Pregnancy Update: Week 18
This is the week!! I finally feel like I’m gaining some of that second trimester energy that everyone wants! I’m not waddling like a penguin yet and still feel somewhat graceful. 🙂 My nickname has been penguin when I’m pregnant since we were expecting our first child. Thankfully I’m only called that when I’m really large. 🙂 We were at a zoo when I was 9 months pregnant with our first child, and we literally ran through to see the penguins before the zoo closed. Sean started laughing and said I was waddling like a penguin, and the nickname has been with me ever since. It’s better than being called an elephant, right? 😉 I love penguins, so I really don’t mind.
I’ve been drinking a lot of Red Raspberry tea, and have found a special way to make it that I just love! I’ll be sharing the recipe soon. My midwife said I can drink as much as I want as long as it does not bring on contractions.
I have started having the usual braxton hicks contractions. Since this is my 6th pregnancy they definitely start earlier than they used to!
The usual problem of varicose veins is quite present. It is probably my biggest complaint right now. My right leg is covered in veins, and especially my foot and ankle. It is a lovely color of purple and blue, and very swollen. I finally broke down and bought a V2 supporter. They are not cheap! I looked at them during my last pregnancy but I wasn’t sure if it would work. I am so thankful I purchased it, I’ve noticed a huge difference since I started wearing it! I’m going to try a new varicose vein tincture and cream and see if that helps my leg at all.
The baby is active and kicking, which is so nice to feel! I am getting so excited to hold another baby in my arms, it has been awhile! Deborah will be 3 in December, and this has been the longest break we have had between babies.
If you are pregnant, how is your pregnancy going?
I had an eight year pregnancy gap between my #3 and #5. We adopted #4 from Vietnam. It was a joy to have a baby again, yet the biggest joy was watching my older children with a baby. They were 12, 10 and 8. They were so blessed to have another baby in the home. It was also a blessing to my son who was adopted, as he was now the “big brother” and felt like he now had a role in our home.
I’m 37 1/2 weeks pregnant with our first baby and loving it! I’m in super-nesting mode, getting our little house ready for birth and baby… 🙂 So glad to hear that you are feeling better these days!
Congrats on your sixth baby! Week 18 is when pregnancy became enjoyable for me as well. We have five children as well, and would love more, but have been naturally preventing due to weak adrenals. I am wondering how you are doing with this pregnancy in that regard? Is there anything you take? God bless your growing family!
I’m on Armour Thyroid medicine (the thyroid and adrenals are closely connected) and I think that has helped. I have times where I feel fatigued from adrenals, but it is not near as bad as it used to be!
I’m glad you are starting to feel well! Several of my relatives had trouble with varicose veins and found some relief with swimming. It takes the weight off and reverses gravity for the time. When they went a couple of times a week, it felt better the rest of the time too.
For varicose veins I had luck with the Bummerhoid herbal crème from Wishgarden.
http://wishgardenherbs.com/herbal-remedies/Bummerrhoid-Balm-For-Adults-118
It took away the pain but not the discoloration (it did lessen it). But not having the pain was so wonderful.
I had good success with this too! Unfortunately, it is contraindicated for pregnancy. But it works so well for pain relief!
I’m 23 weeks in my sixth pregnancy and it’s just horrible. I always have hyperemessis so I was in bed the first 8 weeks or so but that helped contribute to extreme lower back issues. I have basically been in bed this entire pregnancy because I’ve been incapable of sitting up or walking around for any substantial amount of time. Every time I vomit, it sets me back to square one with my back and I’m back in bed for days on end. As soon as I start feeling better, like I’ve turned a corner with my back, I’ll vomit and nope, no better. I thought my twin pregnancy was difficult but this pregnancy has been far worse. My house is picked up but never clean and my 12 year old has done 100% of the cooking the entire pregnancy. We’ve gotten zero school done. It’s not good.
I’m 30 weeks with baby #4 and my vericosr veins are worse than ever. My legs are also bulging and blue with lovey purple feet 🙂 The pain is minimal, and it’s a small price to pay. Glad to hear your energy levels are up! I can’t to read your post on the tea!
I am due just a few days after you and this is my first. I haven’t quite gotten the second trimester energy but I had lots of energy in my first trimester when most people don’t, so I guess it’s time to pay my dues. 😉 I just started feeling flutters and that’s exciting! We are expecting a baby girl and can’t wait till March to finally hold her.
