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Week Seven

Published 03.04.2008 | Permanent Link | Comments (19)

week by week pregnancy

Your baby:

  • Still with the growing. Always with the growing. Your baby starts off this week at four or five millimeters long, but is a whopping half an inch by the end.

  • Has a two-chambered heart, air passages in the lungs, and cerebral hemispheres in the braaaaaains.

  • Has an appendix, which is kind of cool until you remember that the appendix is almost completely useless. But it's there now! Awww.

You:

  • Might be feeling a little urpy and gaggy and pukey.

  • Are incredibly sensitive to smells.

  • Like, seriously. Who burned an English muffin in the employee break room this morning? WHO? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN, YOU MUFFIN-BURNING BASTARD.

Before I really get into this week's update, I would like to give a personal shout-out to my new best friend, Dannon Activia Yogurt, also known as the yogurt that helps you poop. What up, dawg? Thanks for being there for me. You're the best, and I love you. Very much. Inappropriately much. Mmmm.

So we're still in the first trimester holding pattern this week. Tired and peeing a lot and moody and possibly a walking ball of digestive issues and paranoia. If you haven't spilled the beans to people yet, you're probably dying to. You may feel more pregnant than you actually look (even though your uterus has doubled in size), and without that nice round belly you might not be getting a ton of "everything is okay" reassurance from your symptoms.

(Of course, as I have learned, all bets are off for a second pregnancy, as my previously stretched-out joey-pouch belly has rejoiced at the chance to totally fulfill its poochy destiny once more.)

Morning sickness typically shows up between week six and seven -- it'll peak within a few weeks and hopefully dissipate soon into the second trimester. You will not hear stories from me about my friend's cousin's dog-walker who threw up the entire nine months, because that stuff is just SO NOT HELPFUL and always made me feel particularly stabby. So I will tell you this: the terrible morning/noon/night sickness of my first pregnancy went away after week 13. There was another week or two of some sensitivity to foods and odors, but by week 16 I felt incredibly great and Hulk-level hungry.

If you're suffering from morning sickness, you'll notice that EVERYBODY and their friend's cousin's dog-walker has the perfect cure-all remedy for it. You have my full permission to ignore them. Every woman's morning sickness is different. And every woman's morning sickness for every pregnancy is different.

This time around, the whole "keep food in your belly all the time" thing really does help. If I go too long without a little snack, I get extremely queasy. But I'm also not actually throwing up. Last time, I threw up. A lot. All the time. Stomach full, half-full, completely empty -- it did not matter. I choked down just enough food to stay alive and had a 20-minute monologue prepared about how YES, BOILING WATER HAS A SMELL. A BAD, BAD SMELL.

I tried lemon candies and "real" ginger ale and crackers and fruit and hot baths and I don't even remember what else. None of it worked, although it did really hammer home the lesson to STOP and THINK before I opened my big fat mouth to give another pregnant woman my extremely valuable and 100% awesome advice.

(On that ironic note, Vitamin Water and a heating pad directly on my belly worked MIRACLES for the puking last time. Seriously. Made life worth living.)

(This time I'm more of a Saltine-crackers-with-a-cola-chaser kind of girl. )

If you're NOT suffering from morning sickness (and have actually read this far -- sorry, I couldn't put you first lest all the sick puking pregnant women go after you with pitchforks), consider yourself lucky. Seriously. I know we all get fed the "morning sickness = healthy pregnancy" thing but it's important to note that "no morning sickness" does NOT equal an unhealthy pregnancy. It really, really doesn't.

Some women don't have a ton of symptoms in early pregnancy. Or any! This doesn't mean your body isn't producing and doubling pregnancy hormones at the proper rate. It just means your body is TOLERATING the doubling pregnancy hormones better. Basically: you're a pregnancy viking! You win and the rest of us miserable saps fail.

If you had symptoms and they suddenly vanish, or if your lack of symptoms is accompanied by steady spotting AND uterine cramping -- yes. These are not great signs and you should call your doctor. But a lack of symptoms in and of itself? Pfft. Not worth obsessing over, although I know that's easier said than done.

Oh Yeah, THIS: So l get these weird little red bumps on my skin when I'm pregnant. They aren't zits or a rash or anything -- they actually look like tiny red moles. Raised. About the size of the head of a pin. Last time I got a couple on my hands and arms and thighs and immediately hauled ass to the dermatologist when my OB couldn't explain them. She identified them as a passing hormonal thing and assured me they would go away once I gave birth. I was skeptical, since I am (ahem) a fairly moley person to begin with and they sure did look like something I was gonna be stuck with and argh! Why are there SO MANY of them?

Sure enough, they vanished almost immediately after Noah was born. I remember cutting off my hospital bracelets at home and noticing that the spots on my hand were completely gone.

Well, the spots are back again, only this time they're all over my stomach. Over a dozen at last count. Ah, pregnancy. You are just so damn WEIRD.

New This Time Around: Besides the new flavor of morning sickness, I've developed the Dread Pregnancy Migraines. Now, I used to get migraines all the time, from puberty on. And it was one of my big fears before getting pregnant the first time, since I knew my migraine medications were not exactly pregnancy-approved. But I never had headaches last time, and honestly never had a migraine since Noah's birth. Unless I had a hangover (me? hungover? what? never!!), I never took any OTC or prescription pain medication, and I was pretty happy about it.

