Pregnancy Diaries: First Trimester

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Pregnancy Diaries: First Trimester

Finding out I was pregnant was a strange one, a mix of emotions. I think we spend so much time protecting ourselves and staying safe that we train our minds to not fall pregnant. Then, when we are ready and actually wanting and planning for it, and when it happens, it's kind of a shock. I was definitely in shock and not quite sure what to feel. 

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Taking the Pregnancy test

Ingimar got two pregnancy tests from the pharmacy and brought them home. I took the first almost straight away but when I went back to check the result, it was a failed test and showed nothing. This only added to my nerves and so taking a second at-home test was a little scarier. I said to poor Ingimar, who was patiently waiting for the result, that I needed him to do the test. So he got me a cup and I pee'd in it. What a delight. I left it in the toilet for him to take the test with. So romantic. 

He came out a few minutes later was a beaming smile, showed me the test and I cried. I was in shock. I knew I was pregnant and I was happy about it but I didn't know how I was actually meant to act or feel. It's an odd situation to be in, but now that the news has settled in - I am very happy and feel very blessed. 

The next day we called the Doctor to make an appointment with the Midwife. Oddly, the first thing they asked was if we wanted to keep the baby. This was too much for me. Of course, we did but I didn't expect them to be so direct. It was too cold, Ingimar took over and made the appointment with the midwife. 

Pregnancy symptoms

When you think of pregnancy symptoms you often think of morning sickness. I have been very lucky that I've not really suffered much with this or any major pregnancy symptoms. I have had a few days at the start when I felt sick but was never actually sick. The biggest issue I had, or rather the early signs of pregnancy was sore boobs. Feeling like I had been punched in each boob every day!! No joke, this was sore. 

The first scan

At 7 weeks we went for a confirmation scan. This was an internal scan where we got to see a little blur on the screen with a heartbeat. It was a little uncomfortable but nothing to worry about really. The joy of seeing that heartbeat was just amazing. 

The Doctor told me to start my vitamins right away so we bought folic acid and vitamin D, and I took them daily. I started to get excited and downloaded the pregnancy+ app. I put in our date and started reading up on the weekly posts and look through the pictures. It was starting to feel real. 

Around this time I was offered a job at a start-up company downtown. I was still running my own company so posting out orders, blogging, and vlogging. It was important to me not to let any of that previous hard work slide so I juggled and continue to make it work, somehow.

The main side effects I have really suffered with have been tiredness, headaches, sinus problems, nose bleeds, and crazy hormones. 

Sharing the big news

Telling people is a big high of the first trimester, and sharing the big news after week 12 is a relief. The first person I told was actually my best friend as she was over visiting us and asked when my Roller Derby practice was. I couldn't think of a lie quick enough and she could read it all over my face. So I came clear and we spent the next few days talking excitedly about my big secret. 

The next we in week 10, I told my Mum and her partner. Then my sister and Ingimar told my brother. The only person we got to tell in person was Ingimar's sister and her son. It was fun to show the scan and hug and be happy in this together. 

I traveled to Hamburg before Christmas to celebrate my friend’s birthday and have a little reunion with friends from my time in India. Walking to a Christmas Market one night, I was trying to pick the perfect moment to tell them of my news before we reached the Mulled Wine. Woohoo, it was so fun sharing the news with them, surrounded by twinkling fairy lights and Christmas cheer. We clinked our mulled wine, mine was a kid-friendly drink, and toasted the good news.

Then we had Christmas and New Year, I was tired but we had a great time. Ingimar and I sat down to film our Pregnancy announcement video, with my Mum through in the kitchen. I edited it and we shared our news with you all. 

12-week scan

Then, in week 12, we headed for the 12-week scan at the hospital. It was emotional seeing this little tiny baby dancing away, flipping and flopping around, he or she looked very happy. The results of the scan were very good, no abnormalities, and my blood tests were perfect. 

Onto the second trimester

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Husband’s Day in Iceland (Bóndadagur)

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This Friday (today, 19th Jan ‘18) is bóndadagur / Þorraþræll, Husband’s Day here in Iceland, and though I don't tend to buy into all these - for want of a better term - 'hallmark holidays', I thought I'd share what this day is all about to Icelanders and get into the culture a little bit. 

Bóndadagur is a day where wives and girlfriends pamper their men and show their appreciation. Some give flowers, others treat their men to dinner out or prepare a steak served with the specially brewed þorri beer - remember to head to a Vínbúðin as you can’t buy alcohol in Icelandic supermarkets. 

Many families also celebrate by eating the traditional þorri food, and there are festivals and events held where you can try it - also check in local supermarkets. Bóndadagur marks the beginning of the old Icelandic month of þorri. This is when the (not-so-delicious) fermented foods start to appear in the supermarket - watch our Icelandic Food Challenge to see us try some of the local delicious.

