Bump watch begins
The bump at 12 weeks:
Before you get all skritchy and start yelling that this is not at a bump by any stretch of the imagination, let's compare this to the bump at 15 weeks from my pregnancy with Leta:
Could someone please tell the woman in that photo to put some sunscreen on?
Also, some of you have suggested that I might be pregnant with twins, and believe me when I tell you that I lived with the nightmare of that possibility for ten and a half weeks. And no, I'm not going to apologize for referring to it as a nightmare, I'm sure your twins are lovely people. But I am not the type of person who can handle that type of chaos and readily admit that you are a better person than I am. We had the doctor check for twins during my sonogram, and she promises me that there was only one swimming around in there. Look:
I asked her if the sneaky twin could be hiding somewhere in a corner? Maybe it had dressed itself in an invisibility cloak? And she was all YOU'RE SO SILLY! And I was all, hmm, I don't think "silly" is the clinical term for it, do yourself a favor and REFRAIN FROM GOOGLING MY NAME.
Now, on to a burning question that's sort of sitting out there making a few people uncomfortable or at least a little more curious than they are used to being: I am still taking Prozac. Last year when I found out I was pregnant (the one that ended in miscarriage) we found the phone number for the doctor who treated me for postpartum depression in the hospital in 2004 and left a desperate message. He does not treat anyone outside of the hospital but was generous enough to return our call and answer our questions about medication during pregnancy, and his advice was to remain on Prozac (although he did suggest that I stop taking Neurontin and Valium). Prozac has a half-life so long that even if I had stopped taking it when I found out I was pregnant it would have remained in my system for several weeks. He's been treating postpartum depression for over 30 years and has seen hundreds of pregnant women who have continued taking Prozac go on to have perfectly healthy babies. My OBGYN agrees with him.
I do not know about any other medications, and if you have questions or concerns about your own you should call your doctor. I do know that I feel good about this decision, and so far things are really good. Am I physically miserable? Absolutely, but I'm really hopeful and coping like I should be. And this time I know exactly what signs and symptoms to look for in my mood and what tools I can turn to. I feel so much more prepared, like I know I'm about to jump into a pond full of crocodiles, and this time instead of throwing in my naked body head first I'm climbing into an armored Humvee that will be slowly lowered into the water, machine guns first.
Will people accuse me of putting my baby in danger by continuing to take Prozac? I expect that email or comment to hit within minutes. This wouldn't be the Internet without those lovely little cutie pies. Smooches! The reason I bring this up is because someone is out there right now trying to make the decision about whether or not to stay on her medication, and even if her doctor is telling her that she needs to, that it's perfectly okay, she knows that if she does she'll have to listen to some dickwad condemn her for trying to kill her baby. I want that woman to know that I am surrounded by those dickwads, they have my email address, my mailing address, their own websites where they go on and on about how sad it's going to be for my children to grow up with such a crazy mother (Hi, guys! Thanks for the traffic!), that I shouldn't be allowed to have another baby. IT'S ALL BEEN SAID ABOUT ME. All of it, the same things over and over again. I want you to know that all of those people are dealing with their own issues, it has absolutely nothing to do with you, and that I'm willing stand up for me and for you and say, hey, thanks for your concern, but I'm perfectly capable of making decisions for me and my baby.
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Patrick T. said:
You are truly an inspiration.
Don't let the bastards grind you down.
12.02.08 - 03:28 PM / 1Daddy Scratches said:
You mean you don't want unsolicited parental criticism from total strangers? Hmmm ... fancy that.
I'm on Wellbutrin, and when I go off of it, I turn into a clove-hooved beast, which I have come to accept, to the extent that I no longer go off of it ... and I can only image how much more critical it would be for me to stay on it if was nauseous and swelling from the, you know, person growing inside my lower abdomen.
12.02.08 - 03:28 PM / 2Rachel said:
Your baby bump is beautiful! :)
12.02.08 - 03:29 PM / 3Britt said:
Ah, Dooce. I lurve you. Seriously.
12.02.08 - 03:30 PM / 4karen said:
you look really great, dooce. congrats again. it is wonderful news.
12.02.08 - 03:30 PM / 5GEMMERZZ said:
good lord, i have the same bump... but no baby in there! (err, knock on wood.)
between you and your doctor, who are we to say anything? i have no medical knowledge of prozac, but i know enough people and have read enough to tell you to please refrain from drinking alcohol, smoking crack, or shooting heroin while pregnant... or at least refrain from blogging about it. ;)
good luck on a healthy pregnancy. the bean looks good so far!
12.02.08 - 03:31 PM / 6Tracy said:
With each pregnancy, I started to show earlier and earlier. In fact, I started to show with the 3rd kid before I even knew I was pregnant. I just thought it was the beer and tacos. My ob said it's because my uterus was tired. And because it was tired, it decided not to stay all tucked and pretty. I guess it might've also been pissed, like Oh great, here we go again. Nevertheless, your uterus is awesome. And some days, that's just gotta be enough.
12.02.08 - 03:31 PM / 7Alex Dean said:
Yay Dooce!
12.02.08 - 03:31 PM / 8casey said:
rock on! what a beautiful picture =)
12.02.08 - 03:32 PM / 9Britta said:
I always hope my parents/others don't google my name either haha!
