Baby doesn''t like stress

Bleurgh, very sick this morning. I'm anxious about my exhibition, whether everyone will get there on time, whether I've forgotten anything, whether the things I've forgotten at the office will come down to the NEC.

I had a lovely relaxing weekend where I managed not to do too much and not worry about the exhibition. This morning however, I woke up at 5.15 and couldn't get back to sleep. It didn't help that the cat was complaining that he wanted to go out for about an hour (he doesn't like using his litter tray and I don't blame him).

I finally got up at 7am (no point in sleeping on) and have been REALLY sick and then had my shower. I'm sure it's mostly anxiety and that beanie doesn't appreciate my stress hormones interfering with its sleep!

Keep your fingers crossed for me over the next day or so that all goes well and we get set up okay. I'm going to be knackered tonight! Everyone else will be out drinking whilst I plan an earlyish night in the hotel.

Now I've got to persuade poor tummy to eat breakfast. I've got a smoothie I made earlier so will see if I can eat that or put it in a flask and have it in a few hours when I'm less fragile.

Happy

I told my mum and sister at lunchtime by phone, they were really pleased (apparently mum had a tear in her eye). Mum had guessed something was up as I talked to her yesterday and I was 'quiet as if I was hiding something.' She said it was the best birthday present she could have had and was already talking about babysitting!

I called dad and he was pleased too. He immediately talked about cutting down on booze, taking vitamins (I told him that I'd been doing that for ages) and about watching my blood pressure. I knew he'd worry, but I'm already a bit concerned about my BP as it was slightly high before I got pregnant and to be honest I don't need him to flap about it too!

(He's such a hypochondriac). Anyway, I got lovely responses and it made me feel really rather elated and excited to be able to give the news.

I've found that getting over-excited makes me feel nauseous though! I've still not been too bad, but morning sickness is definitely threatening. If it stays like this I'll be glad!

Bleurgh

I guess that eating regularly is becoming more important. I didn't get to eat my lunch at the normal time and when I went to heat up my moussaka it turned my stomach in an 'eurgh, looks like dog meat' stylee. I really like moussaka and really enjoyed it on Sunday.

Oh dear, morning sickness being all day sickness? I hope not, I'm a bit frantically busy at work today.

In laws

We told DH's mum and dad this weekend - they're delighted, it will be their first grandchild. It was lovely to be able to talk about it and my pregnancy openly. I'm awful at keeping secrets. We've starting to say things like 'in 9 months time' and 'if it's all okay, we'll need to...'.

I think DH is getting used to the idea. I'm really looking forward to telling my mum and sister on Wednesday (mum's birthday). They're going out to a cafe and I' going to call them both and tell them. I'll be the first in my family to have a baby too, and mum has been nagging me for years to get on with it. Actually, so has DS too, she'll love to be an Auntie. She's 8 years younger than me so I think it'll give her a chance to play at having one in total safety! I'll then call my dad and brother. Dad'll love to be a doting grandpa but I have no idea how DB will react.

Foodwise, my body seems to be working well. I've not really had any cravings, it doesn't appear to have grown (apart from my boobs which are huge and really sore). I seem to be really in tune, long may it continue!

Of course, I can't expect any weightloss from this, but I am hoping that I won't put much on, since I've stopped drinking and haven't been overeating 'sometimes' food as Rick Kausmann puts it.

shocked

I emailed my boss today to ask to leave a bit early for a doctor's appointment and he emailed me back saying did I want to take it as sick leave or a holiday (to which I thought what! I'd only be leaving an hour early!)

Anyway, I later spoke to him on his mobile (he works from home sometimes) and said I wanted to talk to him next week about something. He replied 'Why, are you pregnant?' to which I coughed, spluttered and said 'yes, how did you know?'

He's promised to keep it quiet, but I thought I was being subtle! It just shows how crap I am at keeping secrets. Never mind, I was only telling him because of an exhibition I'm going to in a week, when I'm sure he'd realise from the no booze and early bedtimes!

Cravings

Heh, well after discovering all the things I have to avoid I really fancied steak and watercress for dinner last night. I don't think it was a 'craving' as such though. Anyway, DH pointed out that I can only have well-cooked steaks, which is missing the point (I wanted blood), so we got steak burgers instead.

They were horrible, I only had 1/2 my dinner, just couldn't face it (the cat wouldn't eat the 2nd burger either!) The watercress was nice though. I partially filled up with a snack of halloumi that DH cooked to keep us going, but still, it's unlike me not to eat most of my dinner.

I feel really bloated at the moment, I seem to get awful wind at night (sorry TMI) and can't get comfortable for the gurglings in my stomach. I'm not sure why, possibly due to my internal organs moving and eating more fruit?

I'm also really tired, Wednesday I had a 2 hour nap when I got home from work and then went to bed at 10 o'clock and last night I was tucked up by 9 o'clock. How depressing is that!

However, the good news is that I seem to be eating intutively. I have no urge to binge at all and have been eating only at mealtimes (this is when I've been hungry). By food time I've been really hungry and ready to eat. But I've been enjoying my food more as a result.

Also good news is that the 'official test' came back from the hospital and I'm pregnant according to that too. So next week I have a doc's appointment on Thursday and after that it'll be talking to the midwife!

Liquorice induces labour?

First of all, thanks for all your kind comments. I'll let you know how I get on! I'm very excited but a bit scared too.

Secondly - oh, no, according to BBC news, liquorice is bad for pregnant ladies. Will I have to change my name to 'No Liquorice Torpedoes?'

Liquorice eaters have babies earlier
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1378652.stm

Pregnant women who eat large amounts of liquorice could be at greater risk of having their babies prematurely, warn scientists.
Finnish researchers found that women who ate at least 2.5 packets of black liquorice sweets, containing 100 grams each, per week were twice as likely to deliver before 38 weeks.
They found the liquorice eaters were likely to deliver about 2.5 days earlier than those who ate little or none of the sweets. "