Over the course of the first trimester, I kept as many notes as I could in a pregnancy diary so I can look back and remember how I felt along the way. Poor third kid though, my notes are way less detailed than they were with my first pregnancy!
The first trimester is such a lonely time. You feel the worst, but you (typically) try not to tell many people that you are pregnant. For me it is physically very difficult and I am isolated because I don’t want people to suspect I am pregnant.
3 weeks, 2 days –
I walked past a bottle of red wine in my kitchen and it made my stomach turn. I said to my husband, “I bet I’m pregnant. But it is too soon to test.” In fact, the mild cramping I felt two days ago, I bet that was implantation.
3 weeks, 3 days –
I fell asleep putting my daughter to bed. I NEVER fall asleep putting the kids to bed. In fact, I have never accidentally fallen asleep, except during the first trimester of my previous pregnancies. When I woke up from that quick doze, I knew I was pregnant. That night I woke up several times with pretty bad cramps. I knew in my heart that I was pregnant, and it was either uterus stretching or the starts of a miscarriage.
3 weeks, 4 days –
I took a pregnancy test first thing in the morning. Positive! That’s pretty early for a quick positive. Are my HCG levels high? Twins?
3 weeks, 6 days –
I told my sister today. It was the longest two days ever, waiting until I saw her to tell her!
4 weeks –
Trying to hide my pregnancy is much more difficult this time. I am already gaining weight. My food aversions are strong and I feel lousy. Also, the alcohol… if I don’t have a glass of wine, I think it will be pretty obvious to most who know me. So, we decided that my husband can’t drink either. That way the attention won’t be on me. Every once in a while, my husband and I do a two week reset/cleanse where we don’t drink alcohol or caffeine, and we don’t eat inflammatory foods. We told my family that we are doing the cleanse again, so that gave us two weeks of no one noticing. We told a few friends that we are both doing “no drink February”.
5 weeks –
My husband is out of town this week and I’m home with a 4-year-old and 2½-year-old. I feel nauseous and exhausted. I barely have the energy to grab food for myself, so I definitely cannot get my act together to prepare meals for the kids. I can’t ask for extra help from my parents or my aunt, because I don’t want them to know I’m pregnant. Fortunately, my sister knows and she is bringing dinner over one night this week.
The big thing on my mind: Is it twins? I got a positive pregnancy test a few days before a missed period. Does that mean my HCG levels are high and it could be twins? Since I have been cramping a lot, I feel like my uterus is stretching more and faster than my previous pregnancies… another reason I think it may be twins. Also, I didn’t ovulate the previous month, so is it possible that I ovulated multiple eggs the following month to make up for it?
Doctor… Since we moved from across the country, I made an appointment with a new OB. I can’t get in until I’m 8 weeks along, and the doctor won’t even be available then. I want to meet her soon so I can decide if I want her to be my doctor for this pregnanct.
Should you tell people? This is obviously a very personal choice. This was my thought processes… Sadly, the rate for miscarriage in those first few weeks is higher, so it’s best to avoid posting your pregnancy early on Facebook if you aren’t prepared to potentially post a pregnancy loss on Facebook. But, on the other hand, it is wonderful to have support of loved once during the exciting and nerve wracking time of early pregnancy. And if you do experience a loss, it is also helpful to have support. In my experience, I choose to tell a few close friends or family members that have also been pregnant, because that support in the early weeks is helpful. I haven’t told anyone early on that I wouldn’t also tell if I had a miscarriage. Once I hear the heartbeat, I’m comfortable telling a few more people. And then once I hit the 12-week mark I’m okay with it being public knowledge. This third time around though, I’ve told a few more people early on that I have in the past.
6 weeks, 2 days –
I’ve already gained 8 pounds! Maybe it is twins? I didn’t ovulate the month before I got pregnant, would that have made it more likely for me to ovulate twice the month I did conceive? At 36-years-old, hyperovulation is more common. I got a quick positive pregnancy test very early. My symptoms began before a missed period and I’ve gained so much weight already.
7 weeks –
Okay, I’m convinced it is twins. Nausea, fatigue, cramping and weight gain have been so strong, and all started before I even missed a period. I’ve been getting horrible headaches all day.
I cannot function like a normal human, yet I cannot tell everyone I interact with why I am in a fog. I can’t keep my eyes open or follow a basic conversation, but I can’t give people the reason why I am seem bored by our conversations. It’s a shitty time so I prefer not to socialize at all.
Before I hear my baby’s heart beating, I feel nervous with each cramp and strange sensation. I’m constantly checking for a tinge of blood, and fortunately I haven’t had any. I have several friends who have had spotting that was normal and did not indicate anything bad. They went on to continue healthy pregnancies. But I don’t want to deal with the stress that comes with seeing blood in my underwear, so hopefully that doesn’t’ happen.
The first trimester surely feels like the longest trimester since I feel the most lousy and it isn’t the best move to tell everybody that I’m pregnant. I’m really struggling without an occasional glass of wine.
Symptoms…
Fatigue: I’m so exhausted, more exhausted than I am when I have a newborn.
Sore Boobs: My boobs weren’t sore in my first two pregnancies, but this time around they really are.
Cramps: I didn’t have these cramps in my previous pregnancies. They started before I even missed a period. They were so bad they kept me up at periods in the night.
