Here we go again! We’re having another baby. This time around, it’s entirely different. Read more about it below! Or give it a listen on my podcast!
Read my first trimester pregnancy recap with my first here.
I’m Pregnant!
I invite you to read my first piece announcing my pregnancy. If you haven’t yet, I’ll sum it up for you here. Shiina and I had been trying for another kiddo since the spring of 2023. We’d always wanted kids closer in age and never knew if we’d get pregnant right away. We didn’t, which was tough. In the other blog I talk more about the challenges we’ve/I’ve journeyed through. I’ll let you read that there.
After some time, I was finally “letting go.” I felt like my time for another was coming up, and truly, I was accepting it for what it was. “I’ll get pregnant if and when.” Of course, in that same month, I found out that I’m pregnant!
On January 27th, I had a weird feeling to test. I had that same feeling with my first. I was sick for a day or two and I would get lightheaded here and there. There was no significant sign, however, that said “You’re pregnant!” Unlike my first one where I knew as soon as I felt sore and tender breasts. I didn’t have that this time around. This time, I just knew.
How We Told Our Families
Truthfully, I was so much happier with how we told our families this time around than our first. As soon as we’d found out, we told our families the same weekend – I was at least three or four weeks along? I was three weeks pregnant when we found out this time around too. However, we wanted to wait until our first appointment…. I wanted to wait until the baby arrived (laughs).
There are factors as to why I enjoyed the first trimester this time more than my first. Back then, I was 21, just graduating college and “figuring” out life. I was nervous and sure as heck not sure how I’d be as a parent. Of course I’d tell my parents right away. I didn’t feel the need to this time though. With telling some people however, news catches like wildfire. Before I knew it, people I didn’t want to know yet, knew that I was pregnant. I wasn’t hiding it. I was still navigating my own emotions and processing pregnancy for the first time. But here they were spilling their own thoughts, opinions or emotions. I wanted to avoid that this time, and I’m happy I did.
For nine weeks, we were able to process our own journey and bask in our happiness. This was a sacred time for our family, especially as we’ve tried for some time. We wanted to keep it to ourselves for a moment. We told my parents in person with photos of the ultrasound and photos of Valkyrie holding the pregnancy test. My mom already knew, just like the first time. They were both happy for us!
We wanted to surprise my in-laws in person as well, but didn’t get the chance to. Instead, we surprised them over a phone call and a visit several weeks later. They were just as excited!
Seconds
Wow, am I more chill with this second pregnancy (laughs)?! I don’t have 5-10 apps downloaded, or am constantly Googling things. I’m here for the ride and will see our baby within 40 weeks! Maybe that’s because I feel like I’ve done all the research I can the first time around and having been through it, I feel good. I have one app, one selected YouTube channel, and I’m set!
One thing that’s been a very positive influence and made a significant impact this time are the people around me. I think that’s what’s helped me most too. I have a supportive system at work from the moment I told them the news (they were the first ones to know). They understand all that it takes to bring a child into the world and I feel like I don’t need to explain myself. I felt like I had to explain with my first-born with the people around me at that time and it was exhausting. No one knew what it was like, or tried to. It was lonely. I don’t feel that way now.
Symptoms
The first trimester will get ya! I thought about how many times I could go through this process (laughs). To my surprise however, I didn’t feel symptoms as strongly as my first and I had an entirely different set of symptoms! Rather than have tender breasts, extreme smell sensitivity, and food aversions, I had heartburn, some smell sensitivity, and indigestion. Morning (or all day sickness) was worse with my first. I truly couldn’t do anything and I felt awake all the time. This time, I experience nausea here and there, and I’m always tired… and hungry (laughs).
At one point I felt the frustrations of my first pregnancy return – not able to lift or do something when I want to frustration. I was always tired. I tried to give myself grace, but let’s be honest, we can’t always wait for others to do something for us and we can’t let a list continue to grow. I quickly shut that off once I felt it though. I didn’t want to experience it again, so I chose not to do anything for the entire first trimester.
I was, and am still, anxious. I find that I can’t fully relax and I’m not entirely comfortable in my body. Even if I lay down, I can feel that my calves are tense. It’s gotten better with massages and footbaths, but it’d be nice to just relax. As for what’s making me anxious? It’s my thoughts.
How will this pregnancy go?
What will I do afterwards?
What would life be like afterwards?
I felt like I was trying to control something that I couldn’t, or plan for something that I didn’t have all the pieces to. Once our baby’s here, everything will fall into place.
Daily Life
Not much has changed, other than sleeping and eating more (laughs). I’m still working and enjoy every amount of time that I have with Valkyrie. She’s been so patient too. Anytime I’m feeling tired, I let her know that I’m heading for a nap. Sometimes she joins me, other times she’ll support me and close the bedroom door. Since I’ve had less energy, I’ve felt bad about not being as present during playtimes, but I do my best. I think she knows. She always hands me a fake bouquet of flowers and tells me, “They’re for you! It’ll make you feel better.” Y’all, isn’t she just the kindest soul?
I’m always most thankful for my partner. He continues to do what he does, but with more care and love, which… if you don’t know by now, is a lot already. He’ll ask if I’m craving anything, help with tasks that I can’t do, and most importantly, give me the time I need while taking care of our daughter. For example, he lets me sleep. You might be wondering, “Well of course he’d let you sleep.” No, this man lets me sleep – sleep extra hours, sleep in, sleep on drives, etc. No complaints, and he listens as I complain. Any requests like massages, chores, or footbaths? He’s got it covered. I knew my partner would make a great dad prior to having kids, but every time I see him with our daughter and now being pregnant with our second, I feel even more blessed. How’d I get so lucky to be with someone who dreamed of being a husband and father?
