Hello peoples and aspiring mommies! I am happy to share with you my journey about my first pregnancy. On this blog, I will be sharing my full pregnancy experience each week on this blog as well as how I got through it all. I hope this may serve as an inspiration for all the ladies out there hoping to be moms soon.
My First Pregnancy After ‘The Pill’
I’m 28 years old, and yes! I’m finally pregnant after a 6-month wait. My husband and I have been waiting to conceive since the last 6 months after I stopped taking birth control pills. For those who are curious, I have used Depo-Provera Depot Injection for 2 years, then I took Yasmin Pills for the last 7 years, making it a total of 9 years on birth control.
The reason why I took pills was that, in Dubai, ladies are not allowed to get pregnant without being legally married – if it happens, then it’s either you face jail time or get deported. So when me and my husband arrived in Dubai last 2014, we have decided to use an artificial way for birth control. Then, we got married in 2018 and this year around March 2021, we have decided to start building our own family, so I stopped the pills and tried to regulate my hormones back to normal.
It has been said that taking oral contraceptives can result in a short-term delay in achieving pregnancy of up to 2 to 6 months after stopping taking the pill. Thus, our expectations include some delay on conception which is totally okay with us.
It was no rush, but we prayed for it. 🙂
Trying to Get Pregnant After The Pill
Monitoring My Cycle
After I stopped taking the pills, I have started a healthy diet right away aside from monitoring my menstrual cycles. During the pills, I’ve been having normal and regular cycles all the time. Regular means I’m having my period for 4 to 5 days within a 28 to 30 day cycle. That being said, it was not a major issue for me with regulating my cycles.
In addition, I love using a mobile app called “My Tracker”, considering the techy lifestyle we have nowadays, this is very functional and user-friendly. You may download it from the Play Store. Through this mobile app, I was able to jot down my periods, monitor my cycle and know when I was most fertile.
Seed Cycling
Seed cycling involves tracking down my menstrual cycle and eating specific seeds during different days of the cycle, to help ensure optimal levels of estrogen and progesterone when these hormones are present.
I have read that seed cycling takes time to work with your body. It can take at least three months of daily use to start noticing the benefits. So keeping a journal to track your symptoms throughout the month can help you identify the shifts happening over the months.
Seed cycling typically involves eating flax seeds and pumpkin seeds during the first, follicular phase (Days 1-14) of your cycle, when your period starts. Then, you will consume a combo of sesame seeds and sunflower seeds during the second, luteal phase (Days 14-28), or after ovulation.
Its health benefits include helping regulate periods, reducing acne, treating polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and infertility, and easing symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, and mood swings.
This method was actually introduced to me by a friend. She had PCOS and she got pregnant after few months of trying. I was very hopeful when she told me this, hence, I tried seed cycling for about 4 to 5 months. And I guess, it miraculously worked!
Read More About My Seed Cycling Experience
Folic Acid Supplement
Folic acid, or vitamin B9, is very important for baby’s health and development. It’s important to take a 400 micrograms folic acid tablet every day before you’re pregnant and until you’re 12 weeks pregnant. Folic acid can help prevent birth defects known as neural tube defects, including spina bifida. [mfn] Vitamins, supplements and nutrition in pregnancy – NHS [/mfn]
Right after stopping the pill, I started taking Folic Acid 400mcg Tablet once a day as prescribed by my OB. Taking this medicine while patiently waiting for pregnancy is significantly important for both me and my future unborn child.
Doing the Pregnancy Test At Home
I usually have 28 to 30 day menstrual cycle when I was taking the pills, even after stopping it. And it has been 7 days when I still haven’t got my period though I’m still expecting to have it anytime soon as I was having the same menstrual cramps I normally experience.
It was morning of 2nd of October 2021, 7th day of being delayed, I started to think whether I’m pregnant or not, and if I really am, then I don’t want to hurt my baby by consuming anymore harmful foods or do anything bad. Because of this, I have decided to take the home test first thing in the morning after I woke up. And voila!
