Second Trimester Recap

Last week, I was in the bath and shockingly, a 3 or 4-year-old didn’t follow me there. I had 15 lovely minutes to myself watching my baby roll and kick inside me. It was a nice respite of togetherness that reminded me how amazing pregnancy is, and it very briefly allowed me to forget how difficult this second trimester has been. If I’m being totally honest, this trimester has crawled at a snail’s pace. The holiday season passed quickly but thinking back to my twelve/thirteen-week appointment in September feels like a lifetime ago. I cannot believe I still have 12 weeks left. 

Unlike my previous two pregnancies, the second trimester did not bring the passing of nausea, or return of energy like I expected. In fact, it brought a lot of discomforts that I wasn’t ready for. I’m still taking my anti-nausea medicine. I’ve felt like this baby has been knocking at the exit door since week 20. I had to stop exercising months ago due to insane pressure and sciatica. And I’ve felt fatigued at the smallest of household chores. My doctor warned me that with subsequent pregnancies, all the discomforts present a lot earlier but wow, I never expected to find this pregnancy harder than Elyce’s. I thought puking on the CalTrain on my way to work or discretely leaving running from a meeting to throw up would be the low points in all my pregnancies. So, I’m very surprised to admit that I’d actually prefer first trimester vomiting to entire pregnancy discomfort. 

I share all this not for sympathy (obviously), but more for my own memory. It’s just so crazy to me that I can carry all three pregnancies the same way and gain almost exactly the same amount of weight on the same weekly schedule, yet have the symptoms be totally unique. Adding COVID anxiety on top of the discomfort and existing anxiety I shared from my first trimester, and I’m just so ready to get this baby here – healthy and safe. 

Of course, it hasn’t been all bad. I’m so grateful for a healthy 20-week scan. I enjoy seeing my side profile and bump – I think pregnancy is so beautiful. I’m grateful that I’m no longer working full time and didn’t have to hide my nausea from an office of mostly childless men. I’m grateful that I’ve been feeling movement since 15 weeks and a lot of it. Mostly, I’m grateful for the excitement Caroline and Elyce show about the baby on a daily basis. 

Less than 12 weeks to go and I’m going to really *try* to enjoy this final trimester. This will be our last baby and it’s never once been lost on me how lucky I am to have had these experiences. But shit, pregnancy is no joke.