Pregnancy: H is for Hormones

H is for hormones. Hormones play a big role in my pregnancy because they kept me from being pregnant. In 2007 my husband and I decided to get pregnant while I was in grad school. If we timed it right, the child would be born during the summer. It seemed like once we started trying, I kept skipping my period. Every month I thought I was pregnant because I had the symptoms: fatigue, gaining weight, no period and constipation. I missed that I was also very cold, jumpy, and my hair was falling out. After six months and six negative pregnancy tests, I went to the doctor and got a blood test.

In short: Hypothyroidism. Too little thyroid hormone. The good news was that hypothyroidism is easily taken care of with drugs. The bad news was that I was not ovulating. Then came the Femara for ovulation induction. I tried one pill, then two months of two pills, then two months of three Femara pills. So, five months later, I was pregnant. But that is another story for another letter.

I have one more thing to say about hormones: yes, there is crying. I must have cried every other day for the first two months. I didn't cry about being pregnant or morning sickness, I cried for the economy. Suffice to say, crying about the economy did not help me get a job.

Now, at eight months, I cry at commercials and movies. State Farm has a moving commercial out about helping people. When I see a trailer for My Sister's Keeper, it's over. I'm bawling. I caught part of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants; more tears.

I am not looking forward to the postpartum hormones. Enjoy the PregTASTIC podcast about hormones.