And like every other woman who spends too much time online, I read That Study. You know, That Study About Caffeine & Miscarriages & Step Away From The Starbucks, You Negligent Embryo-Killer. And I also read many, many follow-up articles that criticized the study and pointed out the many flaws in both the execution and the conclusions. And I agreed that the connection between caffeine and miscarriage was mostly likely vastly overstated.

And yet...

I had that moment after I found out I was pregnant -- the coffee cup halfway between the kitchen counter and my lips -- when I doubted it all and wondered if I shouldn't just err on the side of caution and go cold-turkey on caffeine. Since coffee was giving me some heartburn early on, I decided to cut it out completely.

Then the headaches started. The terrible, blinding headaches. Migraines. I could feel them coming on in places besides my head. My shoulder blades ached. My stomach churned. My eyes squinted in the light and then I felt the telltale throbbing behind my eye sockets. Within 20 minutes I was buried under the covers in bed, sobbing silently in the Worst Pain Ever, Including Labor and an Emergency C-Section.

My doctor told me to take some Tylenol with a can of Coke*. Or Excederin Tension Headache (acetaminophen and caffeine, but no aspirin). Caffeine was always an essential part of my migraine coping strategy back in the day, so I wasn't exactly surprised by his recommendation. Turns out I don't even need the acetaminophen. I just need a little caffeine. Everything in moderation, dudes.

*Like everything else, please talk to your own doctor about your own symptoms. Kthnxdontsuemeplz.

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Comments (19):

angela said:

I drank coffee and coke until I was able to ween myself off it. I still drink coke, I am right now. But I try to only drink one a day. My only fear with the coke drinking this time is my baby has a bowel problem. So far it's improved and no need to worry, but at 18 weeks I thought it must be from all my caffeine drinking. I haven't admitted this to my OB, but I think about it every now and then. Honestly, coke and coffee kept me from being sick during the first tri and now I get thirsty for water instead so I feel like my body is telling me what to eat and drink. I haven't had a green veggie in a while and I think that's OK too. If my baby needs meat and cheese sandwiches with a coke then I will give her what she wants. :-) good luck with the next few weeks, I've felt your pain.

Posted on March 5, 2008 11:07

Zoot said:

I had your kind of morning sickness THIS time with my FIRST pregnancy. But other than that? Nothing. So yeah - I've carried babies full term without the morning sickness and that is FINE BY ME.

I also drink diet coke and coffee. I'm a rebel like that.

Glad your morning sickness is manageable this time. I'm going to go ahead and say..."It's a girl!"

Posted on March 5, 2008 15:05

cagey said:

Darn it - Zoot beat me to it. Because this pregnancy is so different than the last, I was going to call "It's a girl." Geez, what's left now?

Anyway, I did drink caffeine thoughout both of my pregnancies. Other than "advanced maternal age" because I was 35, I had no risk factors, though. I did keep it to one cup in the morning, though. Oh, and loads upon loads of Coca-Cola this last time around.

Oops.

Posted on March 5, 2008 20:29

Ida said:

I drank caffeine with my first. He is just fine and I had no problems with my pregnancy. I tried to keep it to one a day, but didn't always succeed.

Posted on March 10, 2008 21:00

JP said:

"Before I really get into this week's update, I would like to give a personal shout-out to my new best friend, Dannon Activia Yogurt, also known as the yogurt that helps you poop."

Look at you going all Tina Fey on us. Does anyone else get that reference? No?

Glad you like Activia!

Posted on March 12, 2008 12:16

Jessi said:

Thanks on the tip about the Excedrin Tension Headache...The big E has been my sanity-saver for my headaches for years, and now, 8w preg, and no more?!?!?!?! I've been getting wicked headaches since w4. Oh, and a couple of posts ago about the wanting to poop...I literally LOL'd

Posted on June 2, 2008 18:50

Leslie said:

Where have you been? I have three of the dullest completely lacking in any comedy pregnancy books that are just instilling fear into my core.

This blog is just what I needed--a dose of comedy to get through it all.

Thank you!

Posted on June 30, 2008 12:09

Jennie said:

Yay, for a fun preggo blog! With my first, I felt SO nauseous, constantly. I lost 30 pounds (I'm still wondering why my OB/GYN never said anything?). This time around (I'm about 7.5 weeks), I feel pretty OK. I actually called my (NEW) OB today to say I felt OK and I was worried about it. They reassured me. I'm still secretly worried.

Posted on July 9, 2008 21:38

nicole said:

I am almost 7 weeks with my second, I had very bad morning sickness with my 1st but this one I just get nausious haven't yet thrown up. I'm guessing its a boy this time. X fingers crossed x

Posted on July 29, 2008 00:25

Louise said:

I just discovered this blog ... where oh where was it last pregnancy? Why did I read the books that scared the crap out of me (probably one reason why I threw up through half my pregnancy). This is a great read, and actually a big help. Thanks so much--I'll be coming along week by week for the next eight months!

