The Wednesday Stork: Week 15

Welcome to The Wednesday Stork! Wednesdays are the day I switch weeks, and today marks a whopping 15! This means I hit the second trimester *pause for angel chorus* last week, and that was a big milestone...mentally, anyway. 

I’ve seen posts like this on a couple of different blogs, so I took/modeled the items below from the template others have used. Usually, a belly shot accompanies an entry like this but...I’m lazy and don’t feel like lugging out and setting up the camera on the tripod. That and there isn’t much to see. I have a bit of a pot belly but nothing terribly baby-bumpish yet. When it gets more interesting, I’ll put something up :) 

Without further ado...

Weeks: 15 today! Woohoo!

Weight gain so far: About 3.5 pounds, or 1.6 kgs, if you’re in ZA. I’m hoping this is in the normal vicinity.

Wearing maternity clothes? I bought a pair of elastic-waisted shorts from a department store here. They’re not maternity (they were with the swim suits, actually), but they do they job. My others were just feeling kind of tight. I’ve gone through my closet and found the things that I think I can make work with a slight belly, but if things get serious, I’m in trouble. Maternity clothes are SO HARD to find here. Thankfully, my mom *hi mom* has been on the lookout back in America, picking up all kinds of summer maternity and a couple maxi dresses on clearance! The downside is...they won’t make it to me for a couple more months. 

Got any preggo stretch marks? I should think not.

How am I sleeping? Oh, I sleep pretty ok. I’m a back sleeper and that is getting less and less comfortable. I have to make a bathroom run at least once during the night, but I’ve had a micro bladder since I was about 8 years old. Nothing new there. 

What do I miss? Deli meat. Lunch time options are limited. 

Feeling anything in there? It’s a bit early to feel the baby moving, but I’m on the alert :) According to my sources, I can expect to notice things happening between 16 and 20 weeks.

Aversions or cravings? Oh dear, those come and go. 

What’s the gender? We are a house divided: Todd says girl, I say boy. 

Any labor signs? That’d be a no. 

How pregnant do I feel? As fantastic as a Beauty and Beast moment would have been, I did not go through any magical, dramatically-lit transformations as I exited the first trimester and emerged in the second. I’m still lacking in the energy department but I can usually get some stuff done in the mornings. I try to take about a 40-minutes walk Monday-Friday, and come back whipped! I get out before it gets too hot, but even at 8 a.m., that South African sun is killer! I have mostly nausea-free mornings and early afternoons, but almost always feel bleh in the evenings. 

Belly button status: It’s a major inny, but I keep my eye on it :) 

Still sporting my wedding rings? Yes...If it were winter I would be optimistic about keeping them on the whole pregnancy, but in this heat and lack of air conditioning, I’m not holding my breath.

Do people even have babies in Africa?

Fact: I live in Africa. Fact: I’m pregnant. The time has come to ponder and answer this vital question:

Can people even have babies in Africa?

You can imagine how relieved I am that the answer is...yes :) 

I’ve never had a baby domestically so having one abroad doesn’t actually seem as complicated as it might to a seasoned American mother, I’m sure. I relied heavily at first on locals to tell me what doctor to use and to give me tips like being careful to only seek out a doctor who wouldn’t require me to schedule a non-emergency C-section two weeks prior to my due date (extremely common here). That was good to know. 

I haven’t been in this boat very long and I’m sure there will be much more for me to learn, but in the mean time, let me give you a brief look into pregnancy and delivery conditions here in the not-so-primitive country of South Africa:

1. They have OBGYNs here, and they can be found at real hospitals. I’m sorry to tell you though that here they are called a “gynae” which is pronounced “guy-nee”...so classy. 
2. My doctor’s office is small, but has all the right equipment to do a complete ultrasound. I was able to see the little guy swimming around at about 10 weeks just like anyone back home might :) 
3. Based on what you learned from #2, it will probably come as no surprise that we will have as good a chance of learning the gender as all of our pregnant friends in the states! All we need is a cooperative baby...
4. People here can choose to give birth in a hospital with an OB (public or private hospitals, and the private ones are considered “better”) or a birthing center. Of course, no matter where you live I suppose you always have the option of a DIY delivery at home, but no thanks. 
5. The pharmacies have a variety of prenatal vitamins, only be sure to ask for “antenatal.” That’s what they call it here...antenatal :) 
6. People get morning sickness all over the world :( 
7. Most medical centers will accept medical insurance, but not initially. You pay up front for the services provided and settle things with your insurance company yourself. This would be nearly impossible for most Americans, I think, but here in South Africa...
8. HEALTHCARE IS SO CHEAP! I was shocked, I tell you, absolutely shocked! My first appointment with my OB—which included an ultrasound—cost 900R. That’s $90! Total. Not after insurance, total! Seriously, I’m not even sure we’ll be able to get any reimbursement even after the entire pregnancy and delivery are over and done, because we may not have even reached our deductible! If you want to have babies on the cheap, this is the place to do it :) 
9. Pippy will not qualify for South African citizenship because his foreign father and I are not considered permanent residents of the country. We’re more like long-term visitors, since we’re on a two-year visitor’s visa. 

Ok, that’s what I know for now. So next time you’re asked if foreigners can even have a baby in Africa, tell them yes, they totally can!

Thanks to Todd for working up these highly technical and descriptive illustrations for me on the fly ;)