I’m having a baby!

Seriously, it is still so surreal to me.

I’ve had a cough for over a year now, and I can’t get rid of it. When I started having a lot of shortness of breath, especially going up and down the stairs, and when I became constantly tired, I grew very concerned. Never did it occur to me that I could be pregnant. Not when my period has been so irregular, I had to force it with a pill every three months for almost a year.

Then, my mom suggested I take a pregnancy test. My period was late (not unusual), and I was having a lot of cramping on and off every day for weeks. Given my track record with my menstrual cycle, I thought something was wrong, if I’m being honest. I did not know that it was a symptom of pregnancy until I looked it up.

Imagine my surprise when the test came out positive. I had a hard time believing it. I ended up taking two more to be safe. Then I had to wait an excruciating week and a half before I could go for an ultrasound to confirm.

Turned out: yep, there is a baby in there. And still, it didn’t feel real.

Not until I started feeling him move. Those moments have put me in absolute awe. Sometimes, they aren’t pleasant. Especially when he hits or kicks my internal organs: ouch! But I live for them, nonetheless. And hearing his heartbeat? Blew my mind.

It hasn’t been an easy journey. My body is changing in ways I never thought possible. I’m almost always in pain, and my feet and ankles have started to swell- and stay swollen. But while I complain, I still thank my lucky stars for being able to experience this journey.