Remember, morning tends to be the best time to take home pregnancy tests, because hCG levels in urine are concentrated after a night without much drinking and peeing.
After learning that I was pregnant, me and my husband went for a short jog because we knew that exercising is very important during pregnancy. Though most of the time, I was very careful so I only walked in a fast pace.
Confirmatory Beta-HCG Test
It was the same morning, 2nd of October 2021, when we immediately went to the Clinic to do the blood test and confirm the result of the pregnancy test I have done two hours ago at home. The Obstetrician (OB) prescribed to perform a blood test to detect my blood levels of Beta-HCG and it was perfectly normal confirming that I’m definitely pregnant!
My First Pre-Natal Checkup @ 5 Weeks
We received the blood test result in the evening and the OB asked as to come back for a consultation. It was still the same day 2nd of October 2021 when the Doctor confirmed my pregnancy and that the Beta-HCG levels were fine and also, I was on my 5th week.
In addition, she prescribed Folic Acid + Vitamin & Minerals Capsule to be taken once daily with food. So I have been taking it religiously everyday knowing it would be good for me and my unborn baby. I also don’t see any serious side effects from it, only that it turns my urine into a more yellowish color.
Week 5
It was 4th October 2021, and I have already finished 5 weeks of my first pregnancy. Unexpected but it was an amazing experience.. truly magical!
The symptoms I’ve experienced so far were:
Mild abdominal cramping: I have experienced cramping since the last week, the reason why I was thinking that it was just a normal menstrual cramps, and I thought of having my periods soon. But then, what I was really having was abdominal cramping and I have read from different sources that this is totally normal. I have been experiencing abdominal cramps during the day even in the middle of the night. The only solution I’ve got is applying a little amount of Vicks on a small area on my stomach and drinking lukewarm water. Cramping typically occurs when the uterus expands, causing the ligaments and muscles that support it to stretch. It may be more noticeable when sneezing, coughing or changing positions.
Loose stools. My day isn’t normal without having loose and watery stools which was caused by the fluctuating hormones. Diarrhea occurs as the body produces the hormone relaxin.
Mild Headache. A simple headache in the morning as well as in the evening especially when stuck on a very heavy traffic. Basically, this happens because of both the hormonal changes and increased blood volume.
Fatigue. Usually, I felt tired during the whole day and gets worse on the evenings considering I’m working full-time on morning shift basis and I go home with a huge traffic in the evenings. It has been said that that’s because the body is working overtime to maintain the pregnancy and develop milk-producing glands in the breasts.
Sleepiness. Even after waking up from a long night sleep, I felt sleepy and I understood that again it as because of the hormonal changes.
Excessive thirst. Dubai is a desert and the climate is mostly summer-like for the whole year therefore hydration is very important. I always feel thirsty every now and then so I do sips of water every so often. The body simply needs extra fluids as it supports my baby’s development. [mfn] Excessive Thirst During Pregnancy – TheBump.com [/mfn]
Increased urinary frequency. Since I have to drink lots of liquids due to excessive bouts of thirst, my urinary frequency had significantly increased, which I think the hormones also add up to it. This usually become a huge problem when stuck in the middle of a traffic and I have the urgency to pee. According to Healthline, it’s caused by an increase of the hormones progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin which are produced in early stages of pregnancy. [mfn] Prenatal Care: Urinary Frequency and Thirst – Healthline [/mfn]
At this moment, I haven’t experienced the dreaded morning sickness yet, that includes nausea and vomiting, but would most likely come soon. I wasn’t looking forward to it, but what to do? All I know, is that I’m both excited and nervous of this first pregnancy. 🙂
Weeks 6 – 7
On 9th October 2021, I was scheduled for an Ultrasound by my OB since the fertilized embryo can only be seen though scanning by/ after 6 weeks. Unfortunately, my health insurance was on the process of renewal so I have to postpone until the 7th week. For sure, I will be sharing you my results soon. Hoping all is well!
