Topic Archive: symptoms

Episode 254 | February 28, 2012

Pregnancy Ups and Downs

Pregnancy has been described as one of the biggest roller coaster rides of all time! You may find yourself tumbling and turning with huge highs, extreme lows and twists and turns of all kinds. And that’s what this episode is all about. It’s time to get real ladies. (more…)

January 31, 2012

Pregnancy Annoyances

I’m just a few short weeks away from my due date. As with my first two babies, I’m in no rush to see the pregnancy end. I find babies are more portable and easier to care for in utero, so I don’t mind letting them chill out and take their time coming into the world. It also helps that I have had very smooth and uneventful pregnancies. If I were more uncomfortable, perhaps I’d be in more of a rush. Thankfully I’ve avoided the typical pregnancy complaints, such as morning sickness, indigestion, varicose veins, etc. But I have to admit that there are a few annoyances that I look forward to not having to deal with once the little one arrives. (more…)

Episode 241 | November 22, 2011

Pregnancy Ups and Downs

Our PregTASTIC panelists are back to share their current pregnancy high and lows. Who has to get up every couple hours at night to pee? Which panelist has pregnancy to thank for her new pair of “porn star” boobs? And which pregnant mama-to-be has the constant urge to (more…)

November 4, 2011

Fat or Pregnant?

Well, the big day has finally arrived. No, it’s not “D” Day… it’s the first day of my second trimester. Which is simply amazing to me because it feels like just yesterday I was surprising my husband with a positive pregnancy test. It’s crazy how time flies when you’re already chasing after a little one.

In my opinion, there are pros and cons to the second trimester. Of course, the odds of miscarriage are now drastically reduced. Whew! This also typically begins the “honeymoon” phase of pregnancy. Your early pregnancy symptoms, like nausea, start to subside. Unfortunately, my body is a little tardy on this one. I still have to stuff my face every two hours to avoid seeing my lunch for a second time. Hubbys generally like this second phase of pregnancy as well. One word: Sex. Suddenly, pregnant women start to embrace their womanly figures and what better way to show it off then grabbing your partner for a little horizontal mambo? For me, pregnancy makes me horny in general. I could be five pounds heavier or fifty pounds heavier. My husband is a lucky guy. (more…)

Episode 229 | August 10, 2011

Pregnancy Ups and Downs

Our PregTASTIC panelists share the highs and lows of their pregnancies. Which panelist had a “baby overload” and literally took a break from all things baby-related? Whose chiropractic appointment and prenatal message helped to relieve her (more…)

Episode 217 | May 10, 2011

Pregnancy Ups and Downs

Flying while pregnant? We have some perks to helps make your trip more enjoyable. Feeling pressures to reveal your baby’s name? Already worried about your dog and baby getting along? Plus, which of our PregTASTIC panelists is celebrating her 40th birthday…. (more…)

Episode 206 | February 9, 2011

Pregnancy Ups and Downs

They say every pregnancy is different. The feelings you’re experiencing now might not be the same ones you experience the next time around. So, let’s savor every moment by (more…)

August 30, 2010

Not exactly “2 for the price of 1″

It’s difficult to keep strangers from commenting on your pregnancy, even when only expecting one baby.  When two are on the way, I’ve found that the tongues wag quite a bit more.

“Two for the price of one”

“Buy one get one free”

“Two the easy way”

Those are the comments that drive me batty.  When you are expecting twins, you’ll hear all of these and much more.  I’m not truly enormous yet, so I’m sure as things progress the pithy comments will take on a more sinister tone.  For now, I grin and bear it and wish the well-meaning strangers had a clue.

If only it were true…

Oh, if only I’d really get 2 for the price of 1!  That would mean I’d have a delightfully easy, blissful, healthy and sane pregnancy resulting in a delivery of epic happiness when 2 babies slipped into the world instead of just one.  In short, it’s not even close.

Twin pregnancies aren’t exactly grueling Everest climbs, but they are no stroll down smiley singleton lane either.  Perhaps it’s that my first pregnancy was a pretty mellow affair and my body just couldn’t live up to that ideal more than once.  I had a 9+ month respite from the migraines that have plagued me since puberty, I was well-rested and healthfully nourished, never hungover or addled from lack of sleep (until the last 4 weeks).

This time around I’m back in headache hell with no available meds.  My veins are bursting all over my body, so surely they are doing the same in my cranium.  Of course the pain and throbbing lead to sleep loss and general malaise, short-temper and decided lack of libido.

Dude, where’s my libido?

Oh how I miss the second trimester libido surge from pregnancy #1!  My husband and I were apart for the first 6 months of my last pregnancy with the exception of a 2-week romp in Hawaii.  It was the babymoon of my dreams.  He had a conference to attend, my job was to get a tan and get some sweet lovin’.  Needless to say, the first few weeks of this trimester haven’t been anywhere near so frisky.  I think my husband is probably more disappointed than I am this time around, but we were both looking forward to some good pregnancy sex.

I’m not even sure if it’s only the hormones.  Has anyone ever told you that you someday won’t recognize your own parts?  Didn’t happen to me until the very end last time.  Now I’m living with a stranger down below and I’m not happy about it — I’m swollen, smelly, strangely juicy and just not attractive.  What with weight gain, acne and the uncharted topography of my nether regions, it’s not easy to feel sexy.

Exhaustion certainly plays a big part as well – our 18 month old takes up all the “spare” energy I have.  And there’s something to be said for being “touched-out”.  I never gave it much credence before but when I spend all day hugging and loving my daughter, I don’t really feel the drive for physical affection with my husband.  It’s terrible and I need to do something about it, for both our sakes!

Measuring weeks ahead

As of this writing I’m 17 weeks pregnant with the twins.  My stomach is measuring a whopping 40″, about 11 inches more than pre-pregnancy.  I’ve gained 14 lbs and look to be 6 months along. Check out the comparison shots.  The one where I’m wearing the brown shirt is 22 weeks with singleton, the black shirt is 17 weeks with twins.  Yep, I look about 6 months now, don’t I?

It’s typical for moms of multiples to measure anywhere from 4 to 10 weeks ahead of schedule.  I read that, I understood that, I was prepared for that.  Until it happened.  It’s almost shocking to see myself in the mirror.  Last time, I didn’t really need maternity clothes until about 20 weeks.  Now the zippered-fly is a thing of the past, I’ve been in elastic waist heaven for months now.

What to wear?

Since I’m not planning on being pregnant again after this (famous last words, right?), I don’t want to buy any new maternity wear.  But dang, I was big so much earlier than the last time that I had to incorporate a whole new season of clothes. Thank goodness I’m living in America this time around and there are “Mommy and Me”-type consignment stores.  Nobody wants maternity clothes after a while!   I just hope I can make it to the end without having to raid my husband’s closet.  He’s a foot taller than I am, so it would be comical.  I guess leggings and muumuus will be my signature look.

Two for the price of what, exactly?

No one can tell you what exactly to expect from your pregnancy.  There are volumes printed on what could happen, but each pregnancy is different.  My twins will be loved regardless of all the crap I could complain about.  Truth is, I’ll be gushing like every other new mom in no time.

They are starting to move a lot more and that alone is such a thrill.  There’s something so magical about feeling your baby move in your belly.  I just loved feeling my daughter move and would poke her to get her going if she seemed to slow down.  I knew I’d miss it after she was born.  Now I have two little monkeys vying for space and figuring each other out.  I’m pretty sure there will be double pleasure in this pregnancy after all.