What To Expect in Pregnancy – What No One Tells You

Today marks 1 week and 6 days away from my official due date!

These past 9 months have flown by, but I also know I’ve cherished every moment.
Being pregnant during a pandemic allowed me the opportunity to soak in each moment. To take the days slow and cherish each second that passed.

I missed out on the in person birthing classes and the opportunity to meet new moms (face to face) in my area. However, it provided me with the chance to have the utmost one on one time with Andrew, to truly reflect and be fully present and mindful.

If you’re a first time Mama – congratulations!
I am SO excited for you to be on this incredible journey. I sincerely mean it when I say, take it at your own pace.

Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s, I can’t say that strongly enough. Each pregnancy is a miracle and all miracles differ from one person to the next, so keep your eyes on your own lane.

With that said – while in your own lane you may be having some interesting things happening to you.

The morning sickness is widely talked about as so many women are affected by it. However, there are so many other common things that happen to us pregnant Mama’s that aren’t shared. SO let’s dive on in!

My Pregnancy Journey

What no one told me – was “Morning Sickness” is BS. It is all day, all night sickness.
If your midwife or OB have told you to keep crackers by the bed, they’re not kidding- it works!
From week 7 to week 12 I was incredibly nauseous. I lost weight during this time, and was throwing up probably 4 times a day. From food aversions to the sight of a banana – I was hurling left right and centre. But it doesn’t last long, so if you’re feeling sick well into your second trimester – definitely talk to your healthcare provider as there are medications you can take to help with the nausea.

We need to normalize that not every Mama enjoys the pregnancy phase. And if that’s you – please don’t beat yourself up over it. Your body is going through SO many changes. Take it day by day.

Pregnancy is such a different experience for each body, from the sounds of it, it can even differ from pregnancy to pregnancy within the same body! I have had a really amazing pregnancy. I have enjoyed every moment of it but I want to share if you’re not enjoying it – that is completely normal. We need to normalize that not every mama enjoys the journey of pregnancy, and if that is you – please don’t beat yourself up over it. Your body is going through SO many changes. Take it day by day.

Confide In Someone

The beginning stages of pregnancy offer a range of emotions, uncertainty, overwhelming symptoms and new experiences. It’s a lot all at once!
I found it really beneficial to open up to those closest to me so they knew what was going on and could be there to support me during the changes. By talking to your loved ones or writing, it can be an amazing outlet of support and guidance.
I’m always here to chat too! xx

Rest

This isn’t an acronym for something – it is the truest advice, REST!
Every body handles pregnancy very differently.
For me, the first trimester was tiring in the sense that my abdominal muscles and throat were tired from all my puking – but I was sleeping well, felt well rested and still able to do gentle workouts.

Second Trimester

In my second trimester, I felt the best.
My nausea finally subsided, had what felt like all my energy back, worked out daily and felt great. My body was slowly expanding with my growing babe but I felt everything was growing at a pace I could keep up with.

Third Trimester

In my third trimester, I hit a wall of lethargy. The first week of my third trimester I felt extremely tired, when I opened my eyes they burned just from being opened.

I also developed an incredibly dry patch of skin on my cheeks, to the point where my nasal labial folds were so prominent I thought I had aged overnight!
It turns out I had low iron!

While pregnant, it’s so important to voice any changes to your healthcare provider as they may know certain cues and have the ability to act on them before it’s too late. I was able to get a blood test the day I noticed my intense dryness & start iron pills the following day.

The most important thing you can do is listen to your body. If you feel more accountable by writing your days out, write out in a journal how you’re feeling each day so you can compare and notice anything that may be a trigger or off.

Bloating and Constipation

I went there.

Pregnancy changes your gut health, and this was something I realized early on. I’ve suffered from IBS since I was 15, so bloating and constipation isn’t new to me, however pregnancy edition is a pain I’ve felt like no other.

Once the nausea had dissipated, I met with my dear friend constipation and bloating.
My midwifes recommended I start a probiotic as well as a powdered magnesium. My midwife told me that the powdered magnesium is like epsom salts for your insides, it helps to calm everything down.

Once I began taking a daily probiotic in the morning, my prenatal at night and a warm magnesium before bed my constipation and bloating became much more bearable.

Again – with all things in pregnancy, I’m learning it’s a person by person preference. So try this out and see if it works, but also get recommendations from your Dr or Midwife as they may have other solutions that suit you better!

Entering My Third Trimester

In my third trimester I began to notice the incredible body changes.
Not only do I mean my growing belly, but my growing feet!

Swelling
My feet have swelled so much, I can’t even believe they’re attached to my body. At around 8 months I really began to notice my swelling feet and hands. Edema (swelling) is common in pregnancy, however it can be a sign of other complications – so always make sure to discuss changes with your healthcare provider. Thankfully I have had a low risk and easy pregnancy, so the swelling isn’t an indication of anything, other than water retention.

My swollen feet are incredibly noticeable, I had to purchase velcro flip flops so I could adjust the width of them! But my hands have also experienced swelling from carpel tunnel and they are incredibly painful.

Solution:
Daily swims, epsom salts baths, hand braces and RMT massages have been making the swelling bearable, but as each day progresses, my feet and hands look and feel more and more swollen.
Specifically for my feet:
Compression socks and legs on the wall have been my best friend. (However, you will need someone to help you put on your compression socks!) If you are near a body of water, have a pool or bath – use it to your advantage! Soaking in the pool feels so amazing on my swollen feet and hands.

With all this said – I think my swelling is a final sign that my body is ready for baby’s arrival!

What were some pregnancy changes you endured? Love to read it in the comments below.

XX,
Lex