Pregnancy / Baby

 

Time to document my pregnancy experience!!

I found out I was pregnant on Wednesday, September 14th 2022. I decided to take a dollar store pregnancy test on my lunch break because I was a couple days late for my period. I wasn't expecting a positive but I just felt like taking a test that day for some reason. I remember seeing the most faint double line and my heart started racing and I had butterflies in my stomach. The first thing I did was text my friend Alyx who has had multiple babies and as my lifelong friend she was the perfect person to message. I cannot keep anything to myself so I had to tell SOMEONE! If I was truly pregnant I wanted to be able to surprise Ryan somehow.

After taking an expensive test from Walgreens I knew I had to tell Ryan when he got home from work. I bought a little bucket from Target and put the positive test inside and covered it with gift tissue paper. He was NOT expecting me to be pregnant at that point. He distractedly unwrapped the gift and could not believe what was inside. We hugged and had a moment together! We were both soooooo happy and excited.  

We waited a few days to tell our parents. Again, I am not good at keeping my own news to myself. We face-timed each of them and had so much fun announcing it to everyone. We each called our close friends to tell them as well! I told my best coworker friend the morning after I found out and that was so fun. I wasn't even able to wait long before I told my boss too. 

After a couple weeks I started getting that first trimester sickness. I had several really awful hormonal migraines and I threw up a lot. I was trying to eat like normal for awhile but I realized I was only making things worse for myself and I resorted to eating crackers and apple sauce much of the time. My in-laws came to town and my mother-in-law got me simple foods to snack on and helped me navigate how to handle the first trimester sickness I was experiencing. I was so sick I had to stay home while they all went to Alcatraz. The night before we had all gone to a Giants game and I spent the majority of it puking in the public restroom. I will never forget that night because it was so miserable. 

We went to Utah and got to announce our pregnancy to the rest of our family and that was super fun. 

As a bonus thought I have to add that my dad's reaction to me being pregnant was my very favorite reaction. He teared up and got emotional and it was the sweetest thing. My friends Lauren and Danielle had my second favorite reaction, as they freaked out in unison and it was the best. :) 

Ryan and I dressed as emo for Halloween and we announced our pregnancy to his whole family at the party.

We found out we were having a BOY via blood test. It took me some time to adjust my brain to the idea of having a boy. I always thought I'd have a girl first. Ryan was SOOOOO elated. I got there eventually too! 

We did a gender reveal with our families by having them throw darts at paint balloons. It was messy. 

Pregnancy got more fun when I stopped feeling sick and my stomach started growing a little bit! I thought I looked so pregnant when I really, really didn't. 

Looking back at the photos makes me laugh.

Thinking I needed to cover my bump lol

Then in January Ryan and I went to Mexico with his sis and brother-in-law. It was an absolute blast and my sis-in-law took some pregnancy announcement photos for us there. 

As someone who usually feels very self-conscious in a swimsuit, I felt totally confident at the beach and pool while pregnant. Something about being pregnant in the second trimester made me feel better about my body. That did NOT last through the third trimester though! 

I had a baby shower in Utah thrown by mom, my sis-in-law, mom-in-law, and step-mom. 

It was so cute and fun and I loved every second!!!

We also celebrated Ryan's 30th birthday at this time!

Cravings:

My biggest pregnancy cravings were avocado toast with a fried egg and iced coffee/diet coke. The coffee and diet coke thing killed me because CAFFEINE. I felt so guilty but I wanted it EVERY DAY. I kept my caffeine within the recommended limits of 1 cup a day but yes, I drank caffeine. The craving died immediately after River was born. I still like those things but it's not the same craving as before.

Then came the third trimester...

Weight gain, swollen feet, having to pee every 5 minutes, heart burn, etc.

It was around this time that I somewhat became checked out. It was hard for me to care what I looked like and I stopped wanting to know how much I weighed. I would dread stepping on the scale at doctor appointments. 

My work gave me another baby shower and it was so thoughtful and just beyond. 

The longer my pregnancy went on, the more weight I gained, and the more swollen my feet got. I went past my due date and spent all my time either sleeping or walking around. 

Throughout my entire pregnancy I had a high level of anxiety. I was worried about miscarriage and every other thing that could possibly go wrong. I worried that he would be unhealthy and that it would be my fault. 

He ended up being born 10 days after his due date. He was perfectly healthy and I realized all my worry was for nothing. Even though bad or hard things can happen at any time, I can't control any of it by worrying in advance. 

I was also terrified of giving birth. I didn't want to do it. And here I am; I did it. 

I feel peace now even though I still don't know what the future holds.

I had friends and family who supported me throughout my whole pregnancy. I am very grateful for that! I am lucky to have women in my life who uplift and inspire me. 

My baby River Emery Ryan Romero

Born June 2023

2:52 PM

8 lbs 9 0z

21 inches long

Perfection

I don't want to go into my whole birth story here, but I do want to say that Ryan was the best birth partner I could have possibly imagined having. He was the sweetest, most supportive, most helpful husband and I am so happy he was by my side. He held my hand the whole time and gave me strength when I needed it most.

My mom was also present at the birth to help support through the whole experience, and we had our other parents waiting close by. I also felt incredibly supported by the nurses and midwives that helped deliver River.