Grace in Every Trimester: My First-Time Pregnancy Experience

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No one can really prepare you for motherhood. You can read every book and have great role models, but the firsthand experience is mind-blowing. As a nanny, I observed various parenting styles and thought I wouldn't do certain things, or I would definitely do others... then my baby girl arrived, and all those plans went out the window, ha-ha.

Baby Bump

Pregnancy:

For me, pregnancy was amazing. I didn't experience morning sickness, but I was quite irritable with everyone. So, I suppose most people kept their distance during my first trimester, lol.

Sorry, it was the hormones, everyone. I was an emotional mess. One moment I was happy, then suddenly I was yelling like a fire-breathing dragon, then crying, then feeling hungry, and then exhausted, lol. All the emotions!!!

I'd describe my strong dislike for salt as very genuine. My husband, who's Jamaican and an excellent cook, took it to heart. I recall when he made me breakfast, and I told him I couldn't eat the eggs. He looked at me as if to say, "Well, I guess you're not eating then" (but naturally, he just made me some without salt) lol.

At one point, I was so fixated on beef that my husband remarked he couldn't handle another burger, haha. Interestingly, cravings often indicate what your body needs, and my craving for beef was due to low iron levels. I decided to include an iron supplement in my existing regimen. Here’s the link where you can find the brand I used.

During the second trimester, things settled, and my energy returned. My belly began to grow, and the baby started kicking, which, by the way, is such an amazing experience that God allows us to feel what it's like to create life!

I began exercising more to prepare myself for the marathon known as labor. I ensured I visited the chiropractor and ate well for both myself and the baby. The most challenging aspect for me was maintaining my water intake. Occasionally, I would forget, but as the baby grew, I could feel it when I hadn't drunk enough. Towards the end of this trimester, I ordered my wonderful birth pool along with my birth ball.

I strongly suggest taking a birthing class, even to my doula clients. My husband and I attended a Bradley Method class, and it significantly impacted not only the pregnancy but also provided valuable information for him, enabling him to be an excellent coach during labor and birth.

Fast forward to the third trimester, and I was in full nesting mode. I was done with work by this time and just wanted to start my maternity leave already haha. They say this trimester prepares you for the fourth one when you're sleep-deprived. They're right!!! I was getting up to pee every two hours at night. My pregnancy pillow became my best friend, and my poor husband joked that it would go out the window once the baby arrived. I had my dog, Raven, and I couldn't stay at the dog park for more than 20 minutes without needing to rush home to use the bathroom. I just can't handle public restrooms, let alone airplane ones—that's a story for another post about my first solo plane trip with our daughter.

I resembled a penguin, just waddling around. I eventually needed a belly brace because my baby girl was positioned so low in my belly that the pressure was overwhelming. I was convinced she would arrive at 37 weeks (the joke was on me, haha). We completed the nursery, purchased all the remaining items on the registry, and cleaned. I began to mentally, spiritually, and physically surrender to what was coming, which is often easier said than done. I admit I was still somewhat scared about actually giving birth, haha. I prepared and stocked my postpartum cart (we'll discuss all these items in another post, don't worry).

Reflecting on the past, I'm thankful for the job I had before our baby girl arrived, as all the steps I climbed and the walking truly paid off. After 40 weeks and 2 days, on June 19, we welcomed our incredible baby girl at home! Glory to God!! I'll share more about my birth story in a future post, but for now, that's all.

I hope you enjoyed reading this. Until next time…