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I believe in being truthful with people, and every woman who is pregnant for the first time deserves to know what she will be facing: the wonderful and the unpleasant.
I think if we all share reality with each other, we can save ourselves a lot of scary moments. We've all had them during pregnancy, right? We say: How did this happen? What does this mean? What is going on there?
Then there are the beautiful times of pregnancy that everyone needs to know about. Feeling maternal starts as soon as you know you are pregnant, and it can be really magical and exciting.
There is plenty I don't know, so I hope you ladies out there will chime in and help me out.
1. The nose knows. The nose tends to go a little haywire during pregnancy. I remember during my first pregnancy that I smelled some honey suckle and couldn't find where it was coming from....until I got about 1/4 mile up the road. Yes, I smelled it that strong. It can be your enemy. You may find that smelling coffee sends you to the toilet (or the sink, since it may be closer). Even your husband's smell can be repulsive. Also, the nose congests easier and runs more, thanks to swelling of the membranes and an increase in mucous throughout the body.
2. Teeth. Your teeth may change color slightly. Your gums may also bleed.
3. Melasma. A dark mask on your face is melasma, a response to hormones. They say it goes away after pregnancy, but for many women it does not (they just don't want to tell you that), so see a dermatologist if it persists.
4. Don't dare touch the breasts. Don't dare go near them. They look almost alien, with the swelling and the blue lines. And you definitely don't want anyone hugging too tight.
5. Colored and lined belly. The belly can look blue or red from the increase in circulation, and can have a long vertical line through it.
6. Vericose veins. Many women get spider veins suddenly when they are pregnant, even before they start really getting bigger, and they can become a serious vericose problem later on. I've been told that they go away after pregnancy, but I have yet to see any fading. I think they're here to stay.
7. Your feet grow. Yes, thanks to Relaxin in the tissues of the body, your feet can grow up to a size while pregnant. And no, they don't shrink after.
8. Constipation. Take a stool softener or a prenatal with one in it. You'll thank me later.
9. You're all stretchy. Again, from the Relaxin in the body, you can actually over-stretch around the joints. So stretch normally, but don't overdo it.
10. Groin pain/hip pain. I've been told that the more narrow your hips, the more they have to widen in order for your body to hold and deliver that baby. For me in my first pregnancy, I could feel the bones shifting between my legs. It was incredibly painful. But with the second pregnancy, I am already widened, so at least I don't have to go through that again.
11. Heartburn. Have Tums readily available.
12. Leg cramps. The cramps can occur in the middle of the night while sleeping, and really wake you with sudden terrible pain. I recently learned that benedryll helps (yay!).
I don't mean to scare anyone who is or may become pregnant; just prepare for these little things. Not every thing happens to every one, so don't worry that it is going to be terrible. It is actually amazing to feel and see that little person doing somersaults inside your body, and there are many things that are beautiful about pregnant women.
I hope you experienced moms can add to my list.
Happy Mother's Day!
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