In case you missed it: Second Pregnancy: The Beginning- Week 6
I went into the doctor on September 10th, excited and nervous to get a confirmation. I thought I’d be close to 6 weeks and was hoping, and secretly fully intending, to see a heartbeat.
When the ultrasound pulled up I saw the baby, but knew there wasn’t a heartbeat. The doctor was quiet as she searched around, so I asked. Confirmed, no heartbeat and baby was measuring 5 weeks. I knew I had to be further along than that. My heart sank.
I was sent to the lab. They’d measure my HCG levels that day and again 2 days later. I got my car and cried.
I stayed busy until I heard my initial HCG level- 28,000. Pretty high for 5 weeks, so that was promising, but the real indicator was the next blood draw and if the number went up and doubled. I tried not to consult Dr. Google.
During this time, I stayed hopeful because I really kept feeling so many symptoms. The mornings I felt nauseous, then it would fade by the evening.I was hungry, but not much sounded good. When I ate, I wanted food to be cold and crisp, like apples and crunchy salad.
Two days later I got my blood results, 37,000. It didn’t double like they liked to see, but it went up a lot and my doctor was comfortable with those numbers.
With cautious optimism, I told my parents when they came in town for Hailey’s birthday. They, of course, were excited, despite my caution that things weren’t exactly confirmed yet.
The week continued and I stayed hopeful and feeling pregnant.
I went back to the doctor a week later, September 17 for another ultrasound. I held my breath.
Right away, I saw the flicker. A heartbeat! Baby was measuring 6 weeks 4 days and had a heartbeat of 124. It was the sweetest sound!
I left skipping, grateful and excited for what to come.
We told David’s parents when they came to visit the following weekend. It was fun to share the news and hear everyone’s excitement!
When I was 7 weeks pregnant, we went to NYC for my 30th birthday. The trip was amazing, though I definitely snuck a nap in on Saturday afternoon and was unable to get excited about food the same way that I would have if I hadn’t been in early pregnancy. I chowed down on Tums and thoroughly enjoyed the real NYC bagels!
Pregnancy Week 6-9 Overview
Pregnancy Symptoms: Increasing nausea, mostly in the morning, but it lingered throughout the day. Threw up 1-2 times. Slight insomnia (waking up 1-2 times a night). Taking some afternoon naps. Heartburn. Increased skin problems, big zits. A few dizzy spells. More emotional.
Odd Cravings: Grilled Chicken Cool Wraps from Chick-fil-A with avocado lime dressing, chips and salsa, vegetable sushi, Chicken biscuits and orange juice, chicken noodle soup, salads (a lot of salads!) with ginger dressing of Greek vinaigrette, kalamata olives, hot and sour soup.
Aversions: They changed as quickly as as cravings came! One day I’d need hot and sour soup, the next day it made me want to gag. Anything heavy didn’t sound good. Pastas, pizza, stews… ick.
Exercise: 4 times a week. Mixture of slow running, upper and lower body circuits and walking. Though tough to get going, it usually made me feel better.
Emotions: Apathy. I no longer had a drive to cook, answer emails or take care of the house. I felt incredibly lazy, which made me feel guilty. It was hard to feel so sick when I hadn’t told many people that I was pregnant. Those that did know didn’t often ask how I was feeling (probably extra hormones making me crazy). I felt alone at times. I cried more easily, but often they were happy, excited tears. Other emotions were strong, too, like disgust. I’d catch Koda licking herself and get so angry… and nauseous.
Funny moments: I was really craving Dean’s French Onion Dip. I picked some up and rushed home to dig in. Upon opening it, I realized I had grabbed the low fat version. Tears flowed.
While grocery shopping, I saw these little cups of microwavable fried rice. It sounded amazing and I bought them on a whim. When I went to unload them from the bag at home, I almost threw up. They looked disgusting. I gagged every time from there on out that I walked in my pantry and saw them. Eventually I had to throw them away.
Physical Changes: At 9 weeks I was up 1.5 lbs. I’m tracking for comparison sake. By the end of the day,my belly felt rounder. I needed to increase my bra size. My cyst under my left arm disappeared. At 9 weeks I had already pulled out my maternity jeans a couple times. I could still fit into regular jeans, but by the end of the day, the stretchy waist band just felt better on my rounded, bloated belly so I figured why fight it?
Please ask any questions you have! I’m going to play catch-up as quickly as possible so I can start writing in live time about this crazy journey 
If you’ve been pregnant more than once, how did you second pregnancy differ from your first? Or was it similar?
Sarah says
Awwww, a similar thing happened to me during my six week ultrasound. They found the yolk sac but no baby, causing me so much anxiety! And I measured behind, too. Now I have a beautiful baby girl. Sometimes I think those early ultrasounds are notoriously inaccurate.
