Let's get the normal monday post out of the way, shall we? I am at 214.0 today, which is .8 pounds less than last week. Considering that my weight flucuated all the way up to 216 some days this week, a weekend of maintaining around 214 is awesome and I'll happily take it! I am hoping (but not expecting) to keep losing around a pound a week this whole pregnancy.

Week by week that looks like minor weight loss, but at the end of the pregnancy I should theoretically be down 40 pounds! That would be awesome, and what's more - that calorie level (around 1900) is actually doable for me 95% of the time and I don't feel a need to go over. So I am pretty proud of myself and looking forward to continuing this slightly sluggish but HEALTHY weight trend throughout the pregnancy.

The thing to remember is that my scale won't show that loss each week due to me GAINING baby weight - specifically amniotic fluid, placenta, and actual human being. In my past pregnancies I have stayed around the same weight (after losing a little through the first trimester) from about 20-30 weeks, then there at the end I start gaining a pound or two a week until I give birth (usually 8-10 pounds of gain). If I can repeat or come close to that pattern I will be a happy clam. If I gain more, that's life.

Now, speaking of the pregnancy - THANK YOU LORD FOR SEA BANDS!!! I am sick as a dog. I was never, EVER this sick in either pregnancy. Nauseous all the time, with major food aversions that seem to change daily. I usually eat a pretty darn healthy diet - mostly unprocessed, home cooked, with lots of plants, protein, and whole grains. I drink only water with some milk on occasion.

Well. I have been SO sick that all I could stomach yesterday was a club sandwich from the store with white bread and LOTS of mayo (I was craving mayo) and two Ginger Ales (I tried eating some white rice but it didn't sit well). I did indeed go over my daily calories and it was with nutritionally devoid junk. Now I NEVER drink soda, and even when I was heavy I always had diet. But the taste of aspertame is entirely unpalatable to me these days, pregnant or not... so it was regular old Canada Dry, full calories and sugar.

And darn it all if it wasn't GOOD!

That, plus my sea bands, really helped quell the worst of my nausea. But I can tell that for these first few weeks I am really going to just have to take it bite by bite. I had a great start to my Sunday, with two over easy eggs, whole wheat toast, and some raspberries... it was later in the day that my sickies kicked in. So my game plan for today (and likely the next week or four) is to start out each meal with healthy choices, as I normally do, and only make adjustments to what I absolutely cannot stomach. I refuse to just go hog wild and only offer myself nutritionally devoid junk... I am going to start each meal with the best of food intentions and just make the most minimal adjustments for my stomach's comfort that I can.

So if I only subsist on cream of wheat, saltines, and a banana or two... it won't be from lack of trying with apples, salads, and fish :)

I am just going to do the best I can and my weight and health will take care of itself. So far, in the midst of horrible sickness, I am doing decently enough and not going to get down on myself.

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As a brief addendum to today's post, I must report that my exercise hopes from the end of last week were not achieved. This week, however, I have the chance to try again (we ALWAYS have the chance to try again, no matter what our state of health or schedule may be!) and will aim to get some time on the bike today. Ideally I will also drag my kids out into the snow as well, as they deserve some fresh air, we'll see.

In care provider news, my midwives unfortunately dumped me as a patient due to some office politics and a lack of time to attend me at the hospital (I think, they didn't actually give me the courtesy of a reasonable explanation) so I will be seeing Dr. Bell, the OB who delivered Lilah, for this pregnancy. I will also be using my same doula from that birth as well. I like Dr. Bell a lot, he is very flexible and naturally minded, so I am not worried. I just wish my midwives gave me the courtesy of at least discussing how my risk factors may have somehow changed for the WORSE after a SUCCESSFUL VBAC and subsequent 45 pound weight loss. It really upset me that they cancelled the consult I scheduled with them in favor of just ditching me through the secretary on the phone, but I've gotten over the worst of my anger on the subject.

So an OB it is, and the first appointment is (sadly) AGES away on March 8th. I will be 10 weeks exactly, and I do hope I can get an ultrasound to verify a healthy pregnancy (or two?) and set my mind at ease.

I am 6 weeks today and doing just fine, beyond the obvious nausea. I'll take it (with a side of Ginger Ale, it seems!).