Plus one!
Finally, time to share the news... we're having a baby in August!
I was pregnant when we got here, though we didn't realize it yet. That's right - this fetus was made in the USA. Finding out during our first week in a new country was a little odd, but we didn't really choose the timing. Turns out that being able to control when you don't get pregnant is not the same as being able to control when you do. Anyway, we're very happy. December was a little rough - residual stress and fatigue from the move, plus the normal sensation of being overwhelmed by a new apartment/job/language/city, plus the physiological shock of suddenly losing a few hours of daylight due to the latitude, plus pregnancy hormones. Christmas and New Year's were a little anticlimactic, especially since the few people we already knew here were mostly away, but we rallied for a little cheer and for Skype dates with family. I continued to struggle with fatigue and disinterest in food for most of January - continuing to earn my pay every day, if barely - while Marcus finished unpacking our boxes and kept the house running. And, a week or so ago, we finished out the first trimester, and my ability to eat more than just bananas and chicken soup has improved quite a bit. We also made it through a round of screening for abnormalities with flying colors, making it seem more auspicious to get the word out!
Modern technology being what it is, we have no shortage of info about what's going on in there. Here's a shot of the fetus at 10 weeks:
Head and legs, seen from above.
And a shot from the 13 week nuchal fold ultrasound, which helps those of us of "advanced maternal age" to rule out various abnormalities:
Oh, look, there's a body too (and now it's bigger than the head!)
And look, it has hands and feet! And a heart. Plus... what is that thing sticking out down below?
That's right, the doctor - likely Norway's premiere ultrasound specialist - said he's over 95% sure it's a boy. Wow, we weren't expecting that!
More advanced techology = more bizarre images, but at least you can tell it's human!
We also have videos, which are amazing - too lazy to figure out how to put them here, but let me know if you'd like me to email a file! He (dare we go with the doctor's prediction?) jumps all around - arms, legs, heartbeat, the whole nine yards.
So, what's next? Well, with Marcus' help I'm trying to eat a little more robust diet. Work is going well, but any day I have energy left over at the end of the day is a good day. We won't see a doctor again till week 18, when we have what is normally the final ultrasound, at the hospital where I'll eventually give birth (for those focused on the details, that's at Rikshospitalet, sometime in the vicinity of August 11.) I'm starting to research baby gear and how to get my hands on what we'll need - things here are very expensive, so a lot will be coming from the States. I am on a listserv for expat moms here in Oslo and have been given some maternity hand-me-downs already, which will be extremely helpful in a few months. I've got a little belly, but haven't actually gained any weight yet (a 14 week fetus is about as long as a lemon, but only weighs a couple of ounces.) What else? I'll work up till the last minute, since that will let me take off a little more time once baby is here. We're still happy to have visitors, either pre- or post-arrival! Oh, and despite being born in Norway, the baby will have only U.S. citizenship... and we aren't actively considering naming it Ole, Bjorn or Thor! Other questions? Let me know in the comments below.
I was pregnant when we got here, though we didn't realize it yet. That's right - this fetus was made in the USA. Finding out during our first week in a new country was a little odd, but we didn't really choose the timing. Turns out that being able to control when you don't get pregnant is not the same as being able to control when you do. Anyway, we're very happy. December was a little rough - residual stress and fatigue from the move, plus the normal sensation of being overwhelmed by a new apartment/job/language/city, plus the physiological shock of suddenly losing a few hours of daylight due to the latitude, plus pregnancy hormones. Christmas and New Year's were a little anticlimactic, especially since the few people we already knew here were mostly away, but we rallied for a little cheer and for Skype dates with family. I continued to struggle with fatigue and disinterest in food for most of January - continuing to earn my pay every day, if barely - while Marcus finished unpacking our boxes and kept the house running. And, a week or so ago, we finished out the first trimester, and my ability to eat more than just bananas and chicken soup has improved quite a bit. We also made it through a round of screening for abnormalities with flying colors, making it seem more auspicious to get the word out!
Modern technology being what it is, we have no shortage of info about what's going on in there. Here's a shot of the fetus at 10 weeks:
Head and legs, seen from above.
And a shot from the 13 week nuchal fold ultrasound, which helps those of us of "advanced maternal age" to rule out various abnormalities:
Oh, look, there's a body too (and now it's bigger than the head!)
And look, it has hands and feet! And a heart. Plus... what is that thing sticking out down below?
That's right, the doctor - likely Norway's premiere ultrasound specialist - said he's over 95% sure it's a boy. Wow, we weren't expecting that!
More advanced techology = more bizarre images, but at least you can tell it's human!
We also have videos, which are amazing - too lazy to figure out how to put them here, but let me know if you'd like me to email a file! He (dare we go with the doctor's prediction?) jumps all around - arms, legs, heartbeat, the whole nine yards.
So, what's next? Well, with Marcus' help I'm trying to eat a little more robust diet. Work is going well, but any day I have energy left over at the end of the day is a good day. We won't see a doctor again till week 18, when we have what is normally the final ultrasound, at the hospital where I'll eventually give birth (for those focused on the details, that's at Rikshospitalet, sometime in the vicinity of August 11.) I'm starting to research baby gear and how to get my hands on what we'll need - things here are very expensive, so a lot will be coming from the States. I am on a listserv for expat moms here in Oslo and have been given some maternity hand-me-downs already, which will be extremely helpful in a few months. I've got a little belly, but haven't actually gained any weight yet (a 14 week fetus is about as long as a lemon, but only weighs a couple of ounces.) What else? I'll work up till the last minute, since that will let me take off a little more time once baby is here. We're still happy to have visitors, either pre- or post-arrival! Oh, and despite being born in Norway, the baby will have only U.S. citizenship... and we aren't actively considering naming it Ole, Bjorn or Thor! Other questions? Let me know in the comments below.