Showing Symptoms

Prior to knowing I'm pregnant, I felt normal, which made sense; otherwise, I would have known  I was pregnant.  However, shortly after I confirmed I was pregnant, things begin to happen.  It's like I jinxed myself or something.

Dizziness
Once in a blue moon, I'd get light headed, especially when I haven't ate for a while and I could feel my blood sugar is low.

Pregnancy dizziness is different.  Out of nowhere, and sometimes more than once a day, things seem to spin.  You feel safer sitting in a chair or staying in bed.  I'm just glad they last less than a minute.  No big deal.

Tiredness
I'm tired - all the time.  However, I don't want to sleep, but I do just want to lay on the couch/bed all day.  It really sucks going to work.  By the afternoon, I'm half laying on my desk and my brain is a pile of mush. The only thing I could concentrate on is the clock.  When will 5 o'clock come?!

Nausea
The common symptom, and I have to say the worse symptom.  A well known term for this is "morning sickness".  In my case, ALL DAY sickness except the one hour after waking up.  Being nauseous is really the worse feeling.  Nothing tastes good.  All you could think of is throwing up.

Heartburn/Acid Reflux
Although this symptom often shows its ugly face near the end of the pregnancy because everything is pushing up, I am unlucky and got it right from the start.  Never had reflux/heartburn in my life, it was surely something glad that it's only temporary. All I can say is, it hurts.  It really hurts.

Breaking the News

Breaking the pregnancy news before the first trimester is often considered taboo.  In the Chinese culture, it is believed that if we talk about the little one, s/he will be 小氣, and it will result in bad consequences.  In other words, a miscarriage could happen.

Although I'm not superstitious, I do believe things could go awry during the first trimester, with or without reason.  To keep it quiet was just to prevent disappointment from happening.  However, we decided to let some people know:

1. My parents. 
2. My in-laws, B's parents. 
3. People at work: boss and project manager.

My Parents

I already told my mom with my questionable pee stick #1.  If she knows, my dad will know.  A girl telling her mom first is quite typical I guess.  When the blood test confirmed "my situation", I pretty much just confirmed it with my mom, ending the guessing game.  

My In-Laws, B's parents

If my parents know, it's only fair we share the news with B's parents.  We told them after the blood test confirmation.  At first, they thought the news we were going to share was B getting a promotion.  After saying no, they guessed I was pregnant.  And like all soon-to-be-grandparents, they were ecstatic. I then got the "you need to be careful and eat healthily" talk, while B got the "you have to watch out for your wife more" talk.  It's all good.

My Boss and Project Manager

I believe it's very important to have a great relationship with the people at work, especially the boss and project manager.  That relationship could only be built on by trust and reliability.  I foresaw that I might not be a very reliable worker for the next while, likely due to morning sickness, and possibly having to turn down some work due to my "situation".  Therefore, I felt it was only right to give them a heads up.

So late Friday afternoon when more than half the office had emptied out, I went into my boss' and project manager's offices and broke the news.  Both were shocked and happy for me.  Neither of them saw it coming.  They often ask when I plan to grow the family, mostly for them to plan ahead with work distribution, but I often say not for a while, I don't think.  Oops.  Sorry guys, it came sooner than expected.

So yes, the news is out to some important people.  I think I will share the news with the friends when things have settled and the whole situation is stabled.

Acceptance

So it is true.  I am 5.5 weeks pregnant.  Although I don't feel physically pregnant, I have already accepted the fact there's a little one growing inside me.

Was it planned?  No, not really.  However, we did stop preventing it from happening (if you know what I mean).  However, I did hope that we could start trying in Japan... rolling around on tatami mats sounds like fun.

Since pregnancy didn't even cross my mind in the last 5 weeks, I:

• had a large glass of wine.
• ate beef tataki.
• binged on sushi.
• barely took folic acid supplements.

The consulted with the doctor.  All of the above were ok.  However,

• no more wine - no problem, I don't drink often anyways.  I was just really stressed that day!
• no more extreme raw beef - I will bear with well done steak for the next eight months.
• no more sushi - sad.  Just sad.
• take folic acid supplements or maternity vitamin supplements daily - not a problem.

Additionally,

• continue to exercise.
• eat healthily.
• perform work tasks that I feel fit.

Being pregnant doesn't seem too bad.  In fact, I am forced to live a healthier lifestyle.  All the better, right? 

Hon, I'm Pregnant...

For most of May and June, I was planning my autumn trip to Asia, including Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.  I researched hotels, attractions, cities, and transportation options. I even had a Excel spreadsheet of a timetable all set up.

July came.  In my head, it was a good time to book flights, especially when I plan to go to Asia in October.  However, something didn't feel right.  I didn't feel physically or emotionally ill.  It was just something did not feel right.  Based on "calculations", maybe I should take a pregnancy test.

Pee Stick #1 - July 11, 2014

When I first peed onto the stick, it showed the one dark red line, which made sense.  Pregnant or not pregnant, there will that one line.  Then within seconds, the other line faintly showed.  In complete denial, I waited fora bit longer (as per the instructions on the box).  The second line wasn't getting darker nor did it go away.  I went downstairs to where B was watching tv and our conversation was something like this:

Me: Hon...

B: Yeah?

Me: Um... I, uh... um...what do you think this means?  *hands over pee stick*

B: (first confused with this plastic stick, then read the labels and saw the lines) You're pregnant.  (and no, there was no enthusiasm in his voice).

Me: You think so?  The line is quite faint.  Maybe it's a mistake?

B: It's faint, but there is a second line there.  You're pregnant.  We're going to have a baby.

Me: I don't know.  I got two sticks.  I'm going to try it again in a few days.  To me, this is too faint.

As you can see, I was in denial.  I took this photo and immediately emailed it to my mom.  I then called her to check her email and had her call me back. All I got was, "Are you pregnant?  I never peed on a stick so I don't know.  Go see a doctor."

Helpful.

Pee Stick #2 - July 15, 2014

I was going to wait a week before taking the test again, but I couldn't.  I want confirmation.  I wanted to go to Japan!  Waiting over a weekend was long enough. If I was indeed pregnant, my body must be overflowing with pregnancy hormones by now.

A second line was present and just as faint.  What does this mean?!  (Yes, I was still in denial, while B had already accepted the fact we're pregnant.)

To really confirm it all, after work, I went to a walk-in clinic on the same day to get a blood test form. I went in when it was near last call for walk-in patients.  At the front desk:

Me: It's nearing 4:30, do you still accept walk-ins?

Receptionist: Um (a little reluctant).  What are you in for?

Me: I think I'm pregnant.

Receptionist: Oh! In that case, we will have to fit you in!

I was a quick case: just had to give me a form.  Easy.  I went straight to the lab for the blood test. Yes, I wanted to know ASAP!

I got a call from the clinic the next morning, and the nurse reported, "Your test results came in, and you are very pregnant.  Congratulations!"

Huh.

So I guess no Asia trip this year.  All the places I want to go in the near future are now put on hold... for a very long time.  Instead, another type of journey starts now.