First Trimester || Pregnancy Diaries

With my pregnancy with Theo I didn’t do weekly bump photos, or monthly updates. I bit off a more manageable 3 entries, one per trimester. That seems just as manageable this time around, so it is well past time I post a 1st trimester recap.

Baby

When we passed the 11 week mark I felt so much relief, as we had lost our last baby right before 11 weeks it felt like a personal milestone. At my 11 week appointment my midwife pulled out the doppler to find the heart beat and warned me that so early in pregnancy still it would still be hard to find, and she’d pull in an ultrasound machine if we needed to. She was able to find it right away with the doppler, and she looked at me and I just lost it crying. I remember he saying “It’s always the most beautiful sound” with tears in her own eyes. I’ve felt a very deep connection to one particular midwife at the group I go to. I can only hope to be so lucky to have her deliver this baby.

We decided to have genetic testing done with this pregnancy a little before 11 weeks, partially to be better prepared for any potential genetic abnormalities and partially to know the sex sooner. Both things very influenced by our loss. No matter what, ever, we would love our baby. But, I don’t think any parent imagines their baby with a genetic condition when they first find out they are pregnant. Most of us envision a healthy little girl or boy and imagine the normal life ahead. If that normal does not exist, and there is an alternative to that envisioned life I think there is some sense of loss, I know I’d feel a sense of loss. I just wanted to be as prepared as possible, and not envision normal if normal wasn’t in our future with our next baby. Everything came back low risk which brought a sense of relief.

The second part to the genetic testing was finding out the sex sooner than the 20 week scan. Again, clouded in loss, if we were to lose another baby I wanted to know the sex. Part of what was hard for me, was not being able to name our 2nd baby because we didn’t know the sex. The ability to name our child, and call him/her by name feels powerful. It is another way to recognize my child and validate that they were here, and loved, and existed no matter how short that time was. A little before Christmas we were able to learn that this baby is a GIRL! Paul and I are both very excited, and Theo is starting to become more aware and excited about sister too.

Pregnancy Side Effects

Oh boy, this time around was full of even more exhaustion and and plenty of vomiting. With our last 2 pregnancies I had issues with brushing my teeth starting toward the end of the 1st trimester, I’d end up vomiting because my gag reflex had become so sensitive. Let’s just say that started even earlier this time around. Kind of defeats the purpose of brushing your teeth… Thirst has been a real thing this pregnancy, I can’t get enough water and I’m always thirsty!

Cravings

sour patch kids, orange juice, lemonade, pickles (but NOT sweet ones), ramen noodles, cheese balls

Aversions

eggs (again) mostly the smell when Paul cooks them

Mama’s Health

Overall this has been the hardest so far on my body. The pelvic pain is REAL, and my back hurts all the time. Sometimes I waddle, but out of stiffness and pain which is super fun. After my blood pressure issues last pregnancy, I’ve been super aware of taking my blood pressure when I have headaches for multiple days or a severe headache. I’m on a daily baby asprin to help prevent the issues this pregnancy. I had an early gestational diabetes screening, and passed with flying colors. My numbers were even lower than when I had Theo, so that was a relief. At the end of the 1st trimester I had gained 2 pounds, and I think that was all water bloat.

Excited About

Getting to see our little girl at our next ultrasound! I’ve also started designing her nursery and I have finally nailed down a design plan that I love.

Purchases

Nothing major, just clothes. I went through what we have, and what I’d like to add to make some of the more boy and neutral items feel a little more feminine and bought those. Plus add a bow to anything and it’s works for a girl right? Overall I’m keeping it very basic like I did with Theo. My best friend had a baby girl at the end of June last year, and I’m borrowing some of her cute little items to kept my shopping urges down.

P.S. You can check out our 1st trimester diary with Theo here!