My Pregnancy Journey

I woke up that February morning, filled with excitement as I prepared to head to the office. I had been feeling very tired and my boobs were extremely sensitive, my period was  late so I decided to take a pregnancy test. When I first saw “Pregnant 3+ weeks” on the Clearblue Pregnancy test , a whirlwind of emotions swept over me. My husband came in and we were both so happy and excited! Our lives were about to change forever. 

The First Trimester: A New Chapter Begins

I am very grateful for the fact I didn’t have any morning sickness at all. I was extremely tired but that was pretty much it. The first trimester was mainly trying to be patient until I could get an ultrasound, researching hospitals and where I wanted to give birth and most importantly – changing my lifestyle completely. I made sure I ate nutritious and rich food to provide all the nutrients to my baby and did my very best (although that was sometimes very difficult to achieve) to reduce stress and just be patient (if you know me, you’re probably smirking as patience is not my virtue). 

Bottom line, it is called a miracle of life – just think about it – at a very specific time of the month, only for a couple of days, the egg and sperm meet, and a little zygote is formed. My body was growing a little human – this is beyond amazing! 

The first ultrasound was unforgettable; seeing that tiny heartbeat flutter on the screen made everything feel real. I cried tears of joy, realising that this little being was already so loved.

The Second Trimester: The Sweet Spot

The second trimester was the sweet spot for me. I did not experience any morning sickness or heartburn but this is the moment when you are showing your cute little bump. This was also the phase where I really embraced my pregnancy glow – my skin was glowing, my hair was sleek and luscious and my nails – stronger than ever. 

I did NIPT test at 12 weeks and we found out the sex of our baby – a baby boy! So exciting! We started thinking about names and imagining how we will renovate the spare bedroom which would become the nursery, started researching for prams and got pulled into baby land. Instagram kept on suggesting cute baby clothes, courses, toys, books, etc. 

I  felt the first kick at 16 weeks exactly. It felt like a tiny flutter and I was waiting patiently to feel my baby kick every day after! As the weeks passed, those kicks became stronger and more distinct. It was as if my baby boy was saying, “Hey, Mama, I’m here!”

The Third Trimester: The Final Countdown

The third trimester was a mix of anticipation and discomfort. As my bump grew, I started experiencing pregnancy insomnia, couldn’t sleep well, not to mention those bathroom trips as it felt like the baby was using my bladder as a pillow. And don’t get me started on the “dagger pains” also known as “lightning crotch” and the strong kicks up in my ribs.

Final prep was going on – washing and ironing all the cute little baby clothes, finalising birth plan, having regular ultrasounds, thinking what if, anticipating when and how I will meet my little one. 

My husband and I attended pre-natal classes where we met a lot of new friends and invaluable support especially during all these nights while breastfeeding. Now I am up every two hours breastfeeding my baby, knowing there are other mamas doing the same who are only a WhatsApp chat away. 

The Big Day: Meeting My Baby

Finally, the day came. I woke up one early morning from a strong period-like pain. My contractions started and were very regular every 15 minutes.My husband was with me all the time encouraging me and supporting. Labour was intense but I knew with every contraction and push, I was getting closer to meeting my baby. After 24 hour labour, I was holding my baby boy Philip for the very first time. I’ll never forget the moment I looked into those tiny eyes. It was as if the world melted away, and nothing else mattered but this little miracle in my arms.

That’s the thing about pregnancy and childbirth — it pushes you beyond what you think you’re capable of, only to show you just how strong you really are.