Hi Balanced Beauties!
I am SO excited (and frankly relieved) to finally share that I am pregnant (again) with baby GIRL number two! At the moment, I am 14 weeks and going full steam ahead into the second trimester (I can now breathe just a little more). I’ve been asked SO many questions regarding this pregnancy and I wanted to create a post where these question can all be answered. I feel like I have so much more to share, one being that this is my second pregnancy, but also navigating this pregnancy with a ten month old (woof, exhaustion has upgraded to a whole new level!).
I would like to start by saying regardless of the raw, truth and honest feelings I am going to share with you, I know that I am so lucky and blessed to be pregnant again with another baby. I realize that getting pregnant and having babies is so different for everyone, and each journey is so incredibly unique. Everyone on this journey has stories to tell and I am sure no two stories are the same in this department. No matter what journey you are on, or story you have, I hear you and I am with you. Getting pregnant, pregnancy, and having babies is not always easy or simple, which is why I first wanted to start out by saying that I am with anyone who is on this journey or currently going through it.
Here is my personal story about pregnancy number two!
This first trimester has been so much harder when comparing to my experience with Brooklyn. Although I was so sick with Brooklyn, I was able to focus more on taking better care of myself, listening to my body, and rest during my down time. However, now that I have a little one to look after, the symptoms that I was able to power through last pregnancy have had a stronger impact this time. The nausea, vomiting and exhaustion have become a challenge for me. When Brooklyn goes down for a nap, I literally fall asleep ANYWHERE and everywhere in my house, lol. I am talking within two minutes, I’m counting sheep and floating in the clouds (mind you, I am not a person who usually naps). My energy level was definitely at a higher level when I was pregnant with Brooklyn, which is to be assumed. I am also so thankful to have my husband working remote during this first trimester, which was a big help when I was extremely sick, even if it was just for ten minutes to hand the baby over while I threw up or had to regroup in any way.
A new emotion that I have felt during this second pregnancy is little more guilt. I hear this is fairly common when you have two children so close in age. I realize that I am so blessed to have this healthy baby growing inside of me, but it is hard to put the same thought and attention to this pregnancy when my days are so consumed with taking care of Brooklyn. I think by this point when I was pregnant with Brooklyn, we had a name picked out, we were starting the nursery, and in general, felt so ahead of the game. In a way, it has been a blessing in disguise because it is making the time fly by. This just means it’s that much sooner until I get to meet this sweet baby girl!
Ok, so once I get started on here, I could write all day. Instead, I will take all of the questions asked via instagram and answer them all below 🙂
Q+A Questions From Instagram:
Do you have cravings?
Yes! This pregnancy my cravings were meat and anything with cream cheese. Now all of sudden I am starting to want all of the oranges possible. I find this funny because prior to my pregnancy with Brooklyn, I hadn’t eaten meat for four years. Once I found out I was pregnant with Brooklyn, my body literally craved it, and hasn’t changed since. I think I aim for salty foods.
On the flip side, I want nothing to do with chocolate. This can work in my favor since I ate chocolate everyday before I was pregnant.
How many kids do you & Christian want?
We always said 3 or 4, God willing. We both love kids and big families. Christian is the oldest of 5 and I grew up with two sisters. On top of that, my dad is one of 10. Let’s just say we both grew up with big and close families, with a lot of babies!
How did you find out you were pregnant?
Two days before my missed period I decided to take a pregnancy test. It was so early and such a light positive. Of course I took a test every single day for a week after and they started to get darker and darker. I get very sick, very fast during my pregnancies, which led me to take the pregnancy test.
Were you nauseous?
Extremely. I don’t take anything to subside my nausea because I am skeptical about putting anything new in my body, but I probably should talk to my doctor about other options. I throw up just as much as I did with Brooklyn.
Things that help me battle nausea: eating consistent small meals (avoid an empty stomach), avoid coffee, avoid chocolate, avoid heavy meals, avoid anything spicy, use sea band bracelets all day, bubble gum, sucking candy, bite into a lemon, smell lemon, don’t drink water while you are eating, cold water with ice is better than room temp water, bone broth soup, english muffins, crackers, bagels, small snacks, etc.
How do you manage exhaustion?
This one was hard, especially with a 10 month old. During most of the first trimester, when Brooklyn would go down for her nap, I would literally find any place I could, take the monitor, and go to sleep for her whole nap. I took advantage of any sort of down time and wasn’t afraid to ask for help this time around. Since COVID started, Christian’s job affords him the ability to work from home, so 95 percent of the time his office door is shut. However during his lunch break, he would help me so much. Just taking the baby to let me shower, sleep, eat, do whatever I had to do in that moment to feel better, I did it!
Also, believe it or not, moving and staying active as possible has helped me battle both nausea and exhaustion. Once I get myself out the door to go for a walk with Brooklyn, or get a quick workout in the morning, I feel better. Moving my body and getting my circulation flowing helps me tremendously, but I’ll be the first to that getting there is tough. Remember to always give yourself grace because if you have symptoms similar to mine, I understand just trying to survive that first trimester. It is hard without babies and even harder with babies! Do what makes you feel good to get through <3
Was this planned?
