I am absolutely thrilled to finally share the deeply personal and incredibly exciting recap of my first trimester with you all! This has been an extraordinary journey, marking the very beginning of my first pregnancy, and it’s been an experience filled with surprises, challenges, and an overwhelming sense of joy. In this post, I’ll be opening up about how Daniel and I discovered our incredible news, the unexpected shifts in my diet, how my body and mind have been feeling, my ongoing navigation of Hashimoto’s disease during this crucial time, and so much more. It’s an honest look into the whirlwind that has been these past few months.

Yes, you read that right – my husband, Daniel, and I are joyfully expecting our very first baby, due in April 2020! As I write this, I am currently 13 weeks along, a milestone that brings tears to my eyes as I reflect on everything that has unfolded. The emotional intensity of this period has been profound; I’ve found myself crying quite a lot, both from sheer happiness and the natural overwhelm that comes with such a significant life change. Sharing this part of our journey, particularly through the often-unpredictable first trimester, feels incredibly special.

Before diving into the details, I want to share a few important disclaimers:

Please understand that my experiences shared here are purely personal. I am by no means a pregnancy expert, and my opinions are based solely on my individual journey. For any medical questions or concerns regarding your own pregnancy, always consult with your OBGYN or midwife. They are the best resource for personalized professional advice.
I am deeply aware that pregnancy and fertility can be a sensitive and challenging topic for many individuals, for a multitude of reasons. If reading pregnancy content is not healthy or supportive for your current emotional well-being, please prioritize yourself and feel absolutely free to skip this post and any future pregnancy-related updates from me. Your mental and emotional health comes first.
While this blog will occasionally feature updates on my personal life and health, it remains primarily a healthy food blog. It will not be transitioning into a dedicated pregnancy or “mommy” blog. My core content will continue to revolve around nourishing recipes and wellness insights.
I kindly ask for your gentleness and understanding as I navigate this new chapter. I am working closely with a trusted midwife who guides me through all my questions and concerns, and I am learning something new every single day. I certainly don’t claim to have all the answers, nor do I expect to be perfect. My blog reaches hundreds of thousands of readers, and my social media presence spans tens of thousands; receiving a vast array of advice can be incredibly overwhelming. I cherish the kindness and support of my readers, and I simply ask that you remember this is a tender, emotional, and very personal time for me.

Contents

My First Trimester Pregnancy Journey: A Candid Recap of Expectations, Challenges, and Joy

Our Unexpected Journey to Conception: The First Try Miracle

I honestly never imagined I would be saying these words, but we conceived on our very first attempt. The shock was immense, almost unbelievable. For over a decade, I’ve managed Hashimoto’s disease, navigating persistent hormone imbalances, gut issues, and various other health challenges. Given this history, I mentally prepared myself for a potentially long and arduous fertility journey, making our swift success even more astonishing.

Understanding My Body: Key Factors in Our Fertility Success

Reflecting on this unexpected blessing, I truly believe a few crucial elements significantly contributed to optimizing my fertility:

Deeply Understanding My Cycle: This was absolutely pivotal. Over the years, I cultivated an intimate understanding of my body’s natural rhythms, allowing me to track my cycle instinctively – often without needing external aids like temperature monitoring or ovulation strips. However, let me be explicitly clear: achieving this level of self-awareness took years of dedicated effort and observation. After stopping hormonal birth control at age 22, having been on it since 18, I embarked on a mission to learn how to track my natural cycle. This involved extensive reading about the subtle symptoms and signs, and meticulously observing how each phase of my cycle manifested within my unique body. It was a journey of patient self-discovery.
Holistic Diet & Lifestyle: My battle with Hashimoto’s and other hormonal disruptions meant I had experienced periods where my menstrual cycle disappeared entirely for months on end, on at least two occasions. Early in my marriage to Daniel, I was actively struggling with cycle loss due to these very issues, signaling underlying imbalances that desperately needed addressing to normalize my hormones. Years prior, I had undertaken a significant healing journey, detailed here, which included heavy metal detoxing and hormone rebalancing. This period was essentially a long-term “pregnancy prep” phase, requiring profound healing to reach a stable state of health. It was certainly not an overnight fix. Adopting and consistently maintaining the diet and lifestyle principles that I advocate for on this blog, in my ebooks, and my cookbook, alongside working with a supportive doctor, were instrumental in bringing my hormonal health under control. This consistent, long-term commitment to wellness laid a robust foundation for my body.

