Early Pregnancy Symptoms....

I almost felt guilty this morning for wanting to come post about how I feel at this point. I didn't want to inundate my blog with pregnancy posts within just a week of finding out.. but my primary reason for creating this blog was to chronicle our journey through TTC, our pregnancy adventure, and the makings of our family. I want to remember all the ups and downs of TTC so I can always look back with a grateful heart for what we have and how we got here. I want to remember the joys and (literally) pains of pregnancy, both to use as future birth control (haha) and to not let these little stepping stones get lost in time once the wee-one arrives.
So brace yourselves... I may post more frequently these days, and probably about things that will either be boring or TMI, or both. I apologize in advance.. but this is something I want (and need) to do for myself/ourselves.

So... disclaimer behind us, here we go.

I wouldn't even be able to count how many times, in the 2ww, I would scan through a list of early pregnancy symptoms and hope that I could check off more than a few.. meaning we had to have been KTFU that cycle. I would over-analyze every pang and twinge and headache and hunger pain. Every time I could smell something strong (even while standing over the stove making dinner), I'd try to decipher whether or not my sense of smell was heightened or if I could always smell those enchiladas this well. If I had to pee in the middle of the night, I'd try to recall when the last bathroom trip was to decide whether this was of increased frequency.
I'm sure the way I dove into the world of "phantom symptoms" was detrimental to my sanity.. but I couldn't help myself. And I always thought it was so cruel of Mother Nature to make early pregnancy symptoms parallel PMS symptoms. Not very nice, MN.. not very nice.
But let me just say... "tender, swollen breasts" now are nothing like the pre-AF sensitivities. I have had to sleep in a sports bra the last 4 nights just to get a little bit comfy. DH rolled over to snuggle this morning, and I had to move away - just laying close to him was a bit painful! When they say "tender".. they are not kidding. Geez.
Frequent Urination? Check! I swear I pee at least once an hour. When my younger sister got pregnant last year and quickly started complaining about how often she had to pee.. I teased her that (I thought) it was a little premature to be experiencing that increased frequency. I always assumed that would strike later.. when the baby was big enough to actually put pressure on the bladder. Not so much. I pee all.the.time now! (I think I may owe her an apology!) And when I wake up in the middle of the night needing to go, you'd think I drank a gallon of water before bed!
Fatigue? I think there needs to be a stronger term.... severe exhaustion may describe it better. Take yesterday for example.. got out of bed around 10am, made breakfast, sat in the recliner to watch a little trash-TV (The View) and fell asleep around 1130. Not so bad... 330 rolls around, I need a nap! 930pm on NYE and I was ready to turn in for the night. I tried to make it to midnight, but fell asleep on the couch about 11pm. I have been ex-haus-ted.
I have read that headaches are another early symptom.. what with the increased blood flow and all. I have had some pretty ugly headaches, but its hard to say whether they are directly related to the little Poppy cooking in my belly... or whether they are due to the major decrease in my caffeine consumption. I tend to think it has more to do with the caffeine.. but I guess we'll never know. Either way, the headaches come on fast and furious, and are not a bit of fun.
As if the peeing and headaches and fatigue and sore bb's were not enough... the bloating is ridiculous. Ree-diculous. I am 4 weeks and 4 days pregnant. That is all. So why are my pants so tight by the end of the day? Because I am bloated to the size of a beluga. That's why. DH even commented on it the other day.. "Already gettin' a little belly?" Nope love, that's not baby.. its just bloat. Nice.
And the most pleasant early symptom of all.... oh, the constipation. This is no joke, my friends. It is bad. And I will leave it at that.

I hear the bloating lets up after a while.. so I am looking forward to returning to my old self again, just in time to start the "Is she pregnant or just chubby?" stage. The fatigue should let up after the first Tri, just to return with a vengeance in the 3rd. But I will live it up in between, that's for sure! I anticipate once I wean myself of the caffeine, my headaches will subside. And I am hoping the constipation doesn't last long. The bb's and frequent urination may stick around a while, but thats ok. Its bearable.
But I can honestly say, I will take all these symptoms for the duration (without complaining too much) if little Poppy promises to keep the nausea and morning sickness at bay. Hear that little Poppy, Mommy doesn't want to be sick, okay? Bring on the bloat, just keep that m/s away!