For the last 24 hours from October 8th to 9th, I have been experiencing constipation since I haven’t passed stools at all. I wasn’t feeling the urge or any movement as well. Perhaps, it was probably caused by the foods I ate which were mostly dry. Thus, I decided to cook something with sauce and with hot soup as I was expecting that this will help to soften my stools and help me have a bowel movement. I also tried to eat unripe mangoes which was really helpful by the way and this was the food I always craved for during the last early days of my pregnancy.
Happily, I passed stools the next day and felt better. However after constipation, diarrhea waived Hi! 😀
It has been said that digestive difficulties, such as constipation and diarrhea, may occur frequently during pregnancy due to the shifting hormones, changes in diet, and added stress. Diarrhea during pregnancy is common. However, just because you have diarrhea doesn’t necessarily mean it’s directly related to your pregnancy. [mfn] Diarrhea and Pregnancy: Causes & Remedies – Healthline [/mfn]
But of course, each pregnant person’s experience will be different.
“You are pregnant and you are powerful. You are bold and you are beautiful. Go forward in your boldness, in your beauty and in your contentedness.”
Week 8 (Month 2)
Exhaustion won’t stop especially in the morning, even after waking up, and in the afternoons. I guess the baby is really taking up my energy which he needs in order to grow.
On 20th October 2021, we had our first Ultrasound. The feeling was wonderful and extraordinary seeing that little ‘blip’ (embryo) growing inside me. It’s my first pregnancy and it’s quite fulfilling to know that gladly everything is fine. I and my husband were not fully convinced that I was pregnant before taking the Ultrasound even after the series of Blood and Urine Tests which were already done on my Week 5. After the scan, we have finally come into our senses that this pregnancy is true and that we are really having a little one soon!
It was really cute! So small, you can’ still see the face or any of its body parts. It’s such a wonderful gift from God.
And below is what my Ultrasound Report from which I have learned the baby’s Estimated Gestational Age (EGA) and my Estimated Date of Delivery (EDD).
Weeks 9 – 11
On these consecutive weeks, I felt the same – exhaustion and sleepiness during the whole day, hunger pangs, headache, nausea and migraine, alternating diarrhea and constipation, bloatedness and abdominal cramping same as dysmenorrhea but usually goes right away; as well as flu-like symptoms such as blocked nose, dry mouth, teary eyes and I also sneeze frequently. After experiencing all these, I still feel lucky that I don’t have the vomiting part yet. Yes, I do feel nauseous at times, but I don’t feel like I would want to vomit or expel anything I have eaten. So really, cheers to that! 😊
“The pain you feel today will be the strength you feel tomorrow.”
Week 12 (Month 3)
On 16th November 2021, we had our 2nd Ultrasound. At this time, the baby got unexpectedly bigger, and me and my husband were really shocked, perhaps the reason why I got all those difficult symptoms recently.
We were able to see the baby on the monitor and hear its heartbeat. It’s so alive and there was too much kicking, it even looked somersaulting inside my womb. The feeling was inexplicably wonderful.
The Doctor said everything is fine and nothing to worry about. All the cramps and other symptoms I was feeling were all normal. The gender is yet to be identified soon perhaps after few more weeks.
So here we are, patiently waiting not only for the gender but also hoping that everything will be fine, that our baby will grow normally and healthy so we can welcome him/her in the near future. In any way, we are very grateful for him/her to become part of our small family. 🙂
Week 13
This week is still the same as the previous ones. Same headache, fatigue, and sleepiness all day long. I have as well started taking Calcium Vitamins as prescribed by my OB. It contains below components:
- Calcium (as calcium carbonate) 500 mg
- Vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol) 400 IU
It is normally prescribed for pregnant women to prevent calcium deficiency and other complications such as gestational diabetes, preterm birth and infection. The usual dosage is one capsule daily after meals, either after breakfast or after lunch.
Week 14 – 15 (The start of 2nd Trimester)
This week has been very good to me, the headache and nausea that I have been feeling for the last few weeks had subside. Days are better now. Previously, my headache always starts after I eat my breakfast and it lasts until I go to sleep at night, but now, the severe headache was gone. It was not totally gone, yet at least its better now.
