Remembering Pregnancies

Being pregnant is something else I tell ya. 

You're body is able to grow a human!

 and you feel that tiny little human grow and move around during those 9 months of development. Just magical. 

All three of my pregnancies were different, not drastically but still unique. 

With Calvin, which was over 4 years ago, I was shocked and excited all at the same time. I didn't expect to get pregnant within the first month, it just all happened so fast. I was pretty nauseous with him, but I was working at a salon full time so that helped distract me mostly but I would have waves of questioning if I really needed to run to the bathroom while washing a clients hair or if it will pass. Besides that, everything else seemed to be pretty chill. I never got super big. The only aches and pains were my back from leaning over washing hair and standing on my feet a lot. I never got any weird cravings just always wanted fruit. I couldn't get enough peaches this pregnancy. I also could NOT eat the top crust of a sandwich. something about the texture? not sure but to this day I still have a hard time eating the crust sometimes ha ha.Towards the end I got pretty antsy mostly excited to meet him because at my 35 week apt I was already dilated to a 2 and 80% effaced. I was told to "take it easy" to prevent things happening sooner because I could be at that state for a few weeks or I could progress quicker. Well I had just stopped working at the salon at that point and hung out at home and took it easy so I thought. Come my 36 week apt I was dilated to a 3 and 100% effaced. Dr wasn't too thrilled but there was no stopping anything at this point, and it was just a waiting game from then on if I had that baby that day or  a few days later. The anticipation killed me. But Calvin must have known I was excited to meet him because my water broke later that night! He came quick after a 6 hr labor.

When we felt it was right to add another member to our family, we did not know what was in store for us. I had no problem getting pregnant that first time so quickly so this should be pretty easy right? WRONG. We tried for almost 2 years before I was blessed with this angel baby. It was the hardest and longest time of our lives. SO much happened during that time of trying and hurting with each negative test. Once I started meeting with the Dr about fertility we were moving in the direction of clomid. I had a slight hormone imbalance and went on medication for 30 days to see if that would regulate it. It did, but I still didn't get pregnant. That apt I had after that month to start clomid if I was still not pregnant was just shy a few days of me being able to start the process that month, so we had to wait until the following month for my next cycle. With prescription in hand, a few days before I went to fill it, I got that beautiful positive pregnancy test! With this pregnancy I was noticeably more nauseous than I was with Calvin. I actually got sick a few times also which never happened before. I couldn't eat eggs or yogurt, oh those made me sick to my stomach. I couldn't eat a lot at each meal, I would feel starving and think I wanted to pound a bunch of food but then I would take about 5 bites and be too full. I had lots of protein shakes because I knew I at least got some good nutrition on those days I felt awful. I never had much cravings this time around, mostly because I didn't feel super great off and on so I would just go through waves of something sounding good and eating it for a few days. With this pregnancy towards the end I found out I had SPD (symphisis pubic dysfunction). If you've had it, I'm sorry it sucks. It hurts putting pants on, turning over in bed, going up stairs you name it. That was my main struggle towards the end that made me want to just be done. All while I was trying to be positive and stay grateful for the fact that I was still pregnant with this baby that I wanted for so long. OH. Also, since Calvin was 3 wks early and in the NICU for 2 wks they wanted to watch me closely with this pregnancy to look for any preterm labor signs. So once I hit 28 wks went to a specialist 2 times a week for NST (non-stress tests) monitoring the baby's heart rate, watching for any contractions, and checking the amniotic fluid levels. It was SO fun to see my little girl twice a week in the ultrasound, but got so old driving to Corona from Tustin that many times a week. So nothing exciting happened early on like it did with Calvin. but at almost 37 wks I was dilated barely to a 1 but no effacement. A few days before 38 wks I was almost a 3 and 20% effaced. things moved SO slow this time. but I was ready, so I asked the Dr. to strip my membranes to get things really going. this was Christmas Eve mind you. 2 days later she finally came with the longest 12 hr labor. Partially because I tested positive for Group B strep and had to have 2 doses of antibiotics before they broke my water. 

This last pregnancy with Harrison was a complete shock. Like I literally cried for a week in disbelief, denial and fear of having two babies so close. My recovery with Andie was long and hard and I was finally feeling better at this point except all of a sudden I felt EXTREMELY tired all the time. I mean I did have a 4(or 5?) month old. I cant even remember how old Andie was when I found out. ha! After about a month of it setting in I started to get excited about this little gift and blessing in my belly from heaven. Besides being beyond exhausted, I felt great! I didn't hardly feel nauseous, just a slight uneasy stomach was all. No weird cravings this time either. Just random things like I would want gardettos to snack on and sour patch straws for a few days. but then I was over it. As far as aches and pains, they started a bit sooner than before. I decided to finally go to the chiropractor to help relieve my back pain. I didn't have the SPD hip pain like I did before so early on. The chiropractor was a huge lifesaver! I did get the SPD pain in the end, and when I had that pubic bone adjusted holy mother that was pain like no other. I could hardly walk at some points the pain was so bad. Needless to say I was so done with pregnancy and all the aches because it was hard to keep up with the kids, mainly carrying Andie up and down the stairs now that we are at my parents house. At my 34 week apt the Dr mentioned him measuring a little big, but not to worry. We set up an ultrasound to make sure he was head down and also check his weight at my 36 week apt. I about died when I looked up on that screen and they were saying he was measuring about 7 lbs 3 oz. ALREADY at 36 wks? that's what Andie was at 38 wks. My Dr said yup hes a big boy and if you go to your due date you're lookin at a 9 pounder. what the what. How do I go from these tiny 6 and 7 lb babies to a 9?! lol. I was hoping that when she checked me, because of some contractions I was having quite often, I would have some sort of dilation so that he would come earlier than my due date but not too early. nothing. NOTHING. no dilation. no effacement. just a soft cervix. I left that apt preparing for this football player baby in my belly that most likely wouldn't come for another week or 2 I felt. Yet again I was proved wrong. 4 days after that apt I went into the fastest labor with him being born when I was 36 wks and 5 days. His birth story will be up soon! 

How crazy is it for me to look back at each pregnancy and remember how different they all were with the different trials and fun that came with each one. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity I have to be a mom to all these three beautiful children. (its still SO weird to say I have 3 kids) As challenging as this whole parenthood thing can be it is the most fun and rewarding job I've ever had. I'm also so grateful or the blessing of having healthy uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries. Bodies are amazing and I'm so proud of what my body has created no matter how stretched out and squishy it may be ;) 

XOxo