Many of you have asked whether there is a difference between my two pregnancies, and the answer is absolutely yes. Every pregnancy becomes its own separate journey with its own rhythm, challenges, and unexpected moments. When I compare my first experience to the one I’m going through now, it feels like they almost belong to two different chapters of my life.

My first pregnancy was definitely easier in terms of symptoms. I didn’t experience that overwhelming nausea that so many women talk about. This time, the first trimester was a completely different story. I felt nauseous from morning until night, and for weeks I was searching for anything that could bring relief. Ginger beer helped, along with small snacks throughout the day, but it still felt like I was constantly fighting my own body. On top of that, I was endlessly sleepy. I found myself taking naps during the day with Teo, something I never do because daytime naps usually leave me feeling even more distracted. But during those weeks, my body simply demanded rest.

My cravings also changed dramatically. When I was pregnant with Teo, all I wanted was potatoes, meat, and sour cream — ideally all together. Luckily, Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Russian cuisine offer plenty of dishes that fit that combination. This time, my body has been asking for carbs in every form. I have not craved sweets this much since I was a child, and honestly, I had forgotten what that kind of sugar craving even feels like.

And then there are the hormones. They have hit me much harder this time. I get emotional over the smallest things, and I find myself crying unexpectedly over comments or moments that normally wouldn’t affect me at all. I have become more sensitive, especially to anything my husband says, even when he doesn’t mean it in a negative way. It’s like every emotion becomes amplified, and sometimes I just have to remind myself that it’s temporary.

Many people say that pregnancy symptoms can depend on the baby’s gender, and I’ve heard so many theories over the years. I’m not sure how much truth there is to that, but I do believe every pregnancy follows its own unique script. And maybe that’s the beauty of it — you never know what to expect, and each experience teaches you something new about your body, your emotions, and your own strength.

Do you believe pregnancy symptoms can really reflect the baby’s gender?