My Pregnancy, Week by Week: The Real, Raw, Beautiful Ride

Pregnancy felt like it stretched across lifetimes — not just in how I changed physically, but in how many versions of myself I cycled through. It was wild, transformative, exhausting, and beautiful all at once.

I kept notes the whole way — some weeks felt like a breeze, others like a marathon. But looking back, every symptom and shift marked a moment of growth for both of us.

Here’s what it really looked like, from those early waves of nausea to waddling around with a full-grown belly, heart full of anticipation.

Week 8

A little nausea, occasional headaches, and zero motivation to work out. I felt so tired and constantly congested — sneezing, full of phlegm, and just generally gross. I usually don't get sick... is this what pregnancy is like? Or is the 3 weeks of late nights, lots of adventuring and traveling between 4 different countries catching up to me? Will report back soon...

Also -- skin has been breaking out more and more... where is my pregnancy glow man..?

My daily coffee breaks are few and far between... haven't had the urge to drink coffee hardly at all and when I do, I can't drink more than half... kinda works out great though because I need to limit my caffine for baby building.

Week 10

My heart rate spikes doing the smallest things, and I started having intense nightmares. I'm not having great sleep and am extremely exhausted every single day.

Still feeling sick, like a constant cold or hangover... it's been months like this.. I've never been sick for this long. I'm honestly feeling miserable.

Apparently my immune system has taken a vacation to prevent itself from attacking the fetus as a foreign invader. Good news is, by week 12 I'm suppose to get my immune system back so I'm in the final stages, but to be honest, it's been mentally and physically kicking my ass.

Week 13

Finally starting to feel a shift -- my energy is returning slowly and my skin is clearing up! Yay! Heartburn also making it's debut this week but I'll take anything over the extreme fatigue! Now to get back to regualry workouts! WOOHOO!

Week 17

Breakouts around my chin (pregnancy or U.S. quality food? not sure...) but coffee is finally tasting good again! Pregnancy has been great the last several weeks -- it's been my ideal scenario so far!

No interesting cravings (was secretly looking forward to that). All I've been craving is watermelon but it wasn't in season while I was in South Africa.. however, now that I'm back in the U.S. for a bit, that is ALL I'll be eating! That being said, when I eat too much digestion feels impossible.

I'm struggling to sleep — up four times a night to pee and no position feels comfortable. Clothes are getting tight, but I think my belly will pop soon! I can't wait to look pregnant!

Week 21

She started kicking hard enough for us to feel her from the outside — magical! It's finally starting to feel real now (crazy that it's taken half of the pregnancy for it to start feeling real to me...).

My belly is growing fast now (I'm actually looking pregnant now eeeep!). Heartburn is a daily thing, and blood tests showed I am low in iron and vitamin D. No worries though, that's an easy fix with some suppliments. Energy, thankfully, is still steady. I'm still working out regularly.

Week 23

My skin is looking the best it has in months — almost no pimples, just a little saggy from what I think is dehydration. No major aversions to write home about, I've been really lucky with that! But I've noticed the last couple weeks I can't stand the smell of beef cooking (I realized this since Gal is deep in a beef-only diet phase - haha perfect timing). Sleep is hit or miss. My belly growth pause for it a bit but now has definitely picked up again! Crazy!

Week 25

She is moving constantly now, it's the best! I started sleeping with a giant pillow in between my knees, and it is a game changer.

Week 26 (Hello, Third Trimester)

She flipped upside down, and the fatigue returned with a vengeance. I'm getting out of breath so easily, and even light chores like dishes or mopping is wearing me out. My allergies are back (though not as bad as in the first trimester thank the lawdddd), and heartburn doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Since I'm actually looking pregnant now, I have gotten so many compliments from random people. There is something different to getting complimented looking like this, it's really been so heartwarming. I'm so proud to be carrying this little angel in my belly.

Week 29

Discharge. A lot of it. That’s it — that’s the update.

Week 31

She is growing fast, and I can feel it. Every day I wake up feeling noticeably heavier. I don't know how people don't work out while pregnant, it is so hard to carry this body around without it haha That being said, my gym motivation dipped but I'm still pushing to go.

Heavy lifting started making me cramp a little and breathless (building furniture and moving into an apartment by myself 3rd trimester was a great idea haha).

