Madison Women’s Health Baby Story Blog
Welcome to MWH’s very first Baby Story Blog. Our mom to be would like to remain anonymous until she is out of her first trimester.
MWH Baby Story Pregnancy Blog
Well, there it was. One very, very faint pink line. I saw it and smiled, confirming what I had already suspected was true. We were having another baby. After so much contemplation over if and when to add another baby to our family, we decided to just go for it, and now, here I was, staring at a positive pregnancy test. Over the next few days, I was mostly excited – I loved being pregnant with my first. I had a pretty easy pregnancy and a fairly uncomplicated delivery. I couldn’t wait to feel those kicks again and have a growing belly. But… how will I be able to balance two? Those sleepless nights are still so fresh in my mind, and even though I feel more prepared this time, I know it will be hard. How will our son respond to a new baby? He will be a few months over 2 years old, and it seemed the moment I knew I was pregnant, he entered into an extreme “mommy” phase. I remind myself daily that so many people do this and survive it. I know I have an amazing support group of family and friends to help us get by, too. I already can’t wait to meet this new little one!
And then, about 5 days after my positive test, the nausea knocked me quite literally off my feet. There was a day that I could not get up off of the couch without thinking I needed to run to the toilet. I luckily did not have to work that day, and thank goodness my mother in law had our son for the day because I could not imagine how I would’ve gotten through the day with him home. My limbs felt heavy, and my body ached, and the idea of eating anything made me gag. This was SO different from my first pregnancy – I had nausea/food aversions, but not until closer to 7 weeks, and it lasted only until about 9-10 weeks. Thankfully, the intensity faded, but the feeling of not wanted to eat and then feeling nauseous stayed for the first few weeks.
I’m now about 10 weeks along, and thank goodness, the nausea is mostly gone. I overall feel better, but I. am. So. Tired! I remember being fatigued with my son, but this is intense… and I can’t tell if it’s just the pregnancy or if it’s because I have a wild toddler to chase around all day. Every day that I’m home with him (I’m fortunate that I get to work part-time), I find myself napping during his nap, even when I really didn’t feel I needed it, or slept really well the night before, or wanted to get other things done. I put my head down and close my eyes, and all of a sudden, I’ve been sleeping for an hour! The house is a total disaster. I have been so, so, so grateful for my husband, who’s been doing much more of the housework and entertaining our son when he gets home from work so I can get a break. I’m normally someone who likes to be on the go and stay active, and this fatigue is slowing wearing on me. I really can’t wait to feel like myself again. Of course, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are now socially distancing as well, which doesn’t help how I’m feeling! This seems to be all I’m hearing about, especially since I work in health care. It’s causing a lot of anxiety, but I am trying to stay positive and keep in touch with friends. Getting outside, even if just for a little bit, seems to be helping, too.
To be continued……
