Top 5 Highs and Lows of Pregnancy So Far
Just a few days shy of the halfway point in this pregnancy!
The entire experience has been beautiful, and equally filled ups and downs along the way.
I thought it would be fun to share some highs and lows of my journey so far, as I get asked a fair amount of the same things online. It’s easier to create my answer all in one spot, so, to the blog we go!
Side note before we jump in: We are THRILLED for this pregnancy. So even in my expressing these “lows”, I have navigated them all with deep gratitude and a great knowing that it is all worthwhile as they each cumulate to the most amazing day of our lives: Meeting our new sweet babe.
I love to end on a high note. So, let’s kick it off with the not-so-fun lows:
Nausea
The first textbook symptom I experienced pregnancy-wise was nausea. (Note that I didn’t say morning sickness, as there was nothing “morning” about it!) It was around the clock, intense, sometimes literally waking me up from the DEAD of sleep because my head felt like it was spinning. It lasted from Week 7 all the way until early Week 17. Things that brought it on were: Over-exertion, being too cold, exhaustion, turning/twisting, and not eating enough food. I’m somebody who hates ginger everything, so even though it’s one of the most go-to recommended remedies, I opted out as it made it worse for me. Salted crackers were the real MVP for me personally! It helped me go from feeling like I’d spent the days AND nights binge-drinking (definitely was not doing that!) to truly making the nausea… Vanish. Through trial and error, I found that more frequent smaller snacks/meals, and a nibble of crackers, were helpful in staving it off.Acne
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say I was a 15-year-old in the thick of puberty! Some days have been worse than others, but as somebody who has naturally acne-prone skin, I’m no stranger to adult acne. Add in pregnancy hormones & acne has had a field day on my face, neck, and body. I admit I haven’t found a way to navigate this one just yet, and it makes me feel sad about how I look and self-conscious at times. But I’ve taken control where I can: I’ve switch face cleansers, I avoid picking as much as possible, I reviewed my make-up product/soap ingredients, and, I continue my exercise routine/eating healthy ingredients which can help me heal from the inside out. I’ve also found this article to be helpful as I navigate this low!Body Changes & Clothing
One day, you wake up and find that the same pair of pants you wore last week are ten times more snug in what feels like the blink of an eye! Nothing fits, whatever does is uncomfortable, and I can now understand the tricks pregnancy can play on the mind, as you literally begin to live in body you don’t recognize. My boobs are porno-size at this point lol! And bras that were once my go-to’s are more like torture chambers now. I’ve opted for a few staple new-clothes & rules: Flowy pieces, bigger sizes, and, the big one: Maternity clothes. Those elastic bands for bumps have helped me breathe again.Endurance & Ego
As somebody who has been on a consistent health and fitness journey for the last eight years, I’m no spring chick to being physically active and maximum physical exertion on a daily basis. My job as an online health and wellness Coach has meant that MY physical well-being is at the forefront of what I do for a living so that I can better mentor others! With pregnancy, I’ve been served some humble pie when I compare it to how I once felt doing the exact same activities. I get winded & exhausted far sooner than I’m used to. Small hills I once used to sprint up now seem more like Mount Everest— totally breathless! I’m taking way more water breaks and modifying moves. But I’m reminding myself that my body is BUSY growing a person. To be honest, I don’t know that this has been a “low” per se— more so an internal science experiment! I’m watching changes unfold as I get to know my new body.Unsolicited Advice
I knew this one was coming the minute I hit POST to share about my pregnancy. The unsolicited advice rolls in whether you like it or not — From DMs from strangers sending websites with pregnancy Do’s and Don’t’s, to tips you didn’t ask for, to being told that they “wouldn’t do that if I were you..” (when they don’t even know you or your circumstances), or the “Just WAIT!” and “Enjoy it while you can…” comments. If I had not spent the last eight years working with mental health professionals AND deep-diving into personal development work, I can see how this would totally fuck with me, my anxiety, and my overall first-pregnancy experience. Thankfully, I know my North Stars in all this— My trust is with mySELF, my partner, my very tight inner-circle and, of course, my healthcare practitioners. So while I have not been able to control other people hitting send on their messages/comments/phone calls/text unsolicited advice, I can absolutely control MYself. My focus has been: Preventative measures and boundary-setting with the online world and with my community, to help ensure I’m protecting mine and my babies’ realm with calm and self-trust.