So, if you’re Icelandic or your husband/partner is, have a wonderful Bóndadagur and comment below with your plans so I can get a little more into the tradition (and not disappoint Ingimar next year).

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Sonia Nicolson

British Architect & former University Lecturer turned Entrepreneur. I help students of Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Architecture, and ModelMaking successfully Design & Build their Careers and Side Hustles.

A Night In The aurora Bubble Hotel, Iceland

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Last week I had the chance to stay overnight in the Aurora Bubble Hotel, known as the 5 Million Star Hotel, so I took my Mum and we headed off to sleep in a bubble under the stars. A beautifully crisp winter’s day, we arrived into a winter wonderland, ready for the Aurora and to sleep under a blanket of stars. 

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The Bubbles act like a hotel and provide you with a room that is fully transparent, providing the perfect Northern Lights Hotel. Each Bubble sleeps two adults in a comfortable double bed, the minimum age is six years old for health and safety reasons. The structure is completely inflatable and made out of a fire-retardant PVC tarpaulin, you literally sleep in a bubble. The structure keeps itself inflated by a slight over-pressure from a noiseless ventilation system. The system is designed to renew the air 2-7 times per hour, this also prevents any humidity. The system has a heating element with a thermostat so the Bubble is cozy and warm all winter.

Bubble Hotel Iceland

Nestled in a small Icelandic wood the Bubbles are the ideal Northern Lights viewing platform, lie back and watch the starry sky. Sleep under the stars, right in the woods, it's a very special night. Some of the Bubbles have a white panel around the bottom of the walls at bed height which gives a little privacy but this doesn't interfere with any Northern Lights viewing. 

Transparent Bubble

The location of the Bubbles is kept secret until you have booked but I can tell you that they are located in the countryside near Fludir and the Golden Circle. It's about an hour’s drive from Reykjavik and two hours from Keflavik Airport. The Bubbles are nestled in a beautiful spot, set back from the road and surrounded by trees. You can also see the volcanos Katla and Eyjafjallajökull in the distance. 

This is an opportunity to truly chill out - lie back and take it all in. Sleeping under the stars and watching the Aurora Borealis dance above you might be a dream come true. It’s the ultimate glamping experience. So, if the sky is clear of clouds then you will hopefully have a good chance of seeing a starry sky with some magical Northern Lights dancing above your head. 

READ: How To See The Northern Lights

Northern Lights Bubble

The Bubbles are part of a tour offered by Northern Lights Iceland. This means that you can't stay without booking the full tour. The tour is fabulous and takes you in a luxury suburban jeep to the Golden Circle stopping at Geysir, Gulfoss, and the Secret Lagoon. The tour group is small, maximum of six people, and there are only nine Bubbles on the site so it feels very private. 

Nearby is the town of Fludir where you could take in the waters of the Secret Lagoon. This is a unique natural hot spring, the oldest swimming pool in Iceland (made in 1891). The water holds at 38-40 Celsius (100-104 Fahrenheit) all year round. Swim and float around, try to find the hottest part of the lagoon. You can also take a short walk around the lagoon to see the beautiful landscape, original changing hut, natural geysers heating the lagoon, and the nearby greenhouse. 

Service House

There is a service house on site which is a short walk from each Bubble. Here you will have access to two shower rooms with a sink and toilet. There is also a small kitchen and dining space where you can store and prepare food and drinks. There is a fridge, kettle, coffee machine, and two-ring electric hob with plenty of dishes and a dishwasher.

If you are looking for food then there is Minilik, an Ethiopian Restaurant nearby and this gets great reviews. We went to Mika, a family-run restaurant specializing in handmade chocolates and langoustine dishes. I highly recommend the langoustine soup and garlic bread. 

As the Bubbles are small, there isn’t room for a suitcase or many belongings so pack light. A small rucksack or hand luggage-sized case is ideal. Pack your pajamas, wash bag, camera (and tripod for Aurora shots), a good book, and your swimming stuff for the Secret Lagoon. Towels are provided at the Bubble but bring your own for the Secret Lagoon.

Wear good walking boots, wind and waterproof coats, and layer up. You won’t need a towel or bedding, and the Bubbles have extra blankets, electric blankets, and a spare air heater to keep you cozy and warm. 

Aurora Bubble

If you have hired a car and are driving on from the Bubbles then you can self-drive as there is a small parking bay on site but keep in mind that you still pay the full cost of the tour even if you are driving yourself. 

tour includes a nights stay in a Bubble: 59,900ISK per person

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My Iceland Bucket List

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For all my friends, or friends of friends or people that contact asking for my recommendations of things to do in Iceland  - I've put together an Iceland Bucket List to share with you. These are places, sites, restaurants, hotels that I recommend or, yup, still want to try. Click the names for links. I recommend self-driving so you have the freedom to come and go as you please but there are lots of wonderful tours on offer too. 

