This is her second pregnancy. After navigating PCOS and coeliac disease, she reflects on fertility, growth scans, mum guilt and preparing to welcome another little boy.
Guest Pregnancy Journal: 31 Weeks Pregnant – PCOS & Second Pregnancy
This is my second pregnancy. My first pregnancy took about 5–6 months to conceive, which is completely normal, but at the time it felt like forever. When we decided to try for our second, we assumed it would take a similar amount of time. We were incredibly lucky that it happened first try, which surprised us both. We had made the decision, but hadn’t fully wrapped our heads around it yet, so it took a little while for the wonderful news to sink in.
I felt very nauseous through the first trimester and into the second. It was a constant background nausea all day, every day. My hat goes off to the women who experience this all pregnancy, and worse. It was not fun. Thankfully, the second trimester was cruisy and easy. Now in the third trimester I can feel myself slowing down and needing to listen to my body more.
I am very lucky that overall I’ve had two good pregnancies. I have PCOS and am coeliac, both of which can significantly impact fertility, so I feel very relieved that my journey to motherhood has been so seamless.
Week: 31
Baby is the size of a: Winter squash (approximately 2kg as per my scan yesterday).
Cravings: None at the moment. Earlier in pregnancy I loved mandarins, stone fruit, doughnuts and anything plain and buttery to help manage the nausea.
Symptoms: Lower back and hip joint aches are starting to build through the day. I’ve also noticed some Braxton Hicks contractions over the last few days.
My weight: 84kg (currently +11kg).
I’ve been feeling: A bit worried this week about the size of my bump. I’m reasonably tall with a long torso, and with both pregnancies my bump hasn’t been very big. This baby is measuring smaller than Archie was. I wasn’t worried initially, but multiple comments about how small my bump looked made me second guess myself.
We booked a growth scan for reassurance and I was so relieved to see everything was perfect. Just a small bump, and there is nothing wrong with that. It was lovely to check in and see baby again. I’ve also been quite tired this week, but we’ve had a lot going on, so perhaps that’s my body telling me to slow down.
I am most looking forward to: Holding you in my arms. That newborn smell. Having you earthside and completing our little family.
Advice I’ve been given recently: Any “bad habits” that form when your second newborn comes home can be fixed later. Just do what you need to survive. No mum guilt, no second guessing.
The most uncomfortable thing: How low your head is. Finding a comfortable position to fall asleep is getting tricky.
When I picture our life a year from now: I imagine thinking, wow, how life has changed. I picture being the mum of two incredible little boys. I can see you and your brother interacting more and forming a strong bond. I also see my hands very full, in the most delightful and chao