Yes, I'm Still Pregnant (catching up on weeks 11-14)

Yes, I'm still pregnant. I know I haven't really mentioned it for a while. I totally didn't get around to posting belly pictures the last few weeks. We've reached the second trimester and I didn't even write a celebratory post. But I haven't been posting much of anything lately. I've been busy and, honestly, a little unmotivated. In addition to trying to accomplish one thing a day (so that I don't go crazy in a disorganized house) I've been spending time with my family, canning peppers, and playing with our new ice cream maker.

11 weeks

I've also haven't been able to make it through a day without laying down...so I've been sleeping while my daughter naps instead of blogging. It hasn't been an optional thing and I've accepted it.

13 weeks

That said, let's catch up on all things belly. Generally I'm feeling better. I still have bouts of nausea but they're getting fewer and far between (knock on wood). The headaches seem to be lessening as well and seem to be directly triggered by spending any amount of time outside in the heat. I've been focusing on staying hydrated. As for the exhaustion, some days are better than others. Some days I wake up feeling great, feel motivated to a bunch of stuff in the morning and then totally crash at noon. I'm trying to pace myself a little better. I'm trying to remind myself that feeling good doesn't mean I have to do everything I didn't do yesterday.

14 weeks

Other than that I've been feeling a bit isolated. I haven't spent much time with other pregnant women at all this pregnancy. My goal for this month is to find a community oriented around natural pregnancy and birth. Yesterday morning I went to a prenatal yoga class (it was listed as prenatal/gentle yoga) hoping to spend a little time bonding with my belly and find some other pregnant women. I've been wanting to try the class since I found I was pregnant but haven't been well enough to make it through a class. I was so excited to go yesterday...and I was the only pregnant woman there.

It was still a lovely class--very relaxing and peaceful and I'll go again. Part way through the class the teacher mentioned that it's common to feel guilty about taking time for yourself but that we can take better care of others when we take care of ourselves. I know this. I've heard it a thousand times. But it made me teary when she said it. That was exactly how I was feeling yesterday. I questioned going to the class, questioned spending the money, using the gas, leaving my family at home on one of our only days together this week...I almost didn't go. But I was glad I did. Even though I was the only pregnant woman there it was wonderful to have time to myself with my baby and to relax.

When I was pregnant with L. there was an amazing prenatal yoga class in our town. The instructor was a doula as well as a yoga teacher and the class was incredible. It totally changed my life and experience of my pregnancy. I met other pregnant women who became some of my closest friends. It was part yoga class, part pregnancy support group. I don't expect the prenatal/gentle yoga class here to morph into such a class but perhaps if I ask around at La Leche League I'll find some other pregnant ladies who want to join me for yoga. I've also found an actual pregnancy support group run by one of the two midwives in town and I'm going to attend that group next week. I'm looking forward to it.

And, yes, I skipped a photo of week 12. It just wasn't worth posting. I know it seems silly that a picture of my mid-section could be that unflattering but...just trust me on this one. It wasn't worth posting.