Okay, let's talk about pregnancy.
I know there are some women out there who love being pregnant. They'd be pregnant all the time if they could. I knew about two weeks into it that I was not one of those women. Don't get me wrong, I'm very thankful to be pregnant and it's definitely better than the alternative (i.e. not being pregnant), but it hasn't exactly been a bed of roses for me (unless you count the thorns—who came up with that phrase, anyway?) and I imagine once will be enough for me.
I'm 24 weeks along now (about 5.5 months) and we found out we're having a boy. So we've started gathering cute boy stuff together. I admit I'm going to miss dressing up a little girl in frilly dresses and all the other cute girl stuff out there, but God is giving us a boy so I'm learning to turn away from the girl stuff. Hubby is still a bit worried when we're around a baby stuff in a store and I oooh and ahhh at all the little girl stuff, but I'll manage.
Here are a few random thoughts I have about this pregnancy thing:
Morning sickness. I'd really like to meet whoever came up with this term—and have a stern talking with them. There is nothing exclusively "morning" about it, it's all-day sickness, period. I spent the first 14 weeks nauseous most of the time, it wasn't fun. (I didn't throw up all the time, thankfully, but I was almost always nauseous.) Thankfully, my OB believes in drugs (medicine, that is) and I've been on anti-nausea medicine since week 7, which helped me at least get through the day. (Kind of important when I was trying to start a new job and finish up school while dealing with this pregnancy thing.) I'm happy to report I'm much better now and get sick much less often, though I still have the medicine and take it occasionally to ward off nausea. Apparently I'm going to be one of those people who deals with being sick off and on throughout the pregnancy—another reason I'm thinking once will be enough.
Maternity clothes. Ugh. I know, they're so much better and more stylish than they used to be, but they're so expensive and it takes so long to find things that fit. I managed to find a few pairs of pants that fit early on, thankfully (or they fit once my mother shortened them for me), but tops are still a struggle. Even at 24 weeks I'm still not showing a whole lot, so while my regular tops are too small I don't fill out maternity tops yet and they look ridiculous. For now I've gotten a few shirts that are a size larger than I normally wear and that seems to be working, particularly as the weather gets warmer so I don't have to wear sweaters and turtlenecks all the time anymore. Some days it's quite a challenge getting dressed and finding clothes that are comfortable and work.
Seatbelts. Not designed for pregnant women. Yes, you wear them anyway. 'Nuff said.
Sleeping. How do pregnant women sleep? I did okay the first trimester (I slept a lot more due to that first-trimester-always-exhausted thing), but now I never sleep very well. I am feeling kidlet moving during the day but not particularly at night (he's not big enough yet to do the jabbing and kicking I've heard about), but I am dealing with heartburn or acid reflux or whatever it is like there's no tomorrow, and it isn't fun. Taking antacids before I go to bed seems to help (yes, approved by the doctor), but I still only sleep for a few hours at a time, it seems, and I wake up a lot during the night and always wake up early in the morning. As long as I go to bed early enough I seem to be mostly okay and can manage my days, but never feeling like I sleep very well is really annoying.
Swelling. I may not be looking very pregnant yet but my ankles are HUGE! Hubby has noticed, too. I know it's normal and all, it's just weird. I can still get my shoes on (my feet are swollen some, too) but I'm definitely looking forward to summer when I can live in flip-flops. Closely related to swelling is also leg cramps, including painful charley horse cramps in your calves. I have to be very careful how I turn and stretch in bed to avoid getting those. Ouch.
Heat. This one is just speculation on my part. From what I've read pregnant women are hot all the time and can't cool down, even in the winter. I'm still waiting on this one so I'm still cold all the time, like always.
Bathroom. No discussion on pregnancy would be complete without a word on how often pregnant women have to go to the bathroom. Even at this early stage, before kidlet is huge and hitting your bladder (and squashing all your other organs, too, from what I've read). You always hear about how you're eating for two, but it doesn't come up as often that you're peeing (eliminating wastes) for two, too!
Those are my thoughts. For those of you who have been pregnant before, what are yours?
Well, I am one of those women who had an exemplary pregnancy. I was never sick but one time when my acid reflux was the main reason for it. And my energy level was AWESOME up until about week 38. I think my overall mental outlook was probably the best it's ever been as well. But, I was 21 then. I have a feeling it would be a different story now that I'm nearing 30.
ReplyDeleteI gained about 60+ lbs. I wouldn't recommend that. =) Because the kidlets typically only weigh about 8 at the most....
I think the sleeping stuff was hard for me too. I sleep on my back a good bit of the time so I couldn't do that anymore after the first 10 weeks or so. I remember a lot of restless evenings just trying to get comfortable. But, getting used to being sleep deprived during the pregnancy is good boot camp preparation for after the birth!! =) But you'll probably be lucky and kidlet will start sleeping through the night at 5 weeks or something.
I LOATHED having people touch my belly. I don't know what it is about pregnancy that makes people think it's ok to invade your personal space, but I got kinda rude about it. And I'm not usually one to reject someone touching me or hugging me - but that just really irritated me. Maybe it was the hormones.
Seriously though, I hate that you've had a rough time of it. I do think it's something that should be enjoyed as much as possible and it's so hard to when your body seems to have turned on you.
My advice, especially if you are only planning to be pregnant this one time, is to try and enjoy it as much as possible. And, to enjoy the first couple of years with kidlet as much as possible. Even though Mini-me is only 7 years old, I have to grasp for memories of the pregnancy and first 2 years and I wish I'd documented them a bit better. Because, at times, I don't know if I'll ever experience that again.
I hope that as the weeks continue, and the countdown begins, that you will begin to feel physically better and better. I'm SOOOOO excited for you. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on motherhood!
Wow, I had already forgotten all the preggers stuff!
ReplyDeleteLet's see. I was lucky enough not to have "morning" sickness. :) Heartburn/acid reflux - thought it would be the death of me! There is an old tale that if you have heartburn the baby will have lots of hair. Addison had lots of hair, so I have to say it is true. Perhaps Kidlet will have a head full.
Sleeping. Get a body pillow. I hate to tell you, but it gets worse. Later on in the pregnancy I was tossing and turning all night and snoring oh-so-very loudly when I did sleep. I would even wake myself up snoring sometimes! I did the sleep, wake up for a few hours, go back to sleep routine for the last trimester. I said it was prepping me for the night feedings.
Keep an eye on that swelling, I'm sure the doctor is.
Maternity clothes - ack! hate them.
Anyway, those are my thoughts. I think back on the pregnancy fondly every once in while. Hubby and I were just talking the other night about the first night with Addison at the hospital. So many emotions that I will never, ever forget!