Despite becoming adept at recognizing my cycle’s signals, a part of me still hesitated to fully trust my intuition when it came to timing conception. So, in June, I decided to purchase ovulation strips, hoping to use them that month. Unfortunately, I didn’t use them correctly and missed our fertile window. The same pattern seemed to be unfolding in July until, one day, I looked at my husband and declared, “Whatever the strips say, I know my body. Today is the last day we can try this month.” That moment of trusting my internal compass proved to be the right one.

The Moment of Realization: How I Discovered I Was Pregnant

Given my initial disbelief that we could conceive on the first try, I was in complete denial when early pregnancy symptoms began to emerge. Approximately 2-3 days post-ovulation (DPO), I started experiencing truly bad insomnia and persistent night sweats. I attributed these to typical hormonal fluctuations, completely missing their true significance.

By 4-5 DPO, I felt an intense internal heat, prompting me to take my temperature around 9 AM. The reading of 99°F was significantly higher than my usual average – a massive red flag for pregnancy that I, again, dismissed, telling Daniel I must be coming down with something. Simultaneously, an inexplicable urge to super-nourish my body took hold. I found myself making homemade bone broth, consuming copious amounts of vegetables, and generally trying to “feel better,” though it wasn’t working. I mentally categorized all these unusual occurrences as either illness, PMS, or simply being “off.”

On August 6th, I went to the gym for my regular workout and was hit by an absolute wave of exhaustion, far more intense than anything I usually experienced. This made me deeply suspicious. I resolved to buy a pregnancy test the next day, but in a classic “Michelle” move, I got happily distracted by the Halloween aisle at the grocery store and completely forgot to pick one up.

By August 8th, the signs were undeniable. I was still uncomfortably hot, felt profoundly “weird,” and by 2 PM, my energy levels plummeted as if it were 2 AM. The thought struck me: I should just take a pregnancy test to definitively rule it out. I went to the store and bought a single box. Carefully, I read the instructions, took the test calmly, placed it down, and set a timer as I walked away. I genuinely did not expect a positive result. Yet, even before I picked it up again, two clear pink lines were unmistakably visible.

I likely terrified our cat, speed-walking around the house, repeatedly screaming, “WHAT?! OH MY GOSH!” in utter disbelief. I even had to text my best friend to confirm what my eyes were seeing, convinced I was mistaken. But there was no mistake: it was positive. Still reeling, I returned to the store that day and bought five more tests. Every single one came back positive!

Sharing Our Joy: Telling Daniel and Our Families

A few weeks prior to finding out, almost on a whim, I had purchased a spoon engraved with “You’re going to be a daddy” specifically for a future pregnancy announcement to Daniel. I tucked it away, fully expecting it to be months before I’d need it. That afternoon, I retrieved the spoon, prepared a grand ice cream sundae, and patiently waited for him to come home. What I hadn’t factored in, however, was Daniel’s notoriously slow eating pace. It took him a hilarious two minutes just to take a single bite of ice cream! I was absolutely bursting with excitement, trying desperately to keep my composure. There’s a video to prove this agonizingly slow, yet precious, moment! When he finally saw the message, his shock and joy mirrored mine perfectly.

For our parents, I found delightful “grandma” and “grandpa” trinkets, using them to surprise them with the news. Their reactions were heartwarming and filled with pure happiness. We then shared the wonderful news with all our siblings over the phone, while our parents were still present, making it a truly collective family celebration.

Navigating Early Scans: From Nervousness to Heartbeat Joy

My very first ultrasound took place at what I initially believed was 5 weeks and 1 day (though I later learned I was actually a few days earlier than I thought). I went to my gynecologist, who doesn’t specialize in prenatal care, purely for a confirmation scan. Being so incredibly early in the pregnancy, all she could discern was a gestational sac. There was no visible fetal pole, no yolk sac, and certainly no heartbeat. To compound my anxiety, she expressed concern about the irregular shape of the gestational sac. Despite knowing that seeing much at such an early stage was unlikely, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of intense nervousness wash over me, trying my best to remain positive.

