Ahhh!!! Guys this was back when we found out we were having a baby, SO crazy! At this point in pregnancy I think many moms are feeling all the emotions. Especially being a first time mom I definitely did not know what to accept, how my body would feel, how I would feel mentally, or how I would even be able to grow a living human inside of me for the next 9 months. SO crazy!
I found out I was pregnant on a Monday mid January. I was able to get in to see a doctor that same week, on Wednesday, to confirm my pregnancy. I was 4 weeks pregnant and they did an ultrasound to make sure it was not an ectopic pregnancy. Everything looked great, and my little bundle of joy was about the size of a poppy seed! Joe sadly could not make it to this appointment with me but as soon as I got out of the appointment I shared the great news. We were both beaming with joy! I was scheduled to come back in about 3 weeks since it was still too early for a heart beat. In 3 weeks I would be 7 weeks along, so I was told we should be able to hear the heartbeat at this upcoming appointment.
This early on in the pregnancy I did not have any symptoms other than extreme fatigue. Guys, I was exhausted. I would wake up around 8 or 9am feeling like I had gotten no sleep. I could’ve slept for hours on end and still be ready for bed by 3 in the afternoon, seriously!! I’m also a coffee drinker and I decided to ease up on coffee, limiting myself to just once a week. I like the taste and I was definitely craving it (I know you can have up to 200mg when pregnant but it was just a personal preference of mine to limit my intake as much as possible). Doing this was not the easiest but as the weeks went by, I honestly did not need it anymore. Joe and I did make it our thing though to do a weekly Dunkin run and I loved this so much. I also know for many moms morning sickness, or literally any time of day sickness is a huge battle during the first trimester. Some moms have it worse than others but I was extremely lucky to say that I did not experience it at all. I felt fine the entire first trimester, only had a few nights that I would go to sleep feeling a little nauseous. It eased up rather fast though. I did however definitely experience the need to eat carbs! I was eating corn flakes every morning for maybe like 5 weeks. I am also a huge egg person but during those first couple of weeks I could not do eggs or avocado. Super strange because I love both, but those two things were for sure huge taste aversions for me.
I think it is also really important to talk about the mental aspect of the first trimester and I want to share how I was feeling and what was going on in my head during those first few weeks. Everyone is so different but I think many moms can agree that they had some feelings of stress and anxiety. This is something that is not so openly talked about but I think is something that should not be frowned upon when brought up. After my first doctors appointment, there was a fear that settled over me and this was, what if I have a miscarriage? What if my child does not have a heartbeat, what will I possibly do then? This is something very sensitive and my heart goes out to all the parents out there who are struggling to conceive or stay pregnant. This is the reality of bearing a child and even my doctor told us that we should not start sharing the news until the second trimester because for reasons out of our control, something like losing the baby can happen. To anyone reading who has gone through this, I pray for you and hope that there will arrive a day that your rainbow baby comes. You have to stay optimistic and surround yourself with loving and supportive people. You are always in my thoughts and prayers and know you are never alone.
The time came when Joe and I got to go to my 7 week ultrasound. This was still before covid restrictions so Joe was able to accompany me at my appointment. We were both so happy and beyond grateful to be able to hear our baby’s heartbeat. I was slowly gaining more confidence that everything will be okay and I will carry to term. The feelings of fear never went away though because I still knew that we are only half way through the first trimester and I prayed every night before going to sleep that I could keep this baby healthy. I want every expecting mom to know that these feelings I was experiencing are normal and natural. Do not bring yourself down for feeling this way, it is what motherhood comes with and all we can do is pray and take care of our bodies.
Finally, at my 13 week nuchal fold ultrasound I was able to breathe a bigger sigh of relief. Baby and I made it this far and we were both strong and healthy. Worrisome thoughts still occasionally crossed my mind but I was definitely more mentally at ease since I knew my baby was developing correctly.
Some people may be wondering when we found out the gender and we did the test at my 13 week nuchal fold ultrasound. They did a blood test that screens for chromosomal abnormalities, the biggest ones being the ones associated with down syndrome. Of course you do not have to take this test, it is completely optional but Joe and I decided that we wanted to do genetic testing. Through this blood test we also found out the gender. I was about 14 weeks when we got the call and got told it was a BOY!! We were over the moon, Joe has always wanted a son and now he would have a little mini him. I also always dreamed of having a little boy and could not have been happier!
This is when registry and nursery prep started full swing!
I did also post a third trimester update! I did not write a second trimester post for the reason that the second trimester was very easy going for me. It was really just a time of me waiting to finally make it to my third and get to meet my little boy!
I hope you enjoyed reading and go check out my third trimester post!
THIRD TRIMESTER POST
-With love, Kasia
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