When I had my first child, I was 29 and was a serious young woman with an 8-year career in tech who most often knew what she wanted and how to achieve it. I tried to do everything perfectly with my First baby project. I wanted to. Like most of you, first-time moms.
I diligently tried to follow the advice on how to organize your pregnancy I found in books, YouTube videos, blogs, and a little bit from friends who were already parents. Some of my friends were onto their third child, and I admired their routines. Everything seemed so easy from an external perspective. 🙂
However, my pregnancy turned out to be quite different from what I had expected. I had severe nausea during my first trimester, lost a significant amount of weight (I wasn’t eating at all due to vomiting), and needed hospital care. The second trimester was fine. The third trimester was grueling. Though I didn’t have third-trimester nausea, the stress related to preparing for life with a baby (moving to another apartment, etc.) took a toll on me, and I felt like a very exhausted pregnant woman. I had to give up my pool exercises, and my mental health suffered. I wasn’t physically active during the entire third trimester, indulged in junk food like Cheetos, and gained excess weight.
My second pregnancy was much smoother and healthier because I knew what to expect, how to behave, and how to make better choices and prepare my body better. I just made choices that wouldn’t bring me into situations when I was stressed or exhausted.
Here I want to share what I’ve learned about pregnancy and its various aspects to help other preggies on their journey. I’ll share healthy meals, and great coffee drink alternatives, and tell you about my favorite maternity clothes. Stay tuned!
