Kevin and I shared recently via social media that we’re planning to become parents this coming spring.
(!!!)
We’re thrilled with the news and, while it doesn’t come without some fear attached, we’re focusing on the positive and are so excited about what this new chapter will bring. I’m currently 15 weeks pregnant, so we’re past the first trimester (often the danger zone), which feels really good. I’m dying to find out our baby’s gender (that appointment is slated for October 21)!
We’re in that stage of things, though, where this whole thing doesn’t completely feel real. Sure, we’ve seen a couple of ultrasounds and heard the heartbeat a few times, which is always awe inspiring and so cool to be able to check in on this now-apple-sized person growing inside me. But it still feels somewhat distant at this point, and I find I’m reminding myself that I’m pregnant every now and then. (We bought a stroller and infant carrier last weekend, though, and leaving the store with those items felt VERY parental, I must say. It was kind of surreal.)
I’ve definitely had some symptoms to help remind me that something big is happening, though. Last time around, I didn’t have many symptoms, but this second pregnancy’s first trimester brought with it morning sickness (a.k.a. “not throwing up, but feeling not-so-great throughout the day many days” sickness), fatigue (I was SO TIRED), heartburn, and more sensitivity to foods and smells than usual. While on one hand I was most definitely thankful for these symptoms — as they acted as daily reminders that my hormones were working as they should — they also brought some changes to my routine and to my mindset.
I felt SO TIRED so much of the time. This is FINALLY starting to let up, and I’m incredibly thankful for having more energy. A few weeks ago, I went to bed at 6:30 p.m. on a weeknight and slept ALL night, waking up at 5 a.m. to teach Pure Barre that morning. Ten and a half hours of sleep, y’all. On, like, a Wednesday. And it was amazing, but I still wanted a nap at around 2 p.m. the next day. All this sleeping meant I was cutting many evenings short (and sleeping later on mornings when I could), skipping some times I’d typically be working out.
I was eating somewhat differently than I usually do, too. Often, I found myself STARVING, but nothing sounded good to eat. When I finally landed on what did sound good, it tended to be carb heavy. My go-to breakfast during that first trimester was Cheerios with bananas, blueberries, and almond milk. It was SO good, but my typical (non-pregnant) breakfast is a spinach and fruit smoothie. My standard lunch fare is a big salad topped with everything we have on hand. I was still eating a lot of those, but they just weren’t hitting the spot like they usually do. I was craving (and eating more of) things like crackers, rice, pizza, noodles, and toast. My sweet tooth — usually going strong — was coming and going. Coffee didn’t sound at all good. (Which is good, since limiting or eliminating caffeine is doctor’s orders.)
Some of these changes have remained intact beyond the first trimester, but thankfully I’m feeling much more like myself these days — energy level and food preferences included. (I’m disappointed to report that the heartburn is still going strong, though. Tums are my new favorite food. Ugh.) I still find sweets far less tempting than usual (kind of nice, actually). And coffee? I can take it or leave it (decaf only these days, of course). If you ask me what sounds good for dinner, though, I’ll probably still lead with pizza.
These changes have been hard for me to be okay with at times. I’m trying my best to listen to my body and be kind to myself — after all, it’s doing some majorly incredible work right now — but some days it’s really hard to feel like me with all these changes happening. It’s also hard to cut myself slack when I skip workouts or eat less like my typical self. But I’m getting better about it. And, of course, this itty bitty baby is worth me feeling uncomfortable and out of control.
I’ve been thankful for this calmer second trimester period. I know that feeling will probably be pretty short lived, so I’m trying to enjoy it while I can. My mom always said, “Having a baby is a lesson in losing control,” and I’m finding that her words are true — and they start well before the baby is actually here!
For those of you who have been through this phase of pregnancy, I’d love to hear any advice you have on how to navigate this newness. It’s strange to not know quite what to expect as far as what — or when! — changes will start happening to my body. (But seriously, consider this a solicitation for advice — both pregnancy and parenting related. I’ll take all the help I can get!)
