Pregnancy Thus Far...22 weeks today!

FINDING OUT

Mike and I were incredibly excited to learn I was pregnant. We had JUST started trying and I was prepared to spend a long time due to a history of ovarian surgery, so we were a bit surprised when at the end of January, I got a very faint line on a pregnancy test. I hadn't gotten my period yet and knew we had plans to travel to Williamsburg that weekend to celebrate 30th birthdays with some of our college friends. Obviously, there would be a lot of drinking, so I took the test to see if I'd be able to partake. The positive line was so faint that Mike did not believe I was pregnant. I also didn't believe it because, while I hadn't gotten my period yet, I had severe cramping that suggested I would get it any day. Later I would learn that the cramping is a sign of pregnancy. Anyway, I took another test right before we left for the trip and the line had gotten darker. That's when we knew. I was about 4.5 weeks at this point.

We had to tell a select group of friends that weekend because they would have known anyway with me not drinking and being weird. I was not prepared for the extreme fatigue to hit me that weekend, but it was a sign of things to come.

FIRST TRIMESTER Weeks 4 - 13

Feeling: There were lots of physical symptoms during the first trimester. I had lots of cramping initially that worried me. I did not throw up at all, but I was nauseous a lot. It felt like motion sickness or constantly being hungover. Even though nausea is not fun, the worst part BY FAR was the fatigue. I had been drinking a ton of coffee up until finding out I was pregnant, and because you're supposed to avoid caffeine while pregnant, I quit coffee and tea cold turkey. That on top of my body making a baby meant I basically wanted to nap all the time at my desk. I would go to bed at 8pm. I was a zombie during the day. And two mornings a week, I had personal training clients at 6am so I have no clue how I kept waking up for that!

Feelings: I was definitely not prepared for all of the emotions that would arise after finding out I was pregnant. Initial excitement was quickly followed by a feeling of panic and anxiety about the fact that my body was no longer my own and from from fears of miscarriage in the first trimester. I realized I knew far less than I thought I knew. I felt unprepared and had tons of scary information at my disposal. 

We also found out early in the first trimester (around  8 weeks) that I was a carrier for the Cystic Fibrosis gene AND that I tested positive for toxoplasmosis. What that meant was that we needed to find out if Mike was a carrier for CF as well and WHEN I acquired toxoplasmosis. If before pregnancy, it wasn't a big deal.

There were a lot of doctor's appointments for testing and re-testing my blood and a lot of waiting for Mike's results to come back. Needless to say, I was not enjoying pregnancy at this point. We ended up finding out the first week of April that Mike was not a CF carrier and finding out at the end of April that I acquired toxoplasmosis prior to pregnancy. WHEW. 

Craving: When I was feeling nauseous, only certain foods sounded appetizing. Pasta, cheese, pasta sauce, grilled cheese, and pizza were everything. I remember distinctly ordering a small Bertucci's margarita pizza after work and how perfect it tasted. 

Clothes: I felt 'fluffy' very quickly, so I mostly wore mostly loose tops and nothing fitted. In the mornings, I felt like I would look "normal" and, by the evening, I would feel like I looked "pregnant."

Doing: I really leaned on my support network during this season of uncertainty when not a lot of people knew I was pregnant yet. I was so very fortunate to have another expecting mom a couple of months ahead of me on my team at work and she listened to all of my worries and kept me grounded. Mike helped me to keep perspective as well. 

I did not work out at all during the first trimester. I think I managed to go to one BodyPump class, but I was so tired most of the time that I couldn't even think about moving more in my free time.

2ND TRIMESTER Weeks 14-28

Feeling: Once we found out all of our tests looked good, I started to really relax into pregnancy. And now that our move is done, I feel like I can start to enjoy it! I'm at 22 weeks today and for the past week or so, I've been able to feel Ava move! This is my favorite part of pregnancy thus far. I can even see her move my tummy sometimes. 

Feelings: I still have some anxiety (mostly about Zika virus spreading to South Texas at some point this summer), but I am focusing on adjusting to our new life in Texas. I am more excited than scared. At my 20 week appointment, we found out we're having a girl, and I think knowing that really helped me connect with her and look forward to meeting her. When Mike and I saw Wonder Woman this weekend, we got excited realizing out little girl is going to grow up in a world with lots of strong female role models.

Craving: I have not had any severe cravings. Sometimes I get cravings for meat. I still love tomatoes and cheese, but also melons, fruit, and water. Gotta stay hydrated during these Texas summers!

Clothes: I did buy a couple of maternity clothes from Target, but have mostly been living in leggings and tunic shirts or dresses since I'm not currently working.

Doing: I am back to working out regularly at our apartment complex's gym. I also found a prenatal yoga class that I love! I've been cooking a ton and looking for some volunteer or part-time/temp job opportunities.

GOAL: Enjoying the rest of pregnancy

My goal for the next 18 weeks is to enjoy as much of pregnancy and the time that I have left with my little one inside of me. My worries aren't disappearing. Zika virus could still show up this summer. I'm constantly going to be feeling new discomforts in my body. And we have the hottest part of the TX summer left to make it through (which I'm told is August). However, I'm going to strive to enjoy each day by working out regularly, going to the pool at our apartment complex, getting out into the community every day, wearing clothes that make me feel good, and opening up to other people about the both the highs and lows of pregnancy.

Bump pic at the gym. I'm horrible at taking pictures of myself, but am hoping Mike will help me take more pictures once I'm bigger.

Picture of Ava! Her head on the right:)