My Pregnancy with Baby Hyrum

As the final weeks of my pregnancy stretched on and on, I found myself complaining...often, “Pregnancy is the worst!” Joseph would sometimes remind me that while that may be true, the whole pregnancy wasn't all bad, in fact, parts of it were easy and even enjoyable. At such a volatile time a comment like that warranted an “OFF WITH HIS HEAD!”… but he had a point. I felt very blessed during my pregnancy, and it went smoothly. As time goes by I will probably forget everything that happened: the kindness from those around me, the love and excitement for my unborn child, the sleepless nights, the feelings of apprehension, the awkward comments, and the awe and wonder at new life growing inside me. These are things I don’t want to forget, so I've compiled a list. 

My first symptom of pregnancy was using the bathroom, a lot.

The first pregnancy test I took was negative and I didn't take another one for about 3 weeks. I figured time would tell.

I wasn't very sick during the first trimester, but I would feel nauseated if I hadn't had anything to eat.

I only threw-up twice. Once on an airplane, and once when I got a stomach bug, but I was legitimately sick that time. Pregnancy affects your immune system. 

We hiked Mt. Timpanogos when I was about 8 weeks pregnant, and I thought I was going to die. I didn't realize that the baby steals all your oxygen.

I love hearing the baby’s heart beat, but it was never long enough. I wanted to listen to it for at least an hour, maybe more. 

My first appointment was just a nurse’s visit and the nurse couldn't find the heartbeat. I pretty quickly began thinking of the worst case scenarios (I'm a good worrier), but the doctor easily found the baby's heartbeat the next appointment.

I don't think sonogram pictures look like much of anything, but I still looked through Hyrum's every day, and I watched his ultrasound video when I missed him.

I wanted to do a creative pregnant costume for Halloween, but my bump was not impressive enough to pull off the "I ate a basketball" look.

I started sleeping really poorly about month 5 or 6. I would wake up in the middle of the night really alert with nothing to do. Sometimes I would wake Joseph up; misery loves company. He was always really sweet, but mostly really groggy giving incoherent answers to my questions probably wishing his crazy pregnant wife would stop waking him up in the dead of the night. I feel bad about that. I may also have called my mother at 4 o’clock in the morning. She said, “I love you. Please go read a book.”

When I became the size of a small beluga whale, I may or may not have asked Joseph to roll me over so I didn't have to do it myself.

I went running, then walking, and then waddling at the cemetery in Pocatello. I loved it there. The trees were huge and beautiful, and it was so peaceful. When I was past due, I was on my way to the cemetery when my grandmother called me to ask how I was doing. I love her.

Hyrum was 5 days overdue, and there came a point where I couldn't call anyone just to talk because they only wanted to hear baby news. I called my brother Andrew during one of his classes just to talk, he answered in a flurry anticipating some exciting news, I had none. Then when Hyrum was born and I called to tell him I ironically called him during the same class period, he didn't answer, but he called me after class.

I feel like Frozen is Hyrum’s movie. I saw it when I was about 7 months pregnant and Joseph bought the soundtrack as an anniversary gift. We spent way too much time in the car that Christmas as we traveled to Provo, Coeur d’Alene, Portland, Sacramento, and home. Frozen was our theme music. We listened to it up to Hyrum’s birth.

It was snowing lightly the morning we went to the hospital.

When we found out that our baby was a boy we only got one “it’s a boy” bracelet. Joseph took it without asking, assuming that it was his. And so it was. He wore it always. It was a little constant reminder that our baby boy was coming, and Joseph was so proud. I loved looking over and seeing the bracelet on his wrist. 

Joseph's wearing the blue, "It's a boy!" bracelet

We went out to eat after the ultrasound appointment at a Mexican restaurant. Very manly.

After we found out the gender of our child we referred to him as junior. 

While pregnant I was easily startled. When we saw Iron Man 3, I closed my eyes when I could tell something was going to jump out at me. I was blow-drying my hair one day and I didn't hear Joseph come in. When he touched my shoulder I had a full-blown hysterical fit.

I was working as a home health care aid, helping the elderly stay in their homes by assisting with their needs. I had been working with one lady for a while when one day she looked at my 8 month pregnant body and said, “Are you pregnant?” when I answered in the affirmative she said, “Oh! I just thought you had an unfortunate figure.” But seriously having the body of a pregnant lady all year round would be unfortunate.

The first time they drew my blood at the doctor’s my phlebotomist stabbed me about 5 times. She missed the first time and I think she figured that she could just sneak the needle over quickly. The only problem was that my vein moved over as she tried to stab it. That happened several times. I had tears in my eyes and running down my cheeks by the time she finished. She asked if I was excited to have a baby. “Yes.” *sniff sniff. Little did she know those droplets weren't tears of emotion; they were tears of legitimate pain.

On my due date it was pretty clear that I would not be having a baby and I was depressed. Joseph came home early from school instead of staying later to study. “I just felt like I should be home with you today.” 

The night before Hyrum was born we saw Catching Fire in the dollar theater. It was snowing so instead of walking outside, we walked up and down every single aisle at our Fred Myer grocery store.

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While not all of pregnancy is glamorous, it really is incredible. Joining with our Father in Heaven to create life is a humbling sacred experience. I was blessed to be a part of it.