Considering I’m technically on my 2nd trimester now, I’m hoping it will get better each day.
However, this week made my butt to ache really hard! As you know, I have a full-time desk job that makes me constantly sitting all day for 9 hours. Even if I want to avoid sitting, but I can’t, I don’t have much choice.
Then of course, I researched my condition and found out that I am experiencing tailbone (coccyx) pain which is totally normal during pregnancy.
What is tailbone or coccyx pain?
Based on my online research, tailbone pain or coccyx pain is often caused by the pelvic ligaments loosening and shifting. It can be caused by a degenerative joint disease, trauma or vaginal birth.
It can also occur at any time during pregnancy due to increase in body weight. In addition, the body releases a hormone called relaxin that makes the pelvic ligaments looser and more flexible to make room for the baby to grow and enable you to give birth.
As for my daily experience, the pain is worse when sitting or when rising from a sitting position on a chair.
How can you manage your coccyx pain?
- Ice/heat pack on your tailbone region
- Avoid slumping postures
- Self massage to your gluts and back muscles
But, for me, the best thing I can do for now, is to purchase perfect pillow that I can put on my chair to sit on. Something that could act as a cushion to relieve the pressure on my tailbone.
Hence, I have decided to buy one online and I am yet to receive it next week and it is called ‘Memory Foam Seat Cushion‘. I would surely make a separate review on this once I have tried it. I’m hoping it’s worth my money! 🙂
“Being pregnant means every day is another day closer to meeting the other love of my life.”
Week 16 – 17 (Month 4)
On 17th December 2021, we had our routine check-up. The doctor said everything was fine from the previously performed examinations such as the Ultrasound and Blood Test. Therefore, further tests at this time is not really required.
The Doctor also mentioned that they have done PAPP-A Test. As far as I could understand about this test, the PAPP-A, NT and HCG markers are used together with the mother’s age to estimate the likelihood of having a pregnancy affected with Down syndrome. [mfn] Serum PAPP-A measurements in first-trimester screening for Down syndrome [/mfn] In addition, they have used blood sample to conduct the test.
PAPP-A Result on 1st Trimester
PAPP-A Result on 1st Trimester
Down’s Syndrome, Edward’s Syndrome & Pataus Syndrome
PAPP-A Result on 1st Trimester
I was really glad that we have tests like this to measure the probability of the occurrence of some important abnormalities. Though it has been said that it can be less than 100% accurate, I still believe on the accuracy of these results based on statistical data.
I can say that I wasn’t fully aware of all the advantages of technological advancement on our daily lives until now. Nevertheless, we are really happy about how the results turned out. This is something that could give us some peace of mind out of the worries we have about this whole pregnancy journey.
Week 18 – 19
Bad news… I and my husband got positive with the COVID virus. 🙁
Well, I think this was the scariest part of my pregnancy that I hope will not happen again.
My husband got sick on 31st of December, and yes, it was New Year’s Eve. Imagine, we watched the Burj Khalifa fireworks on TV while lying on bed because he wasn’t really feeling well. We thought it was just another cold spell because of the cold weather in Dubai so he didn’t isolate. But Thanks God, we were only 2 persons inside the room.
He had cough, colds and on-and-off high-grade fever for 3 days. Then on his 3rd day of sickness, I started feeling sick too. It started with a very heavy headache in the morning, and in the afternoon, I felt severe exhaustion, that ended with a fever in the evening.
The next day, we went to my OB for a check-up who recommended us to take the PCR Test, which we did immediately on the next day. 24 hours after performing the test, we got the result and sadly, we are both COVID positive. The OB also prescribed medications for me to take, it includes Paracetamol 500mg Tablet, an antibiotic and a cough syrup. However due to my anxiety of taking such medicines, I only took the Paracetamol for a very short period of time – only when I had the fever since the OB told us that we need to lower it down.
We were really scared about my fever and how it could affect our unborn baby. Also, skeptical on how we got the virus and I tried to blame him and myself for acquiring it. We should have been very careful, but I guess, it’s unavoidable.