Christian and I always wanted babies close in age. We knew once Brooklyn turns one in February, we would’ve liked to be pregnant. Since I am still nursing, we decided to try a few months earlier, assuming it would probably take us a little longer (due to factors such as; still nursing and my hormones are probably still in baby mode). Welp, first shot and I was preggers. If you have your period back and you are still nursing, it is very, very possible to still get pregnant, and get pregnant quickly. I am still nursing Brooklyn but plan to stop a little after a year old so that she is weaned by the time baby girl number two comes into the world! So to answer your question, it wasn’t “not” planned, but we did not think it was going to happen as quickly as it did. We are so happy and thankful that it did though <3 It’s nice to think about how Brooklyn and baby girl will only be a year and a half a part.
Do you have a name picked out?
Actually, not really. We have 4 girl names we like a lot. It’s crazy because we knew Brooklyn would be Brooklyn before we even started trying for baby number one. We were going to name our baby Brooklyn regardless if it was a girl or boy. I am so happy it was a girl though!
Baby girl is totally nameless right now and I feel so bad referring to it as “baby” or “this baby” or just “baby girl” in our house. We need a name!!! Help!!!
How do you manage/balance taking care of Brooklyn while pregnant?
Again, I do the best I can with the situation I am in. I take full advantage when Brooklyn naps, my hubby worked from home my whole first trimester, which I am not sure how I would’ve made it without him because I barely made it with him! I didn’t worry about the laundry, cleaning, organizing as much. I gave myself some serious grace for the first 12 weeks because I needed every minute I could even get to just rest, close my eyes, stuff my face so I didn’t throw up. All the sexy things that come with pregnancy 🙂 If you are one of those people that do not get any of these symptoms (and I know plenty) that is truly a serious gift!
Do you get anxious during the first 12 weeks, and if so, how do you cope?
Absolutely. In the beginning of this pregancy, I had 3 Ultrasounds. 5 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks. I had extreme pain in my lower abdomen like I did with Brooklyn, which ended up being my fibroid that never went away since B. I could’ve sworn that I might’ve been having a miscarriage with the amount of pain I was feeling, so I am not sure I was able to fully exhale for weeks with these thoughts lingering in my mind. I was also very anxious with Brooklyn too in the first trimester. I would literally think about the way I slept, or even walking too much. This all went away for the second pregnancy, only because I am so distracted and I have a baby to take care of. I think the more you are aware of how beautiful, yet complicated, pregnancies are, it is only natural to feel some form of anxiety.
Here is how I TRY to cope: First, I remind myself that women do this everyday. All over the world, there are women in your exact shoes, in that first trimester, feeling the exact same way as you. If you are anxious or worried about your pregnancy, you are already a GREAT mom. You are protecting your sweet baby and want the best for them, which in my opinion is just a really good mom in the making. In the same breath, I remind myself that worrying is no good for the baby or for me. So I try to feed myself constant positivity. You were made for this. Trust your body. Go for walks. Get fresh air. If there is nothing that is drawing your concerns, you have nothing to truly worry about. Avoid google. Avoid getting caught up in stories on social media. This is your story and your journey, nobody else’s. Pregnancy is such a beautiful miracle, but absolutely terrifying. But again, remind yourself that your body was created to create life & that is a beautiful thing. <3 You got this and hang in there! The first trimester is just something you need to get through and that is ok to have your good days and bad days (let me tell you, those hormones are not usually on our side either).
Are you still nursing/breastfeeding?
I sure am! This is one of the reasons that this pregnancy could also be feeling a little harder for me than with Brooklyn. Since breastfeeding always made me a little tired, I feel like this is also having a huge impact on my energy levels during this pregnancy. I feel like I am extra hungry and thirsty because I am giving one child (Brooklyn) so much nutrients from nursing, all while feeding baby girl number too in my belly with any nutrients that is even left to give! Our bodies are incredible!!! However, I definitely feel the impact physically, which has been taking a toll. Brooklyn will be one in a few months (so bittersweet), and that’s when I will wean her away from breastfeeding. Hopefully this will kickstart the homestretch of my pregnancy and enable me to finish with a bit more energy and feeling a little better physically.
I want to be able to have all the energy in the world to give to Brooklyn and do as many things/make as many memories as possible before her baby sis arrives.
Did you and Christian want a boy or girl?
We were going to be so happy regardless if baby Reed was a girl or boy. I think after the first baby, we aimed for a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby over any gender.
If we were both going to choose, we wanted Brooklyn to have a best friend for life so close in age for her sake. We also have all of her clothes (half that we didn’t use or touch), which will be SO helpful as you mamas know. We can’t be more thrilled that we will have two baby girls! I grew up with only sisters, and I was praying for Brooklyn to get a sister one day. I could not imagine my life without mine. Sisters are truly built in best friends <3
Christian is beyond pumped to be a girl dad. He kept bringing up how if this was a boy, he would have to learn how to be a boy dad. He loves having girls and it warms my heart since is the BIGGEST dude, who loves all things sports.
Thank you so much for all of the love and support. I am so happy to have met some wonderful mama friends and new friends via instagram. I can’t say this enough, but connecting with each of you has been so much fun. I will be blogging through the duration of my pregnancy similar to how I did with Brooklyn. I will keep you updated on all pregnancy stages as we go!
I hope everyone had a healthy and happy holiday. Who is ready for 2021?!
Have a HAPPY and balanced New Year<3
With love always,
Sammie Reed
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