Fast forward to 8 weeks and 1 day (coincidentally, the very stressful morning I launched my new website!), I had another ultrasound scheduled. Daniel accompanied me, and as the procedure began, I lay there with my eyes tightly shut, bracing myself for the possibility of another disappointing scan. Within what felt like mere seconds, the ultrasound technician’s voice broke the silence, “Why are your eyes closed? We’re looking at the baby’s heartbeat right here!” That moment, witnessing that tiny, flickering bean on the screen and hearing the strong, rhythmic thump of its heartbeat, was unequivocally one of the happiest and most profound moments of my entire life. The relief and joy were immense.

Since that incredible day, we’ve had the immense pleasure of hearing the heartbeat several more times, and each check-up confirms that everything is progressing beautifully. Our next major ultrasound will likely be the anatomy scan, scheduled around 18-20 weeks, which we eagerly await.

Managing Hashimoto’s During Pregnancy: A Positive Turn

Navigating Hashimoto’s during pregnancy was a significant concern for me, but so far, the journey has been remarkably smooth! Immediately after receiving my positive pregnancy test, I scheduled a full thyroid panel to ensure my medication dosage was perfectly calibrated. Doctors consistently emphasize the critical importance of managing thyroid issues in pregnancy, as uncontrolled levels are a known risk factor for miscarriage. When my initial bloodwork came back, my numbers were largely within the normal range, with one exception: my TPO antibodies. While the high range for TPO is typically 34, mine registered at 38. For those familiar with Hashimoto’s, you know this number can often soar into the thousands, so being only 4 points over the threshold didn’t cause significant alarm for either my doctor or me, especially as our primary focus was on monitoring HCG and progesterone levels.

As weeks passed, I grew somewhat anxious awaiting my second round of bloodwork, fearing my thyroid function might have worsened. To my utter delight and genuine relief (I actually cried tears of joy!), my numbers showed significant improvement. My TPO antibodies had fallen back into the healthy range, and my TSH was exactly where it needed to be. I was absolutely thrilled. I had often heard anecdotal accounts of women experiencing remission of their autoimmune conditions during pregnancy, but to witness it happening to me was truly astounding. The immune system naturally undergoes some suppression during pregnancy to prevent the mother’s body from rejecting the fetus, and this suppression can, in some fortunate cases, lead to a normalization of autoimmune activity. Of course, this isn’t the experience for everyone, and I continue to get tested every four weeks to stay vigilant, but I am incredibly grateful for this positive development thus far.

A few important considerations for those managing Hashimoto’s during pregnancy:

Test Early and Often: This cannot be stressed enough. I proactively scheduled a thyroid panel as soon as I received my positive pregnancy test and am committed to testing every four weeks throughout my pregnancy. Thyroid hormone levels can fluctuate considerably during this period, so consistent monitoring is crucial for both maternal and fetal health.
Be Mindful of Biotin: It’s a little-known fact that biotin, a common ingredient in many prenatal vitamins, can significantly distort thyroid lab results. I was unaware of this until recently, but even the FDA has issued warnings about this interference. Nearly all prenatal supplements contain biotin, so it is vital to inform your doctor about your biotin intake. They can then advise you on how to manage your supplements around blood tests to ensure accurate thyroid readings.

Choosing Our Path: Midwife Care for a Natural Birth

After careful consideration and research, Daniel and I made the deliberate decision to pursue the midwife route for my prenatal care and birth plan. My aspiration is to be healthy enough to have a natural, unmedicated birth at a local birthing center when the time comes. I’ve chosen the wonderful team at Grapevine Birthing Center, and I’m genuinely excited to continue my prenatal journey with them, building a trusting relationship as we prepare for our baby’s arrival in April.

The Big Reveal: Gender and Naming Plans

We actually think we already know the gender! At 10 weeks, I took the Sneak Peek gender test, which is an early blood test, and we received a result. While we’re eagerly awaiting confirmation via ultrasound, I can say that I would be absolutely thrilled with either a boy or a girl. However, I am genuinely really excited about the gender we currently believe our baby to be! We’ve even started to settle on a potential name, which adds another layer of joy and anticipation to our planning.

Balancing Motherhood & My Mission: Content Creation During Pregnancy

As I mentioned earlier, it’s important to reiterate that this remains a healthy food blog first and foremost. While I enjoy sharing aspects of my life and health journey, I find myself feeling increasingly protective of our baby’s privacy. I’m still navigating how much I’ll comfortably share online about their life. My primary concern is respecting that our child will be their own individual, and they may not wish to have their entire life documented and accessible online as they grow up. Deciding how much of your life, and particularly your child’s life, to share online is an incredibly personal and evolving decision, and I’m committed to figuring it out as we go along.

