When it comes to pregnancy everyone has a wise word of advice; it doesn't matter if they have 10 kids or no kids at all everyone has something to say about pregnancy. Most will tell you it's the greatest experience in your life and to treasure every moment, some will be brave enough share a few unpleasant moments, but very few are out right honest about what's going to happen to your body and what you're really going to go through.
Please don't misunderstand me, I have dreamed about being pregnant and have wanted to be pregnant my entire life. The fact that I am growing life inside of me astounds me in ways I've never imagined and I am completely grateful for the blessing that has been given to me. Hearing my baby's heartbeat for the first time was amazing and I wouldn't trade any of what I've gone through and will go through to take it back. God is incredible and the fact that as a woman He created me to carry and grow this little being to life has created a new foundation of faith I never knew I could have.
As incredible and awesome as this miracle is please allow me to be slightly cynical for a moment while I completely agree with Joanne Kimmes and Sanford A. Tisherman and say "Pregnancy Sucks". Their book Pregnancy Sucks: What to Do When Your Miracle Makes You Miserable gets down to the nitty gritty honest truth of pregnancy that no one tells you about and they do it with such humor.
In my opinion every woman should know what's she getting into no matter how great the outcome will be in the end so here are just a few things that people don't tell you you're going to experience or feel while pregnant:
*Exhaustion- Get ready because you will never sleep or feel completely rested ever again. You'll fall asleep at work or find yourself looking at the floor and pining for it's company in a nap.
*Constipation- Get out the Metamucil and prunes ladies because nothing will stop you up quicker and longer than a baby.
*Smell Aversions- If you thought the guy at your office wore a lot of cologne before you got pregnant, just wait... he seems to really pour it on once you're pregnant. You're favorite foods cause you to gag and you'll eat nothing but cold cereal for months because it's the only unscented bland food that doesn't make you want to puke.
*Morning Sickness- Shouldn't this really just be called nausea. A lot of woman don't get it in just the morning... Nothing can kick start the day like feeling the need to puke and forcing yourself to choke down food just to get some nutrients in your system. That feeling, for some, lasts ALL day. (Thank goodness for drugs, Sofran will become your best friend)
*Itching- As you stomach, backside, thighs, and chest begin to grow in size your skin is stretched. In the end this results in stretch marks but before the stretch marks even make an appearance you will begin to itch like a bad case of the chicken pox. Unfortunately it's not an itch you can throw some cream on and forget about, the anti-stretch mark lotion works for about 30 minutes and then you're back to scratching like your life depended on it.
*Muscle Cramps/ Pain- Sharp pains in your abdomen that cause you to FREAK out because you have no idea what's going on and fear there may be something wrong with the baby. In reality it's just the two muscles that hold the uterus in place getting stretched as the uterus and baby grow. Nothing to worry about, in the mean time just try not to twist or bend over until they're stretched out enough that it won't hurt before taking part in such actions again.
*Loss of Sex Drive- No matter who you are or how much you enjoyed it before getting pregnant your desire for it will cut back 75% at least. With everything else going on and the stress of actually being pregnant it's just no longer a fun activity you want to take part in; how sad!
*Nightmares- Some doctors say that the stress of having and raising a child increases adrenaline in the body and thus your dreams become more vivid and often times more violent. You'll dream about your baby dying, you killing your baby, or horrible things happening to you and your loved ones...to make matter worse you'll remember these dreams. I'm sure that this adds to the exhaustion factor.
*Thirst- You'll drink fluids like a fish, have to pee every hour and still NOT feel that the thirst was quenched!
*Weight Gain- Sure it's great to put on the pounds for the baby and I'm sure your husband loves it but no one mentioned how quick or how much you'd put on. All of a sudden you'll find yourself staring at your closet with nothing that fits over your now giant butt and thighs or anything that will hold your now bigger chest. (also see Emotional Breakdowns)
*Memory Loss- You will find yourself asking the same questions over and over again and forgetting where you put your keys even though they are in the same place you always put them and have been putting them there for over a year now.
*Clumsiness- Even the most graceful of people find themselves tripping over there own feet and not really understanding how or why. Even before the baby gets to be the size of a pumpkin your sense of balance is just thrown out of whack. Hopefully for most this does not cause to many incidents of running into walls and doors or moments of things being thrown into the air as you fall on your face.
*Emotional Breakdowns- You'll cry at the Ford commercial when the daughter gives her father a hug for getting a new car... because it's just... so... sweet...
...and all this in just the first trimester. ;)
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