According to my research, the overall risk of COVID-19 to pregnant women is low. However, women who are pregnant or were recently pregnant are at increased risk for severe illness with COVID-19 . Severe illness means hospitalization might be needed, requiring intensive care or be placed on a ventilator to help with breathing. [mfn] Pregnancy and COVID-19: What are the risks? – Mayo Clinic [mfn]
Based on this, and what my OB said over the phone when I broke the bad news to her, COVID would not negatively nor severely affect our baby. I also had a chat with few pregnant moms, as well as those who had already given birth, who acquired the COVID virus and they said that they were fine, they even got worse symptoms and fever up to 41 degrees Celsius, but they sure were fine. Their babies are doing great too as evidenced by outstanding results from their monthly checkups. This enlightenment totally calmed me and my husband; it helped to clear our worries away.
I was just thankful that I’ve had my fever for just one night and it didn’t go higher than 38.6 degrees Celsius. Along with this, I’ve also had cough and colds. We were very thankful that our symptoms were mild – that’s why we believe it was the new Omicron Variant that was rampant on the news. We only got fever, cough and colds, and that’s it.
Moreover, we did the quarantine period and finished it. However, after re-testing on the 10th day, I still got positive, though my husband was negative and that I was feeling better with no more signs of COVID symptoms. After few days, I went back to work as if nothing happened. 🙂
Just to make sure it will not happen again and for those who haven’t acquired the virus, especially those who aren’t vaccinated, please be careful and take care of yourselves. Always sanitize and protect yourselves by wearing protective medical devices.
If you’re wondering about my vaccination, I got two doses of Sinopharm last year around February 2021 and I haven’t decided to get a booster dose, probably after I’ve given birth. My husband got the same thing but he would take the booster shot soon (a booster shot is given to previously COVID positive patient only after a month).
Week 20 – 23 (Month 5)
On 16th January 2022, we went for my monthly routine check-up and we did our 3rd ultrasound, blood test and urine test. The scan was quite special since it was done to detect any Fetal Anomaly or abnormalities.
I was excited yet anxious because that day we would be able to determine the baby’s gender as well as any abnormalities present on his anatomical and physiological structures.
Fortunately, and thanks God, everything’s fine with our baby. Below our ultrasound shot showing different parts of the baby’s organs including the cerebellum (a major part of the brain), 4-chamber heart, orbits, kidneys, upper and lower extremities as well as the umbilical cord. The ultrasound Doctor said there were no abnormalities present, the baby is developing progressively as per gestational age and that we should not worry.
Gender Reveal
Doctor: Everything is fine. The baby is doing great.
Me: Thank you Doctor! The baby looks like a girl?! **in a cynical tone**
Doctor: How did you know?
Me: I saw.. haha! 🙂
Doctor: Yes, it’s a girl!
Given my medical knowledge from being an RN, I can’t stop myself but to guess the baby’s gender. And because of the absence of a small little penis, I anticipate that it was a girl, and I was right!
Apparently, I was anticipating a boy while my husband wanted a girl. Even our families and friends were skeptical about the gender too. But here’s to conclude the baby’s gender:
Our families were so delighted and excited for their upcoming princess!!
But shoooosh!! We haven’t told our friends because we would probably throw a small baby shower soon. 🙂
And here she is, moving, kicking, somersaulting, and by the way, her kicks were getting stronger day by day. This time, my husband could feel it too! He uses the palm of his hand to feel her movement. He talks and listens to the baby everyday, waiting for her to make a sound, but oh, she just kicked! 🙂
“God gives us only what we can handle. Apparently God thinks I’m a badass.”
Week 24 – 27 (Month 6)
We had our monthly check-up last 12th February 2022 and I gave my blood and urine samples for analysis. Everything went out fine except for my Hemoglobin levels, which significantly reduced since my last test, and now, it’s totally below the normal.
