I have been on birth control for about 12 years now, I'm 31 years old. I started with the pill, but after years of frequent mood swings and not enjoying the fact that I had to take a pill every single day, I switched over to the patch. Much better choice.
In Washington state, birth control seems to be covered by insurance better. But then I moved to California to be with my husband a couple years ago. I started a nanny job to keep me afloat until I found a more permanent job, and my birth control was covered by Planned Parenthood (God bless them).
A few months later, I landed my current full-time position, which landed me health benefits. When I had my annual exam and new prescription, I still was covered by PPH and had free birth control--woohoo! But then...
This February, PPH stopped covering my birth control. My insurance took over, and they wanted me to still pay about $140 per month for my birth control. SERIOUSLY?! Too rich for my blood. I did not want to go back to the pill, and I figured my hubby and I would have kids in the near future, so I just stopped the patch and chose the good ole condom route. Not the best in bed, but much cheaper.
Now here is where it gets a little hazy. My womanly-system has always operated like clockwork while on birth control. When I try to think back, I can barely recall one time where I thought my period was going to start that week, so the hubby and I hit the sack unprotected towards the end of March, right before we switched birth control. ONCE. And BOOM goes the dynamite.
I waited for a few weeks and started worrying about my period, because it was non-existent. I was getting symptoms time to time (extreme moodiness, cramps, exhaustion), but nothing came. I started researching online and noticed everyone said it takes about 4-6 months for a period to re-start after ending birth control, especially if you've been on it for so long like I have. Okay, worries wiped clean, I would wait it out.
Time flew, and I noticed I was gaining weight, especially in my chest. I'm a stomach sleeper, and sometimes I would wake up the girls would be really sore. I thought my hormones were so out of whack, this was normal. I started exercising more and counting my calories. I was a vegetarian too, so I thought I should lose weight in no time. But weeks went by and my weight stayed the same, chest kept growing. Sigh.
My annual exam with the OB/GYN came mid-June, and I explained to her that I hadn't had my period for a few months and that I was gaining a little weight. First thing she says?
"You might be pregnant."
My reply: "No, I'd be showing by now, right? I haven't thrown up or anything."
OB: "Well, let's get a blood test just to make sure."
Next day, I get a blood test. The OB mentioned it could be a thyroid problem, so I was banking on that. I absolutely hate getting my blood drawn/needles in general (even though I have three tattoos, funny huh), but I had my blood drawn earlier that year for a physical and the lady was nice and gentle. But this lady was blunt and the area didn't heal for a week. Sorry, went off track there.
My blood was drawn on Friday, June 14th. That following week I heard nothing, so I thought I was fine.
The ominous phone call came on Monday, June 24th. I say ominous because when I answered my work phone and my OB stated who she was, the conversation started out with:
"So how have you been feeling?"
"I've been great, I feel fine."
"Oh, that's good. Well, I've got some news for you."
<me holding my breath>
"You're pregnant."
The conversation after that was kind of blurry because I started crying and panicking. I did catch a 'congratulations' and 'we need to set up an appointment for an ultrasound right away', but that was it. I was crying because I was so shocked--I absolutely had no idea. The husband and I had planned on having kids eventually, maybe two or three years down the road, but not this year. Not when I make barely enough to cover my student loans, credit card and car payments. And not when my husband's job was so fickle (he is self-employed). The OB put me on hold and a receptionist came on the phone and set up an appointment the very next day in the afternoon; the OB she set me up with was on-call though, so it was a tentative time.
After I hung up, I went straight to the bathroom of my work and pretty much had a panic attack. Thankfully there was only one other person in the office, and he was in his own office with the door closed. I paced in our tiny bathroom crying and hyperventilating and then stopping to stare at my belly in the mirror. How was I pregnant?! I had no morning sickness, no nausea. I was scared to tell my husband, not sure how he was going to react. I collected myself and sat at my desk researching online "I didn't know I was pregnant until 12 weeks", seeing other women's shocked stories.
