HAVE YOUR SAY

HAVE YOUR SAY

STAR LETTER PREGNANCY PAINS

I had just completed my fi rst half-marathon before going into my second cycle of IVF. This cycle was thankfully successful and we await our little bundle of joy in July 2017. I started running in 2014 and it quickly became my passion, my release and my biggest pleasure. I have gained confi dence and, as a doctor, I have been able to pass this onto my patients. However, nobody prepared me (or I didn’t prepare myself) for just how debilitating the fi rst trimester of pregnancy could be. I imagined I would still be able to do a 5K during the week and a steady 10K at the weekend. The nausea and fatigue have hit me badly and, for the last fi ve weeks, I have been barely managing a full day at work. I am used to being a very busy person and I have been struggling to manage the basics. I have forced myself to go for 10Ks and retched most of the way round (although I did feel the endorphin buzz afterwards). I have cried when watching other runners from my window, I took my medals off the wall as they were a reminder that I am not the person I used to be just now. I could feel my mood slipping but then I remembered your magazines could serve as a focus and reminder that this would not last forever. I wanted to thank you for the fabulous articles and inspirational pieces. Having them to read helps maintain my motivation and perspective. During the low times, I remember that, even though I cannot get “out there”, my spirit remains fi rmly unbroken. I cannot wait to be a mummy and this to all become worth it – even though it doesn’t feel like that just now. I am looking forward to the second trimester when the fog shifts a little and I can build my identity back.