My first trimester has been my greatest teacher. Not long after our wedding, Brad and I had a ‘discussion’ (as he likes to call our serious conversations about important decisions) about whether we want to have children or not. Together, we lay everything out on the table, including all the pros and cons to starting a family, and decided we would go for it.
Considering we both have busy schedules, getting us under the same roof during ovulation was an interesting process. However, as Brad always said, when we are ready we will catch straight away. I had been tracking my ovulation for a few months before we started trying, and it was all over the place, changing month to month according to the Maybe Baby saliva test I was using.
It was after our ‘discussion’ that I had my strongest reading, super early on day 7 of my cycle and miraculously we were both under the same roof, just as Brad had predicted. We were in Hawaii for Brad’s work, when both my intuition and my body were telling me I was pregnant. Brad was excited, as usual, and said that he thought it would be twins. For as long as Brad and I have been speaking about babies, which is for a few years now, he had always said he wants to have twins, and that he had envisioned that we would have twin boys. My response had always been, that I thought it was a long shot, because neither of us have twins in our family. Despite this, I never wrote the idea of having twins off, and, of course, loved the idea of having twins.
Sure enough, we did a test and found out that we were pregnant. Interestingly, Brad’s Platinum Property group that we were in Hawaii with, have a party one night a year, wherein everyone dresses up and pretends to be themselves 5 years in the future. Brad and I wore active wear as we will both still be super active and following our passions in health and fitness in five year’s time, plus we were saying we would have kids. At the party, I was saying that we would have two children in the future, but Brad was saying we had four; we compromised at three. Brad’s boss, Dympna, asked me “So what have you got?”, and without even hesitating, I told him that we had three boys, and that the first two were twins.
I think Brad’s strong intentions, and constant mantra about twins, had trickled into my subconscious, and it simply blurted out. After Hawaii I came home, and Brad stayed in the States for another two weeks, to compete for the World Championships for all natural fitness modelling. He represented Australia, and ended up coming 6th, which was amazing, and a momentous achievement. It was during this time, that I went to see my GP to let him know the good news. He suggested that I go for an early scan in order to confirm the day of conception. Naturally, following doctor’s orders, I got my scan, only to discover that Brad and I were having twins! I couldn’t believe it. All I wanted to do was tell Brad straight away, but I had to wait another 30mins for my scan to finish. I instantly texted him, from the reception area, and he couldn’t believe his ears. When we FaceTimed, and he could see that I was serious, we were beside ourselves and overjoyed with this blessing and miracle that was given to us.
When the hormones began to kick in, I had seven of the worst weeks of my life. I was so sick, vomiting continuously. After one night of none-stop vomiting for 6hrs straight, until nothing but blood and bile was coming up, I decided to go to hospital, as my body couldn’t take it anymore. I was put on medication, due to my high levels of hormones. I couldn’t really read, write, email or talk to anyone during that time, and because Brad was away most of that time, I decided to move back in with my mum and dad. No one knows how to look after you like your mum when you are really sick.
Mum and dad did a stellar job looking after me, and I ended up putting on 10kg in the first trimester, thanks to mum’s delicious cooking. I am so grateful to all of my staff at Essence of Living, who picked up my slack during that time, and kept the wheels on the buses going round and round. If I had a traditional job, I would have definitely had to quit, as I was literally bed bound for 7 weeks. I learnt, very quickly, to give up any ideals that I had about what I thought I should be doing during that time. I thought I would be meditating, reading, walking and doing yoga everyday, but I simply could not do anything. I had to surrender to my body, and find peace with not being able to do my daily practices. I learnt to be ok when I am not ok, and I am learning to let go my control, which is a huge pill for me to swallow.
Being completely out of control with regards to your body, is something very new to me, and something I shed a few tears over. I’m so used to being super fit and clear minded, and to then be balancing nausea, vomiting and immobility 24/7 was a complete shock, both physically and psychologically. My mantra has always been, ‘Nothing lasts Forever’, and I spent seven weeks praying that my hormones would reduce significantly the second trimester.
Luckily, I have just entered my second trimester, and the clouds are starting to part. I am starting to feel better than I have in a couple of months, and I am excited to start teaching a few classes again. Also, we just got the chromosome results back that said that the babies are in excellent health, and we are having one little boy. The sex of second baby is going to be kept as a surprise. Brad’s manifestation and powerful visualisation is half way there; the next exciting step is to pick a baby boy name.