That Monday I had planned on taking off around noon since we had new living room furniture being delivered to our townhouse. I drove my long 50 minute commute in silence, thinking of ways to break it to the hubby. I'd have to wait until after the furniture was delivered, I didn't want to ruin his excitement of a new couch (we've had the same crappy, uncomfortable love seat since I moved to California). I got home, ate some lunch and stared at the television without really paying attention to what was going on. The furniture delivery guys arrived about an hour later and hubby arrived about 10 minutes later. Since we didn't want to be in the way, we stepped out on our balcony and IMMEDIATELY he asked, "What's wrong? You have a look on your face." He knows me oh so well. My mind racing, I said, "I have some good news and bad news." Right away he said, "You're pregnant." Again, my husband knows me all too well. I started balling and as shocked as he was, he was extremely comforting. As the delivery guys were finishing up, we both had blank expressions on our faces.
After they left, Matt kept himself busy by unwrapping all the other furniture pieces and I just laid on the couch. In my mind growing up thinking about the day I would be pregnant, I thought it would be the most joyous celebration with laughter and smiles. Our first pregnancy announcement was filled with wide eyes and contemplation. It's pretty funny thinking back now, but we were just in shock all day. We were in slight denial too that the blood test was wrong. We both agreed that we'd get to the ultrasound and they would find nothing, or at least in my mind a big piece of poop, because that's where my mind goes. Ha.
The next day work wouldn't go by fast enough. My tentative appointment was for 2:15pm, and my husband planned on meeting me for lunch near work and then going to the appointment. At lunch, I made the phone call to make sure my OB was in, and they moved it to 2:45pm. Then they called me back again and moved it to 3:50pm. The wait was killing us! We walked around the shopping area after lunch, and finally made our way over to the office. The waiting room was jam-packed with pregnant ladies and their boyfriends/spouses/support groups. Apparently our office only schedules ultrasounds on Tuesdays, so this was the norm. 45 minutes later we finally got called in and the nurse took my weight and blood pressure; in the middle I asked "How accurate are blood tests?" She chuckled and said "Very accurate."
We went into the ultrasound room where I stripped down and put on the all-too comfy paper top and paper towel to cover my bottom half. The husband stated "I'm glad I'm not a woman, men have it so much easier". Yeah yeah.
The doc came in and after she did a quick exam, the moment came where we would see what was inside. Sure enough, this image popped up:
I immediately began to cry. Holy Baby Batman, this little thing was kicking and our doc pointed out to hubby its tiny heart beating so rapidly. No more doubts, there was a little baby growing inside of me. I couldn't stop crying, not because I was sad, but because I was so shocked and happy to see a little life growing inside of me. I even told my doc and husband "These are happy tears".
After a good 10 minute consultation afterwards and knowing I'm about 13 weeks along, we drove home separately in half shock, half excitement. Sure, we wanted to wait for kids, but after talking to so many people about it they all come to the same conclusion: you cannot plan for babies no matter how much you try. I see it as a blessing too, for some women try so hard to get pregnant and either cannot or it gets very complicated. I'm blessed that I had no sickness in the first trimester. I really blamed a lot of hormonal issues on my lack of birth control...although being my first pregnancy, I will not be naive to the first signs of pregnancy that I experienced:
--Sore Breasts (as I mentioned before)
--Fatigue: I had a couple weeks bout where I would struggle to stay awake on my commute home, more so than usual. I even told this to the husband, and he brought it up after we found out I was pregnant.
--Frequent Urination: I really thought I was just drinking a lot more water, which I was!
--Headaches: I had a headache almost every few days.
--Backaches: I thought I had a case of Sciatica at one point, it would hurt to walk a certain way, or bend over.
--Cramping: Again, I thought I was just getting my period soon, but then it wouldn't show.
--Bloating: I was gaining weight and eating broccoli and beans a lot...I thought those two went hand in hand, right?
--Mood Swings: Oh man, I would blow up at the husband over the littlest things right from the beginning of pregnancy. I chalked it up to the the phantom period...
These are a majority of the first signs, but there is also Nausea, Food Cravings, Dizziness and Positive Pregnancy Test...totally skipped these!
My last lesson that I've heard so many times before but never believed..."It only takes one time."
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