You gotta love being pregnant, right? I mean, what’s more fulfilling than being able to conceive and give birth to a new life? It is pretty amazing and I consider it a blessing to have been able to give birth to two healthy kids so far. Being pregnant with Zoe and Ziya were two of the most amazing times of my life. Since they were born only a year and two months apart, my experiences in carrying them in the womb were pretty much the same. But take note that that was almost 8 years ago, when I was in my early twenties. Finding out I was pregnant again, now that I’m in my early thirties, made me a little nervous because I knew this experience is bound to be different and I was right.
With Zoe and Ziya, it seemed like I had more energy. I was still working full time then doing events and special projects, most of them involving tree planting and farm tours. Needless to say, some of my most memorable preggy moments were spent hiking small hills in order to plant coffee trees. For some preggy moms that would be a challenge but I didn’t really find it that hard to do. Aside from the morning sickness during the second month, which oftentimes actually happened in the afternoons, and the cervicitis I had, my first two pregnancies were a breeze. I craved pizza during the first trimester and salads during the second. I was never on bed rest, never bled, never really had to worry much but I don’t know if that was just because I was young and more ignorant.
Now with my third pregnancy, I easily get tired. It started since the first trimester. However, there wasn’t much morning sickness this time around. There were times when I felt nauseous but only threw up less than five times so far during the entire pregnancy compared to at least once a day, everyday for at least a month during Zoe and Ziya’s time. I was also put on bed rest for two weeks during the fourth month because I bled a couple of times but thankfully it was just a case of a low-lying placenta, which is apparently common during the first trimester. It has corrected itself as time went by and everything is okay now.
Another difference is the number of pregnancy-related tests I had to take. I know that it’s normal. It’s just that my previous OB-Gyne never had me take any of them back then. Now though, with my new OB-Gyne, I’ve had a urinalysis and two blood tests so far. I’ve also had three ultrasounds already and had an anti-tetanus shot. Another urinalysis will be scheduled in a couple of weeks. The results of all the tests are all good, thank God. It just makes the whole pregnancy a little bit more expensive. But if it’s something that will help ensure the safety and health of my baby, then I’m all for it.
However, I must say that the biggest difference is the baby itself. I don’t know if it’s because he has a different daddy or because of my age or the baby’s gender, but I already knew from the start of the second trimester that this baby is a far cry from his Ate Zoe and Ziya. I could tell from the amount and frequency of movements in the womb that this baby was going to be a boy. My little Ziggy is just so active, almost never giving me a break from his super strong kicks and somersaults. I also get a lot more Braxton Hicks contractions compared to before, making it a definite challenge to breathe.
Nevertheless, deep down I am trying to cherish every moment of this pregnancy since it might be my last. Hopefully though, I will also have an easy, worry-free delivery this time around.