I’m 28 weeks with our first, and am really enjoying pregnancy finally. lol I had all-day morning sickness for 9 weeks, regular morning sickness for about 9 more, and then leg cramps, etc. But my midwife has me taking magnesium for my legs and a comprehensive digestive enzyme for my digestion issues, and I’m feeling great! 🙂 I’m trying to soak in this feeling, because I know before long, I’ll be feeling ginormous. 😉
Congratulations! I am 19 weeks with my 6th child too, all 11 and under. And I love the nickname Penguin! You are a beautiful young lady, and calling you one of God’s majestic creatures fits well.
I don’t suffer from varicose veins, just the swelling that is normally caused from them. I was told my veins are just tired. With my last baby, the midwife had me use compression stockings, which helped some. With this baby, my legs started to swell even earlier, I don’t think I was out of my first trimester. I started putting one drop of lemon essential oil in my water and the swelling has gone away. I know varicose veins are much more than just the swelling, but maybe that would help some?
I’m almost 20 weeks with my 6th baby and I have finally been feeling slightly better. This pregnancy has not been nearly as bad as my two girls before this one so I’m really trying to enjoy being pregnant this time around. It’s a challenge with the other kids always needing something but I’m learning to relax a bit and go with the flow. I love reading your weekly updates!
I am currently 17 weeks pregnant with #4. I was diagnosed with a huge subchorionichematoma at 12 weeks so I’ve been on bed rest the last 5 weeks. Very frightening situation – hoping for good news next week. I have tons of energy though and cannot wait to get back into exercising and cooking. 🙂
You look fantastic, btw, Caroline! It’s fun following along with your pregnancy updates since we are only a week apart in due dates. 🙂
I have been enjoying your updates. I am 11.5 weeks with my first. I have only broken the news to my immediate family so far. I have been feeling mostly great except for some dizziness and headaches recently. I am so excited to have a bump. Right now I am just trying to hide that mid section looks like I gained a bunch of weight. We will see what happens as I grow bigger. I didn’t even think about varicose veins. 🙁
I’ve had seven children and also have dealt with bad vericose veins. A friend told me about Ames Walker, a company that sells medical strength support nylons. They make a world of difference for me. They are expensive, but they are durable and last well.
Congratulations on your pregnancy! Right now I’m in the hospital getting ready to have my first child. I’m excited and nervous. Just wanted to tell you that your blog is such an encouragement to me. I’m trying to dress more modest and to be the wife God wants me to be.
I am at 19 1/2 weeks with my third, and so I greatly enjoy your updates, as I feel we are “pregnant together”. So far, it has been harder than my others, as far as morning sickness, but I have nothing to complain of, as even in the worst times I was still able to eat enough and never threw up. Otherwise, I am so busy with my two year old and one year old that I don’t have time to pay attention to the pregnancy, which is helping it to fly by! I recently found your website and think it is so encouraging for young mamas (although, I don’t know how you even find the time, with homeschooling and all the pregnancy stuff!). Anyway, thanks for sharing your life with us!
I’m in my 17th week with my 4th. Finally officially announced this pregnancy to everyone. I’ve been quite sick but finally have found much relief with Diclegis. Basically a Time release forms of B6 and Unisom. It’s hard to feel chipper and energetic and keep up with my other three and I often. Feel overwhelmed.
It is great that you are feeling better. I have been following your blog for awhile and really love to read your posts.
I just had my fourth baby and even though I was forty when I had him it was a really easy pregnancy. Except for the morning sickness. That made it really hard to homeschool and take care of my other 3.
Hope your next trimester goes well.
I’ve had 5 pregnancies and suffer from vericose veins. I’m not pregnant and weigh 110 but I still have pain some days. Few times a month it feels like everything is going to fall out down there and it feels heavy. Would the support belt help that?
Yes the support belt would definitely help that!
Hi, congrats on your pregnancy! To everyone commenting about vericose veins, I really recommend getting compression stockings. We just had our 2nd child 4 weeks ago and I got blood clots where my vericose vein was during the pregnancy – I had to be hospitalized 5 days after delivering due to an infection as well as the extent of the clots… Without our Baby. 🙁 It was very difficult and scary. Praise God, I was discharged the next evening and the medication they put me on – as well as the prescription compression stockings – have helped tremendously.
But wearing compression stockings during the pregnancy may have prevented this complication. I had felt fine throughout the pregnancy and kept declining a V2 supporter or compression stockings when my midwife recommended them. (I was worried they would be uncomfortable in the summer heat.) Now I wish I had gotten them! My doctor says it’s possible that I’ll have vericose veins in my next pregnancy and I’m already prepared to wear the compression stockings to hopefully prevent the blood clots from occurring again. 🙂