I have read that a slight drop on hemoglobin levels during pregnancy is quite common, however, if it will be as low as mine (which was 9.7 g/dL) then some actions will be required to do. As what my doctor said, if my hemoglobin levels will not normalize until my next checkup, then she would have to prescribe me an Iron Vitamin to be administered through injection.
So, as much as possible, I’m trying to eat foods that could boost this blood level in additional to doubling my dose of Iron supplements. Foods such as lean meat, tofu, green leafy vegetables and other iron-rich foods are what I’m indulging right now to hopefully achieve my goal.
These last few weeks have been wonderful for us – for me and my husband. Our unborn baby has been reacting to music and voices, so when my husband speaks to her, she would kick a lot. I could even figure her sleep-wake cycle as she kicks when she’s awake and that would be around 7 am, 12 noon, 5pm, 10pm, 5am when she kicks powerfully and actively.
The feeling was surreal! I feel perplexed every time she does this inside my womb. Sometimes, I don’t know if she’s kicking, somersaulting or even swimming. 🙂
Moreover, I believe I have been experiencing cramps which are referred to as the “Braxton Hicks Contractions” or false labor or practice contractions. These are commonly experienced between 20th to 37th weeks of pregnancy which is a normal part of pregnancy. It occurs at irregular intervals and the intensity is variable.
As for me, I usually feel these false labor contractions after eating and worsened by doing a full-time desk job for 9 hours a day. Sitting all day having very less movement at all, in my opinion, is what is triggering these contractions for me. At first, I was scared that these cramping might be preterm labor and that I might deliver my baby soon.
Even though online articles are stating that this is normal, I would still need to discuss this with my doctor on our next consultation this coming weekend! 🙂
Also, last 19th February 2022, we had our simple bee-themed baby shower with our friends and relatives. It was fun and heartwarming, knowing there are so many other people who would want to welcome our baby with us!
Check out my blog here: Our Simple Baby-Bee Shower At Rashidiya Park Dubai
Week 28 – 31 (Month 7)
This month is a long month full of excitement and surprises. Our baby is making us happy even if she’s not born yet! Her kicks and movements are becoming stronger each day. I was planning to do a ‘kick counting’ but I guess it wouldn’t be possible not only because I have a full-time office job but also because her movements are a lot to count. But it’s okay, as I know that the more active she is, the healthier she can be!
As for my maternal situation, my belly has grown a lot, my belly button has started to flatten out, my urination has become more frequent especially at night, and my tailbone pain had gradually worsen. Again, it’s okay, I know it’s all part of becoming a mother yet I’m grateful for not still not having worse symptoms like nausea and vomiting. I don’t know how I could drive a car with it!
Week 32 – 33 (Month 8)
Surprisingly, I still didn’t get the dreadful stretchmarks on my belly. Hmm.. I’m glad though I’m still wondering when it would start to appear.
Last 9th April 2022, we had our routine consultation with my OB. She recommended us to perform CBC, Fasting Blood Sugar Test, Urinalysis and Ultrasound to check the baby’s growth and development as well as her its blood flow.
Below are the results of my blood test. My sugar level is good, however, my Hemoglobin level was lower than the previous one.
As a result of having low hemoglobin levels despite of religiously taking my Iron supplements twice daily, my OB prescribed me to take Iron through injection or infusion. I’m not yet sure which type of Iron vitamin it would be, but I’ll be happy to share it once I’ve taken it this week.
Moreover, we will do the ultrasound scan soon and I’ll be sharing here the details too!
We are hoping that the baby is perfectly fine even with my low hemoglobin levels. As of now, her kicks are even stronger than before – that her kicks sometimes surprises and hurts me for a very short period of time. Her movements also wake me up at night, that’s how strong she’s becoming! …and we’re truly glad for that! 🙂
Week 34 – 35 (Month 8)
Due to my low hemoglobin levels, my OB prescribed me to have Iron Vitamin through intravenous infusion. She recommended me to have five doses to be taken in alternative days.
After taking the first two doses, when she saw my below Blood Test report, she insisted to stop the Iron vitamins. She said my Iron levels were now normal and the Iron infusion is no longer needed. Therefore, it was discontinued. Well, I was glad because those infusions were a bit painful and time-consuming. And also, it was really great to know that my iron levels were in normal range.
