Pregnancy Diaries: Embracing the Journey to Motherhood

Dear Diary,

Why does everything smell so bad when you’re pregnant? This week the food aversions and nausea were higher than before. All I can even fathom thinking about eating bread, bagels, mangos and crackers. Everything else makes me gag or cry.

A new pregnancy symptom I learned about is pregnancy rhinitis. Imagine the worst nose and throat congestion of your life, particularly at night, and not being able to take any medicine for it. Then multiply that by 3 weeks and counting. I have bought so many sinus rinses, a humidifier and essential oils. I’ve learned 3 new gua-sha lymphatic drainage techniques and sleep with an extra pillow to keep my head elevated. At one point, I couldn’t sleep past midnight, and would just be sitting on the couch mouth-breathing until the sun came up and I could get ready for work. Thankfully, I’m able to sleep after work and take many naps on the weekends to make up for the loss of sleep during the weeknights.

On a more positive note, our ultrasound date is less than a week away! We will finally get to see our little blueberry and hopefully see a strong heartbeat! It’s been so exciting thinking of all the fun ways we can tell our friends and extended families. This has brought me and my husband closer in ways I could’ve never imagined. What I always heard as a ‘strain’ on marriage, has so far been a blessing, letting us connect in ways we haven’t had the chance to before. 

Every night, my husband makes sure to say goodnight to our little blueberry. Every morning, he kisses me on my forehead and tells me he’s so proud of me for getting up another day. After work, he sits with me and doesn’t get upset when I tell him I don’t think I can stand the smell of cooking chicken for dinner. Despite the roles we had adopted in our relationship for years, he’s quietly and lovingly taken over so many of the tasks I always prided myself on handling myself. He doesn’t make me feel like a burden. He doesn’t complain, or say he’s ‘Doing me a favour this time’. He just does what’s needed. We do most things together. He lets me sleep all day if needed, not once telling me I should be more productive. It’s in these moments that I know he was the best decision I’ve ever made. I wouldn’t want to have anyone else by my side on this new journey.

Looking forward to next week’s update after our first ultrasound!

B.