Week 11: A Summation

Fair warning: I am by no means expecting this post to be interesting to many people-feel free to skip over completely. We'll still be friends.


To say that this pregnancy has not been easy so far would be an understatement.

By far, the worst part has been early on in the pregnancy-around 4-7 weeks. I was experiencing intense abdominal pains. I would get up anywhere from 3 to 7 times a night from the pain, which I couldn't relieve except to wait out. The day would be the same (minus any sleeping). The best way I can describe these pains was a mix between awful cramps and extreme GI pain.

During this time, I was staying with my parents in Georgia, which honestly I think was the best place to be. As much as I would have loved to have Andrew's support in person, staying with my family meant that he could focus on studying and I didn't have to worry about waking him up at night. I also tend to be EXTRA complaint with my mom and sister ;).

Once I had gone in to the doctor twice complaining of the pains, they gave me an ultrasound. This taught us that 1) the pregnancy wasn't ectopic (YAY!) and 2) the baby was not visible, only the yolk sac. At this point, I was supposed to be almost 7 weeks based on my LMP. Typically, the heartbeat and fetal pole can be heard/seen around the end of 5 weeks/beginning of 6.

I was so discouraged. I knew there was a chance I just wasn't as far along as I was supposed to be, but after experiencing so much pain, I couldn't help but assume the worst. I didn't let myself get excited, and didn't share the news with anyone besides our families.

After 3 weeks, with the pain largely subsiding and more "typical" pregnancy symptoms setting in (fun things like nausea, bloating, acne, etc.), I went for a second ultrasound. And I got to see our baby. And hear its heartbeat. And it was amazing.

The weeks following have been a roller coaster, with crying and exhaustion being the most obvious symptoms (fun for the hubs!). In the long run, things truly haven't been that bad (with all the pregnancy horror stories out there, they obviously could have been much, much worse!). I'm so thankful that the baby is healthy and that my worst symptoms have subsided. And to have had the support of our wonderful family and friends! I know at 11 weeks we're still not out of the woods, but I feel positive and hopeful that things will keep progressing like they should!