Week 4
The line on the test is weak, but it’s there. I break the news to Adrian and he reacts like me: more apprehensive than excited. We have lost our last two pregnancies quite early on and don’t want to get our hopes up. I don’t think we could go through another miscarriage.
Week 5
I’m thrilled when I start to feel nauseas at my work Christmas party. This didn’t happen with the last two and I figure it’s a good sign the hormones have kicked in. We still don’t give this baby a nickname; we don’t want to jinx it. We tell immediate family but swear them to secrecy for the moment.
Week 6
My tummy is already expanding (I figure it must be extra fluids) and my boss guesses that I’m pregnant and spills the beans to a few colleagues. I’m worried about people knowing, just in case it goes wrong again, but I’m feeling so sick I’m starting to feel more confident. I collapse into bed at the end of each workday; I’ve never felt so tired. Adrian has to wake me for dinner. All I can stomach is steamed vegies and a few spoonfuls of ice cream. The ice cream seems to help the nausea - for a few minutes anyway.
Week 7
Off to Meredith Music Festival! I discover that festivals aren’t as fun without alcohol, but it’s nice to have an excuse to go to bed early. It’s easy to disguise my lack of drinking with a stubby holder… although I’m annoyed in the morning that my nausea closely resembles a hangover!
Week 8
Nearly Christmas and I’m looking forward to having a break from work and all the Chrissy functions. I’m getting sick of saying no to champagne and yummy cheeses. It’s a busy time at work and I’m really struggling to stay on top of everything. Normally I’d drink coffee to keep me focused, but the thought of coffee repulses me, so I stick with milky tea.
Week 9
Christmas! Christmas day is exhausting. We have to go to three different family functions all over town and I just don’t have the stamina I used to. I also struggle to eat the mountains of rich food. All I’m craving is healthy vegetables. I fall into bed at 10pm, swearing that next year we are only doing one thing. Adrian points out that with a baby it will probably be worse.
Week 10
We head down to the beach for the annual family get-together. I struggle to enjoy myself as much as usual; it’s really hard not drinking and eating soft cheese, the two main things I normally do at the beach house. I’m still feeling the nausea and am a bit more emotional than usual. New Years Eve is even more of a struggle. I’m counting down the hours until midnight so I can go to bed. Luckily there are two other pregnant friends to keep me company. We get stuck into the cake and sneak off to bed after wishing everyone a happy new year.
Week 11
Back to work – at least it’s quiet. My 34th birthday is on Thursday and I go out with a few friends to Moonlight Cinema. I’ve told most of my close friends now, and they are all really excited. My nausea has nearly gone now and I can actually enjoy myself.
On Sunday we go to a rally at the closing down of our favourite pub, The Tote. I’m devastated it’s closing; Adrian and I see bands there all the time, and it’s where we had our first kiss.
Week 12
Finally - 12 week scan time! I’m still certain that something will be wrong, but up there on the screen is a little baby, who looks healthy (and a bit like a tadpole!). It jumps around to impress us. After getting the all clear, we tell the few remaining people who don’t know we are pregnant. My grandfather is very excited!
Week 13
My friend and I go maternity clothes shopping. I’m a bit dismayed by the range available – and the extreme prices. I buy a pair of jeans and a dress, and decide to try to make-do with my normal clothes for a while using a belly belt.
An extreme heatwave makes me seriously reconsider our apartment – which is tiny and lacks air conditioning. Our place is too small for a baby anyway, so why postpone the inevitable?
