If you read my last post, you’ll know that J and I are pregnant! We’re expecting our first child in January 2021, and it’s hard to believe that we’re already almost at the half-way point – I’ll be 20 weeks this Thursday. Now that we’re safely into the second trimester, I wanted to do a little first trimester recap to give you a glimpse of what it’s been like being pregnant in the middle of a pandemic.

[This post is about pregnancy, so may be a bit TMI for some. You’ve been warned!]

How We Found Out

We first found out we were expecting the day before Mother’s Day. It was the first month we were actively trying, so, being eager to find out, I took an early pregnancy test that came back negative. Even though I kept reminding myself that the average couple may not conceive for several months, I was still incredibly disappointed.

A few days later, though, when the first day of my cycle came and went without incident, I took another test. Lo and behold, there was the faintest positive line. It was so hard to see that I don’t think J believed me at first! I took another test the next day, and this one was even darker. It was official – we were going to be parents! And the fact that we knew for sure on Mother’s Day just felt meant to be.

Symptoms

No first trimester recap would be complete without a nitty gritty account of all the lovely symptoms associated with an early pregnancy. I’m going to be honest, though – my first trimester was fairly smooth sailing. I never had any real “morning sickness,” but I would occasionally start to feel a little nauseous after dinner if I had eaten a big meal. The first main symptom I noticed was that my sense of smell was out of control. I could smell everything, and let me tell you – it all smelled bad. Not enough to make me sick, mind you, but wherever I went, I could always smell something unpleasant. It seemed to calm down after a few weeks, though, which I definitely appreciated.

My main symptom, though, has just been sheer exhaustion. I had never been more tired in my life than I was during my first trimester. It didn’t help that I was also adjusting to being back in the office full-time. I’m not normally a nap person, but I napped more than I would like to admit. I would get home from work and pass out on the couch for about an hour, eat dinner, and then fall asleep on the couch again. I didn’t have any energy to do housework or to work out, so I was feeling pretty blah. Luckily, ever since I entered the second trimester, my energy levels have been making a comeback, so I’ve been able to be a bit more productive.

How COVID-19 Has Affected Things

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost every aspect of our lives, and pregnancy has been no different. Here are just a few ways it affected my first trimester:

• I couldn’t tell my parents in person. With all the restrictions on interstate travel, we couldn’t just take a quick trip down to see my parents and surprise them in person. Telling them over Zoom worked, but it definitely didn’t feel as special as it would have to tell them in person. This was really hard for me, especially since this is their first grandchild.

• Doctors appointments are hit-or-miss. The hospital where I plan to deliver at and where my OB-GYN is located currently has a “no visitors” policy. We were fortunate, though, that they have made an exception for OB patients, so J has been able to be with me for all of my standard appointments. I had to go to a different hospital for an early genetic screen, though, and he was not allowed in. It was a bummer because it was a long ultrasound, so he missed out on seeing baby move around. Overall, though, we’ve been pretty lucky. I know that isn’t the case for a lot of pregnant women right now.

• I have to be extra careful. Pregnancy compromises your immune system, and being pregnant may put you at an increased risk of severe illness if you get COVID-19. Vermont has had really low numbers and a lot of the state has reopened, but I’m still being careful. For example, we did not go out to eat at all during the first trimester. I only go out for necessities, and don’t go to any gatherings where there will be more than 5 or 6 other people. When I do go out, I try to go at times that are less busy, like early morning. And, of course, I’m washing my hands like crazy and wearing my mask!

My First Trimester Must-Haves

There have been a few things that made my first few months of pregnancy easier:

• A weighted blanket and body pillow. These two things helped me get a good nights sleep every night.
• Candied ginger from Trader Joe’s. Even though I didn’t have a lot of nausea, eating a few pieces of candied ginger helped to settle my stomach when nausea did strike.
• Excedrin Tension Headache. I get migraines, but my usual Excedrin Migraine is off-limits due to the aspirin. Tension Headache contains just acetaminophen and caffeine, so it helps take the edge off when I feel a migraine coming.
• A well-stocked snack drawer. Since I would get nauseous after large meals, I started snacking throughout the day instead of eating true meals. I keep a drawer full of peanut butter crackers, granola bars, protein bars, and decaf K-cups at work so I can grab a snack whenever I feel hungry. I also bring fruit and yogurt or cottage cheese to keep in the fridge.
• Hair elastics. These came in handy when I started getting bloated and my pants wouldn’t quite button comfortably, but I was too small for maternity pants. Just loop one end through the button hole and the other end on the button and voila, an extra inch of wiggle room!

Looking Ahead

Now that we’re approaching the half-way point, we have a bunch of things to look forward to (and get to work on). First, we’re finding out baby’s sex this week – if they cooperate at the anatomy scan, that is! Next, we need to wrap up some projects around the house so that we can start putting together the nursery. This is the part I’m most excited about!

With love,

A