“I’m just so tired and my feet are swollen” was literally my signature line through my third trimester.

The good news is that I was now starting to feel less lonely and depressed, I was interacting with more people like my normal self would but I was suddenly forgetting where everything was. My body was now starting to stretch, I had a cute round belly and I just felt heavy. I became a night owl and ice cream was my best friend. I felt baby kick more often but I couldn’t tell the difference between the hiccuping and kicks because well I am a first time mother it all just felt the same to me. Can I just say though that even though it’s my first time, I think(I stand to be corrected) that winter pregnancies are probably way more fun. In summer you sweat like crazy,your feet are forever swollen and you feel the heat twice as much while having to deal with heartburn, I mean that is alot for one human being to take.

Now I don’t know if I am the only who’s actually had to experience this but I spotted once every week from week 20 right to the very last week of my pregnancy. According to research this was not supposed to happen but it was and no one seemed to be able to explain to me why it was happening and how to stop it,they’d just say it’s either stress or my sex position which made no sense to me. In week 36 when I went for my normal check up I was suddenly told I have an infection and was immediately referred to the hospital for tests to be done, my bleeding/spotting was now a huge concern. So I went to the hospital and the tests were done then it was found that baby’s heartbeat wasn’t normal so I had to be admitted and they got me ready for delivery. Now you can imagine how frustrated I was , I mean I was only due to give birth in 4weeks time and although I was ready physically I just wasn’t mentally and emotionally to go into labour as yet. After a few hours of being in the hospital bed the nurse came and told me my labour would now be induced since my water did not break but the doctor wanted to check baby’s heartbeat one last time.

I am so grateful that the doctor wanted to check one more time because she found that everything was fine and she discharged me right there and then at 10pm, I was given antibiotics and life continued as per usual.

How was your third trimester?

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I dont know, maybe I’m the only one who feels like this but being a first time mom to be I really struggled feeling or even noticing baby’s kicks.

According to the internet and the GP, one should be able to feel baby move or feel the first kick around week 18, it is apparently easier to feel it if it is not your first pregnancy because well you’ve been there before and you know how it feels.

I, for one only felt my baby kick only in week 21 and it happened quite a few times before I actually noticed it. I remember one morning I was busy with the normal house chores and I kept feeling this strange thing in my stomach it was as though I had alot of gas so I would keep going to the restroom but nothing was happening. This continued for quite some time but now it was starting to feel like bubbles were being popped in my stomach, LOL, strange.I know, but that the best way I can describe how it felt. It was only then that I realized that this could actually be my baby moving , so I called a friend of mine who was a few weeks ahead of me and she confirmed it.

Now, being that this is my.first time experiencing all of this I couldnt control the joy I was filled with, all I could do was cry really. It was just so beautiful and because I couldn’t really share this joy with anyone because for the first few weeks only you can feel the baby’s movement I just embraced the moment and every kick would have me stop whatever I was doing to listen and appreciate this beautiful gift.

One thing I can say I noticed is that, just as we are different beings so are our babies that we each carry. Some will be so acti e abd playful that everyone will be able to notice and share in excitement with you way earlier than some who are not so active. Some, like mine, will even be quite when people want to play with them even your partner may struggle to join in the fun with you but talking,singing and reading to the baby helps them recognise you.

How was your first experience?

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