On being pregnant
It's been a couple weeks now since we officially went public with our baby news, and I've yet to post anything about it. I suppose there are perhaps a few people out there who are interested in knowing how it's going, and if not, oh well, you don't have to read this post! Here's the latest, in the form of the most frequently asked questions.
Exactly when is the baby due?
Can anyone ever say exactly when a baby is due? I'm not trying to be difficult, but really, isn't it just a guess? The due date the doctor is using is June 23, but I prefer to just say "June".
How are you feeling?
Now that I'm out of the first trimester (I'm in my 15th week), I feel generally pretty good. Most of the time I can hardly tell I'm pregnant, except that I'm hungry all the time, more tired than usual, and I'm gradually expanding. Throughout the first trimester, I felt hungover all the time. That's the best way to describe it. It was miserable. No need to go on... those of you who've experienced it know what it's like.
Any weird cravings?
What's that thing they always say about pregnant women eating pickles and ice cream? I've always loved both, but haven't noticed that I've been craving either one. During the first trimester, I definitely had lots of food avoidances. I couldn't eat yogurt (which is usually what I eat for breakfast every day), and couldn't stand to touch any raw meat. Which means I couldn't cook anything. And then there's my recent addiction to fast food chicken sandwiches. This started a few months ago. Every so often I have to give in and treat myself to a McDonald's fried chicken sandwich. Go ahead, make fun of me if you want (Kirk does), but sometimes you just have to listen to your body. I've even tried the new Burger King in Basel, and I have to say their chicken sandwich was delicious! Better than those in the US!
Are you wearing maternity clothes yet?
No. I'm avoiding that as long as possible. To the average person who passes me on the street, I don't really look pregnant (at least I don't think so). I like to say that I'm just a little thick around the middle. Actually, the thickening started months ago because I ate so much during my first trimester (including chicken sandwiches) and hardly ever exercised which quickly resulted in losing any waist I ever had. I no longer fit into any of my regular pants, but a couple weeks ago I bought a few things at H & M in bigger sizes and that'll do for now. As a side note, my German teacher told me this morning that, in German, I can't describe myself as getting "grösser" (bigger), because that actually means taller. Instead I have to say I'm getting "dicker" (thicker). I'm not sure which is more unattractive, getting grösser or dicker...
Will your baby be a Swiss citizen?
No way. The Swiss are stingy with citizenship. It's not like the US where you become a citizen if you're born there. We'll have a full-blooded American baby born in a Swiss hospital. Hopefully that also means we won't have to worry about picking a name off the approved name list either.
Are you having a boy or a girl?
Don't know yet. We hope to know in the next few weeks, and yes, we are planning to find out (assuming the baby will let us see).
Are you excited?
I always feel like such a jerk when I answer this one. Of course I'm excited. But for some reason, I always start off answering the question with "Yes, but we're also really overwhelmed", which is true. We've enjoyed being a childless, selfish couple for many years now, and it's really hard to imagine how much our lives are going to change. That being said, I also realize it is amazing blessing to be able to be pregnant, and it will be an amazing gift to have a baby this summer. As the days go by, the paranoia and fear are dissipating and the joy and excitement take over more and more.
Did I miss anything? What else do you want to know?
Exactly when is the baby due?
Can anyone ever say exactly when a baby is due? I'm not trying to be difficult, but really, isn't it just a guess? The due date the doctor is using is June 23, but I prefer to just say "June".
How are you feeling?
Now that I'm out of the first trimester (I'm in my 15th week), I feel generally pretty good. Most of the time I can hardly tell I'm pregnant, except that I'm hungry all the time, more tired than usual, and I'm gradually expanding. Throughout the first trimester, I felt hungover all the time. That's the best way to describe it. It was miserable. No need to go on... those of you who've experienced it know what it's like.
Any weird cravings?
What's that thing they always say about pregnant women eating pickles and ice cream? I've always loved both, but haven't noticed that I've been craving either one. During the first trimester, I definitely had lots of food avoidances. I couldn't eat yogurt (which is usually what I eat for breakfast every day), and couldn't stand to touch any raw meat. Which means I couldn't cook anything. And then there's my recent addiction to fast food chicken sandwiches. This started a few months ago. Every so often I have to give in and treat myself to a McDonald's fried chicken sandwich. Go ahead, make fun of me if you want (Kirk does), but sometimes you just have to listen to your body. I've even tried the new Burger King in Basel, and I have to say their chicken sandwich was delicious! Better than those in the US!
Are you wearing maternity clothes yet?
No. I'm avoiding that as long as possible. To the average person who passes me on the street, I don't really look pregnant (at least I don't think so). I like to say that I'm just a little thick around the middle. Actually, the thickening started months ago because I ate so much during my first trimester (including chicken sandwiches) and hardly ever exercised which quickly resulted in losing any waist I ever had. I no longer fit into any of my regular pants, but a couple weeks ago I bought a few things at H & M in bigger sizes and that'll do for now. As a side note, my German teacher told me this morning that, in German, I can't describe myself as getting "grösser" (bigger), because that actually means taller. Instead I have to say I'm getting "dicker" (thicker). I'm not sure which is more unattractive, getting grösser or dicker...
Will your baby be a Swiss citizen?
No way. The Swiss are stingy with citizenship. It's not like the US where you become a citizen if you're born there. We'll have a full-blooded American baby born in a Swiss hospital. Hopefully that also means we won't have to worry about picking a name off the approved name list either.
Are you having a boy or a girl?
Don't know yet. We hope to know in the next few weeks, and yes, we are planning to find out (assuming the baby will let us see).
Are you excited?
I always feel like such a jerk when I answer this one. Of course I'm excited. But for some reason, I always start off answering the question with "Yes, but we're also really overwhelmed", which is true. We've enjoyed being a childless, selfish couple for many years now, and it's really hard to imagine how much our lives are going to change. That being said, I also realize it is amazing blessing to be able to be pregnant, and it will be an amazing gift to have a baby this summer. As the days go by, the paranoia and fear are dissipating and the joy and excitement take over more and more.
Did I miss anything? What else do you want to know?
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