How do you deal?

I am 14 1/2 weeks along and while I am excited to be in the second trimester there are no clear feelings of being pregnant at the moment, and I can't feel the baby yet.  So how do you deal with the feelings of "is this really real?" or "is everything ok?".  Especially after trying for 8 years and finally getting what you have been longing for for so long?  I almost feel disconnected with the baby because it doesn't seem real anymore.  I also can't really tell if I am showing due to a big floppy tummy hang.  My pants do seem tighter, but I can "see" a bump, even when I pull it up I am not sure I see it.  Maybe I need to start taking pics, but I am hoping the baby kicks will come soon.

HI Amanda Jo--

I am 24 weeks and just began to detect fetal movement within the last week or so. In my case, the placenta is "anterior", right in the front of my uterus...behind my bellybutton and was in essence, cushioning some of the movements. My doc's office said it might be 24 weeks before I felt movement given the placement of my placenta. I'm happy to report I've felt baby boy every day for the past 5 days!

In the meantime, I used a lot of pep-talking to remind myself I was pregnant until I was showing. My mantra was "For today, I am pregnant." It worked well for me. Even though I intellectually knew I was pregnant, believing it has a huge hurdle for me.

--Paula

I am in that stage too right now...I went to the Doc yesterday and everything is going good. I am feeling little pops and rubs that are definently not gas lol...I have a bump to prove that I am pregnant but am also dealing with the tummy hang...but Saturday I "lost" my waistline...so give it some time I am sure before long we might get a little tired of too much movement lol

~Flora

I have a sucky panni too that hangs. It was recommended to me to have someone take belly pics while laying down on the bed. The panni just drops naturally toward the bed and then you just see the baby belly coming up. I am 23 weeks now and I really have a nice bump, laying down...lol Try it. For me pulling the skin up really didn't help me show until I was almost due. With my first pregnancy I didn't feel movement until 22 weeks...with this one I knew what it felt like and felt my first flutters at 14 weeks and my first real movements about 16-17 weeks. It won't be long now. Shari

AmandaJo-

These are my feelings too.  I am 8 1/2 weeks it is awesome.  But I was having very similar feels today...is the baby there...will I hear  the heartbeat....my symptoms are lighter...  But the wonderful ladies on the board put my mind more at ease.  I liked the phase that one of the ladies responded to my post ... "Today I am pregnant"  I found that helpfull to me.  Enjoy the next wonderful 35 weeks as your baby bump grows and your connection to your baby grows :)

hugs to you,

Gina

I think every preggo woman goes thru this stage.  I went thru it at about 12-14 weeks even though my tummy was gianormous due to the twins.  Finally at 15 weeks I started feeling them and that helped.  I had a doppler so I could hear them every day but I still didn't FEEL pregnant.  Give it a few more weeks and you will be feeling preggo for sure!!

Sandy