17 weeks

It is with great hesitation that I say this...but I think I might be sort of starting to feel better. I'm trying not to get my hopes up in case things go south again, but I've had better control over my symptoms since my prenatal checkup on Friday. My doctor thinks my ongoing headaches are "estrogen headaches," and she is hopeful that I will be able to manage them through lifestyle changes (whew!). She increased my water and caloric intake and instructed me to eat more frequently throughout the day. She thinks this new diet plan will help with my headaches, nausea, and weight gain...so it's definitely worth a try! I thought I'd be miserable forcing myself to eat and drink when I don't feel like it, but it seems that keeping my stomach from being empty is key to keeping the nausea at bay (for the most part) and also diminishing the headaches. I haven't gained any weight back yet, but I've finally stopped losing - so overall, I'm on the right track!

Daddy-to-be had a lot of studying to do this weekend, but took some time off to watch the Packers preseason game with Baby and I at BWW on Friday and to get FroYo with our friends on Saturday. On Sunday, I took a day trip to Chicago with my parents to visit my sister, Kristen - who was bound and determined to find something cute and gender neutral (a difficult combination these days) to get her future niece/nephew. Grandma (Mimi) also got an outfit for baby that day, and Auntie Sarah had already sent a onesie combo and washcloths. Not to mention that all three of them have also already bought baby books and a few random other things (towels, blankets, toys, etc.). Needless to say, Baby Leschke is already officially spoiled! ;)

16 weeks

Greetings from purgatory! I must have spoken too soon about starting to feel better, because yesterday was undoubtedly the worst day of my pregnancy so far. I woke up at 5am with a blinding headache that would not allow me to fall back asleep…and proceeded to spend the rest of the day exhausted, in agonizing pain, and eventually throwing up. It was so bad that I started to feel weak and feverish by midday. To make matters worse, Tom was on overnight call and thus unavailable to monitor my temperature and force me to drink the appropriate fluids (per usual). Luckily, when doctor-to-be finally arrived home, he brought me some soup, got ice packs for my forehead, and put me to bed. What a guy.

I wish I could say my experience yesterday was a fluke or some short-lived, random bout of illness…but my headaches have been pretty relentless over the past week. For the most part, I’ve been having them all day every day –to the point where sometimes my only options are to take medication or go to sleep. Since sleep is not always a viable option (particularly in the middle of the workday), I have been turning to acetaminophen – which helps dull the pain, but is not a safe, permanent solution. I’m counting down the days until my next OB appointment on Friday to get some much-needed advice.

On a happier note, one of my best friends from high school visited Wisconsin this week! I’ve known Lauren since the first grade, and had the pleasure of living in the same city as her for the better part of 22 years. So when Tom and I left Indianapolis after college and she stayed, it was a tough transition. Seeing each other so infrequently over the past 3 years has been hard on us, so I always treasure the time we do get to spend together. And when we finally are able to catch up in person, it’s like no time has passed at all. The mark of a true friendship if you ask me!

As far as Baby goes, s/he is about the size of an avocado: 3 ½ ounces and 4 ½ inches long. Plus, s/he is expected to grow in height and double his/her weight this week! And here I thought my belly already “popped”– can’t wait to see what next week brings. Hopefully it will come with less headaches ;)

15 weeks

Sweet relief! I’ve felt relatively decent now for 4 days in a row. Granted, I’m nowhere near having my normal appetite back – but I also don’t feel like I’m going to throw up all over everyone…so I’ll take it! I’m still getting slightly nauseous when I go several hours without eating, though, so I’m highly looking forward to the day where I’ll feel hungry again instead of queasy. Plus I’m developing some particularly nasty headaches, so hopefully that doesn’t become habitual.

We had a pretty busy week this week. We met Tom’s mom and brother for dinner in Milwaukee on Monday, went to River Rhythms downtown with my colleagues on Wednesday, and went to Concerts at the Park in Hales Corners with our med school friends on Thursday. Tom also had his first overnight call shift at the hospital on Thursday, which was hard on both of us. But Friday we made up for it by going to the first Packers preseason game!! After a pretty disappointing Brewers season, it was exciting to celebrate the kickoff of football season in one of the greatest places on earth: Lambeau Field. 

We even walked away with a souvenir of Baby Leschke’s first Packers game…a 3-pack of GBP newborn onesies! (A must-have for any son or daughter of ours ;)

 

We stayed overnight in Oshkosh on Friday, and then headed to Little Chute with my parents on Saturday to see my Aunt Christie, Uncle Bill, cousin Scott and his brand new fiancé, Krista! We spent the afternoon grilling, sitting in the backyard, and celebrating the new pregnancy and engagement. It was great, as always, to see them and share in each other’s happiness.

But the really big news this week is….(drumroll please)….I felt the baby move for the first time!! It happened unexpectedly at work on Friday, and almost made me just right out of my chair! I had felt a few twitches/flutters in the past that made me question if it was the baby, but Friday’s movement was pretty unmistakable. It was a tumbling/rolling sensation I have never felt before in my life, and there was no other explanation for it. I eagerly called my mom afterward, who quickly confirmed my suspicions that I had, in fact, felt our baby for the very first time.

Then after lying down for bed on Saturday night, right as Tom put his hand on my belly to say goodnight to Baby, I felt him/her move again! It was almost as if Baby had sensed Daddy’s touch and was saying goodnight right back to him ;)

14 weeks

Nothing quite like spending the first official morning of my 2^nd trimester with my head in the toilet! Ugh. And my weekly pregnancy updates are mocking me with congratulations on getting my appetite and energy back. I wish! My doctor offered me nausea medication at my last prenatal appointment...and if I don’t start feeling better by the end of this week, I might just have to take her up on it.

I keep hearing that unhealthy mama=healthy baby, so that’s what I’m hoping for! This week, baby is about the size of a lemon, and his/her kidneys, liver, and spleen are starting to do their jobs. Baby has also started making facial expressions and is already sucking his/her thumb :)

In other news, Tom started his surgical rotation at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin this week, and so far it has been much more demanding than his previous one. He has been waking up at 4am and working 13+ hour days (boo!). But he’s taking it like a champ, of course, and making his wife and baby proud.

To relax after a long workweek, we spent some time at the cottage this weekend and got to see the Leschke’s close family friends, The Livermores. It was a long-awaited reunion for the “Liverschke” kids, and so much fun to share in the excitement of our pregnancy with everyone.

You are already anxiously awaited by many, Littlest Leschke!