The Saga Continues: Commute and Smells

My first trimester gave me a harsh reality check: my body was changing, I was changing—and finding balance? Yeah, good luck with that.

Let me just say this: working during early pregnancy is the worst. Honestly, we deserve some kind of leave just for surviving that phase.

The nerve-wracking stress of having to tell your supervisor and coworkers that you're pregnant? Already terrifying. You try to convince yourself you can keep working at the same level—and while it’s admirable… let’s be real: it’s HARD.

Smells, Smells, and More Smells

Randomly disappearing during the workday to throw up everything you’ve eaten. Trying to avoid being triggered by Steve or Joan new cologne or perfume (not real people, lol). Resisting the urge to look at someone sideways because their food smells like  feet? That was my day-to-day.

Some women are lucky and don’t experience morning sickness—or it shows up later. But for me, it hit me like a wrecking ball. FULL Fetus position!!!

Disclaimer: Every pregnancy is different. It’s not one-size-fits-all. And if you’ve ever bought something “one-size-fits-all,” you know what I mean. 

At one point, even my boyfriend’s scent became a struggle—and that man smells GOOD. I love his hugs. But the tiny peanut growing inside me had other plans.

I was going into the office 2–3 days a week (shoutout to my hybrid schedule).

Sidebar: I had just started this job and found out I was pregnant four months in. Funny enough, I accepted the offer because of the flexibility. I thought, “This job will be perfect when I have kids one day.”

And then boom—God said, “How about now?” His timing is wild.

Back to my work schedule - commuting in NYC is already its own Olympic event. But doing it while pregnant? Criminal.

At that stage, I had no bump—just looked like a hungover millennial on the train. I could barely stand without wanting to pass out. The smells—from the MTA, cigarettes, body odor, downtown fumes—were like my own personal torture chamber. 

My Rock

The work from home days, saved my life.  Don’t get me wrong—I was still struggling—but my boyfriend? He is my ROCK.

He made all my meals (because stepping foot in the kitchen was a no-go), ran to the store for every craving, and just showed up for me.

Everything made me nauseous—the garbage smelled like a landfill, the fridge like something had died in it (and yes, I checked—it hadn’t). Through it all, he held it down and stepped up in more ways than I could’ve imagined.

I had never felt so supported in a relationship. Pregnancy is hard enough, but knowing he had my back made it feel a little less scary. That kind of steady presence brings a kind of peace you don’t realize you need or lacked in your life until you have it.

Word to the wise: We don’t always need a solution—we probably already have one or are working on it. Sometimes, just being there, listening, offering a hug or a kiss—that’s more than enough.

One of the biggest takeaways from my first trimester? Having a partner—of any kind—can make all the difference on one of life’s scariest journeys. Between work, commuting, constant nausea, and all the unexpected changes, I often felt like I was barely holding it together. But through it all, I was reminded of the power of someone simply being there.

It’s okay not to have it all figured out. To slow down, lean on others, and to give yourself grace—you're making a human. The village doesn’t start when the baby arrives. It starts with you—and the people who choose to show up for you, every single day.

Would love to know what or who helped you through your first trimester or a life changing stage in your life?