good burps out of him. He totally spit up on me, and I loved it. :D C kept saying that he was so, so happy for me, and that I was going to be an awesome mom.

... it's enough to make me tear up now!

So yeah, that was definitely a beautiful night. How Spirit has blessed us. :)

I'm starting to show now, too. Not like, baby, but definitely "HEY WHAT'S UP WITH YOUR STOMACH? YOU NEED TO DO CRUNCHES." It's making me really self-conscious. Yikes!

Now for the survey!


Cravings: SUSHI. Give me some motherfucking sushi. I can still eat it, as my only real options are veggie-based. ;)

What I love: That everything seems to be going well! [Same]

What I hate: Morning sickness! [Same] Fortunately, it's starting to wane. Eating is still pretty difficult -- I have to take it slowly and really breathe through some of the nausea -- but it's at least leveled out.

What I miss: DH. He's coming home from a business trip today(!!), but he'll be gone again next week. Le sigh.

What I’m looking forward to the most: This morning sickness being over and done with. [Same!]

Worries: That it won’t stick. That’s a big worry right now. [Same]

Symptoms: Morning sickness/nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, frequent urination, sore breasts. [Same, but better] The m/s and breast tenderness are actually fading a bit, which freaks me out AND makes me feel better. WTF? But now I pee at 2am!

Mood: Good! No mood swings, nothing really out of the ordinary. I actually feel more mellowed out. [Same]

Sleep: It’s okay. Could be worse! [Same] Vivid dreams and night pees are now pretty regular occurrences.

Movement: Um, none. Way too early for that. LOL [Same]

The belly (and the button!): Belly button still in! [Same]

Wedding rings on or off: Off! But not because of what you'd think. It's cooler out, so my engagement ring spin. I end up taking it off during the day, lol.

Waist (measured at the belly button: No way to measure. I really should start doing this, lol. [Same... apparently, I never learn... even still!!]

Milestones: 9 weeks!

Best moment of the week: I got the sweetest text from DH over the week. I still melt when I read it. :) It really does my heart good that he's so excited for everything. Also, I held a baby for at least an hour last night!

How your baby's growing:

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

How your life's changing:

You still may not look pregnant even if your waist is thickening a bit. You probably feel pregnant, though. Not only are morning sickness and other physical symptoms out in full force for most women, but you may feel like an emotional pinball as well.

Mood swings are common now — it's perfectly normal to feel alternately elated and terrified about becoming a parent. Try to cut yourself some slack. Most women find that moodiness flares up at around six to ten weeks, eases up in the second trimester, and then reappears as pregnancy winds to a close.

When to break the news at work "I waited until after the first trimester to tell my boss. By then I wasn't as worried about something happening to the baby and had time to think about a maternity leave plan." — Kristin

Decision Guide: When to tell at work?

Some women spill the baby beans at work right away. Others wait as long as they can for fear that their pregnancy will affect how their boss or co-workers view them. Many women wait until they're in their second trimester, when their pregnancy is well established and the risk of miscarriage has declined significantly. What's the best time for you to announce? Here are some factors to consider:

Are you having any complications? If you are, and you have frequent visits to your caregiver or are very preoccupied, you might feel relieved if you told your colleagues early in your pregnancy.

How sick are you? If you're suffering from near-constant nausea or frequent vomiting, you may have to tell your supervisor about your pregnancy earlier than you'd prefer. Before you tell her, figure out what you want: Compassion? Time off? A flexible schedule until you get through the worst of it? Ask for what you need and then assure her that most women feel better by the end of the third month.

Is your job strenuous or potentially dangerous? For your baby's sake and your own, you'll probably want to come clean early on. Making your announcement right away will allow you to talk about changing your job responsibilities in a timely manner.

Will your supervisor and colleagues be supportive? This will depend on your workplace culture, the extent to which your workplace has been affected by other women's pregnancies, and your relationship with your supervisor. If you're confident that your employer will handle the news in a professional manner, announcing your pregnancy early means you can take advantage of any employer-provided services that can help make your pregnancy healthier and less stressful.

Unfortunately, some employers may be less than enlightened about pregnant employees. If you're concerned about your employer's reaction, proceed cautiously, and consider waiting to tell your boss until you're starting to show. You might also want to quietly take aside a colleague who's been pregnant at work and ask her how she was treated.

Finally, be aware of your legal rights. A federal law called the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) prevents covered employers from firing, demoting, or compensating women differently just because they're pregnant. In addition, many states have similar laws that prohibit discrimination against pregnant women.

What do most women do? Here's when thousands of BabyCenter members announced their pregnancies at work:

• 23 percent spilled the beans right away.


• 23 percent waited a few weeks until they absorbed the news themselves.


• 36 percent waited until after their first trimester.


• 14 percent waited until they started to show.

The good news: The vast majority had a positive experience — 83 percent said their boss was supportive when they revealed their baby news.