Last 23rd April 2022, we’ve had our 3rd Trimester Ultrasound Scan which was required by my OB to have clear picture of the baby’s growth and development as well as to see any abnormalities with the baby’s blood flow.
Gladly, everything is fine with our baby. She is growing normally as per her gestational age and she’s quite healthy eager to see the world outside the womb. Also, based on our last Ultrasound, my new Estimated Delivery Date (EDD) will be on 27th of May.
Lastly, my OB performed a vaginal swab to check for infection and above was the result. Even though, there was moderate growth detected on the test, I decided to not take any medications as I’m really trying to avoid to take anything that I think might negatively affect my baby. Instead, I have taken some fresh fruit juices to prevent the infection from worsening such as coconut and cranberry juice. Other than this test result, I didn’t have any other symptoms such as pain during urination or any other kinds of pain. So I suspect this doesn’t have do anything with urinary tract infections (UTI).
Week 36 – 37 (Month 9)
Starting this week, we have decided to do our check-ups in the hospital where we’ve chosen to give birth and deliver our baby, which is the International Modern Hospital located in Al Mankhool, Dubai. Every appointment, my OB performs an ultrasound to check the baby’s position. And so far, everything is fine as she have mentioned. No further tests were required during this time but the doctor instructed me to do the following things in order to soften my cervix and help me to have a better labour experience.
- Walk more, which I’m already doing at least every day and especially during the weekends.
- Exercise using a birthing ball, which I have also started doing since week 34 as far as I remember. I watch YouTube for videos on how to use this ball to exercise, stretch and alleviate back pain as well as to induce labour naturally.
- Do squats, which I do every time I’m at work whenever I have time and at home.
- Drink Raspberry Leaf Tea three times a day, which was fine for me as I’m used to drinking tea so the taste wasn’t that much of a problem. It also helped me to relieve constipation that I kept on having during my 2nd trimester. My bowels are now better and are expelled daily unlike before.
- Drink Pineapple Juice which I buy from grocery stores canned since I couldn’t find the fresh ones. Hope it still works though.
- Go up and down the stairs, so I usually do this everyday where I go up to the 5th floor and down and repeat for 2 times. It’s exhausting but if it’s for me and the baby then it’s worth sweating it.
Working hard in preparation for my delivery soon is important especially since we want to deliver as natural as possible. I personally do not prefer to have a Cesarean section as I know that it would be more difficult for me giving birth and the recovery will be longer too. But whatever happens, at least I can say that I tried everything to make the delivery easier for both me and my baby.
Week 38 (Month 9)
Since my 36th week of pregnancy, we visit the doctor every week until now. And this time she asked us to do Cardiotocography (CTG) to monitor the baby’s heart rate and movements. It lasts for about 30 minutes and done by putting probes on my belly while I was lying down.
Fortunately, everything is normal, the baby performed well (I silently asked my baby to please move during the process and be active), Haha and I guess it worked!
During our checkup for this week, the doctor also did a membrane sweep.
According to BabyCenter.com, membrane stripping, also known as a membrane sweep, is a procedure done to help induce labor. The practitioner inserts a finger through the cervix and manually separates the amniotic sac from the uterine lining. It can be uncomfortable or even painful, but it only lasts a few minutes. [mfn] Membrane stripping: How it’s done and what it’s like [/mfn]
As for me, the membrane sweep was somewhat like an Internal Examination and it was both uncomfortable and a bit painful. Afterwards, I’ve had a very light spotting which was brownish red in color in a very less amount. There was still slight pain after the procedure but it was tolerable and I could still walk as normal.
The membrane sweep was exactly done when I was 38w1d and after 2 days when I was 38w3d, some part (if not all) of my mucus plug came out when I woke up in the morning. And yes, it might be a sign that I will be on labor soon.
