What I’ve Learned Through Pregnancy So Far

As I write this I am 23 weeks pregnant and I have definitely learned SO much during those 23 weeks. I know lots of you are expecting mamas too and I continue to get so many questions in my DMs about what pregnancy has been like. So, I thought I would share a little summary of what my experience has been so far - how I felt, what I learned and what I did not expect- in hopes that me sharing my journey can help at least  one of you to feel less alone in your own pregnancy. 

Here we go, let’s start with the first trimester….

The first trimester was so tough for me because the nausea hit me like a bag of bricks! You always hear people talking about morning sickness, but never did I ever expect for it to hit me like it did. I was definitely expecting to feel sick in the mornings, but sitting in front of my open fridge crying my eyes out at 11 weeks was a new low for me lol. But having that nausea affect my day-to-day-life so heavily was not something I was prepared for at all. I am a very go-go-go person, so having something inhibit me from that lifestyle was a huge adjustment for me. Those first 12 weeks of pregnancy I did not want  to tell anyone outside of my close people (especially given the fact I had a miscarriage the first time). So having to put my big girl pants on and go to work with a smile on my face, despite feeling like absolute crap, was really really mentally tough. Leading company-wide town halls, back-to-back meetings from 8am-5pm, and having some hardcore decision-making moments were a personal fave of mine (lol… jk :)). For real though, this first trimester in
specific, made me look at all the pregnant mamas out there with an even greater level of respect. Holy balls. All I can say is women are tough as nails.

Through all the ups and downs of that first trimester here are the big things I learned: 

• Sour candy is the key to life. It seriously helped so much with my nausea. 

• SLOW. DOWN. When forced to slow down, you realize how much life you end up missing when you have a packed schedule all day. 

• Having your partner step up and take care of you to a greater degree when pregnant helps grow your relationship even more than you imagined. 

• There is so much to learn but do not get overwhelmed. You’ve got time!! 

• Take it day by day. All you can really do is ride out this nausea. Yes there are remedies, but this too shall pass. 

Now, I am nearing the end of my second trimester and feeling SO much better. Hallelujah baby! Once I hit about 15-16 weeks, I felt like a new human. The nausea went away and I now have so much energy that I feel like a psycho some days...I don’t even want to go to sleep lol! 😂 It is very strange to see the complete 180 flip from that first trimester, but I am taking full advantage. I literally designed a pregnancy related product (you’ll know more in December eek!) in one weekend… that’s how much motivation I have right now. So if you are in your first trimester right now, I hope you are reading this knowing that there is light at the end of the tunnel! Remember though, all pregnancy journeys are different. Some women don’t feel any symptoms at all, and some struggle the entire time. Every experience is unique! 

There were definitely some new things that came with the second trimester that I did not expect, one of those things being the aches and pains you start to experience as you grow. I swear every week, I have a new thing I am complaining about to Steve lol. From sciatica, tailbone pain, and round ligament pain, there is always something going on. One thing that has really helped me is going to a Webster certified chiropractor as well as my massage therapist. My chiro took away my sciatica pain almost immediately and my massage therapist helps work out the kinks in my tight back! HIGHLY recommend keeping up with those two appointments during pregnancy. While it is hard to find time to keep up with sometimes, I NEVER regret going! 

Another thing I didn’t expect is learning to adjust to my body’s needs and workout a bit differently. I have been doing my best to listen to my body and not push it too hard, while also trying to maintain a 4 day a week workout schedule. You may notice your muscles fatiguing quicker during pregnancy or that you lose your breath a little more often. While you probably won’t be working out at the intensity you are used to, you are still STRONG AF and sticking to a workout routine will help you stay strong to have the BEST delivery/labor experience you can possibly have!

One last thing I was surprised by this trimester is how baby’s kicks feel. Every week since about week 20, he has been getting stronger and more active. I don’t know exactly what I expected his kicks to feel like, but I was so surprised by the little fluttering feeling in my tummy the first few times. It truly is SO cool and such an awesome feeling to feel him move around. Every time it happens, it reminds me that I get to meet him in 4 months and it  also helps me connect to him more. You will notice that it will get you more and more excited each time it happens!!

Throughout this trimester I’ve learned: 

• Creating a human is hard work. Give yourself grace! 

• The aches and pains will come. Take care of yourself and stretch, get a chiro, and maybe get a massage every once in a while! #treatyoself

• Start getting up and down by rolling on your side, swing your legs over your bed, and then use your arms to get up.

• Time to buy some baby bump friendly clothes! I will do a blog post on my favorite pieces soon. 

• Let people spoil you. Asking for help is hard, but now is definitely the time to ask for it! You will feel way less overwhelmed.

• Now is a good time to start researching courses to take for birth, newborn, etc. 

• Check to ensure your hospital aligns with your birth plan.

I hope this answers some of your guys’ questions and can help you feel more prepared for pregnancy, less alone in your journey, etc.! I am having SO much fun sharing this whole journey with you all and am beyond excited to be getting into the third trimester soon! Every day that goes by I get more and more excited to meet baby boy. Thank you for being here, I appreciate you all! 

P.S. This week I will be sharing a Pregnancy Q & A on my Youtube channel, so be sure to check that out for even more details on my pregnancy journey! 

XOXO, TAY