12.02.08 - 03:32 PM / 10Crystal said:
Because all of these critics are assuredly doctors. Screw 'em. Cute bump by the way...
12.02.08 - 03:32 PM / 11Sarah said:
Heather, bless you for dealing with such hate and still having the bravery to continue speaking your truth. Bravo for doing what's best for you!
12.02.08 - 03:32 PM / 12dewi said:
Medicine good!
okay to take during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Go eat cake and ice cream!
12.02.08 - 03:33 PM / 13Sarah said:
You tell 'em, Heather. Congratulations.
12.02.08 - 03:33 PM / 14Heather-in-Australia said:
Congratulations and all the happiness in the world to you!
People who naysay are a bunch of cockholsters. More power to you for knowing who you are and what you and your family needs & for being a positive voice for those who are struggling to know that for themselves.
12.02.08 - 03:33 PM / 15Mama Sayd said:
1) your bump is cuter than mine - damn you!
2) you do whatever works for you and damn them!
3) I have a dear friend that has a bad case of bi-polar disorder. she will have to have electroshock treatments when she gets pregnant - so I ask you which is worse for your kid, a an extra finger or twitching uncontrollably???
Just kidding but those "others" might think I am on to something.
Trust the doctors, trust yourself - you'll be fine!!!
12.02.08 - 03:33 PM / 16Ashly Sheldon said:
My non-baby bump is bigger!
12.02.08 - 03:33 PM / 17sassypriscilla said:
You look great!
I believe that a doctor treating a pregnant woman has to also think of the well being of the mother. I am glad you are confident in your decision and hope that you can maintain an even, happy keel in your pregnancy and after. Here is hoping the nausea subsides soon.
12.02.08 - 03:33 PM / 18katie morton said:
Good for you lady -- Rock on with yer bad self. :) Love reading your blog. Hi Leta!
12.02.08 - 03:33 PM / 19Jen said:
While pregnant with my second child, I had suicidal thoughts and was put in the hospital. I had been taking Zoloft for years but it wasn't working as well. My OB added Wellbutrin to the mix. I was worried about side effects for my son but was also glad I was alive to see him grow up. Heather, you have to do what is best for you first, then you can take care of that sweet baby! Good luck!
12.02.08 - 03:34 PM / 20Karen said:
As long as both you and your doctors are okay with your decisions, it is no one else's business at all. I know several women who took Prozac through multiple pregnancies without any problems.
And about that bump, it is amazing how much faster it grows the second time around. First baby for me meant no maternity clothes until 6 months. Second baby was before 3 months. And they were the same exact size (weight and height) at birth!
Hope you feel better soon.
12.02.08 - 03:34 PM / 21Callie said:
Looking forward to reading all about your pregnancy, Prozac and all. Is it wrong that I kinda like the commenters who post ridiculous advice and expect you to listen to them? It gives me something to giggle about.
12.02.08 - 03:35 PM / 22M said:
Screw em!
It is funny how people are so handy with advice for situations they have no clue about. I have been told more than once how medication is a big scam and I am copping out by taking it, I should just be strong enough to deal. You are making a responsible healthy decision based upon your needs, medical advice, and experiences. I have also chosen to stay medicated during my pregnancy(9weeks) even though I am going to try and lower my doseage(which scares the crap out of me), but I know that if I can't handle it my baby is better off with a sane mother than someone "who can't deal".
Good luck and keep you pecker up!
12.02.08 - 03:35 PM / 23Ariel said:
You are ADORABLE! :) And don't pay any attention to the mean people who are trying to play Dr. over the internet.
12.02.08 - 03:35 PM / 24firstlady said:
My partner had grand plans to get off of Paxil since she hopes to get pregnant next year. After a few weeks of decreasing her dosage, it became VERY clear to both of us that her getting of her anxiety meds would do no one any good, least of all a pregnant lady. So, she's now on Zoloft and plans to be on it while pregnant. Sanity is good.
12.02.08 - 03:35 PM / 25dewi said:
Did you know that a glass of wine or a cocktail once in a blue moon is also fine while you're pregnant!
Now you can really get them going! ;-/>
12.02.08 - 03:36 PM / 26Heather said:
from this mother who suffered with the "no more wire hangers" syndrome, i say take care of yourself so that you can take care of your baby. your doing the right thing.
love the bump!
12.02.08 - 03:37 PM / 27Anonymous said:
I suffer from Crohn's disease and like you after much consideration, soul searching and seaking out the advice of not one but 3 different doctors chose to continue taking Imuran during my pregnancy. Unfortunately I mis-carried just over a week ago. I'm secure in the decision that I made and feel sure that my medication had nothing to do with the ending of this pregnancy. It just wasn't the right time. I wish however that my family could see things that way. I wish you the best of luck and all the happiness the world has to give you.
12.02.08 - 03:37 PM / 28Christina said:
Atta girl, Heather. Keep defending yourself and your baby.
:) Happy for you!
12.02.08 - 03:39 PM / 29Anonymous said:
Dude. Don't listen to anyone but your doctor and yourself.
12.02.08 - 03:39 PM / 30