We found out we were pregnant in January 2020, before we knew how much the world was about to change around us. Dan and I were fortunate enough to have a very easy conception. I’ll never forget the gratitude I felt looking down at that positive test result, meanwhile friends all around me were struggling. Truly I was in shock seeing that positive test result. In my mind getting pregnant was going to take months! I thank God, every day for that blessing. 

            The FIRST TRIMESTER, like any normal pregnancy, filled with many food aversions/cravings (pickles and alcohol-free Rosé was my favorite treat), nausea, mild vomiting, excitement, fear of the unknown and a To Do list a mile long. I started out strong working out every day trying to do my best to prepare my body for birth, but as any mother knows it started to trail off once that exhaustion kicked in. Towards the end of my first trimester COVID hit hard and everything around us was on lockdown. Stationed in Germany the restrictions were intense in Europe. At first it was all fun and games, having my husband home all the time felt like a blast! But then of course we all started to feel the isolation and my pregnancy hormones really started to make it feel even more stressful and depressing. It started to sink in that I wouldn’t be able to fly home for a baby shower like I had planned, my friends and family would never see me pregnant, and I would be giving birth in a foreign country all alone. 

            The SECOND TRIMESTER, this is when I really started to hit my stride and LOVE being pregnant. My body was feeling great, the baby was growing strong, and still zero complications. I got my energy back and my workouts started to kick back up. I was following the usual prenatal workouts including lots of squats, Pure Barre, Pilates, prenatal Yoga and walking. During every appointment, my OB would kindly answer my neurotic questions and laugh at me when I would share my anxiety of birth. She reassured me I had NOTHING to worry about and was confident this would be a very easy delivery for my body even though Jackson’s head was starting to measure slightly big. I mean I’ve joked my entire life that my wide “birthing hips” had to be good for something. It was time for them to shine! 

            The THIRD TRIMESTER, also known as the home stretch, felt like the longest 3 moths of my entire life. At this point we just got orders to PCS (permanent change of station) to South Korea, which initially we were scheduled to receive back in May, however due to COVID everyone’s movement cycle was pushed back.

             In the meantime, our wonderful friend and neighbor hosted a baby shower for us on August 8, 2020. Of course, that wasn’t without drama when Dan got sick (not with COVID, just a man cold). Trying to navigate how we would still safely social distance outside with everyone and do a ZOOM call with friends and family all over the world set my hormones on a roller coaster ride. It ended up being an amazing COVID shower, and a day I’ll never forget. 

            Soon after, my first hurdle in pregnancy hit. I started experiencing extreme back pain to the point where I couldn’t walk. Taking Tylenol wasn’t doing anything, so I ended up scheduling an appointment to see my OB. She wanted to admit me for observation and care. Reluctantly, my husband and I agreed. I stayed in the hospital for 2 days. None of the doctors could figure out what was wrong with me and all they did was give me Tylenol, so I asked to leave and got a referral for PT. If I was going to be miserable the rest of my pregnancy I at least wanted to do in the comfort of my own home. Luckily after a couple of sessions with my PT, I was able to walk again. It was a miracle! Jackson was basically sitting on a nerve and all they had to do was readjust his positioning and my alignment. 

Please do not be afraid to ask for the medical care you deserve.

DO NOT suffer in silence during pregnancy and postpartum.

I’m forever grateful to my PT for working with me up to my birth and allowing me to walk my last 2 ½ months.