My Pregnancy Story

I got a positive pregnancy test on March 30th, five days before my missed period. I always thought about the day that test would actually be positive. I thought I would cry, but I didn’t. I just watched the first dark pink line come in, and thought okay I better not have that beer I was about to drink. I frantically called and text Ryan, because he was at the gym. When he finally got home, I showed him the unmistakable positive test. I mean that line was as dark as the test strip. He refused to believe it, so we went to target and bought three more tests. All of them were positive. There were definitely a roller coaster of emotions and anxious thoughts that flooded my mind. How will we be able to run our business with a child? Will there be any problems? Ryan had the same fears and worries. That night neither one of us slept very well.

Time immediately slowed down. I have nine months until this baby is born; that is a very long time, I thought. I had minimal symptoms, but the symptom that prompted me to test were swollen sore breasts. Ryan and I went hiking/climbing a couple weekends after we found out. I was winded and tired all of the sudden. What the heck is wrong with me I thought? Am I that out of shape? After a little research I realized the reason I was out of breathe was because of the increased hormone production and increased blood volume needed to provide nutrients to the growing embryo. Even though the little thing was only the size of a sesame seed it sure did suck down a lot of my energy. I was more shaky in the gym, and just more tired and worn out after a long day.

I was really no more hungry than usual, just needed to eat when I was hungry to prevent hangry-ness. I had that condition pre-pregnancy, so I don’t count that as a symptom. I did have mild cramping in my lower abdomen, but no spotting. They only lasted a couple seconds at a time, and came when I laid down in bed at night. I did notice if I ate salty food I was more bloated than normal, and my pants fit a little more snug towards the end of the day. When I woke up every morning the bloating was gone, probably because I woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom more frequently.

Ryan adjusted me almost every day, and stretched out the muscles in my lower back and legs. I had been hitting the gym pretty hard, doing yoga, planks, a lot of lunges, squats, and external hip rotation exercises. I wanted to make sure my core was as strong as it could be so I would be able to carry the extra weight of a gorwing baby pain free. I also started taking prenatal supplements right after I found out. I took pregnancy wellness essentials by Metagenics. It is complete with two fish oil capsules, a multi with iron for increased blood production, and a lot of extra B Vitamins. I took the vitamins in the evening with dinner. There is no particular reason for taking them at night, that is just when I started taking them. Obviously I would drink virgin blood mary’s, and club soda with no vodka. I did not really cut down my caffeine intake. I drink a couple cups of tea a day, which helps me get my paperwork done. The baby hasn’t complained yet.

The hardest part at the begning of pregnancy for me was not being able to drink socially and not being able to eat cold cut sandwiches. You will find out later that come the second trimester I said to hell with not eating deli meat, and my baby turned out completely fine.