I'm at 20 weeks in this pregnancy and finally things are starting to take a turn for the better. I've only thrown up once this week. That's pretty good. I'm starting to sleep better now that Maximilien has decided that sleeping in his own bed is cool. And summer pretty much passed us by here in Paris so that means I'm pretty comfortable physically with this pregnancy. BB is really moving around a lot especially right after I've eaten something. I just downed a huge glass of chocolate milk (haven't had a glass of this since I was like in 6th grade) and it was so good. Other than the urge to drink lots of milk and eat yogurt all the time I haven't had any other cravings. In all honesty, my appetite has been pretty non-existent so far. I pretty much tell myself to eat a little through out the day because I want to keep my energy up. Speaking of energy, mine is back. And that means I can actually work again. For a couple months there I'd drag myself to the tea house to do the morning preparations and back and by the time noon came around (starting around 9am) I was dead tired. But now I find myself working away the morning and still wanting to stick around the tea house and work with my employees. I've had to hire a full time people to replace me during the week because it was not possible for me to keep working 65 hours a week and get through my first trimester.
Lately, I've been listening to a podcast called
Pregtastic. And have found it very entertaining and informative. Today, I listened to an episode about
VBAC after cesarean. I am hoping to go this route with this baby. My doctor supports me on this and honestly, I feel that this baby is going to be a different size than Maximilien. You remember that Max was 4.945 kgs (10.9lbs) at birth. And at all stages of my pregnancy with Max I was just HUGE. So, the decision to go with a cesarean was made. Of course my doctor presented me with my options (which did include a vaginal birth) but being inexperienced and sort of naive about having a baby I decided on the cesarean. I don't regret my decision because Max came out perfect and everything worked out fine but I do feel like I deprived myself of my womanly right to have a baby as nature intended me to and I really want to experience that. While on vacation in the US, I plan on stocking up on books to educate myself about VBAC and preparing myself for a different kind of birth for BB.
I leave you with an interesting thing that happened to me recently. Shortly after getting pregnant again, I started to wear my maternity/nursing tank tops again. They are just so comfy and underwire bras are evil when your breasts are huge. I was wearing one in the presence of Max and the latch for the bra portion happened to unclip. It makes a distinct clicking sound. Upon hearing this sound, Maximilien looks at me and exclaims, "Lolo?!" Lolo was the code word I used while I nursed him for breast feeding. I'd ask him if he wanted to Lolo or if he wanted to drink from the Lolo. I didn't want to be heard in public saying "do you want the boob? or Do you want to drink breast feed?" It worked well for us. No one knew the better. Until a few months ago, I had assumed that Max had forgotten completely about the Lolos. But I was wrong. Upon hearing the sound of my nursing tank top clip open, he immediately knew what that sound meant. Makes you wonder how far back he remembers at his young age?
And finally my latest belly shot:
20 weeks where I feel like I am more at 28 weeks. As of two weeks ago I hadn't gained any weight in this pregnancy but I feel that has changed now with all the chocolate milk and yogurt I've been eating lately. We'll see on Monday at my big 2nd echographie and get another good shot of our girl.
Here, Max is trying to drive his tractor on the baby just an older brother would do, right?
You look GREAT! I'm going for a VBAC too (but I was NOT ok with my c-section the first time around). It is hard to fight for a VBAC in the states... hopefully it will all go well for you. Best of luck!
Posted by: Margaret | July 17, 2009 at 23:58
I thought that 'lolos' actually translated as 'boobs' in French? Atleast, in my husband's family, lolo is the code word which is why they all definitely ix-nayed my choice of the name Lola for a girl.
Was thinking of you the other day as I picked up my knitting. Can't wait to get back to Paris as I think I need Wednesday knitting to get through a few projects languishing in my basket. Will Tricote be going again in the fall?
Posted by: Nicole | July 18, 2009 at 14:58
looking beautiful. glad to hear you are feeling better and getting some energy again.
good for you for looking into the VBAC, and even better that your dr supports you on it- here in the states it is hard to find one that will.
Congrats!
Posted by: vanessa | July 18, 2009 at 16:16
My friend Beth successfully did VBAC with her 2nd and 3rd sons. Brandon, her first, was an emergency c, 6 weeks early...but John was 10 llbs and had a HUGE charlie brown style head...and she did him vbac...with drugs...Jacob was again vbac, no drugs. Brandon is 16 this week, John, 13 and Jacob will be 11 soon. You can do it...I know you can.
Mary Anne
ps...vaginal births are not what they are cracked up to be... LOL...when the drugs wore off and I couldn't have more...well, we will just say it was ugly. Darn good thing Katy is so cute!
Posted by: Mary Anne | July 19, 2009 at 01:00
I had two VBACs after a C-section. It was worth all the research and preparation. We had a nurse birth assistant (a doula), and she was a huge help to us and dealt with the doctor, who was already supportive and even more willing to let me try since I had a medical person helping me.
The recovery time afterword is so much shorter - I felt like myself (although tired) after just a couple weeks after the VBACS, compared to so much longer for a C-section. Best of luck --
Posted by: Anne | July 20, 2009 at 06:48
You look wonderful, and I'm so happy you're feeling so much better again. FYI my best friend had C-sections with her first TWO kids (1st was breech and 2nd was around the 10lb mark) and then vaginal deliveries with the 3rd and 4th children... no problems at all. She had good reasons to go Caesarean the first 2 times but I thought it was great her doctor encouraged her to go vaginal with the subsequent babies. Much different than how it used to be some years ago, from what I've heard. I'm sure you can do it!
Posted by: The Bold Soul | July 20, 2009 at 08:43
Yay for the VBAC! I'd have loved to have gone that route too, but, well, just didn't happen that way. I had three back-to-back C-sections, and while the outcome was perfect (three beautiful, healthy babies) I do feel like I missed something. Oh well, that factory has closed up shop and I won't be dealing with it anymore. Best o' luck to you!
Posted by: Doc | July 23, 2009 at 00:36
Have not visited here in a long time. My computer died and all my bookmarks went with it....so nice to see you are having another baby. I was reading when Max was born...How nice to have a girl. One of each. Hope you continue to feel well....
Posted by: Beverly | July 29, 2009 at 04:29