6 Weeks

I hit the Week 6 mark two days ago. Since Week 4, I've been receiving weekly updates from a pregnancy info site that explains the insanity of growth within. Our little embryo is about the size of a kernel of corn. Last week, no larger than a lentil. Our little is growing rapidly now, he/she has a heartbeat, flowing blood, dimples for eyes and ears, and a growing neurological system. Little even has the capacity to move around and respond to touch. It all blows my mind!

I find myself having strong urges to pet my womb and cup my belly with embryo-size hugs, but then I feel silly for having so much love for a little bundle of barely developed cells. In any case, I can't help but love Little already.

My body is already changing so much.

The Boobs
My breasts are sore as hell! So sore! Every time they are touched, I cringe. When I walk up stairs, I brace them with my forearm. Last week, in my aerobics class, I folded my hands across my chest to keep them from severe bopping around pain. They are growing quickly. My full hand can no longer hold one, and, forget about it when I jam them into my push-up bra...they look larger than I ever have seen them. My nipples are darker too. Thank goodness they aren't larger yet, that'll be a moment.

A la Toilette
I pee constantly now. I have to go every hour, and somehow I'm still thirsty throughout the day. Every time I go, it's a steady stream. Apparently, my plum sized uterus is pushing on my bladder, creating what feels like the neverending need to pee. I consider all of my trips mindfully calculating where the nearest toilet will be. Yesterday we drove down to Delaware--our trips to and fro both started and ended with sprints to the toilet.

Growing Womb, Growing Appetite
I've got the textbook cramping, a sign of my growing womb. And my appetite has increased to match. Somehow, I can consume an egg and toast breakfast, and still feel as hungry afterwards as I did before my first bite. I am only satisfied after a series of little meals, and that feeling of full has eluded me for days now.

Emotion Commotion
I have felt infinitely more prone to crying fits--anything can set me off. A couple weeks ago, reading the headline of a Philadelphia Daily News article about a teen who died playing basketball set me into a half hour of tears. Every time I feel remotely sad, I cry. Last week, a grumpy old man bumped into me as I was crossing a downtown intersection, and I couldn't help but sob. I felt like all that I was doing to protect Little was for naught as I couldn't protect him/her from the infractions of others. It was just a bump though in the middle of Walnut Street. And even though it felt violent in the moment, I'm not sure my extreme reaction wasn't prompted by the hormones rushing through me.

And, finally, Morning Sickness
I have to admit, I was a bit worried that I had not felt a lick of nausea before this week. I visited my doc on Friday and asked if I should be concerned. I read that the experience of nausea can be a sign of a healthy pregnancy with decreased likelihood of miscarriage so for some unknown reason I woke up every day waiting for a sick stomach. When I asked "should I be concerned?" She politely smiled and said: "You should feel so lucky, but you're not in the clear yet." I know now what she meant. I woke up yesterday morning feeling sick as hell: hungry like a wolf with swirling insides and dizziness. It felt like a dull hangover. And my first meal didn't fix it. And this morning showed it was no fluke--I felt just as sick this morning. I'll have to discover a routine to deal with this.

Oh yea, and that Gall Stone
I spent eight hours in a hospital ER about a week ago due to what I suspect was a gall stone that passed while I was in the waiting room. Now, that was serious pain. It took days of information gathering to feel more sure, but a nurse in the ER mentioned it as a condition pregnant women were more prone to due to the increase of estrogen in the body. I hope it won't be something to look forward to again in my pregnancy.

As much as these symptoms are annoying, painful, and strange, they are sources of great joy. Any sign that our little is growing, and his/her home inside is becoming more nourishing and comfortable, is welcome.