The 2nd Trimester

Well, I've made it. I'm in the 2nd trimester! This is a huge accomplishment for two reasons.

1. In my mom's side of the family, women don't carry their first pregnancies past the 1st trimester. They don't even come close. There has never been a known reason for this...

2. PCOS women are more likely to miscarry, especially their first pregnancies, than healthy women. To help with this, most of us (including me) stay on Metformin through the first 3 months to lower the risk.

With the double whammy I faced, I hoped and prayed I'd be able to make it this far. I didn't know what to expect, but came into this with as much optimism as I could. I've gotten a lot of love and support from friends and don't know what I would do without my fellow soul cysters. I really think that people don't understand just how big it is to make it to the 2nd trimester unless they have experienced loss or faced the high risk for loss. It really is a huge milestone to overcome and I can stand proudly right now, belly in tow, and say "I've made it!"

Unfortunately, I still have to be cautious... but I can be more optimistic than before and know that my chance of loss has gone down. PCOS is a terrible thing that no woman should have to face... it's downright evil. But all we can do is stand up to it, as if it's a bully in school, and tell it "no more... I may have you in me life but you don't own me!" Everytime a fellow cyster announces her pregnancy, I feel such joy, as if it's me all over again. I wait in the wings for more to come... hoping and praying for those who deserve these babies more than most.
So far, the 2nd trimester hasn't been gentle on me. I've been fighting what feels like the same headache for 10 days in a row. Tylenol is weak, so I've turned to an alternative remedy... peppermint oil. Rub this on the temples and across the forehead... within 10 minutes the headache is gone. However, this only works for headaches in the front of your head... not the ones that make you feel as if you've been hit in the back of the head by a wood plank. For those, I have to resort to Tylenol and a nap. It does the trick for a little while.

I've also had a nasty cold since week 12. Eight days now. I'm finally at the tail end of it and able to function with less tissue in my hands. Starting on day one of the 2nd trimester, my ribs hurt. It's usually in the afternoons and evenings. I've noticed a big change in my belly... it's filling out at the top, under my breasts, instead of at the bottom. This would explain the rib pain. I take it proudly, knowing this means the baby must be growing. I'm guessing I'm going to carry high... I've had people tell me both. No one really know what they are talking about, I've decided....

I anticipate the moment I feel it for the first time... what will it feel like? Gas? Popcorn? Tonight I thought I felt a rolling sensation in my belly... could have just been my stomach thanking me for dinner. My next OB appointment is on November 10... I'll be 16 weeks. I'm going to ask for my gender scan at 18 weeks... it'll be the week of Thanksgiving... and I hope to tell immediate family on that day, extended family in our Christmas cards. So bloggers, you'll have to wait until the Christmas cards go out, I'm afraid. ;) But don't worry, I'll be too excited, I'll start making them on Black Friday and put them in the mail the following Monday. Once I'm sure everyone has received theirs, I'll post... proudly!