The two week wait felt never ending, and in a way it was. I was too impatient and took my first test at the 13 day mark. It was a faint positive. A day later, another faint positive. Although a faint line is considered a positive, I held back my hopes and waited for the blood test, for a true confirmation. That result was supposed to take a day. Twenty-four hours. Manageable. But instead, the waiting stretched into almost three days. Three days of imagining every possible outcome. But once that blood test came in, my heart rushed with excitement and fear in equal measure. I was excited, scared, and full on in overthinking mode of all the things to complete before my first child came into this world.
Although it was early, I couldn’t hold the news in. I told my IUI support friend, my biggest cheerleader and the one who intimately understands the rollercoaster of this journey. My parents who hugged, cried, and immediately started planning what to buy me. And my mentor who is almost like a second mother. The day was full of tears of joy, heartfelt congratulations, and hope that all my fears will rest and everything will work out.
Although we all have different fears…
Am I worthy enough for this?
What if it’s twins or more , can I handle that?
Will I be able to afford time off?
Do I truly have what it takes to do this alone, by choice?
We all have our own version of these fears. They arrive right beside the excitement. They coexist with the gratitude. So many thoughts swirl in the moments after confirmation, all while you are working through the surrealness of it all. The thing is, even when it is good change is always hard. Especially when the change is leading you into a new phase, one of which you have never experienced before.
Then comes the next phase: the early pregnancy monitoring. The
abundance of blood tests to make sure the HCG levels are increasing as they
should. The continuation of progesterone and all the side effects with it. And
the new symptoms of pregnancy that make you wonder if this might finally be the
moment your body shifts from trying to doing..
Early Signs you’re Pregnant
For me, the sign that made it feel undeniably real was having sore breasts for the first time, I knew without a doubt that I was pregnant. Maybe for you, the first sign will be a cramp that feels nothing like your usual pre-period discomfort. Or suddenly disliking foods you’ve always loved. Or noticing a fatigue that hits like a freight train. Other symptoms can include:
Headaches: A common early shift in hormones. I was lucky to avoid them, but many aren’t.
Sore Breasts: For me, like having a backache… but in my chest. Tender and constant.
Cramps: Not period cramps, but something different. For me I couldn’t sleep on my stomach and it just felt… well… different.
Fatigue: I felt tired throughout the day and lived for afternoon naps, sometimes lasting up to two hours.
Indigestion: Especially noticeable if you don’t normally struggle with it.
Food Cravings or Adversions: The first time I genuinely didn’t care if chocolate was in the room… that was a clue
Navigating the Fear That Comes With Early Pregnancy
The early part of pregnancy, especially if you haven’t been pregnant before can hold so much second guessing and learning to trust your body even more than in the fertility journey. After everything it took to get here, the fear of losing it can sit heavy on your chest. You want to feel joy, but you’re scared that if you let yourself believe too fully, the pain will be unbearable if things change.
This is normal, especially if you went through the emotions of fertility treatments, because hope feels fragile. I learned this the hard way, as my biggest fear was the potential for miscarriage. Re-learning to stay grounded helped lean me into the strength needed to navigate these first few months, and settle into the new reality that I am about to be a mom.
1. Take Your Journey Day by Day
Instead of jumping to the next milestone, come back to today. Today, you are
pregnant. Let that be enough.
2. Create a Safe Circle of Support
Not everyone needs to know right away. Share with the people who make you feel
held, calm, and validated.
3. Celebrate Small Wins
Whether it’s a rising HCG number, a good ultrasound, or simply waking up still
pregnant, honour those moments because they matter.
4. Let Yourself Feel Everything
Fear doesn’t cancel joy. Joy doesn’t invite loss. You can be thrilled and
terrified at the same time and that is okay.
5. Practice Mindful Check-Ins
Remind yourself: My body knows what to do. My baby knows what to do. Repeat
as often as you need.
6. Limit the Doom-Scrolling
Google is not a doctor and symptom
comparison is not a coping strategy. Protect your peace by choosing when (and
what) you take in.
7. Prepare a “What If” Plan — Only Once
It’s okay to talk with your care team about what would happen if… but
make the plan once, then place it aside. You don’t need to live in that
scenario every day.
This early part of pregnancy is a delicate emotional
balancing act — celebrating quietly while constantly checking in with yourself
to see if it’s still real.
Reflection
What early signs or sensations remind you that new life is
growing inside you?
How can you connect with your body as a partner rather than something to
question?