22 weeks already....

Gosh the past couple of weeks have flown by. Work has been hectic with the prospect of travel to Europe in the next month, let's see. It's also been a sad time. My nanna died on the 9th May.......her name was Rosemary (Mary) Whitehead. Although my nanna was 86 years old and had a series of medical issues for sometime, it still came as a shock. It's hard to be so far away at this time when you want to be back with family. I will always remember a strong independent woman with Marilyn Monroe hair. It's sad that little bean won't get to meet her, but she lives through me to the wee one.


In the meantime the bump is growing and I'm now at 130lbs/ 59 kilos. I started to feel the wee thing wiggle inside at 21 weeks. It's a funny feeling, a strong ripple, especially in the evening after I've eaten.

I have joined a expectant Summer/ Fall expectant mum group which is lovely. It's great to be able to have the support from a small network of women who are all expecting their first child.


Oh and Jab is already preparing......... 

;-P

19 weeks- nearly half way

At the weekend Joakim and I stayed in Mendocino with family visiting from Buenos Aires. I love Mendocino, it's a 4 hour drive or so from San Francisco, away from the hoards of tourists. Mendocino is a quiet town on the cliffs edge of the Pacific Ocean. It's a beautiful place to visit. Highly recommend a casual yet great dinner spot Mendocino Cafe

This week we had another ultrasound (sonogram). It's an opportunity to find out whether the tiny human is male or female. Joakim and I had been wanting to keep the sex a surprise, but in the cab ride to the hospital we discussed letting the physician find out and give us the news in an envelope so we could perhaps share with family later on. Unfortunately baby was in on our initial plan and decided to keep his/ her legs well and truly closed as he was happily sleeping, so we couldn't get a peek. So a surprise it will be. The good news is that all looked good on the sonogram and we even were able to get a 3D image where you can make out his/ her face. Looks like the wee bean has Joakim's forehead and my nose :-)

A foot!

Bump is definitely getting bigger. Here's a shot from Mendocino. I'm weighing in around 124.5lbs which is around 57 kilos.

Week 18-Doula & Midwifes v Ob/Gyn

I am growing fast.

This week I've been doing a little research on alternative approaches to where I would like to give birth. In the US it is uncommon to have a midwife and after watching Ricki Lake's 'Business of being born' I started to think how I wanted to give birth to my child.

When I immediately found out I was pregnant I reached out to my Ob/ Gyn so had thought that I would stick with her, but am thinking maybe not. My Ob/Gyn works with the California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) only.

Ob/ Gyn are are certified in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and my Ob/Gyn 'Dr Cullan' is wonderful, but Ob/Gyn's are not midwives and are not advocates for home births. They are practiced surgeons and are great to have on hand if there are complications in the pregnancy and if you want a Caesarean (C-Section), but I have been feeling that I want a supportive birth, similar to having a midwife to support you during pregnancy and during the birth. So have been looking around.

I promptly started reaching out to find alternatives to the typical ob/ gyn practice and looking into midwives/ doula's. Through a friend (who has a 4 month baby) I was given the contact of a Doula- Annemarie Russo http://www.wetrustbirth.com/Why_a_Doula.html. Jab and I met her at our home. We spoke about what I am initially wanting as my 'birth plan' . (US term as everyone loves to plan a birth) and suggested possible birthing centers, rather than hospitals to give birth in.

Doula in Greek means a woman who serves. Although when it comes to labour support the doula is a specially trained birth companion (not friend or loved one) who provides labour support and post partum (after the birth).
I've already subscribed to an open house at St Luke's which is affliated with a larger hospital. St Luke's philosophy focuses on the wellness of the mother during childbirth and postpartum.

As for the invasive testing. I've decided not to do the Amnio. I feel confident in the results from the blood tests. I have my 19th week scan next week where we can find out whether it is a boy or a girl. Or will we? Lots to think about.

17 weeks- a week for relaxing

All very calm in the world this week. I went to my first prenatal yoga class on Saturday. Very surreal to be in a room of 30 or so women at various stages of pregnancy. I was one of the smallest at 16 weeks to a lady who was 38 weeks! The class was amazing, it focused on mind, the little one and also lots of yoga poses and arm strengthening exercise (practice for holding the baby maybe).

The class is held at Yogatree Valencia by a wonderful teacher (also doula*) Jane. Her energy is contagious and I think the 90 mins with her were the best 90 mins of my week. Totally hooked.

Here's the wee bean expanding the horizontal dress somewhat.

This week I also received my tests from the 2nd round of genetic tests. My results were negative and no action is required, although a few friends have recommended that I have an amnio for piece of mind just in case. The risks from something going wrong from the amnio are much higher than my tests. I have a week or so to think more about whether the have the amnio or not.

I also treated myself to a prenatal massage today. It's been a while and I have been told to enjoy every moment of my pregnancy, so I am following that mantra. The masseur provided me with a specially adapted mattress with a wee hole in the middle for my belly to comfortably sit. I wanted to take the mattress home with me. Absolute bliss. I am already booked in for the end of the month.