Posted on September 28, 2008 13:44

shell said:

Oh Amy you have made me feel so much better.. I had a killer headache about a week ago (I suppose I was ten weeks then, I am reading backward as a form of procrastination- I should be doing homework)
so anyway I call my ob gyn because I realized that Exedrin Tension headache had only the acetiminophen and caffeine and I had NO tylenol... snooty receptionist says- "no we recommend ONLY tylenol" and I roll up into a little ball on my sofa and try to sleep it off.

After about an hour of the drilling in the base of my neck I threw caution to the wind- all it is is acetiminophen and caffeine... one will not damage my baby- Oh I hope not- so I took one...

now I feel much better that you mentioned it as well- I go for my first ultrasound monday- I'll check back if s/he has flippers ya know....

On another note- this baby is making me so nauseus but not vomit-y- and the only thing that makes it better is pepsi- however my former favorite food group-coffee- is totally unacceptable apparently.

and I really would like one nice potty experience as well...

Posted on December 5, 2008 11:28

Ashley Fitting said:

So this is madness - I have been STALKING this blog for ever, after all my girlfriends got preggo and LOVED it. I too LOVE it. And all of a sudden, after one month of trying (I mean HONESTLY???)... I found out last night that I am pregnant. 7 weeks with the crazy pregnancy math (which I think is totally weird but whatever). So I'm actually rereading (for like the 5th time) and it applies!!

Except, and don't kill me, for the non-pukiness of it all. I feel great. Just super duper bloated and like I'm already halfway there... I thought I was just getting chubby :-)

YAY! First appt is in 2 weeks.

Posted on January 15, 2009 12:54

Melinda said:

OMG You guys are AMAZING!!

I am 7 weeks 1 day, and am MISERABLE right now! the most INSANE nausea, CRAZY constipation, and volcano erupting like heartburn. Not to mention I just wanna sleep.

BUT I *am* happy to know this is "normal" (lol) and will take it as long as my baby is ok!

Thanks for the laugh! It's just what I needed!

Posted on February 5, 2009 23:08

meredith said:

You are the only place to mention the red mole like skin things!!! Thank you! I thought I was going nuts. This is my 2nd (only 7 weeks in) and a few weeks ago 4 red pimple like things showed up. I was convinced it has to be pregnancy related (I had a multitude of skin tags develop with my first) but I couldn't find references to it anywhere. Should have known you'd have the answer. yea!

Posted on July 30, 2009 15:19

Rebekah said:

I love this blog, Im 7 weeks pregnant, and all the books I have been reading are just putting fear in me. I havent really been able to talk to anyone that has had the same things happen to them. So I will be following these blogs for the next 33 weeks! Happy pregnancy to all!

Posted on September 7, 2009 16:08

London's Mom said:

I must admit, I drink soda everyday. Of course my doc has no idea.

As far as "morning sickness" or "all day, everyday sickness for 19 weeks",I am left with a bad taste in my mouth, literally! Vomiting was so frequent for me. I could no longer work and just stayed in bed all day, everyday with my trashcan by my beside. I ended up in the ER on 2 occassions, suffering from dehydration, while enjoying IV's in my arm. I was put on 2 different medications that only worked whenever they decided to.

I am now 22 weeks and just found out that im having a girl, what a dream come true! This is my first and probaly last child. I don't think I can go through this again.

Posted on September 19, 2009 04:09

MamaInJune09 said:

OK Ladies great fix or that constipation, horribe constipation. the only bad symptom I am having..... Colace, Metamucil, and activia (as she says above). I feel 110% better after only 2 days. no more sitting in the bathroom for an hour hoping it'll work. Also nice that my husband feels the need to let me know he needs to poop. Great Good for you honey I only wish I could normally. 7 Weeks tomorrow. I am loving it so far.

Posted on October 28, 2009 07:35

MamaInJune09 said:

Ok Addtion to the last comment. Yes the items listed are making me able to have a BM but..... now I am flirting with danger. The danger of not knowing which to do...puke or poop. switch hitting is not an option. UGH! if only I could keep something down. The symptoms commeth!

Posted on October 30, 2009 11:55

April said:

i must say, i absolutley love this blog...i am 7 weeks, and everything in here is soooo true...im at work, and i just started laughing when reading some of this!! I cant wait to read this each week..

Posted on November 11, 2009 11:42

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More Pregnancy & Baby Articles by Amalah

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Zero to Forty is a week-by-week guide to the miracle of pregnancy and all the various indignities that come with it. The calendar follows the forty-week model and is complete for now, though the author plans to come back and add some more articles soon.

The follow-up to this column, Bounce Back, is about the postpartum experience -- the good, the bad and the gory. There Amalah is covering everything that happens to your body, mind and circadian rhythms after you have a baby, and (hopefully) help you make sense of the New Normal. You must go read that too!

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Amy Corbett Storch, aka Amalah, is a freelance writer and professional blogger from Washington, DC. She has since had this baby. His name is Ezra, he was born in October of 2008 and is delicious. Amy's first son Noah is in preschool and he's pretty edible too. NomNomNom.

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