My Pregnancy Experience

As I am just 2 days away from my due date of July 1st, I wanted to share details of my first pregnancy! Pregnancy has been an entirely different experience than I ever imagined. I envisioned myself being fragile, exhausted, and “in a delicate condition” as the old saying goes. Maybe I’m just really fortunate, but my pregnancy has been the complete opposite. I have felt strong, energized, and empowered! There were certainly times where I felt wiped but not necessarily because of pregnancy. Some days just aren’t your best. It sounds cliché, but it is truly incredible to think that I grew a tiny human.

Why did I feel so great? I honestly don’t know, but I suspect my high energy level relate to running! I ran every week in my entire pregnancy (with approval from several doctors), and even ran 3 miles today. I am in no way trying to offer medical advice because I do not have the credentials to do so, but I honestly think it has been the best thing for baby and me. Running is motivating and therapeutic for me. It is a time for me to clear my head while enjoying time outdoors. As my pregnancy progressed, I decreased my mileage, adjusted my pace, and added walking breaks. For example, I have only logged 6 miles so far this week. The main barrier isn’t my belly; it’s the HEAT! High humidity and temps above 90°F do not work for me (pregnant or not pregnant). I don’t have the total mileage for my entire pregnancy, but my mileage for 2019 is 325 miles. I sort of think this number should be doubled since I was running for 2 (ha)!  I must give special thanks to all of the positive support I received from friends and family on Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook! This 10 mile run was from December vs 3 miles today!

Another unique aspect of my pregnancy has been blood thinners. The blood thinners are solely precautionary since I have a history of a blood clot with an unknown cause. For the first 35 weeks of my pregnancy, I gave myself a pre-loaded injection of a blood thinning drug called Lovenox. Other than an occasional sting and some bruising on my stomach, the shots really weren’t too bad. Since 36 weeks, I have been switched over to heparin injections twice a day. Heparin has a shorter half-life, so it is safer in the event that I go into labor unexpectedly. The heparin is not pre-loaded, so the shots are less convenient. However, they really haven’t been too awful. It is a small price to pay to keep our baby safe and avoid a blood clot.

The only really scary times in my pregnancy were two-car accidents. Our baby is certainly resilient! I was rear-ended on two separate occasions, one in early December and the second at the end of March. The first accident involved 4 cars and totaled out my lovely Buick Verano (shown below). I was crunched between a large van and Jeep Wrangler. The second accident happened on a major interstate, but at a fairly low speed. My new Jeep Cherokee fared very well, and I am grateful I wasn’t in a small car! Once again, we were fortunate to all be just fine! I was also fearful when we learned our baby was in transverse position (sideways) at our week 32 ultrasound. Thankfully, our smart little baby turned to head-down position at some point before our week 37 ultrasound! As of now, baby is still head-down and ready to go.

Looking back at the past 9 months, I am proud of all that I have accomplished and have truly enjoyed my pregnancy. Baby movements and kicks are an incredible feeling, and I am amazed at all my body is capable of. One bonus of pregnancy that I didn’t think about was all of the positive attention and kind words. Having a baby bump really brings out the best in people. These past 9 months have really went faster than expected. Aside from working full-time, I also completed 2 semesters of grad school. I am finishing up my final semester currently, and it feels amazing to be on the homestretch. I will graduate in August!

For now, I am enjoying lots of time with Rob, and overall taking it easy. As I think about labor and delivery, I have literally no idea what to expect! I know it will likely be the most challenging thing I have ever done, but I am strangely excited and feeling optimistic. As a woman, I was made for this. Nonetheless, I appreciate any prayers for a safe and preferably short labor!

Baby H, we love you and cannot wait to meet you! I will post pics as soon as I am up to it!