*doula. More to come on the term next week.

Week 16 + Napa Valley

It's been a busy week thus far with work plus friends in town.

At the weekend we went on a wee road trip to Napa Valley and stayed the night in the Wine Country Inn in St Helena with friends visiting from Sweden. The WCI is an amazing, welcoming country inn, set looking over the vineyards. Mum/ Dad, I've already booked us back in for your visit. We also sampled the delights of the Farmstead on Saturday night. The Farmstead rears all it's cattle, lamb, goat and vegetables, so everything we ate was probably grazing in the hills a few days earlier up on the Farm Meadow Ranch. Gulp. Our visitors were really impressed and voted the meat at Farmstead the best they had ever eaten. Argentinean Joakim on the other hand would beg to differ that the meat from his mother's land is the best in the world. I thought the food was great and will be back again. http://www.longmeadowranch.com/Farmstead-Restaurant

Earlier in the week I went a little crazy in a maternity wear shop called A Pea in the Pod http://www.apeainthepod.com/. It's a lovely wee shop near Union Square and I couldn't resist purchasing a few (don't tell Joakim) dresses that are especially fitted for the growing bump. I also bought some of the Mama Mio cream that all the mum's here seem to rave about. It's supposed to stop stretch marks from 9 months of the skin growing to accommodate the baby. I think how your skin reacts is really hereditary but there's no harm in using the cream just in case it might possibly help.

Yesterday I was back at the Perinatal Associates for another blood draw, that's my 3rd. So hope to get results next week and then we decide whether to do an Amnio. Today I had my nearly 16 week check up. I've gained approx 9 lbs/ 4kg and weigh-in was 123lbs approx 58kg.

And da da da.......da belly finally popped out. The technical word seems to be that I am 'showing'. What a wonderful term. It's as if I am finally showing that yes we are making a wee human life down there. I am feeling really happy and so is Joakim. It's happening!

More next week.

Week 14.5

So it's week 14 nearly 15.

Unfortunately, last week I got beaten by the common cold which whilst pregnant I can second that it is miserable. I was off work for the week - although this is the US, so technically I was still working but from under my duvet. There were only a few things I could take to ease the symptoms. Hall's cough sweets for my sore throat, Tylenol for the headaches with a small dose of Robitussin for the non stop evening cough. The classic remedy of hot milk and honey also helped me feel better.

As for bean. I think he (yes could be a she) is fine. This week I purchased my first 'maternity' dress....don't be thinking tent, this is quite fitted and it definitely makes me look pregnant. I will wait to wear to work till next week as it really does accentuate that I have a pregnant belly and not a 'whose been eating all the pies' belly. My normal dresses have been casually disguising my bump.

It is quite wonderful to see my belly grow. I don't seem to be worried by the added weight I've gained, it maybe weird but I get excited to see the number rise as it just means little bean is growing. I'm now 120Lbs, approx 6Lbs (for my Euro friends 54+ kilos, so I've put on 2.72 kilos) which is just bigger than a small bag of potatoes.

Here is a photo of me at 14.5 weeks, just very subtle growth. To an untrained Cat eye it maybe difficult to see any changes from last week.

So that's it for this week.

Have we got news for you.........

So a lots been happening over here and it's time to start blogging again. Yee haa!

We have been in San Francisco for over a year now and it's Spring and it seems the perfect time to start to bloom. Yes.........I am 14 weeks pregnant. Joakim and I are super excited and over the coming weeks/ months I've decided to keep a journal to share and for one day I hope that Borgnolds Junior can take a peek too.


Here's me at 13.5 weeks.

I am growing slowly, but oh so surely. Putting on a nice 5Lbs so far. Thankfully I haven't had any morning sickness, but do feel very tired by mid-afternoon/ early evening. I have no cravings or food fads, except my wish for milk. It's more because I'm aware that I need calcium perhaps rather than an impulsive desire. Other than that I am good.

At 12 weeks Joakim and I went together for the Ultrasound at the Prenatal Center. As well as the ultrasound we received the results back from genetic tests on lots of blood tests. At 39 I am technically in a higher bracket for genetic issues, but as my results were all negative with very low risk we have decided for now not to do any invasive testing. Let's see as there are more screening tests between now and 20 weeks, we will just wait and see.

For now here are a couple of pictures of the wee bean. He (we don't know that- but feels more human to call it a he rather than an it) was quite a mover so we got lots of pictures.

It's a funny feeling to be pregnant in America which is has a slightly different attitude to pregnancy and birth perhaps to that of Amsterdam or the UK but I am sure as I go I will find my personal approach. Let's see.

That's it for today, but I will keep you updated weekly.
Love Cat

Commercial Street. How apt.

I walk down this street most days. It's just a reminder I guess.