Near Keflavik (iceland international) Airport

  • Blue Lagoon - book tickets in advance, go for the option with marks, and drink at the swim-up bar

  • Gunnehver Geysir - near Blue Lagoon, amazing but smelly landscape

Reykjavik, iceland

  • Harpa - concert venues, worth looking at inside and out, a tour of building on offer

  • Hallgrimskirja - view from the top, service in English last Sunday of every month

  • Perlan - ice cave exhibition, view from the top - still to do (newly opened)

  • Seabarren / Sægreifinn - lobster soup

  • Íslenski barinn - Meat soup, shark, beer

  • Cafe Loki - rye bread ice cream

  • Laundromat - a great breakfast, I love the pancakes

  • Fish Market - for a special meal, try the epic taster menu

  • National Museum - still to do (shockingly)

  • Icelandic Phallological Museum - still to do

  • Reykjavík Art Museum, Hafnarhús - still to do (shockingly)

  • Settlement Exhibition - still to do (shockingly)

  • Reykjavík Art Museum - a great big space with some mad exhibitions

  • National Gallery of Iceland - still to do (shockingly)

  • Nauthólsvík Beach - hot pool, nice walks, cafe

  • Grotta Lighthouse - great for Northern Lights spotting, small hot pot, beach walks

the Golden Circle

  • Pingviller National Park - tectonic plates, amazing landscape

  • Geysir - erupting every few minutes, the cafe is good here (free soup refills)

  • Efstidalur - farm serving homemade ice cream, eat a steak in the restaurant overlooking the barn

  • Gulfoss Waterfall - powerful waterfall, wrap up as can get wet

  • Fontana - geothermal spa - still to do

  • Secret Lagoon / Gamla Laugin - fab hot pool, walk around the site after

  • Mika Restaurant - a lovely family-run place with lobster and handmade chocolates

  • Fridheimar Greenhouse - eat tomatoes soup amongst the plants in this greenhouse - still to do

  • Bruarfoss Waterfall - still to do

  • Kerid - Walk around the edge of a crater

Hveragerdi, iceland

  • Reykjadalur hot river - 1 hr hike, well worth it though to bathe in the hot river

the South Coast trail

  • Seljalandsfoss Waterfall - walk behind the waterfall

  • Gljúfrabúi - 2mins walk after Seljalandsfoss

  • Seljavallalaug Natural Pool - amazing pool, can be cold if it's been raining/snowing

  • Skogafoss Waterfall - huge waterfall, not worth the stairs to the top

  • Skogafoss Bistro - soup and a view

  • Sólheimajökull - Glacier, you can walk up to it but you'd need to join a tour to go on it, amazing experience

  • Plane wreck - a long walk, only do if you really want to

  • Reynisfara / Black Sand Beach - be careful of the waves

  • Dyrhólaey - dramatic coastal landscape

  • Vik - Service Station burgers to tide you over

  • Skaftafell - Glacier + Ice Cave tour

  • Jokulsarlon / Glacier Lagoon - stunning, enough said

  • Diamond Beach - just over the road from Jokulsarlon, epic for photography

Snaefellsnes Peninsula, iceland

  • Snæfellsjökull National Park - self-drive and see some amazing landscape

  • Djúpalón Beach - the beach where fishermen lifted stone weights to show their strength

  • Snæfellsjökull - glacier

  • Kirkjufell - most photographed mountain in Iceland but stunning

  • Norska Húsið - traditional houses, architecture

  • Súgandisey - orange lighthouse, lookout point

  • Helgafell - mountain

  • Malarrif - coastline and lighthouse

  • Saxhöll Crater - drive into a crater

  • Stykkishólmskirkja - futuristic church here

Accommodation in iceland

…and on my bucket list:

  • The West Fjords

  • Landmannalaugar

  • Fjaðrárgljúfur

  • Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands)

  • Akyreri

  • Myvatn Nature Baths

  • An Ice Cave

  • The Ring Road

what's on your iceland bucket list?

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What to do in Iceland: Secret Pools

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SECRET POOLS IN ICELAND

A trip to Iceland, the land of fire and ice, wouldn't be complete without a few hot pool visits and Iceland has some of the most incredible, natural geothermal pools. Trust me, there’s a lot more to it than the Blue Lagoon so today I'm sharing 4 of my favorite pools, and 6 that are still on my wish list. 

