Weight gain/loss: I started my pregnancy somewhere around 137 lbs. I gained a few pounds while on all the medication during IVF, so my pre-pregnancy/IVF weight was 132-133.
Maternity clothes: Maternity clothes started at 9 weeks. However, I started the pregnancy swollen in the abdomen because I developed mild Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome after my last round of IVF (SO painful and pretty frightening -- luckily it passed in a few days. Fun fact: the symptoms came back the day before our Beta pregnancy test, an indicator I was pregnant because I guess OHSS symptoms can resurface due to a surge in hCG). From the retrieval date onward, I had to close my jeans with a hair tie. I was still able to wear all of my clothes until about 9 weeks. I bought two Belly Bands, which I really only used 2-3 times because I grew too quickly and my pre-pregnancy jeans and any other pants were extremely uncomfortable.
Sleep: Sleeping was pretty much fine until 12 weeks, even though I started using a regular body pillow at 8-9 weeks (to be honest ever since I had surgery for endometriosis in 2013, having a pillow or blanket supporting my abdomen when I sleep has felt more comforable). At the 12-week mark, I started getting really uncomfortable and bought a memory foam body pillow. I thought it might resolve the neck/occipital pain and headaches I was getting nearly every morning. For a few days it did, but then the pain came back. What feels comfortable seems to change nightly. I've been sleeping a lot, going to bed between 9:30-11 pm depending on the night and sleeping until 8-8:30 am -- plus almost daily naps!
Best moments: Seeing our babies move a ton at our 9 week scan. Baby A (twin 1) was doing flips, Baby B (twin 2) was moving its little arms and Baby C (singleton) was just hanging out. Then at 12 weeks we got to see a 3D ultrasound, which was so cool! There was so much movement going on and babies were bigger (we were very happy Baby B caught up in growth by 2 days to Baby A). At all of our scans so far Baby A is measuring right on, Baby B around 2 days behind and Baby C 2-4 days ahead.
Miss anything? Sauvignon Blanc, sushi, ice cold summer beer, comfortable sleeping, turkey/ham/any deli meat sandwiches
Food cravings: Major random cravings from weeks 7-12. When I had morning sickness in weeks 7-9.5 it was Chex cereal, peaches, apples, watermelon/melon, Amy's gluten free mac and cheese and potato wedges from the Jewel-Osco deli (all vegetables, salads, and meats sounded terrible!). Later on, I wanted random things that I either never or rarely eat like a hot dog with all the fixings, Runts candy, hot fudge sundae, milkshakes, a "regular" non-gluten free burger, fries -- obviously not the healthiest!
Anything making you queasy or sick? As I mentioned, I had morning sickness from weeks 7-9.5 -- luckily not very long! I was scared I was going to throw up on the train during my morning commute, so for the entire 35-40 minute ride I ate crackers and chewy ginger candies like crazy and carried a plastic bag with me, just in case.
Have you started to show yet? As I mentioned, I was swollen from IVF/OHSS since the beginning, so it was hard to tell whether my "showing" at the beginning was from my swollen ovaries or pregnancy. Either way, I was showing pretty much right away, with a true little belly developing at 8 weeks.
Gender predictions: The day before our first scan I dreamt I had boy/girl twins on Christmas day. The next day we found out it was twins (but then two weeks later found out it was triplets!). We are kind of hoping for boy twins and a single girl, but just want healthy babies!
Prayers: I prayed so much this IVF cycle and throughout the pregnancy so far. I've received so much support from my husband, other friends going through IVF, from the Stepping Stones forum, and from my own faith. My whole perspective changed in the 3rd cycle when I no longer felt alone.
Stretch marks: No
Mood: A mix of calm, faith and anxiety in the first trimester. Lots of stress when we initially found out about the triplets and around our out of state move.
Other: The biggest surprise of the first trimester was going from knowing we were pregnant two weeks after the transfer, to seeing twins on our ultrasound at the 6 week scan, to seeing a third baby at our 7.5 week scan! During trimester one we had a lot of tough decisions about genetic testing to make. When we first found out about the triplets, rather than getting a congratulations, we were asked if we wanted a reduction. We went to numerous appointments feeling scared, but collected all the information we needed. We decided to opt out of any really invasive testing procedures and wait until later in the pregnancy and make a decision about doing an amnio at that time if necessary. Trimester one was pretty smooth aside from the brief nausea/aversions and tiredness (although, I don't think this goes away...). I had one episode of very intense pelvic pain around 10 weeks and we decided to go to the regular OB to get checked out. Everything turned out fine, she said it was likely ligament pain and stretching -- pains most singleton moms feel much later in their pregnancies, but multiple moms can feel early. Overall, as the weeks have gone by and we're under the regular care of our new OB and Maternal Fetal OB, we feel less fear and much more excitement. My goal is to keep these babies in as long as possible! Making it to 34 weeks is our big goal -- the week of Christmas!
Some first trimester photos:
9 weeks
10 weeks
11 weeks
12 weeks
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