I loved being pregnant. However, there were times when I felt like it was a club where members didn’t tell you all they knew about initiation. I figure that some of these things are similar to aspects of labor, once you go through it, you forget. Here are some of the things that you may not be quite prepared for.
Fatigue-
Sure, I was aware that I would be tired as that little person grew inside me but I had no idea that I would actually be able to (and did) fall asleep in a noisy movie theater or sitting upright while engaged in a conversation with someone. There were times that I was so tired that I would nearly start to cry.
MOOD SWINGS-
My husband never knew what he was getting. Was I crying because I was sad or because I just saw a commercial that included a newborn baby? Why was I mad about something today that didn’t seem to bother me yesterday? He had as hard of a time figuring it out as I did. By my third pregnancy, I finally just told him, “I am going to be a little crazy for the next few months. I can feel it coming and I can’t help it. Please try to understand. For better or for worse.”
Trouble Eating Foods-Depending upon how bad your morning sickness is, you may know by just looking at some foods that you will not be able to eat them. But then there are the things that look good and taste good and you won’t know until you are relaxing on the couch that with every breath you take, your chest will feel like someone is lighting it on fire. It hurts so badly inside that you feel like your heart is crumbling. This is when you will start buying Costco quantities of TUMS.
Trouble Sleeping-
Even when your body is exhausted, you may have difficulty sleeping. There was a point in each of my pregnancies that I refer to as “pregnancy insomnia.” I am not sure if it was my growing shape, my child kicking inside, my brain’s inability to relax or the numerous bathroom trips I took each night. It was probably a combination of all of these things. Not to mention, I was having bizarre dreams when I did sleep.
Anxiety About Labor-
From the time that I saw the first video of a child being born in my birthing class, something inside me began to panic. How was that 8 pound baby ever going to get out of my body? I wanted to leave the room. I was having trouble breathing. I turned to my husband and said, “I’m sorry. I don’t think I can do THAT!” He looked at me sympathetically and patted my shoulder. What could he say? That was exactly what I going to have to do in a few weeks. I was scared. Even after I had been through it once, I still couldn’t fight the nervousness. “What if I don’t remember what the real contractions feel like?” But of course, once they hit, I remembered. Swearing under my shortness of breath about how idiotic I was to actually do this again! It all comes back, just as quickly as you forget.
The Greatest Love-
I can remember the exact moments that my children were born. When I look at those pictures, it nearly brings me back to those days in the hospital. No one could ever prepare you for what it feels like the first time you hold your baby. The very instant you look into those little eyes, your heart will melt and you will feel a love like never before. That is when you realize that your pregnancy has been worth every day.