First off, let me introduce myself and start from the beginning. My name is Shaikha and I'm 27 years old. I've been married to Ahmed for 2 years now and we were planning on expanding our family.
Totally unaware of how much life is about to change - though maybe secretly hoping it is -I was carrying on as normal. I did not know I was pregnant just yet, but since I've been trying to conceive, I spotted the early signs of pregnancy to indicate my baby's on the way.
If you're a worrier like me, you will be on every website looking for answers. Therefore, I decided to start my own pregnancy journey blog for expectant mothers, including sharing my journey of pregnancy week by week as well as some pregnancy advice!
Before I even knew I was pregnant, I kept wondering if I was simply having a bad dose of PMS/PMT or if my body was trying to tell me something, as both symptoms are very similar. Every woman experiences pregnancy differently, however below I shared a few of the symptoms I could spot during the early signs of pregnancy:
Even before a missed period or a positive pregnancy test, I felt that something's afoot. On top of the early signs of pregnancy I stated above, I was experiencing stomach cramps, a bit like a period. I had a metallic taste in my mouth too. I was feeling tired and moody, so I knew at that time why so many of us confuse early pregnancy with being pre-menstrual. Except of course, that when my time of the month comes around, nothing happens.
New life has started to grow and my pregnancy journey was just starting. The winning sperm reaches the egg, and fuses with its centre. It takes three or four days for this fertilised egg to move down into my uterus, where it nestles cosily into the lining. This little ball of cells will one day be a baby - and its sex has already been established, depending on whether the successful sperm carried an X or Y chromosome. By week 4 the tiny poppy seed-sized embryo is dividing into three layers: the top is the neural tube, the middle is the heart and circulatory system and the bottom layer houses the lungs, intestines and urinary system.
Pregnancy advice: If you're trying to conceive, it would be best to follow a healthy pregnancy diet to ensure the health and wellness of your baby! Since I was planning on getting pregnant, I have already changed my lifestyle by cutting down on caffeine and avoiding certain foods that I know aren't good for my developing little baby. I may also have been taking folic acid supplements. When my period was late, it was time to pop out to buy that pregnancy testing kit. When I got that positive result, my heart skipped a beat as I realise that I am really carrying my little one inside me! I rushed to tell my GP so I can start my antenatal care.