My heart was racing. I felt breathless with the tiniest amount of exertion. I felt intense anxiety for, what I felt like, no good reason. I felt like I was having panic attacks – ALL the time.

After seeing the dietician, I became extremely interested – or rather, obsessed – in learning about vitamin supplementation in pregnancy.

“How are you feeling?” she asked in genuine concern. “Depleted,” I said flatly, “like death warmed up.”

“I can’t do this,” I would moan to my husband, “this is going to kill me. I won’t survive.”

My hands were shaking so violently that I almost spilled my ginger beer as I waited for the train. I was convinced it was all going to kill me.

I still remember the profound exasperation I felt one morning, when I woke up and in a fit of disgust wailed, “I cannot possibly have one……more……green…….smoothie!”

It feels as though my body is rejecting these pills and yet I power through. I NEED to know that I’ve given it a real shot…