Guest blog: Ali Mills on the trials and tribulations of pregnancy 2017

Hi everyone, a quick intro before I launch into pregnancy stuff … I’m Ali a full-time mum to Jasmine a very cheeky but awesome two and a half-year-old, a part-time massage therapist and a wife to Andy, my very patient, and loving husband.

I can wholeheartedly say even though I’ve been through one pregnancy already this time it’s completely different! Both conceptions have been through fertility treatment which in itself brought challenges not to mention a rollercoaster of emotions. So worth it though.

Second time around, when we found out we were pregnant I think both myself and my husband were amazed. I’d been umming and arguing about whether it was gonna be successful as my physical feelings, not to mention emotional ones, were all over the place. Then when we actually got the results, I couldn’t believe it. My husband, on the other hand, was over the moon. Even though the blood test was accurate I still had to scurry home and do a home test myself!

We didn’t tell Jasmine straight away as we wanted to get to the 12-week marker first. Now she knows, she likes to rest her head on my tummy and tell me that the baby’s heart is going boom, boom, boom! Our next thing to tackle will be telling her if it’s a girl or boy. She’s adamant she’s going to have a sister, and my inklings are it’s gonna be a brother (watch this space). Why do I think that?
Well, it’s mainly down to the way I’ve been feeling. My first pregnancy was hunky dory. Yeah, I felt tired but carried on as normal, working full time, no sickness, no cravings, no sore boobs, no heartburn, nothing. This time I’ve had nausea running throughout the day for three months, afternoon exhaustion, a heightened sense of smell to the point I couldn’t wear perfume, sore boobs, no appetite for food unless it was carb based and difficulty in drinking unless it was icy cold! I felt pretty glum and sympathise with all you ladies out there who’ve gone through it or are going through it now. It really tests your sanity, wellbeing, and relationships with those close to you.

My husband has been a rock and I’m glad to say, 18 weeks on I’m just about over nausea and am ready for baby number two. Yoga, swimming and online shopping here I come!