Calistoga- Wine Country

I have just returned from a beautiful part of California.....Calistoga.  Calistoga is only 90 minutes drive from San Francisco and you are in another world. It's laid back and approx 5 degrees centigrade warmer than downtown SF.Calistoga is home to natural volcanic hot springs, 500 years ago the  Wappo Indian tribe made Calistoga their home but it's now home to spas, fine restaurants and wineries.  My idea of bliss.  A perfect place to celebrate a friends bachelorette. We stayed at the Indian Springs Spa & Resort. It was dark when we arrived but all would be revealed in the morning. Indian Springs offers authentic mud baths, which I wish I could of taken my iPhone into to share photos. It's another world. http://www.indianspringscalistoga.com/

On the first evening we all went to a Nole. This is what the San Franciscans call a Farm to Table restaurant. Although I find that phrase peculiar when there is octupus and scallops on the menu. Maybe means organic or freshly sourced. I googled but couldn't find an exact definition. Anyways I digress. Nole is a part of a hotel. On a Friday evening Jole was almost full, but our reservation was for 8.45 so maybe we were the last to show. (Something to note- San Franciscans dine really early e.g. from 5.30pm). As we were a group of 9 we decided to share a mix of starters followed mains/ entrees. Of note was the Gnocchi with Chilli, Broccoli and Garlic. Fresh with a perfect kick. Another was the neck of lamb. So so tender. Everything was beautifully presented. I should also mention the wine. Jole has new and old world as well as a selection of reserve. You can also try a pairing menu with a 4, 5 or 6 course tasting menu. Next time I will try that. http://jolerestaurant.com/


The next day (after many wines the night before) most of the group relaxed by the Olympic size hot mineral pool. This is amazing. All pools need to be this size and warmth. Worried that you don't have the effort to swim? Fear not, there are lots of floating beds to lie on. 


Mid-afternoon a few of us ventured off on our low rider bikes (courtesy of the resort) down the main road to a winery for a quick tasting then it was a early dinner at Solbar. Solbar is at Solage resort, approx 10 mins bike ride from Calistoga. The interior design is furnished by Cherner. I now want Cherner chairs. They are elegant and comfortable, I am obsessed. http://www.chernerchair.com/index.php

Back to Solbar, there was a little irritation with the matre'd when we arrived who seemed quite insistant that we get to our table at 5.30pm but other than him, the service at Solbar is amazing. The food, just perfect. It's been a long time since I tasted good, tasty, simple, elegant, fresh food. The menu offers healthy but also hearty dishes. For starters I chose the asparagus with house-smoked salmon, creme fraiche, horseradish and finely sliced buckwheat crepes. I loved the kick of the horseradish. For main I went with the halibut. I can still see the whiteness of the delicate flakes of fish. Again amazing. The only let down for me was dessert. The experience was going so well that I pushed myself to order dessert. Something I rarely do and opted for the cheesecake which should of been described on the menu as 3 spoonfuls of cheesecake like mousse served on biscuits. It wasn't quite what I expected and after offering it to my fellow diners, there were no takers.



Solbar apparently has a Michelin star but lacks any formality of a Michelin star restaurant I have been to before. There was a bustle and a vibrancy. People everywhere were enjoying their Solbar experience, so were we. All 10 if us. I will definitely be back. http://solbarnv.com/

Sausalito- A bike ride

So J and I have just bought bikes and co-incidentally in similar colours. After 10 combined years in Amsterdam we were determined to ride in Amsterdam style back and forth to work, but after a couple (quite a few) near misses with cars, buses and other maniac cyclists on the pot holed roads downtown, we have both resorted to wearing helmets. They say it's better to be safe than sorry.

One beautiful Saturday morning we decided to head over the Golden Gate bridge to Sausalito.

That's a good 40km cycle there and back but a great ride. Starting at our place in SOMA we headed down and along the Embarcadero, through the touristy Fisherman's Wharf, through the Marina, Presidio and then finally over the Golden Gate Bridge. Although we were passed all the time by professional looking road racing cyclists, I was pretty impressed that our 'Urban Hybrid' bikes were quite happy going up the only hill to reach the bridge. Then it was a nice downhill into Horseshoe Bay and then North and round the corner to Sausalito.

We ate lunch at the Sausalito Taco Shop. Head through Sausalito for about 5 mins, and this little bit of Mexico is on your left. You can't miss the brightly decorated patio of this small cafe.  We wanted to be healthy and both went for the taco's in lettuce shells. When they arrived on the table and we saw how small the portions were we added some quesadillos. The Taco Shop isn't amazing food, but definitely filled a hole and a great place to sit in the sun after a bike ride. http://salsalitotacoshop.com/menu.html


The morning idea was to get the ferry back from Sausalito to the city, but the weather was so beautiful that we decided to ride back, once over the bridge we took a detour through Chrissy Fields that was buzzing with joggers, bikers, strollers, kite surfers then back along the Embarcadero.  San Franciscans love the outdoor.