Now that those are out of the way, the highs of this pregnancy have been true HIGHS! Let’s dive in:
Deeper Gratitude
The greatest HIGH in all of this has been the amplification of my GRATITUDE for LIFE ITSELF. I fully recognize my privilege in that our pregnancy happened naturally without great struggle, interventions, the weight of a TTC journey, or worse. And my heart is with every single person navigating that. I am beside myself with gratitude knowing there was once a point in my life where I struggled with suicidal thoughts as I battled with depression. After a long fight to heal, I am still here, and here to LIVE this gift. All of this (and more) makes me super emotional and so I refuse to miss a day honouring how grateful it makes me feel, even amidst the lows.Deeper Relationship Connection
There’s nothing sexier than a man who will run out to buy you more salted crackers when you’re retching from pregnancy nausea, haha! Our relationship as a couple was rock-solid to begin with. But it has grown deeper in both appreciation and love than it has been in all our years together. My man is overjoyed about this baby, and watching HIS admiration of me as I transform before his eyes has been so beautiful to witness. Our connection has grown as we now see each other through NEW lenses: “That’s the father/mother of my child”….What an indescribable feeling. It has also helped us appreciate our alone-time more. We know it won’t last as just-us-two. So nurturing US as the bedrock of our growing household before we become a party of three, matters a ton.Deeper Sense of Life Purpose
Another high is how much of a greater sense of purpose I’ve felt. When I exercise, I realize I’m exercising because I care about my health for ME… But also to be the healthiest mum I can be for this kiddo, and that feels pretty rad. When I work and earn my pay check, I feel a deep sense of pride knowing I am saving to provide for us. When I get massages, take naps, exercise, and self-care my face off, I am excited knowing I will break the old generational lessons taught to me as a young girl about women of the home always falling last on the list. I am passionate about teaching my little that Mummy can take care of her mental health and overall well-being and that that doesn’t make her selfish. She does not need to wait until she is a burned up shell of herself— She is at the forefront, which also helps her care for my family. It’s dots of daily living that are clicking together more profoundly than before.Deeper Self-Confidence
As a former chronic people-pleaser and somebody who struggles with anxiety, it has taken yearssss (read, years) to learn that MY voice and MY approval of myself is ALL I have ever actually needed. What was once a faint meow within me to stand my ground has transformed into a loud, unapologetic, confident ROAR over the years.... And I’ve noticed my voice strengthening even deeper as my belly grows bigger. Growing this life has brought on a sense of womanhood and pride and confidence in MY way that I’ve never felt before. This has probably been one of my favourite highs so far.Deeper Life Curiosity
I’ve felt like a student again! It’s unfortunate to think that many of us stop taking intentional time for self-imposed education— to read, learn, and expand our minds once we leave an educational system and enter the workforce. We’re bombarded with social media, news headlines, and screen time distracting us from CURIOCITY. I’ve spent the last eight years swimming against the grain of this, and have grown a TON as a result. I’ve outgrown old relationships, careers, and paths as I’ve changed into a more enlightened version of myself. When I found out I was pregnant, I’ve realized how LITTLE I know about the pregnancy experience as a whole! With each passing week, I’ve used books & apps & educational videos to learn about how TF a baby even develops, what my body is going through on a daily basis, how to keep a tiny human alive once they’re earthside, and about alllllll the new surprises that are in store for us….To name a few. I’ve barely scratched the surface. But I’ve LOVED learning new things every day thanks to this pregnancy; it’s truly been FUN to expand my knowledge— just as much as my bump is!
There you have it! I’m sure there will be many more highs and lows along the way. For now, these are the Top 5 Highs & Lows I’ve experienced in pregnancy so far. I hope this has helped!
I’m writing this blog in part to answer FAQ’s. But, also, to hold space for myself! This’ll act as a personal time capsule to read back on years from now.
So, cheers to the continued wild ride.
Next stop: The halfway mark! Week 20.
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