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A Time of Contentment

Daniel and I had been looking forward to having a baby for more than five years. When we finally got pregnant, we were both so excited and felt as if we had finally been blessed by something that was greater than both of us. Together, we told our families and prepared to embark on an experience that was quite exciting and a little scary at the same time. I couldn’t wait for all the pregnancy changes to start, but was also a little worried about what the changes might look like or feel like.

My first trimester with Lydia (my daughter, who is now almost two) was quite manageable, at least compared with some of my other friends’ pregnancies. I had morning sickness throughout, but it wasn’t so bad. Crackers seemed to do the job, and work kept my mind off of it. I work as an advertising consultant and my job keeps me pretty busy, but I found it to be a real blessing during the first months of my pregnancy. It especially kept my mind off of the risks of miscarriage – I had already lost one child, a few years ago, and I never want to relive that experience.

Even though I enjoyed my first trimester of pregnancy, I found the second trimester to be the most memorable part of my pregnancy. I entered into my second trimester in June, and it felt as if the sun was shining almost everyday. My morning sickness had passed and so had my worries of miscarriage. I felt a sense of safety and security, and believed that all was right with the world.

The best part of my second trimester was feeling my baby move for the first time. I remember that I was lying down in bed, waiting to fall asleep when it first happened. It began almost as a little gurgling in my stomach. Then I felt a small, but definite kick just to the right of my belly button. I almost fainted out of shock! I placed my hand over my belly and I could feel small movements inside! My baby was moving around! I woke up Daniel, who was snoring contentedly beside me, and told him what had just happened. He put his hand on my belly, but didn’t feel anything right away. After a few minutes of patient waiting, baby started up again! It was at that moment that the pregnancy really began to feel real to both of us. I felt as if I had a real bond with the baby that was inside of me!

From that moment on, I began to talk to my baby every chance I got. I don’t know if Lydia heard me, or if she even recognized my voice, but something deep inside of me felt that she did. I even bought a set of headphones, so that I could play gentle music to her throughout the day! As my belly grew larger and larger, I felt even more of a need to chat with her. I told her about everything, from the weather, to the color of the paint on the walls, to my hopes and dreams for her future.

My second trimester was not all fun and games though. I did begin to feel the strain of pregnancy a little bit, particularly when it came to working 10-hour days! My back started to ache and I suffered from leg cramps almost every day! I also had my fair share of nosebleeds! I remember that I was in a meeting with a client when one started suddenly! Needless to say, that meeting didn’t go very well!

As I reached the end of my second trimester, I really began to notice that my belly was starting to take shape. It looked as if a small watermelon has been inserted just under my skin! Daniel and I both wanted to remember what my belly looked and felt like, so we had a cast taken of it. The papier mache felt a bit gooey on my stomach, but the cast turned out pretty well. We booked another cast to be taken at the end of the third trimester. And I made a cast of Daniel’s stomach too, so we could remember what that looked like way back when!

My third trimester went well, butI was a bit more uncomfortable, especially as the weight began to come on. Lydia arrived healthy and glowing two weeks before my due date, and we were able to take her home a few days later. Our family was beginning! When I look back on my pregnancy, I see my second trimester as the being the most happy and satisfying time. It gave me a feeling of true excitement and contentment, and it was when that bond with my little girl really sank in. I am now pregnant again with my second child and I am eagerly awaiting the joys of another second trimester!

Mirabelle Clement