All in all, I’m thankful that I didn’t have any problems with my pregnancy and it was considered as low risk. I could only complain about my tailbone/ coccyx pain which I’ve started discussing during Week 14 – 15 (2nd Trimester) since it got worse now and sitting has become my #1 enemy… 🙁
By the way, during this time, I’m still working in the office full-time though I stopped driving the car as a safety precaution, so my husband drops me to the nearest bus station in the morning and picks me up directly from work after my duty.
For now, I’m still waiting for the next signs that I’m having labor which can happen soon. I haven’t had any bloody show nor true labor contractions. Anyhow, I’m trying to be more patient though we can’t wait to meet our little girl!
Week 39 (9th Month)
Last 29th of May 2022, we had our check-up with my OB. And for the second time, she again did membrane sweeping but this time, it was more painful. The procedure lasted for just a few seconds yet the pain remained until the night of the same day. After having this procedure, I still didn’t notice any changes on my body aside from having the usual Braxton-Hicks contractions and slight spotting.
My OB asked us to see her again on the 2nd of June, which would be after the next 3 days, to recheck the status of my cervix, if it has gone better – effaced or thinned. Also, she mentioned that my due date is on 4th of June, so on our next visit, we will be discussing about scheduling my delivery by 3rd or 4th of June.
This actually put stress on me as I don’t prefer Cesarean delivery or even medically-induced. The pain I was already feeling that day added on this stress, thus I became emotional and cried.
For now, I’m hoping my baby will come out soon and that labor will also start before our next consultation. The sweeping is truly painful and my OB might repeat doing it on our next meeting. 🙁
Week 39 (Plus 5 Days)
On 2nd of June 2022 at 4:28 am, I have finally delivered to a healthy baby girl. 🙂
I will be sharing my Labor and Delivery experience on a separate blog which I will be linking here soon!
Thank you for being with me on this journey!! 🙂
Last Updated: 27 June 2022
Access my labor and delivery blog here:
I would love to hear from you!
Did you have the same experience? Let us know as it might help me and other readers to be more enlightened about this wonderful and magical journey of conception and giving birth.
Resources:
1. What Is Seed Cycling? Effects on Hormones and Menopause
2. Vitamins, supplements and nutrition in pregnancy – NHS
3. How soon after coming off the pill can get you pregnant
4. Your Poop May Change During Pregnancy — Here’s How
5. High Doses of Vitamin D May Cut Pregnancy Risks
6. What to do when pregnancy becomes a pain in the tailbone
7. Serum PAPP-A measurements in first-trimester screening for Down syndrome
8. Pregnancy and COVID-19: What are the risks? – Mayo Clinic
9. 23-27 Weeks – Healthy Futures
10. Membrane stripping: How it’s done and what it’s like
Health Benefits of Seed Cycling
Natural Ways To Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy
Reasons Why You Have To Do A Baby Shower
Our Simple Baby-Bee Shower At Rashidiya Park Dubai
Foods That Could Help Increase Breastmilk Supply After Delivery
My First Pregnancy Journey: Having A Full-time Job
My First Pregnancy Journey: My First Birthday as a Pregnant Mom
Huge congratulations! I’ve never heard of seed cycling before though – very interesting to know!
Oh wow, it was interesting to go through the journey from start to end. I’ve not done seed cycling but it sounds like it was helpful.
Congratulations! 28 are really great years to have your first baby. My wife and I started in our 30-this and now it’s hard in our 40-ties to have a third one.
Omg! as somebody who is in her 20s this make me tensed, anyways, congratulations to you!
That’s awesome you went with a healthy diet right away, thank you for sharing your experience with us!
Indeed, God only gives us problems we can solve. And you are a badass for handling such situation. Your story is inspiring to us.
Wow….I really am happy for you! Thank you for sharing your journey up and until this point of carrying “our” baby. I can’t wait to read the next installment.
Congratulations! The first pregnancy is always filled with excitement and anxiety as well. It must have made you worry so much about contracting Covid while pregnant. Thankfully, you and your baby are both okay.
Congratulations! I hope the baby is healthy. I’ll look forward to the next post! Stay safe!