Navigating Recipe Development with First Trimester Nausea

You’re about to read about the severe nausea I experienced, which is, understandably, not an ideal symptom for a full-time recipe developer. Fortunately, I always maintain a minimum lead time of 4-6 weeks for recipe development on the blog, and a 3-4 month buffer for overall content planning. This foresight allows me the flexibility to take a break if unforeseen circumstances arise. By some miraculous stroke of luck, I was significantly ahead on blog content—nearly nine weeks’ worth of recipes already shot and tested—by the time I discovered I was pregnant. This invaluable head start allowed me to step away from cooking entirely when my nausea was at its absolute worst. I don’t believe I cooked a single dish for the latter half of August and the majority of September. When I did test this apple cider recipe towards the end of September, I had to take multiple breaks simply while cutting apples.

Currently, I’m playing a bit of catch-up and am only a couple of weeks ahead, which is unusual for my typical workflow. However, I’m confident I’ll regain my lead soon. Thankfully, my stamina is gradually returning, and I have a wealth of exciting recipe ideas that I’ve been saving for my favorite cooking season of the year: the holidays!

I also must give immense credit to my amazing team, who have been instrumental in keeping everything on track behind the scenes while I’ve been feeling unwell. Uma, my dedicated assistant, has been doing an outstanding job ensuring emails are answered promptly and that projects don’t fall behind schedule. Amanda, who skillfully creates all my video content, has been just as brilliant and supportive as always.

And let’s not forget my incredible “at-home team” – my super supportive and rockstar husband, Daniel; our expert snuggler cat who provides constant companionship; and my wonderful mom, who has been consistently dropping off delicious meals for Daniel. Because my nausea was so debilitating, I often didn’t feel well enough to even cook for the two of us, so my mom truly has been a lifesaver, ensuring my husband was fed. My mother-in-law has also contributed to this invaluable support! Of course, both would gladly bring me meals too if I asked, but as you’re about to read, my eating habits became quite peculiar, and I preferred to manage my own highly specific dietary needs during that intense period.

My First Trimester Pregnancy Diet: Adapting to Aversions and Nausea

As you’ll soon discover in my symptom recap, my first trimester was marked by severe food aversions and persistent nausea. Consequently, my diet was a radical departure from my normal healthy eating habits. Here’s a breakdown of what I was able to tolerate:

When Nausea Was Overwhelming: My Survival Foods

Sheep Milk Yogurt: This was a godsend. It was surprisingly easy on my stomach and provided some much-needed probiotics and nutrients when little else appealed.
Smoothies with Collagen: Sometimes, on better days, I could manage a simple smoothie, often boosted with collagen for protein, which was crucial when solid foods were difficult.
Brown Rice Cereal (no milk) and Rice Cakes: Plain, bland, and easy to digest, these became staples for a quick, tolerable snack.
White Rice with Bone Broth: This combination offered gentle sustenance. The bone broth provided nutrients, and the white rice was incredibly soothing for my sensitive stomach.
Bread Srsly with Avocado: This gluten-free sourdough was a comforting indulgence. Paired with creamy avocado, it offered healthy fats and a satisfying texture.
Bison Epic Bars: A convenient and tolerable source of protein, these bars were a lifesaver when I needed something substantial but couldn’t face cooking.
Banza Chickpea Pasta with Nomato Sauce: Towards the very end of the worst nausea phase, this became an occasional, comforting meal. The chickpea pasta provided a bit more protein, and the nomato sauce was gentle on my stomach.

As Nausea Subsided: Expanding My Palate

Once my nausea began to ease up a bit, I gradually started to reintroduce more variety, building upon the “survival foods”:

Most of the above foods remained acceptable.
Coconut Milk Ice Cream (in moderation): A small, occasional treat that felt incredibly refreshing.
Simple Mills Crunchy Cookies (in less moderation haha): These became a frequent, guilt-free comfort snack.
Clementines: The bright, citrusy flavor and easy-to-eat nature of clementines were a welcome addition.
Carrot Hash with Arugula & Basil Pesto: This nourishing dish provided a burst of flavor and a good mix of vegetables and healthy fats.
Avocado Sushi Rolls (just avocado, no fish): The simplicity and freshness of plain avocado rolls became a regular craving.
And gradually, other simple, easily digestible foods.