Hot springs are scattered around Iceland, some not accessible and others on private farmland but some are welcome to the public and you really should make a visit. I love relaxing in a hot pool, taking in the geothermal waters of a local spa, or rewarding myself with a soak in a hot river after a hike, and Iceland sure offers you these treats. My favorite pool is still Seljavallaug because the water here is algae and so so good for your skin. The dreamy and very romantic Blue Lagoon, a world know spa, will always have a place in my heart as it's where my Viking took me on our first date but I do find the water very drying on my skin. The Secret Lagoon is a great find if a little touristy but the water is always hot and fabulous. And finally, the hot river at Reykjadalur is a pretty damn unique experience and one everyone should do if they can. 

1. BLUE LAGOON

It’s the most obvious one so let’s start here. The Blue Lagoon is everything you have imagined it will be. It’s a truly relaxing experience and can be a very romantic one too. Located near Keflavik International Airport, it’s an ideal stop on your way to or from the airport. Recently extended in size with a new swim-up bar and in-water massage area, the Blue Lagoon is a great welcome to Iceland. The distinctive blue hue of the water comes from that sulphur, so it’s a good idea to remove copper or silver jewellery before bathing as it can cause discolouring. Swim around in the calming blue silica waters, try out the waterfall, steams rooms, cave, and algae or silica masks. Enjoy a refreshing drink at the swim-up bar whilst your mask works its magic. With a rather large price tag and appearing on almost everyone’s bucket list, keep in mind that there are other options. 

2. REYKJADALUR

Located an hour’s hike from the town of Hveragerði (45min drive from Reykjavik) is a hot river that welcomes you after a pretty stunning hike. The landscape is beautiful and changes from bubbling brown mud to green moss, steam billowing from the ground and rising from the algae-filled waterfalls. Reykjadalur, meaning steaming valley, is the first of our completely natural (and free) recommendations. Once you arrive at the section popular for bathing, you’ll notice there no changing huts. Strip down to your swimming costume and brave the few steps into the water. Access has been made easy by a manmade boardwalk with steps into the river. There are some screens to shelter behind and change but this is a pretty wild experience, especially if the weather is wild too, though it's an unforgettable one. Walk or paddle upstream for hotter water, lie by the small damns and take in the views. 

3. GAMLA LAUGIN / SECRET LAGOON

This pool is a great introductory pool with easy access, changing facilities, and a shower. The Secret Lagoon is a unique natural hot spring, the oldest swimming pool in Iceland, built-in 1891. It’s a large pool that was once used by local women to wash clothes in and was the local swimming pool where children learnt to swim until 1947. The water holds at 38-40 Celsius (100-104 Fahrenheit) all year round. Here you can swim and float around using the noodles provided to find the hottest part of the lagoon. Once you are warm enough, take a short walk around the lagoon to see the beautiful landscape, original changing hut, natural geysers heating the lagoon and the nearby greenhouse. There is a cafe here for a hot chocolate or snack afterward too.

4. SELJAVALLAUG

Seljavallalaug is an algae pool located in a very dramatic setting at the base of the famous Eyjafjallajökull volcano. It’s relatively easy to find but is quickly changing from a local, secret pool to one being visited by tourists. On the south coast and just a short drive from Seljalansfoss waterfall is Seljavallalaug. Park at the car park by the guesthouses and make your way up through the valley following the river path. It’s a short 15-20min walk on rocky terrain, crossing one waterfall, but is relatively easy and kids will manage. The pool is manmade and built into the rock face. There is a small but basic changing hut where you can change and leave your belongings. The pool is naturally heated but can be a little cooler if it has recently rained or snowed. The tap feeding the pool is located at the top of the pool, where everyone gathers but hot water also trickles down the rock face. This is an algae pool so can feel a little odd but is amazing for the skin. Lie back and enjoy the landscape, imagine the activity of the mighty Eyjafjallajökull and the history of this pool. 

This pool is cleaned by volunteers annually and you can make a donation by the entrance to the changing hut. Please enjoy but respectful of the pool and its landscape, leave no trace. 

still on my bucket list:

MÝVATN

The Blue Lagoon of the North, though a lot smaller, Myvatn was developed in 2004. Located on the sloped of Dalfjall, the baths have a beautiful backdrop of ochre-coloured hills. Dalfjall is home to Iceland’s first geothermal power station. The milky blue colour of the water comes from 25 metres below you. The perfect place to enjoy a long hot soak in the 38-40 ̊C water or a seat in a sauna after hiking and travelling. There’s a cafe here too.

Landmannalaugar

Set in some of the most stunning and dramatic scenery Iceland has to offer, this geothermal bath is located in Landmannalaugar, the highlands of Iceland. The landscape changes with the movement of the sun, a truly unique place surrounded by over 500-year-old lava fields and mountains of yellow, blue, white and more. Enjoy the pool, the water here is 36-40°C all year round. Stay in one of the local cabins or camp and hike the many treks. You will need to join and tour or self drive a 4WD here, though access in the winter can be very challenging. 

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