Brittany Dixon says
So glad it all turned out well for you, too! Now I have a firm understanding of why they don’t want you to come in until 8 weeks 🙂
Ali says
I’m so glad that your scare is over! That must be have so unnerving. I love these updates so much!
Crystal says
I am 33 weeks with my 2nd and this one has been much harder. More back pain, I’m bigger and more tired easy. I blame the last on chasing a 2 year old 😉
Verna says
I love maternity clothes! I always break them out as soon as I get pregnant. I can’t stand ANYTHING tight when I’m pregnant. I even have socks for when I’m pregnant. They don’t stay on and drive me nuts when I’m not pregnant but when I’m pregnant, I love them. Hahah. I love these updates! Thanks for sharing!
Brittany Dixon says
I love that you have pregnancy socks! Haha- too funny! I want some 🙂
Avery @ YoungAspirations says
So glad your little babe is okay! I know that had to be scary. I can totally relate to (most of) those cravings/aversions. SO JEALOUS that you craved salads?! I swear that’s not normal 🙂 I bought maternity jeans this weekend – literally I was down to leggings as none of my jeans really fit anymore. So much better! Although I feel like I have to constantly adjust them?? Hoping as the belly grows they’ll stay in place more. Looking forward to more updates! 🙂
Brittany Dixon says
I was grateful for the salad craving! It was a surprise though because I couldn’t touch greens with Hailey. I loved them this time.
And yes! I always have to tug on/adjust my maternity pants. It gets better as the bump gets bigger though 🙂 So glad you got some- they’re so comfy!
Maria says
I had to laugh a little about the microwavable rice cups. I’ve totally done that before with certain items (why I should never go to the grocery store hungry). I’m looking at you: Vanilla Bean Almonds (so fake tasting!).
Glad things are turning out okay – what a crazy ride this has been!
Jen says
I’m so glad everything turned out OK! <3 I used to see HCG numbers as reassuring, but now I think they're BS. At 5w with this pregnancy, mine were only 2000 something — definitely the low end and they also didn't double, but things are fine now weeks later.
Ahh, aren't you glad we have the first trimester behind us? Being sick and weird cravings are no fun!
Brittany Dixon says
Ugh, yes! I was excited about having high HCG, but then high HCG was actually a bad thing when it came time for 1st trimester screening (partially why I had a higher risk factor).
Overall I’ve been so much more emotional this time. I’m just hoping 2nd trimester means more emotional stability and less nausea. What a crazy ride!
Would love to see you soon!
Kristin says
I had some light spotting at 6wks but refused to come into the office before 8wks for an ultrasound. I did early w my 1st pregnancy and the hcg testing etc drove me up the wall. I just kept busy til my 8w appointment and saw my little turtle with a strong heartbeat!
I deff feel bigger this pregnancy at only 9weeks i tried to whip out my maternity clothes but theyre all too big 🙁 i was first pregnant the first time w my daughter in the summer so it was easier to wear loose dresses in the beginning. Now every bulge in my pants and seeaters is showing!
I wouldnt say im more emotional this time, pregnancy has an oddly calming effect on me but i deff feel kind of like less excited than the first time. Not in a bad way but i deff didnt know what i was getting myself into the first time and now that im aware of the challenges AND joys im a little more apprehensive haha. My daughter is 21 months now so she keeps me busy. Being a mother is the most rewarding, exciting and emotionally challenging job there is. I cant believe im going to have 2!
Ellen says
I am just about 20weeks with #2. The 1st trimester was SO tough. I was constantly sobbing, had no appetite and SUPER lazy around the house. (My poor daughter would get a concerned look on her face, give me a big hug and say “Mommy sad.” It was so sweet.) I think part of the reason I sobbed so much is because I felt so guilty about not wanting to cook or clean or play with my toddler. I just felt nauseous and wanted to lay down all the time.
Thankfully, things turned around for me about 14-15 weeks. Nausea went away, I got more energy, I stopped sobbing all the time. (NONE of this happened with #1. I had almost zero negative symptoms throughout that pregnancy. I kinda fear the 3rd trimester with this one.)
Brittany Dixon says
Oh yes, I feel you on that mommy guilt! I kept trying to get us out of the house, but I’d often sit and watch as she played at the library, playground or Barnes and Noble rather than engaging. Made me so frustrated and sad. At home, we watched a few more Curious George episodes than normal, but whatever it took to make it though!
Are you having a boy or girl this time? Do you think that made a difference in the pregnancies?
Ellen says
We didn’t find out with our daughter, and because I had no bad symptoms all the wives tales told me it was a boy! I was convinced, but my husband said girl anyways.