My midwife offered invaluable reassurance regarding my diet, emphasizing that during the first trimester, the primary goal is simply to eat whatever you can tolerate and do the best you can. It’s a period of survival. Now that my nausea has significantly improved, I’m eagerly planning to expand my dietary variety much further. I’m especially excited to report that I’ve already been able to reintroduce foods like beef and shrimp, which feels like a huge win and a testament to my improving condition!

First Trimester Symptoms: My Honest Experience and Coping Strategies

The first trimester brought with it a cascade of symptoms, some mild, others intensely challenging. Here’s an honest look at what I experienced and how I tried to cope:

Intense Nausea: The Unpredictable Challenge

Nausea became my constant companion, making its unwelcome debut around 4-5 weeks and holding a powerful grip until it mercifully began to slow down around 10 weeks. It was, quite simply, terrible. Some days, I couldn’t walk around, bend over to pick something up, or even hold a conversation without triggering a wave of sickness that led to vomiting. I even threw up a few times just from turning over in bed – the motion sickness was that profound.

Here’s what I initially tried to alleviate it, focusing on natural methods:

Ginger Chews: These offered some temporary, short-lived relief, but were far from a cure.
Sea Bands: Unfortunately, these acupressure bands proved completely unhelpful for me.
Ginger Tea: While comforting, it didn’t significantly reduce my nausea.
Probiotics: I hoped these would help, but their impact on nausea was questionable at best.
B6: This vitamin offered only a slight, almost imperceptible, degree of relief.
Drinking Plenty of Water and Controlling Blood Sugar with Healthy Fats: My usual go-to for wellness, but even these strategies failed because I simply couldn’t keep food or liquids down consistently.

I was desperately trying to manage my symptoms through natural means, hoping to avoid medication. However, my condition deteriorated to a point where I couldn’t retain any food at all. I began experiencing painful hunger pangs, frequent dizziness, and even struggled to keep my prenatal vitamin down. I discussed this dire situation with my highly trusted doctor, who suggested a combination of Unisom Sleep Tabs and B6. I had read a lot about this combination online, and despite my general reluctance towards over-the-counter drugs, I was becoming truly desperate. I started the recommended dosage, and to my immense relief, it was the only intervention that actually helped me keep food down. Of course, it is absolutely essential to discuss any medications with your doctor before taking them, but I want to be transparent about my experience: for my severe nausea, natural methods alone did not provide sufficient relief.

It is crucial to remember that every pregnancy is profoundly different. What didn’t work for me might be incredibly effective for you, and vice versa. My nausea isn’t entirely gone at 13 weeks, but it has drastically improved. At my worst, I was vomiting twice a day and had lost 10 pounds, so I am overjoyed to have that intense phase behind me and to finally start feeling better and regaining some weight.

The Enigmatic Pregnancy Brain Fog

I thought I understood what “brain fog” felt like from my Hashimoto’s journey, but pregnancy brain fog is on an entirely different plane of existence. Some of you observant readers have kindly pointed out the occasional crazy typos I’ve made in blog posts, and in person, my speech has been even less coherent! Just the other day, I intended to write “kitchen” but inexplicably wrote “kitten.” I stared at the word for a solid five seconds, genuinely struggling to recall what I was even trying to convey. It’s truly that level of cognitive disconnect.

Friends and family who know about the pregnancy often remark, “You must have so much on your mind!” Ironically, the opposite is true. I can sit on the couch with my cat, staring blankly at a wall for hours, with absolutely nothing concrete in my thoughts. For someone who typically operates at a mile a minute, this unexpected mental “break” has actually been quite pleasant. Pregnancy demands an enormous amount of physiological work from your body, and it seems my mind has decided to take a much-deserved sabbatical! 😂

