So now that I knew I was pregnant, it was time to let my doctor know and fix the necessary appointments. Before we started the next steps, we sat and spent some time thanking God. Then we informed our first family; parents and siblings. Everyone was so happy and every time I thought of how God showed me this and promised me exactly this, it filled me with more joy.
God’s promise, delivered!
Soon after, we informed Dr. Rajnish and he asked us to come in for our first scan and appointment post the lockdown. I was already so excited, excited to hear the heartbeat and know that there was a little baby growing in me. But we were also so anxious about being pregnant in the midst of such a weird time, with the pandemic and everything surrounding it. But we decided to stand strong on our faith. God had promised us a baby and had given us as promised.
So if God had chosen this time for me to be pregnant, then he would protect me through this pregnancy as well. And we again reminded ourselves to stand strong on our faith and trust God.
Trusting in God’s protection, always!
“The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.” 2 Samuel 22:3-4
My first scan was good. We heard the heartbeat and were filled with so much joy. The doctors appointment went well and we started settling into the new normal, where Santosh wasn’t even allowed to come in for my scans. I felt bad but it was what it was. And rules like this had to be followed for a reason.
My pregnancy progressed and I started experiencing very severe nausea caused by an aversion to a long list of foods. This list included dals, spices, coconut, certain veggies… the list was so endless. So many things made me sick that it took me a while before I figured out what didn’t. That one thing that I enjoyed was meat! This was so totally opposite to my pregnancy with Thia.
Facing challenges, with God steering us…
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
We also had to give blood and urine tests in our next appointment. and when my test results came back, it became evident that I had a very serious urinary infection (bacterial), and to top it, this infection was completely asymptomatic. This worried me as the doctor mentioned I would need to take antibiotics to treat the infection and there was a small chance of miscarriage. With my history of miscarriage, the word by itself, with however small the risk, made me scared. But I continued to pray and trust God, cos this was His blessing, and He would protect it.
My blood tests also showed that I may have gestational diabetes and hypothyroidism, and I was put on medication for both. This further shortened the list of things I could eat. It was definitely a struggle but we overcame it all and set ourselves into a routine of what to eat and what to not eat. There were still so many days when I would eat something thinking it is okay and then I’d be sick for the rest of the day.
By the end of the first trimester, we were able to monitor my sugar, and my medicines were reduced to the minimal. Though I was restricted from eating most of the things that I liked, I still was healthy and had a healthy baby growing in me.
I am so thankful God took care of these pregnancy concerns for me:
- Bacterial urinary infection: Disappeared within a week with medication and without any long term effects on baby and me. Santosh had a dream during this time that we met with an accident but we were okay, even the baby.
- Low heartbeat: First scan showed that the babies heartbeat was a little low. The heart beat picked up drastically within weeks.
- Gestational diabetes: I was diagnosed with gestational (not completely confirmed in the first trimester) and put on medication to control the sugar levels. God brought me down to the lowest level of medicine by the end of my first trimester. He gave us the wisdom to identify and eat only those foods that kept the sugar in control.
- Breathlessness: During my second month, I experienced severe breathlessness a couple of times and informed my doctor of the same. The doctor suggested a cardio visit if it continued. Prayed about it and the breathlessness reduced drastically.
This is just some of the many ways God protected us during the first trimester.
Feeling him for the first time!
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
I started feeling flutters when I was about 11 and half weeks pregnant. These felt so identifiably different from the usual gas or acidity you feel when you’re pregnant. I was amazed at how early I could feel him, and how often as well. It was truly amazing.