Why I hid my Pregnancy for Four Months

While I have always been good at keeping secrets, the last few months were agony trying to hide my pregnancy. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops that we were once again expecting a baby. After all, having Arielle has been one of the greatest joys of my life and I wanted nothing more than to expand our family and make her a big sister. So when I found out the good news, my first reaction was excitement, but it immediately turned to anxiety, nervousness, and to be painfully honest, dread. Keep reading for the reason I hid my pregnancy for four months. 

How I did it

First off, even though I will be 20 weeks this Wednesday, I am just really starting to show. Starting around week 15 if you saw me in anything form-fitting you’d think I just had a little extra weight around the middle. I blame the morning sickness. But to avoid any questions or conjecture, I relied on high-waisted skirts, roomy sweaters, coats, and jackets, as well as different camera angles that did not capture the tiny bump that has been steadily growing. I also turned to my backlog of photos that I mixed into my posts and feed and when I attended events, I indulged in a delicious mocktail so I could fit it.

Chance of Miscarriage

I know I keep bringing it up, but having two miscarriages in 2022 did a number to my mental health. When that little “+” sign appeared, one of the first things that came to mind was, “Will this pregnancy last?” It’s a sad, hard thing to think of in a moment that is supposed to be one of the best of your life, but nonetheless, it’s the thought that plagued me for those first few weeks before I was able to hear our little one’s very healthy heartbeat. 

We Wanted to tell our Families First

I remember how thrilled everyone was when we told them we were expecting Arielle, and I wanted to recreate that magic this time around as well. And I think we pulled it off. It also happened to be quite the coincidence that this baby is due just two weeks after Arielle was, so we were once again able to announce our great news on our Christmas card. 

And of course, we wanted to include Arielle in our Happiness

The big difference this time around is we already have a little one running around the house and we wanted to make her feel special during this entire process. So the baby had a gift to give her when we told her that she would be “promoted” to big sister. It took her some time to understand what exactly is happening, and I still don’t think she gets the whole idea, but she has become very involved in this pregnancy. Every day she talks to the baby, the list of things she can’t wait to teach the baby, and I love the tummy kisses and gentle hugs she gives me. Even though I’m out of my first trimester, my hormones are still a little crazy so these sweet moments usually make me tear up. I just can’t help it!

Now I am so happy that everyone is in on our little secret and I look forward to sharing with you all of our preparations as we get ready to welcome our little bundle. What do you want to see here about this pregnancy? Do you have any specific questions you’d like me to address? DM me and let me know!