Other Common First Trimester Realities

Feeling Hot: This symptom was particularly intense at the very beginning, driven by rapidly rising hormones. However, combine that with living in Dallas, Texas, where August temperatures hovered between 95°F and 100°F daily until recently, and you have a recipe for constant discomfort. I spent a tremendous amount of time indoors.
Urgency and Frequency (Peeing): Yes, the cliché is true: pregnant women do have to urinate frequently! This was quite bothersome for a while, though it’s gradually showing slight improvements now.
Fatigue: The profound fatigue was at its peak during the earliest weeks, but it has been a fluctuating presence since then. Interestingly, every time my nausea begins to improve, I become more acutely aware of the underlying fatigue. Thankfully, working from home allows me the flexibility to take it easier and rest more during the day when needed.
Reflux: Heartburn and reflux are incredibly common in pregnancy, often inevitable for many women regardless of diet, due to the physical changes the body undergoes (e.g., hormonal relaxation of the esophageal sphincter, uterine pressure). I’ve experienced some reflux, but it hasn’t been overly severe yet. I do, however, anticipate it will likely become more pronounced as the pregnancy progresses.
Headaches: While certainly present, these headaches were neither severe nor frequent. I didn’t feel the need to take any medication for them, preferring to simply rest and ride them out, which generally proved effective.
Acne: Oh, the acne! I’m already prone to hormonal breakouts, and the surge of pregnancy hormones has indeed made them quite significant. I’m doing my best to maintain my safer skincare routine, but I’m also trying not to stress too much about it, knowing it’s a temporary hormonal response.
Round Ligament Sensation: I prefer not to call this “pain” because it isn’t truly painful, but rather a distinct stretching or pulling sensation in my round ligaments and around my belly button area. This occurs as my uterus expands to accommodate the growing baby. Sometimes it can be quite uncomfortable, requiring me to change positions to find relief, but at this stage, it’s generally manageable.
Mood Swings: These were the “crying for no discernible reason” kind of mood swings. I found myself tearing up while watching Star Wars, getting emotional over Christmas ornaments, and experiencing an intensified sensitivity to negativity. Facebook comment wars, for example, became utterly unbearable for me. My patience for unnecessary meanness plummeted.
Exercise Intolerance: While perhaps not a typical “symptom,” my body’s capacity for my usual exercise routine completely plummeted due to the relentless nausea. Attempts to swim in our pool would immediately trigger sickness. Walking, a gentle alternative, was impractical given Dallas’s scorching 95-100°F daily temperatures until very recently. Now that the weather has cooled, I’m slowly trying to reintroduce more walking. My midwife has also wisely advised sticking to lower-intensity activities such as prenatal yoga and gentle home-based weight training.

Glimpses into the Second Trimester: Hopes and Preparations

As I excitedly transition into the second trimester, often referred to as the “golden trimester” for good reason, here’s what I’m eagerly looking forward to and planning for:

Regaining Energy and Less Nausea for Blog Work: My foremost hope is to experience a significant boost in energy and a dramatic reduction in nausea. This will allow me to truly get ahead on blog content. My goal is to work far enough in advance to be able to take a solid three-month maternity leave, from April to July, ensuring that fresh, new content continues to appear on the blog while I dedicate precious time to bonding with our baby.
Embracing More Movement: With the Dallas weather finally cooling down to pleasant temperatures, I’m thrilled at the prospect of incorporating more outdoor movement into my routine. Gentle walks, perhaps some outdoor yoga, will be a welcome change.
Prioritizing Sleep: Fortunately, I’ve been getting a good amount of sleep and rest throughout the first trimester, and I plan to continue making this a priority in the second trimester and beyond, knowing how vital it is for both my health and the baby’s development.
Venturing into Maternity Clothes: I’m already finding myself reaching for maternity pants, surprisingly earlier than I anticipated! I’m looking forward to exploring more comfortable and stylish maternity wear as my body continues to change.
Expanding My Diet: With nausea hopefully a distant memory, I’m excited to reintroduce a wider variety of nourishing, healthy foods back into my diet, ensuring optimal nutrition for our growing baby.
Planning a Babymoon: Daniel and I are dreaming up a babymoon getaway! Our current idea is a December trip to somewhere wonderfully cold. As you might have gathered from this blog post, I’m not a fan of intense heat, and Dallas certainly provides plenty of that! A chilly escape sounds absolutely perfect.
Designing the Nursery and Starting Our Registry: The creative juices are starting to flow! I’m looking forward to diving into nursery design ideas and beginning the exciting process of curating our baby registry. I’m sure I’ll share more about this journey as it unfolds.
Mapping Out Our Birth Plan: With our chosen midwife care, a significant next step will be to thoroughly research and map out our detailed birth plan, ensuring it aligns with our desires for a natural birthing experience.
Continuous Learning, Grace, and Love: Above all, I am committed to continuing to learn as much as I can, asking my midwife countless questions, praying for a healthy and joyful journey, giving myself immense grace through all the unknowns, and falling more deeply in love with our baby every single day. ❤️

I absolutely cannot wait to share a second-trimester update with you all!