I'M PREGNANT! — How I Knew and My Early Pregnancy Symptoms

Frank and I have been married for almost 3 years, but we’ve just tried to have a baby for more than a year now. Yes, it’s kind of a long time to try to conceive but I will be discussing the reasons on my next blog.

Anyway, back to the exciting news! I am now 12 weeks pregnant (as of this writing). My last menstrual period started on February 17, 2018, hence we will call this day, CD1 (or cycle day 1). I am tracking my period ever since we’re trying with the help of a mobile app called Ovia. For more than a year, the app is telling me when should I start taking pregnancy tests and ever since, all of them were negative. Yes, there were days when I doubt my capability to conceive, days I cry to Frank when my period starts, and days I already consider other fertility options like IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) or IVF (In Vitro Fertilization).

In spite of this, on my last menstrual period, I start noticing something new happening on my body. Based on my previous cycles, my only symptom of ovulation is nipple soreness (ALWAYS!), never did my breasts feel different (ONLY NIPPLES). But starting CD17, my breasts feel fuller and they’re very sensitive. I thought maybe it is also a sign of ovulation so I tested with an ovulation kit I’ve bought from Lazada. It turned out positive, and I feel different this cycle and I don’t know why. I’ve also been tracking my Basal Body Temperature (BBT). Even my temperature is confirming the ovulation, but the temperature has to maintain high if we’ve succeeded this cycle.
Days passed by, still I have tender breasts and high BBT. I am hoping and anxious but I don’t want to keep my hopes high and end up crying again when Aunt Flo (period) arrives.
CD28 (March 17, 2018) — Ovia is telling me to take a pregnancy test. I didn’t tell Frank I will be testing so I wouldn’t get his hopes up and if it turns out negative, I wouldn’t see his disappointed face. Soooo, the morning came. I am very very nervous but still I say to myself not to expect so much because it might turn out the same as the previous cycles. While waiting for the prescribed waiting time indicated on the pregnancy kit, I prayed over and over that may God trust me with one of His children. After 3 minutes, I noticed a very very very faint test line. And by very very very faint, I meant the faintest line you could ever imagine. I thought to myself, am I seeing something that’s not really there? I really cannot confirm the result which made me even more anxious but there’s a big part of me that’s saying “I AM PREGNANT AND I KNOW IT!!!”. I decided not to tell anyone what happened and I will try again the next day.
CD29 (March 18, 2018) — I tried testing again the moment I woke up. This time, the test line is much visible. I couldn’t contain my emotions. I am happy, nervous, excited, worried, and all other emotions at the same time. I thought I shouldn’t tell Frank at first, but I will burst if I won’t. I immediately woke him up and showed him the pregnancy test. He was speechless. I was speechless. We both stared at the test and just hug each other with a lot of words we cannot utter.

CD30 (March 19, 2018) — I immediately visited my OB/GYN. She instructed me to take folic acid to prepare my body for the pregnancy, and she discussed the do’s and don’ts. However, she didn’t still say that I am already pregnant because I still have to undergo a transvaginal ultrasound to see if the pregnancy is viable. The only problem is I won’t be having this ultrasound until April 2. What a long time to wait and get worried if this pregnancy will push through?
CD31 (March 20, 2018) — I decided to take a pregnancy test every day to see if my HCG go up since my last test line was still lighter than the control line.

CD32 (March 21, 2018)

CD34 (March 23, 2018)

CD35 (March 25, 2018) — Finally! The darkest test line I got!

CD44 (April 2, 2018) — I was very worried because there’s a lot of possible problems I can think of, like ectopic pregnancy, blighted ovum, etc. Good thing the ultrasound eliminated the possibility of ectopic pregnancy as the gestational sac showed inside my uterus. However, the possibility of blighted ovum is still there because there are still no yolk sac and no embryo that can be seen. The doctor said it could still be early that’s why it didn’t show so I am up for a repeat ultrasound the following week.

CD45-CD51 — Early pregnancy symptoms like heightened sense of smell and gas have started.
CD52 (April 10, 2018) — BABY SHOWED UP!!! He is 7 weeks old with a normal heartbeat of 123 bpm. He is just 0.93cm (SO SMALL!). Finally, it’s confirmed… I AM PREGNANT!

I know this is a very wonderful opportunity and I thank God for trusting me with one of His children. We’ve been waiting for this a long time and words aren’t enough to express how grateful I am to experience this.
It won’t be easy, I know. But I am willing to feel all the pain, experience all the changes and sacrifice a lot of things for this baby.
Starting today, I will be documenting this wonderful journey in this blog. So if you want to join me, please subscribe to my newsletter so that I’ll notify you once I have an update.
Until next time…