Written by Andrelyn Izquierdo.
A resource on symptoms that can be experienced through pregnancy in all three trimesters and confirmed through my experiences as well.
WARNING: This article contains sensitive content and may be found offensive or triggering to some people. It is intended for educational and awareness purposes to help victims and their loved ones to recognize signs of Racism, Harassment, Human Trafficking, Sex Trafficking, and/or Rape. Very graphic details may include explanations from my personal experiences. If for any reason you are not ready to see details of abuse, feel free to move on and come back when you are ready. It is also recommended that you view this with a friend or family member for emotional support.
DISCLAIMER: This article is showing how I, myself, have been trying to take care of myself in an oppressive world that still denies the fact that sexual violence exists and chooses to do nothing instead of something to help solve the problem. In no way am I claiming to be a doctor as I am not certified as one. Research over the years, trial and error, and limitations at various times on accessibility helped me construct this list to try and beat the periods of being drugged by Human Traffickers and other abusers before getting raped. No doctor has aided me in constructing this list nor has provided suggestions to me with alternatives. This is solely MY RESEARCH ONLY and I wish to not have this plagiarized.
Photo featuring Andrelyn Izquierdo and taken by Andrelyn Izquierdo.
The expression of having a bun in the oven is one thing. Have you ever heard someone say you have so many that your belly will explode? Unfortunately, I have and it seems so surreal. Human trafficking has several branches that twist in many different directions to combine into another kind of a beast to endure and get through in life. It is a mission to endure a situation similar to the size of a twig of the branch, but the good news is that it isn't impossible. To get through it takes a lot of resources.
One of the biggest branches that becomes "the elephant in the room" whether reporting or not is organ harvesting. This form of human trafficking is most commonly done within hospital systems, inside of ambulances, within other large vehicles, and also inside of your residence. It is not limited to these locations also anywhere around the globe.
The one thing to know for sure is that there is no safety in pregnancy in human trafficking. It can often get chocked up to being a system issue that people tend to ignore or leave as an afterthought. For me, it's not possible to leave it in the hands of law enforcement as there tends to be very little in return for results and, therefore justice. And that's if they even decide to pick up the phone or finish the entire phone call before hanging up on me.
My belly is growing each day even though I'm receiving assistance with aborting the astronomical amount of eggs becoming fertilized. The internal engineered structures can be complex and differentiate between countries as well as humans. As a victim of organ harvesting, my abdominal region, digestive system, and sexual organs suffer the most compared to the rest of my body. The additional agony comes from having to hear the lies that come out of doctors' mouths along with other hospital staff members or outsiders regarding this huge and controversial problem.
Organ harvesting victims who are pregnant encounter more life threatening levels of symptoms as well as rejections and denials of testing, imaging, etc. In my particular situation, I have spent so many hours trying to locate where I could obtain my medical records and did not receive them after being ordered several times. The nurses and doctors have provided me with answers, such as, "I don't know," when approached with my symptoms. More often than not, there is more than one fetus that ends up developing within the womb. I've personally experienced having over 500 eggs that have fertilized within hours. Yikes! Talk about overreactive ovaries. 😱
While it is difficult to prove this without an image of the internal anatomy, it can still be felt. The symptoms can be magnified by however many things are occupying space within the uterus. Chances of complications increase making pain become unbearable. A common lifesaving procedure, such as abortion is often left to the pregnant woman to finance and bear as a last resort when done correctly.
“7 in 10 women experience nausea or vomiting or both during pregnancy.” (The Science of Pregnancy p. 43) These are usual symptoms in an expected pregnancy. There can be many more issues and side effects during unexpected pregnancies, especially those that occur as a result of sexual assault or sex trafficking. The following list will exhibit many common symptoms and some severe examples too.
Read on for more information on what types of symptoms are evident during pregnancy.
Pregnancy Symptoms by Phase
First Trimester
Nausea, acid reflux, or vomiting at anytime of the day.
Food aversions or loss of appetite caused by indecisiveness or an overwhelming amount of symptoms that make one say, "I don't want to eat that right now."
Intense sleepiness or dizzy spells. This can occur randomly throughout the day and also become heightened whenever a meal is skipped.
Missed, irregular period, or spotting.
Dizziness and fainting by low blood pressure.
Fatigue that can lead to sitting down in a chair for extended periods of time or exhaustion with a want to go to bed.
Very sore breasts and tingly nipples.
Random feelings of sadness leading to tears due to heightened levels of estrogen. These moments are identified as mood swings.
An increase in hormones that may throw the natural equilibrium out of balance.
Increase blood pressure, stress, and stress hormones.
Urinating a lot more often. The bladder may become exhausted or the legs from running to the toilet.
Cravings that can make you go either, "Huh," Or "Wow," with a heightened sense of taste.
Second Trimester
Weight gain, which is the usual. The pounds can be spread out or centralized to only the uterus expanding the belly outward.
Nausea, acid reflux, or vomiting at anytime of the day.
Dizziness and fainting by low blood pressure.
Forgetfulness, also known as pregnancy brain.
Headaches due to increased blood circulation.
Spotting as signs of slowed or stopped period can be delayed.
An increase in hormones that may throw the natural equilibrium out of balance.
Urinating a lot more often. The bladder may become exhausted or the legs from running to the toilet.
Is that it for symptoms in the second trimester? Not necessarily. “It’s normal for some women to experience few or no symptoms in early pregnancy, even though hormones are flooding and changes are underway.” (The Science of Pregnancy p.43) The symptoms experienced in the first trimester can also be repeated in the second and transition into the third as well. There is no restriction on the number of symptoms that arise nor their extremities.
Third Trimester
Discomfort that can range from different degrees of pain. It can be very little to a whole lot. Within clinics and hospitals, they will ask for a number to describe how much pain there is for a better understanding from 1 to 10.
Abdominal girth will lead to having to purchase more clothing in larger sizes.
Nausea, acid reflux, or vomiting at anytime of the day.
Dizziness and fainting by low blood pressure.
Impatience that can be accompanied with frustration. This can occur due to high levels of pain also.
Spotting as signs of slowed or stopped period can be delayed.
An increase in hormones that may throw the natural equilibrium out of balance.
Urinating a lot more often. The bladder may become exhausted or the legs from running to the toilet.
Whichever group of symptoms experienced, it is important to know how to handle them to not increase the level of health risks. Symptoms of an early or on-time labor episode can arise during the second and third trimesters. When a baby is delivered, it is called a premature baby or nicknamed as "premie" or "preemie".
Bibliography:
Amato, Paula, M.D. Consultant Editor; Dr. Biswas, Chandrima, consultant obstetrician. DK Publishing, 2016. The Pregnancy Encyclopedia: all your questions answered, 2/24/24.
Dr. Brewer, Sarah; Bhattacharya, Shaoni; Dr. Davies, Justine; Dr. Meredith, Sheena; Dr. Preston, Penny; Dr. Moran, Paul, editorial consultant. DK Publishing, 2022. The Science of Pregnancy: The complete illustrated guide from conception to birth, 2/24/24.
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