Nausea: I have only thrown up a couple of times but I am nauseous often. In order to not feel so sick, I have to eat CONSTANTLY. I’m ravenous but it has to be carbs, all carbs!
Weight Gain: I’ve gained roughly 9 pounds. Yep, at just 7 weeks along. All I do is eat carbs, and I don’t have the energy to move, let alone actually exercise.
Dizziness: I felt pretty dizzy fairly often until about a week ago. Now, it’s just occasional mild dizzy spells.
7 weeks, 2 days –
Valentine’s Day. My husband surprised me in the middle of the day with a huge box of a delicious soft pretzel appetizer from a favorite restaurant. They were salty, and warm and buttery and just completely hit the spot!
I am reminded of the feelings of guilt I had pregnant with my second. I don’t have guilt or worry about how my two kids will adapt to a new sibling, because although it will be hard at times, they will be so happy and in love. But I feel guilty about how unavailable I am to my kids in the first trimester. I don’t have the energy to play with them. I just want to lay down. If on my feet too long I feel nauseous and dizzy.
Is it twins? At first I was fairly convinced it was twins, now I’m a little less sure. While I started feeling nauseous earlier than ever before this time around, it hasn’t reached the severity that it did in my second pregnancy by 7 weeks. I know that none of this really means anything, but I’m still trying to figure it out.
8 Weeks, 3 days –
Finally my first appointment! They gave me a sonogram and I saw the baby. Just one baby. They didn’t see the second baby for my sister-in-law until her third ultrasound, at 20 weeks! So, I’m still not totally convinced it’s just one baby. Maybe since I’ve already gained ten pounds and I feel so miserable all the time, I’d feel a little better mentally knowing it’s because there are two babies in there!
The doctor prescribed Diclegis® for me to help with the nausea and vomiting. In my last pregnancy the doctor never even suggested a medication. I’m usually one to avoid over the counter pills, but I did my research on this one and Diclegis is very safe! If you don’t want to take this prescription, or if your insurance won’t cover the high cost, try taking a combination of the over-the-counter B6 and Unisom.
This week the stomach bug went through our whole house. It was awful. Toddler don’t ever throw up in the toilet, in fact, it seems like they prefer to throw up on clean sheets the day you put them on the bed. Cleaning up other people’s vomit when you are sick from pregnancy, and then the same virus, is pretty damn miserable!
8 Weeks, 5 days –
We finally told my parents! It was so hard waiting this long to tell them, but I really wanted to wait until we knew if it was one or two. In my previous two pregnancies we told my parents sooner, but I felt pretty confident we had twins in there, so I wanted that information before sharing the news with my mom and dad.
9 Weeks –
I’m still very sick. I’m feeling all sorts of doubts and guilt because I feel so miserable and not able to give my two kids the attention they crave and deserve. I remember feeling this guilt with my second pregnancy, but it’s double the guilt now. Nine months is a long time. I really hope I feel better soon so I can give them the attention and engagement that they crave and deserve.
Boobs aren’t as sore as they were in previous weeks. Still so tired and sick.
Headaches are increasing.
Bras don’t fit. Using the bra extender already, but definitely need to go up some cup sizes.
10 weeks today –
Still nauseated, waking up in the middle of the night sick. I’ve been taking an additional Diclegis when I wake up sick, usually around 2am.
I actually peed in my pants last night. I woke up at 2:48am because I PEED IN MY PANTS! My 4-year-old daughter doesn’t wet the bed, but I DO! WHAT?! Is this a lingering pelvic floor issue from my last delivery? Or is this just because I’m pregnant? What?
The headaches are horrible.
11 weeks –
Still nauseated.
Still have a headache.
Still bone-deep exhausted.
Still eating everything unhealthy in sight.
Still disgusted by fish and vegetables (foods I usually enjoy).
Pregnancy is tough on me. Some people like being pregnant. I don’t. It’s even more difficult when I have two little ones to care for. I feel queasy all day long. I’m often throwing up, yet I am eating constantly and gaining weight rapidly. I can’t eat or drink many of the things I love. I can’t sleep through the night anymore, already waking up frequently to pee.
12 weeks –
Still so freaking exhausted. This is beyond any level of exhaustion I felt with my other two pregnancies. How can it not be twins? Why am I SO MUCH MORE exhausted this time? When will the headaches go away? And the nausea? And the fatigue? And all the food aversions? The thought of a vegetable makes me want to vomit. Pretty sure I set a record for most weight gained in the first trimester… NINETEEN POUNDS!!!! Because we moved from another state since I had my last baby, I had to get a new OB. The one that was recommended to me wasn’t available for my 8 week appointment, so I just met her for the first time. She asked if I wanted to go on Zofran since I’m still pretty sick, but I don’t need it. Zofran comes with more risks for the baby and it isn’t worth it since I can somewhat function right now.
13 weeks –
It is going to get better now? Right? I’m holding out hope that things will turn around during the so-called glorious second trimester!
Hemorrhoids. I didn’t get them in my first pregnancy, but I did later in my second. And now, they are here again. Already. Awful.
I’ve had a lot of fun looking at baby products and thinking about all the new things I want for this baby! So many new products are out since I had my first.
