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As it mostly happens with pregnant women, my first month was without any symptoms, except that my periods were late. My period tracker was sending me notifications, and I thought I would wait for a few days before visiting the doctor. I was travelling on weekends and focusing on my work on weekdays.

One week later, I tested using an old pregnancy kit which was not expired, and the result was negative. I was a bit disappointed, even though it was only our second month since we started family planning. Usually it doesn’t affect you when you think you have enough time, but when you know that your biological clock is ticking every second, it does. Then a thought came to mind, and I searched the internet for the accuracy of test results from an old kit.

Usually I don’t trust AI, but this time Google Gemini gave me the right suggestion: to order a new kit and check after two to three days. I followed the suggestion, and after three days, when I tested, I received the good news. I went to my prayer area, thanked God for this blessing, and then announced it to my husband, who had tears in his eyes when he learned.

That day, we also had a booking at the Tulips Festival, so we went there and were mesmerised by the bright colours on the farm, which was filled with Tulips. Initially, I had no symptoms or morning sickness, but eventually I started experiencing nausea in the evening, dizziness and occasional headaches.

To cope with my evening nausea, I used to eat a heavy lunch, two oranges a day (which is also a great source of Vitamin C), and a glass of coconut water in the evening. Then I would either drink milk if I didn’t want to eat anything for dinner or prepare a light meal like soup, oats, or khichdi with more tomatoes. Eating small, frequent meals was never a habit for me because I like to have a heavy lunch, a snack or fruit in the evening, and mostly a light dinner.

I also started listening to my body, resting whenever I felt the need, and staying hydrated. I also developed a habit of practising basic yoga asanas, meditation and walking even before conception, which helped create a schedule during the first trimester as well. Whenever I had headaches or dizziness from fatigue or the heat outside, I would take a nap. This is the time when, as a pregnant woman, I reminded myself to be kinder, gentler, and more patient because these symptoms would pass and my body would adjust to them.

I was taking 5 mg of folic acid and 1000 IU Vitamin D before conception, as my doctor prescribed it in the UK, and I continued doing it afterwards. The doctor explained that Folic Acid is essential for preventing neural tube defects in the fetus and for cell and tissue development, and that Vitamin D is essential for bone health. Immediately after finding out about the pregnancy, I also contacted my gynaecologist in India, and she suggested that I continue both supplements.

I filled the Antenatal Self-Referral Form to register my pregnancy with the NHS and initiate an appointment with the midwife, which takes between 8 and 10 weeks of gestation. Additionally, I called the Emergency Gynaecology Unit (EGU) and asked them for an early appointment because I had a history, and I didn’t want to take any risks this time.

Luckily, the midwife scheduled me for an early scan in my fifth week, and the doctors detected a heartbeat, which reassured me. I asked the doctor if I should continue the 5mg folic acid or if I should take Pregnacare pregnancy supplements, and he suggested continuing the folic acid as prescribed for the first trimester.

Note: If you are new to the UK system, completing the antenatal self-referral form is the first step in starting pregnancy care. The form-filling process is simple, and the team is responsive. If you have any concerns or a history of pregnancy, do not hesitate to call the EGU unit at your nearby hospital.

After submitting the form, I received a confirmation message on my phone, and the NHS booked my first appointment with the obstetrician for my eighth week.

I was nervous, and I still am, but I believe god’s grace and my late father’s blessings strengthened me. When I met my obstetrician, I asked her a long list of questions, and she said I was overthinking and needed to calm down. She took my blood and urine tests, checked my weight and blood pressure, asked about our family histories, my pregnancy histories and told us about the entire process and further appointments.

Some of the questions I asked her included:

• What symptoms should I expect in the coming weeks, and when should I be concerned?
• Should I continue my yoga and walking routine?
• What tests and scans will be done in the first trimester, and what’s their purpose?

Pregnancy gives anxiety at every moment. It makes you overthink, and you worry about even a minute situation. However, three things are helping me deal with it: talking to my husband, discussing it with people who have been through this journey, and spirituality. I have also found that writing down thoughts in a diary helps when emotions become overwhelming.

If you don’t have a close support system, don’t think that you are alone in any way. Share your thoughts in the comments and feel empowered. I am listening to you, and if you need any resources, like the names of support forums, I will share them too.

Then came the time to announce the good news to our families on my husband’s birthday. My mother-in-law took a few minutes to grasp the news, but everyone else reacted immediately and wished us well. Our families showered us with blessings and love.

In my twelfth week, I had a nuchal and dating scan where the doctor showed and told us everything in detail about our baby, including the heartbeat rate through sonogram. The doctor also arranged my first blood marker test to check for chromosomal abnormalities and syndromes. We are still waiting for the reports, hoping everything goes well.

For the last three months, my husband and I have not been travelling anywhere except occasionally to Central London because of nausea and frequent urination problems. However, after finishing the first trimester, we planned a peaceful one-night staycation to celebrate our babymoon.

The lakeside staycation gave me joy and peace of mind, and I felt rejuvenated after spending 24 hours amid nature and the waterside. We woke up to a mesmerising view of a lake encircled by trees, with ducks swimming and birds chirping melodiously on the branches.