Terra’s Trip to the Midwest

Week 10

I went to Milwaukee with a good friend of mine. We spent some time visiting my sister and her family. Her youngest boy is three months old. We also went to the Milwaukee Public Museum and saw the Body Worlds exhibit. It was amazing. The prenatal displays made me tearful, especially when I saw what my baby looks like right now. The human body is wonderfully designed.

Almost all women develop stretch marks. Gaining weight gradually and eating healthful foods may help. I don’t know if all the creams and lotions really work, but the act of massaging lotion into your skin will improve circulation.

Week 12

Some of the other regulars at the gym have noticed that I’m not pushing myself quite as hard as I usually do.

Andrew and I went in for a checkup. I’m so glad he came with me. We got to hear baby’s heartbeat for the first time, 148 beats per minute. I cried a little. It still doesn’t seem real, though. I’ve gained two pounds so far.

I’ve been trying to take really good care of myself. Pregnant women should avoid smoke and pollutants as they are carried through your bloodstream and transmitted to the baby.

I thought I was experiencing my first bouts of morning sickness a little later than most women were. It turned out that I got the flu. I threw up every half an hour or so from 3pm until 10:30 on Sunday. I called the nurse’s hotline at 7pm. They told me what to watch for, as far as dehydration. Diarrhea is more dangerous than vomiting. She told me that as long as I didn’t go more than six hours without urinating, I would be okay. I called again at 9 because I was still so sick.

My doctor happened to be on call. She called me back a little later. I thought I was going to have to go to the ER. My doctor said my other choice was coke syrup. She told me to boil a can of regular Coca-Cola with one cup of sugar and sip it slowly every fifteen minutes. It was unpleasant, but it actually settled down my stomach when nothing else would. My husband sat up with me most of the night and brought me whatever I asked for. I had to miss two days of work. Everyone teased me that it was morning sickness. It really was the flu!

The baby is now practicing breathing, swallowing, and sucking.

Please view my other blogs:

• My Little Secret
• Terra’s First Few Weeks

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