Wow, what a first trimester. I could never have imagined that it would go the way it did. If you’re new here this is baby girl #3 that will be joining our family this fall and I have been sharing some of my journey on my Instagram. I found out we were expecting at the end of January and it’s been one of the wildest experiences of my life.
Not only do I have HG (hyperemesis gravidarum) that put me in the hospital twice in March, I am doing this all during a pandemic. While being home full time with both girls, which normally isn’t a huge deal but I was not able to get off the couch. Thankfully I am starting to feel the second-trimester energy and the nausea and vomiting are subsiding a bit, but there was a while there I really thought I might die. No really, I lost 10lbs in March and I could not eat or drink. I felt like I had the flu all day and the medications I was taking made me beyond exhausted!
The hardest part of all of it for me though was when I got the phone call that my genetic screening showed a high probability that the baby had Trisomy 18 and Down’s Syndrome. It was terrifying to think my baby could have any abnormalities, especially one as deadly as Trisomy 18. I cried basically all week waiting to find out what kind of testing could be done.
I was able to schedule an invasive test called a CVS that samples a piece of the placenta to map the baby’s chromosomes and it was at a hospital about an hour away. It was a scary, uncomfortable, and slightly painful test that I had to do completely alone. Due to Covid-19 I was not able to have a support person. I shared an update on my Instagram stories from the ultrasound room while I was in tears. I just wanted it to be OVER and I had to wait over an hour because my office didn’t tell me about the appointment and they had to fit me in when they could.
The messages I received were incredible, you all really showed up for me and I am forever grateful. The kind words, the stories you told me, and the virtual hugs meant everything. We have since found out that our sweet baby is perfectly fine with no genetic abnormalities! I sobbed the second I got the news, I was so relieved.
Then we got to find out we are expecting our 3rd little girl and I couldn’t be happier. I shared more about the entire experience on Instagram. This post got so much attention and generated so many DMs from those of you who have gone through or are going through something similar. I am so happy this was helpful, I know your stories helped me during all of this.
Now that I am starting week 16 of pregnancy I am starting to finally be able to enjoy it. I am starting to feel little kicks here and there and I have a home doppler to listen to her little heartbeat on occasion for a few seconds at a time (Doc recommends not listening for more than a few seconds at a time due to ultrasound waves heating tissue!) and I am busting out my old maternity pants.
I also grabbed these belly support short by Blanqi from Nordstrom because this will be my first summer being really pregnant. Both of my other girls were born in the winter so I was most pregnant during the fall when pants were acceptable. This is something I plan to wear mostly under dresses to give me some support and to help prevent my thighs from rubbing or sweating. (You’ll get use to the TMI posts from me!).
I am now on the hunt for some things to dress this bump in, I love suggestions so feel free to comment or send me a message on Instagram!
