Pregnancy Diaries - The First Trimester
It still feels so surreal that I can finally write this!
I’m pregnant!!! 15 weeks today to be precise. So officially I’m a couple of weeks into the second trimester but I thought it would be a good idea to document this whirlwind journey and start a new blog series detailing each trimester and anything else that crops up along the way.
Week 6 - Finding out we’re expecting.
Sheer disbelief. Whilst this is everything we’ve wanted and something we were actively trying to achieve, the past had left me wondering if and when it would ever happen for us (read My Period Story to catch up on the bumpy ride to this moment).
Next up, panic and anxiety. Unfortunately I suffered a miscarriage earlier this year so as you can probably imagine, it was hard to shake the notion that it could happen to us again. My initial instinct is self preservation: don’t get too attached to the idea that this baby is ours to keep.
Feeling breathless is my first indication that something is offbeat. I was actually taking an online client through a session, going through the warm up with her when I realised that I was panting like I’d ran a marathon, despite having only done a few stretches! Following the session I thought it wise to take a test, in my head it was just to rule it out. Low and behold, we got a positive! We then proceeded to get 4 more positives…just to be sure!
The day we find out we were pregnant is a Monday. Just 4 days before our COVID wedding! I tell my sister the good news knowing that 1. I’ll need someone to talk to about what the hell is happening to me (rather than turn to Dr Google at every twist and turn) and 2. I need a Prosecco-buffer on our wedding day. Luckily this last point wasn’t an issue given the small number of guests we were allowed to get hitched with and the fact that I rarely drink anyway.
Exercise: it’s a busy week what with the wedding so my usual routine takes a backseat this week.
Week 7
We’re a week further into this pregnancy than we got with our first. This is both so sad and comforting at the same time.
Nausea has hit. A constant sicky feeling in the pit of my stomach. Eating little and often helps but choosing what to eat is a task in itself as all I want was beige, bland and basic food but then the thought of eating makes me squirm. Experiencing nausea does help a little with the feelings of anxiety however. It gives me hope that there is something going on inside (it wasn’t something I experienced in my first pregnancy).
Exercise: back to the gym with my secret. I’m doing my usual routine but a bit slower and with longer rests as this breathlessness is crazy! I have my HR monitor to give me an idea of where I’m at. Still walking at least a couple of miles a day with the dog.
Week 8
Feeling sicky, and now tired. It seems that there is a 2am alarm going off that only I can hear. Roll on this un-godly hour of the day and I’m awake, tossing and turning, growing more and more frustrated that sleep evades me. Apologies to any and all of my clients for whom I am not my usual chirpy self and for if you catch me stifling a yawn!
Exercise: Daily walks with the pooch. This week I managed a gym workout and 2 short but sweet home sessions as I’m busy with work but also pretty tired. Rest is more important right now.
Week 9
Is that the hint of a bump or just bloat? I suppose with a diet so lacking in fruit and veggies it’s inevitable that my digestion takes a hit. Yes, sickness is still here, and insomnia prevails but both my hubby and I are both perversely seeing these as triumphs in our journey. Surely that my body feels so weary remains a sign that something is cooking in there.
Exercise: 2 gym workouts, feeling pretty weak and tired but I know how much better I feel for moving and I’m hoping that physical tiredness from the workouts will aid sleep. Getting fresh air and miles in with the pooch makes me feel better and I worked in a long YouTube yoga session too as I feel achey and drained.
Week 10
Finally, something official. I had my first call with the midwife this week, 4 weeks after finding out we’re pregnant! I’m not sure if it’s standard procedure or if it’s down to COVID but it feels a little unfair that you’re expected to navigate this minefield of emotions and feelings for a month or so before speaking to a professional. Those 4 weeks felt like an eternity. Still, the midwife was lovely and it’s a box ticked which adds to this feeling all the more real.
Feeling a bit better in myself this week. Still nauseous, though it is mainly just in an evening now. Bloating isn’t so bad which probably coincides with the fact that I’m eating more fruit and veggies again too. Sadly sleep still evades me but it’s a small price to pay for this getting to have this experience.
Exercise: Consistent mileage with the dog plus 3 gym workouts and a Youtube yoga session. It’s been a busy old week but making the most of increased energy.
Week 11
Slowly starting to feel more like myself. Nausea mainly in the evening but not so bad now.
Had a midwife appointment this week. Bloods taken, measurements noted and maths done – the midwife reckons we could be 12 weeks using the typical calculation (first day of your last period). Given the length of my last couple of cycles, we think we’re only about 10 weeks but it’s difficult to know. I’m still trying not to get ahead of myself but have a great idea for how to tell our friends and family if we are in fact 12 weeks!
Exercise: With feeling better I completed 3 gym workouts this week. Kept things a little stripped back and focused more on technique, core control and mobility. Usual walks with the pooch were fine though some of those hills have me puffing!
Week 12 - Scan week
It’s scan week! Thankfully COVID restrictions have been relaxed which means my hubby can come. My heart goes out to all the fathers who weren’t allowed to go to their baby scans just a few weeks ago, and to the mothers that had to go through that experience on their own for I know only too well that sometimes they aren’t as joyful.
As we drive closer and closer to the hospital I realise just how nervous and emotional I am. I realise that despite trying not to get too excited, I’ve already bonded with this baby. I already feel like a Mum.
Seeing your baby for the first time is surreal! Even though I have the apps and inevitably turned to Dr Google meaning I’ve seen all the odd, alien-like images of a foetus, it’s crazy to see AN ACTUAL HUMAN growing inside of me! I don’t know what I was expecting – maybe a blob!? – but that scan sure made things feel real. There’s a tiny human with two arms and two legs, a giant head and a clear heartbeat.
When we see that scan, and our baby, you can feel the tension in the room lift to be replaced with excitement and happiness. For me, it feels like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders that in all honesty, I hadn’t realised was weighing me down quite so much.
Baby Evans due May 2021. We’re going to be parents. Mad.
And that’s it. My first trimester in a nutshell.
Here are a few extras I thought I’d share, things that have been useful for me during this time:
The book Expecting Better by Emily Oster. Tagline: ‘why the conventional pregnancy wisdom is wrong and what you really need to know’.
The PregLife app. Gives you a week-by-week breakdown of pregnancy highlighting the key things that are happening to baby, mum and dad.
The OviaPregnancy app. Provides information on the baby’s development for each week and has a handy look up tool for safe/unsafe foods during pregnancy. Best of all in my opinion is the cute section that shows you how big your baby’s hand and foot is each week in comparison to how it will be (roughly) once born!
The HealthZoneUK app. Upon getting the app make sure you confirm your appropriate healthcare service provider and it gives you all the latest COVID information relating to your appointments and more.
Nutri Multi-Essentials for Pregnancy. Of course, do your own research to find the right pregnancy supplement for you. Something to look out for that this one has covered is the active form of vitamin B9 (folic acid) as folate and vitamin B12 bypassing the need for conversion which some people struggle to do.