Pregnancy #2: First Trimester Experience

Woooo here we go again!

Baby Occkial #2 is coming early December ’24!!!

I’m so beyond grateful to be experiencing a 2nd pregnancy. This has been a long journey for me (almost a decade!) of improving my hormones after amenorrhea, adrenal dysfunction & hypothyroidism.

It took us almost 3 years to get pregnant with Natalie. I got my first cycle back this past Oct ‘23, so I started testing my hormones & trying the following month. 5 months later, we’re here!

There’s been many things I’ve done to support my hormones & fertility, but one thing that really helped was using DATA. I used Mira fertility devices & wands when conceiving Natalie & then this time too. It made a huge difference knowing when I ovulate & to have accurate data about my body!

It’s also crazy to think about God’s timing – how we lost our house in Aug but got a newer, bigger home in October – with the perfect space (and spare room) for this baby. His timing is always perfect. 

We’re SO EXCITED, blessed & just so happy to have this opportunity!

Quick Facts:

I took a test April 6 after being a week late. 

We had our first midwife appt May 1 & confirmed a healthy growing baby at almost 9 weeks.

Our due date is December 9, but my gut tells me it will be earlier than that! 

Yes we will find out gender at 20 week anatomy scan. No preference, just a healthy babe 🙂

Our plan is to do another homebirth with our midwife & doula team. We had such an amazing experience last time, Id love to repeat that!!

Something else cool: I’m still nursing Natalie! At 10 weeks along, she is 21 months, we are still going! Supply has decreased a ton over the past few months anyways, but morning & night she still asks for it, so I’m going with it until supply stops or she says no. Amazing how the human body can keep me alive, grow a baby AND still give her nutrients.

My pregnancy so far:

Overall I’m feeling great! I always kept a positive mindset last time, and continue now. 

I’ve definitely been more tired this go around, but it’s not terrible fatigue. I’m still able to go through the day with good energy, but there’s been many days when I’m plain exhausted in the evenings lol

At 7 weeks I felt some light nausea & digestive changes. I’d be hungry but stomach felt unsettled & didnt want to eat much. That subsided and then this past week I’ve been hungry almost all day long LOL. It’s been a wild ride with things changing daily!

No true food aversions, but my normal sweet tooth is almost non existent! If I want something, I’ll go for fruit but mostly savory healthy snacks like popcorn, cauliflower crackers, chickpea puffs etc. 

I had that for a period with Natalie too; but zero morning sickness, nausea etc with her-it was amazing. 

Besides some digestive changes & the tiredness, there’s been no real other changes. I’m doing my normal routine every day – getting up & working out, doing client work before Natalie wakes up. Some days I’m not “motivated” but I always show up for myself and every time, I get energized, feel accomplished & happy I did.

The fatigue finally started to dissipate around week 11 – I get tired, but feeling more like myself!

Exercise has stayed the same, until I feel the need to modify. In fact, I feel stronger in some exercises (thanks high levels of hormones!) So that’s fun to lift MORE than I did before.

My workouts are focused on strength, cardio, LOTS more core, and nightly stretching & mobility (Natalie does it with me)

Throughout this process, I will continue to stay positive and strong, both physically and mentally, for my health but also our growing baby!

THANK YOU if you made it this far & all of your support!