Alhumdulilah, once the initial shock of being preggers wears off, excitement comes with no bounds. When I found out we were expecting, the first thing I felt was fear and more fear. I’m sure this is normal for first time mothers (at least I hope I won’t go down in history as the worst possible mother for this reason) but now it’s exciting. I wonder if it’s a boy or girl, what the baby will look like, if he/she will be a quiet little angel or screaming devil. I wonder if he/she will be smart in school, makes friends easily, love sweets like me or prefer salty foods like Omar.
Weird things come with being preggers, where do I begin? Let’s see the physical changes:
(1) Sleep: I am a heavy sleeper. Even before being pregnant, I slept for at least 9 hours a day. Anything less than that made me cranky and gave me a headache. Now, especially in the first trimester, I slept for 11 hours a day! I had no energy to walk around. I went to the mall once with Fati and Omar about a month ago and I literally had to take a break every ten minutes. My back ached, the crowds made me hot and dizzy and all I wanted to do was go home and sleep. Thank God energy levels pick up in the 2nd trimester. But I still refuse to go to the mall. 
(2) Hunger: Cravings, where art thou? Everyone tells you that the first signs of pregnancy are food cravings. LIES! The first signs of pregnancy should be food aversions. Anything u can think of made me want to puke in the first trimester. Rice, bread, soup, sweets, chicken (which I’m still feeling aversions for), fast food, cheese. Everything. Omar bought me healthy food for snacking in the early weeks and we kept the food in a little fridge in our room. That fridge and all it’s contents made me sick to my stomach within a week. I couldn’t stand even thinking about the fridge without running to the toilet. I had it moved to my sisters room and if by chance I happen to see it there, I turned my face and concentrated on other things. That’s how bad morning sickness and food aversions are in the first couple of months. Thank God, those days too passed.
Hunger is always present when you’re pregnant. Ten minutes or so after a big meal, my stomach rumbles as if it’s saying, “That was for the baby, now it’s my turn!” Add that to food aversions and morning sickness and it makes a very miserable Sumi indeed. Lately I’ve been eating much more food then I have in the last few months, alhumdulilah. Bread tastes good again, as long as it’s not whole wheat. Rice is tolerable and biryani makes me very happy. I am almost back to wanted desserts but my body craves healthy desserts like fruits and smoothies. Yummy to healthy foods! The other day I went with my sisters and my friend to Olive garden, where my friend ordered a salad instead of soup like the rest of us. My stomach wanted it so bad and I kept eye-ing it. It’s amazing how your body automatically craves healthy food when you need it the most. I never ate much salad or imagined myself turning down donuts. Alhumdulilah! 
(3) Weight Gain: This is one of those things that depends on your tolerance of food. I read most women don’t gain in the first semester. Some even lose some weight because of food aversions and morning sickness. I didn’t gain much weight so far, but since I am far from my ideal weight, I’m guessing it’s normal.
Emotional Changes:
If you’ve just found out you’re pregnant, be prepared for a crazy emotional ride. Maybe it won’t be as bad for you as it was for me. My sister didn’t mention feeling this way during her pregnancies, so it could depend on your own history. But I’m sure I really did go off the wagon for a few weeks there. All I could think about was wishing I was 16 again, back in school, without a care in the world. Blame it on the hormones but I was seriously depressed. Daydreams took over reality and my dreams turned to nightmares. I felt scared I was never going to come out of it. I felt like the world was dark and dreary (which it was, thanks to winter in Chicago). On top of the hormones, not being able to eat correctly, dealing with cramps and hunger pangs, my grandmother passed away during that terrible time. I shudder when I think of those days…but alhumdulilah, those too passed. Once the first trimester is over, your body adjusts to everything and peace return to life, just as winter passes into spring and the sun comes out once again. Alhumdulilah.
All I can say is I’m certainly glad the first trimester is over. Very glad, masha’Allah. The second trimester is suppose to be the best part of pregnancy, which I can say is true. Really excited and happy about this baby. I hope for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. IA.