I don’t think we’ll find out this time either, we like the surprise. But, I tell my husband it’s a boy and he’s going to be a little Zen master. Our daughter is full of energy and hates to sleep(recently stopped napping at 23months!) Have I mentioned I’m tired?? 😉
Megan B says
I really think my second pregnancy has been harder so far. I’m 14 weeks, though, so still coming out of the first trimester nausea, fatigue, crazy emotions. I think it’s harder to take care of your other child while feeling like garbage. Just me!
Brittany Dixon says
Not just you! It was so hard to try and be a good mom when I felt terrible and tired. So glad you’re coming out of it now. At 15 weeks I am just starting to feel like myself again. The nausea is less frequent and yesterday I even had energy! WOAH 😉
Megan B says
Energy coming back sounds great! Glad you are feeling beter. I feel more like my old self this week but am hoping by week 15/16 I’ll feel a whole lot better!
Elizabeth @ my neon running shoes says
I laughed at loud at your crazy moments 🙂 This pregnancy has almost been identical to my first (which makes me think it’s another boy!) Nauseous til about week 12 and now getting better. I am a huge sweet tooth but all I want now is cheese or chips! Do you have a gut feeling on your baby’s gender?
Brittany Dixon says
I don’t have a gut feeling! All “signs” point to girl (sick, skin problems, etc), but I’m leaning boy.
We have the answer taped in an envelope on our fridge right now. We just haven’t opened it yet 🙂
Jessica says
Holy moly what are you waiting for?? Haha, you have SO much more control than I would. I would not be able to resist. 🙂
Michelle G. says
Do you now wish you had waited a few more weeks to go to the doctor to avoid those early scares? Or are you glad you went so early?
Lauren says
You look fantastic!
Annette@FitnessPerks says
I am SO excited for you!!!! Congrats!! <3
Dominique @ That's What Domi Said says
First of all, your hair looks AMAZING in that photo of you and Hailey. So shiny!
And on that note, does your hair change much during pregnancy? I’ve heard that it can, but not sure if that’s just an old wives tale. I hope it’s not true, since I have enough trouble figuring out how to manage my hair as it is! 😉
Lauren B. says
Oh my goodness Brittany! I am going through the exact same thing right now! I found out I was pregnant a week and a half ago! Estimating that I was about 6 1/2 weeks, I had an ultrasound last week, but we didn’t see anything, no baby or heartbeat. I had my 2 blood tests, and the number rose beautifully! So maybe I am just not as far along as I thought. Thursday is my next ultrasound, and I’m praying for a healthy heartbeat!
Brittany Dixon says
Oh Lauren, I’m so happy for you and know what you are feeling right now! I’ll be thinking of and praying for you tomorrow. I know it it unnerving. As for symptoms, my boobs never hurt either! They grew and the nipples were more sensitive (TMI?), but as a whole, they never hurt. Please let me know how tomorrow goes <3
Lauren B. says
Also just want to say that I love reading these posts! And my second pregnancy is very similar to my first so far, except that my boobs don’t hurt at all, which I think is kind of wierd. Maybe it’s because I just finished breast feeding about a month ago? I don’t know…
Kim says
Congrats on the pregnancy! I miscarried at 14 weeks in September, but LOVED those wraps from Chick-fil-A! I know how scary the whole “not knowing” thing can be- it feels like your life is at a standstill. Excited to follow you on this journey and learn a few things about pregnancy along the way!
Brittany Dixon says
Oh Kim, I’m so sorry for you loss. I can’t imagine how difficult that must be, especially at 14 weeks. Prayers for you <3
Regina says
I was sick with both pregnancies. With my son it started around week 6 and lasted through week 11. It started off as just nausea then became bouts of vomiting. I’d feel fine, all of the sudden get really hot and sweaty like a hot flash and vomit. Then feel good again! This time, however, I wasn’t as lucky. It started around 5 weeks and lasted through week 17!! I was puking constantly without Zofran which I lived on from weeks 8-17. I’d throw up and still feel horribly nauseous.
Running has gone even better this time around. I ran through my first pregnancy until week 33 but I did 4 mile 1/2 mile intervals about 3 times a week. I had a much stronger running base this time around and run about 3-4 times a week with short runs at 4-4.5 miles (straight runs) and long runs around 6-7.5 <— pregnancy PDR.
Cravings have been pretty similar, but both babes are boys so that's not surprising 🙂
Emily says
i had NO symptoms my 2nd pregnancy! I got a little tired and might have felt queezy once? But compared to my first (the twins) where I was DYING from like week 5 on, it was quite a pleasant change of pace 😉 I actually felt great his whole pregnancy which made it manageable 😉