My belly dropped into more of a teardrop shape. Sleeping on my stomach is no longer an option (yes, I would sneak a little belly sleep here and there, sorry I had to!).

Her kicks are stronger than ever. She also hiccups every night before bed -- it's so cute! And also makes it very challenging to fall asleep haha

I also notice watery discharge every morning when I get out of bed, almost like a mini water break.

My hair and nails are growing thick and fast -- another great pregnancy perk!

Week 33

Pelvic soreness is making walking uncomfortable — maybe from the baby’s weight, maybe from working out. There is constant discharge, and I'm not sure if this is a normal pregnancy symptom but it's starting to get itchy and uncomfortable because my underwear is always wet. Definitely in waddling territory now. At this point I am eating an excessive amount of ceral and apples.

Week 35

I'm pooping a lot — even in the middle of the night (so random for me). I'm noticing some strange body odor, ew. I just feel worn out overall, although the tireness is nothing like first trimester (I don't know if I'll ever get over the first trimester's terror of a time).

Acid reflux is either nonexistent or absolutely brutal. I'm craving berries, apples, and smoothies daily.

Some days I can walk normally, other days I waddled hard.

Sleep is getting trickier and my belly is feeling tight and huge. I have been using bio oil and coconut lotion since I found out I was pregnant and so far no stretch marks on the belly, butt, boobs or arms!

Oh! Also got to the bottom of the itchyness down there -- the excessive discharge is a normal pregnancy symptom but if you're not wearing absorbitive underwear it can cause a yeast infection, and eating lots of sugar increases those chances as well (which I have been eating sugar lately more than I'd care to admit). So I got some yeast infection cream and it should be handled in a week...

Week 38

Less pooping now, but new fun: eczema on the backs of my arms. Just getting sexier by the day because not only is my belly getting bigger but my face (and nose strangely) is too. I don't think anyone can tell but me... but when you look at before pregnancy photos and now, it's a HUGE difference! My skin pigmentation has also change, there are light spots everywhere.

Some days I can walk fine, others not at all. Depending on where the baby's head is sitting on my pelvic area is really what sets the tone for how easy walking will be that day.

The belly is stretching more than ever! Now I totally get what people meant in those tik-toks saying "I thought I was pregnant at 20 weeks" and then they show their belly later in pregnancy... so true... I feel like after week 36 it's a totally different game. It's not something I think I could have prepared myself for or even explained to myself before experiencing it but at 38 weeks I am feeling HUGE and pregnancy just feels very different at this point.

Week 39

I'm having weird stress dreams about labor, water breaking, and all things baby almost every night. Sleep has been awful — between the constant peeing and feeling like she never stops moving at night. She's a very active baby! I think in a weird way this is my body prepping me for sleepless nights when she arrives...

I think I felt her head during a self-cervix check (am I allowed to do that? lol) but it's getting me super excited for her arrival! She's so low, she could be here ANY day which is so wild, exciting and tiring to think about haha! I just really want her to go the full 40 weeks, I want her to finish the full term developement in my belly... I'm not going to start any of the labor tricks until near the end of this week.

Week 40

We made it! I am READY to have this baby, the last 2 weeks were physically tougher than the entire pregnancy all together (actually first trimester sickness was the worst but aside from that). This belly is heavy and I physically don't want to go any longer. It's amazing how I got to this point of being so ready to give birth, the body is just amazing on how it works. Every week has been exactly on target to what the "What To Expect When You're Expecting" book said it would be.

I've been drinking the pregnancy tea the last few days and taking evening primrose to soften the cervix. Baby is still very, very low and will literally come any day now!

** Spoiler alert: baby did come 2 days later! Her U.S. estimated due date was Jan 20 and her due date given by the S.A. doctors was Jan 22nd -- she arrived on Jan 22nd!

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Every week brought something new — a strange symptom, a sweet surprise, or a change in my body I never saw coming. It was magical in ways I didn’t expect. There was so much transformation, so many quiet little milestones that made me stop and think: Wow, my body is really doing this.

If you’re in it right now — navigating the ups, the downs, the in-betweens — I see you. You’re doing an incredible job. This season is wild and beautiful, and you’re moving through it exactly as you should.