Growth Spurt - Dramatically made 19 Weeks

I do not have an 18 week picture because I spent nearly ALL of week 18 in the Hospital. The Wednesday I hit 18 weeks, I started having consistent lower abdomen pain. It was dull at first, and then slowly started getting more intense with sharp bursts of really severe pain. A call to the midwives and I was advised to go to A&E (the Emergency Room) to have it checked out. 

After a few hours in the ER, it was determined that the pregnancy looked OK, but the pain was an issue since it was presenting mostly on the right side. Because I am pregnant I am unable to have many of the normal tests that would exclude appendicitis, so it is recommended that I am admitted for observation. 

18 weeks

The pain was awful for the next three days. Paracetamol with a little codeine was all I was allowed initially for pain management. And it didn't do much. I did finally get a scan that let me see the baby was OK (and stretching all over). I still haven't felt the little one yet so I am definitely looking forward to that first unmistakable kick. They were also able to tell that my Fibroid had grown quite large - 7 cm now. When I push on my stomach, I can feel its mass... pretty gross! Apparently that's what's causing a lot of the pain. 


I finally got released Friday night from the hospital around 10 PM.  We were supposed to be leaving for Paris Saturday morning to celebrate Dea's (Andrew's Step-mom) birthday in Paris with Andrew's family, but with my scare, there was going to be no traveling for me. So instead of a beautiful weekend in Paris, my lovely in laws came to visit me instead! I was really, really touched to have them come. It meant a lot to me. But I felt even MORE awful for ruining their nice weekend. 

I was in quarantine for a bit..

Unfortunately I didn't get to spend much time with them because a condition of my release from Hospital was to immediately come back if my pain got worse or I started throwing up. By 5 PM on Saturday, my pain got worse and I of course started throwing up. So back into the hospital for me and I experienced one of the most AWFUL nights of my life. Let's just say I was up all night being sick - one way or another - non stop. I was quarantined and kept on fluids for the next 3 days... I've never felt so sick in my life. No more scans to check on the baby, but I did get to hear the fetal heartbeat each day so I know at least that was going strong still. This is going to be one tough little cookie! 


I wasn't really able to eat ANYTHING without feeling awful, but all the retching seemed to resolve most of my pain issues so at least that was a plus. The big minus - still not being able to eat all of Monday and feeling super sick and weak. But I did get cleared to go home on Monday night to recover in peace. I am so lucky that I have a wonderful hubby that visited EVERY day I was in the Hospital and brought me little luxuries of home :)

It's now Saturday - nearly a week later - and it's honestly the FIRST day in almost two weeks that I feel almost normal and can eat a real meal. 


All that sickness didn't stop Baby JVM from growing though!! I'm getting super big! 


I saw this really cute blog (compliments of my new pinterest) and so I am going to do the same little updates :) 

How far along? 19 Weeks

Total weight gain: 6 lbs (I was up 10 pounds at week 18 but I'm thinking my week of the Stomach Flu set me back a bit..)
Maternity clothes? Absolutely - i LOVE my maternity leggings. My normal jeans have been collecting dust for a few months now. Just bought a bunch of "roomier" tops on Thursday to help accommodate the growing bump!
Stretch marks? no - keeping my fingers crossed! I use a coco butter stick every night.
Sleep: Haven't slept well in weeks because I am a native tummy sleeper. I can sometimes find a nice spot on my side, but it's becoming more and more necessary to buy a body pillow!
Best moment this week: Hearing the heartbeat and not feeling sick anymore!
Miss Anything? cheese... feta, Parmesan, you name it, I miss it. Blast you Europe for not Pasteurizing! It's like Christmas if I can find a hard cheese that says it's made from Pasteurized milk!
Movement: still waiting patiently...
Food cravings: I have had more aversions than cravings... right now, biscuits and jam (not the English definition of biscuits, buttermilk flaky biscuits).
Anything making you queasy or sick: super sensitive to smells. Avoiding fish like the plague... veggies are a bit hard to get down.
Gender: Finding out on Feb 2nd!
Labor Signs: No ..thank god. The lower abdomen pains were scary enough!
Symptoms: Acid refulx, indigestion... growing & fibroid pains.
Belly Button in or out? Still an innie, but is looking rather distressed and horribly unattractive (if there is even such a thing as an attractive belly button).
Wedding rings on or off? on..barely.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! At least now that I'm feeling better :) Very happy in fact.
Looking forward to: My scan on Thursday. I really would like to know that everything is developing correctly and that there's no reason I can't expect to have a healthy baby!! I also will know what we are having which I am SUPER pumped about too. It's off-putting calling your baby "it".