6.12.2013

Facts and Myths: {One Pregnant Girl's Opinion}

Lately, I've been pouring over books like What to Expect When You're Expecting and documentaries like The Business of Being Born in hopes of gleaning some honest information on the crazy adventure called pregnancy.

Before I got pregnant, I envisioned it would go a little something like this:

-We'd concieve quickly and easily. {And, coincidentally, this is the ONLY part that has gone according to plan.}
-I'd immediately have gigantic (yet perky, Sports Illustrated-esque) boobs, silky hair and radiant skin.
-I'd have complete strangers stopping me in the grocery store saying, "My gosh, you're glowing! You must be pregnant!"
-I'd be full of energy, indulge every delicious craving and, in 9 months, produce a beautiful human being.

And then we'd live happily ever after.

After a critical analysis and some self-reflection, I realized I MUST HAVE BEEN ON CRACK.

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Don't get me wrong, we are very, very grateful that God has given us this little miracle, but HEAVENS TO BRENDA...pregnancy ain't easy.

Here are a few things "they" say and what my experience has been like:

They say: You'll feel beautiful.
My experience: Um, not really. Although I love the bump, (and am having a ball dressing it up), my ankles are the size of tree trunks, my lips are always swollen (sooooo weird) and certain bodily processes I once took for granted have all but ceased. (Someone had to say it.)

They say: You won't care about the gender, as long as the baby is healthy.
My experience: So, so true. Our scare during the first trimester with the wonky test results and weird sonogram drove home this adage even more. Boy or girl, you really, honestly do not give a donkey's backside whether you get to buy blue or pink; a healthy baby is the only thing that matters.

They say: You might be sensitive to certain smells and foods.
My experience: FACT. Here's a little anecdote for you:
My co-workers had a huge pancake breakfast brought in for our supervisor on her birthday, which was awesome. Awesome, until I walked into the office that morning, took one whiff and had to run like Usain Bolt for the ladies room where I proceeded to projectile puke my Michael Kors slingbacks off. This was the day I discovered that the smell of maple syrup was like my kryptonite: not to be fooled around with. I have not tried to eat, smell or go near a pancake to this day.

They say: It flies by.
My experience: Sort of. The days where you feel good will fly, but those days where you're super sick, well, they crawl.

They say: You'll feel an unmatched connection to the human life inside you.
My experience: So. True. To feel her kick, twirl around, hiccup...it's a little bit sci-fi movie, a little bit surreal, but 100% amazing. I cannot imagine NOT having this baby. I also cannot imagine how my heart can love her any more once I see her than I do already. It's amazing.

They say: You'll experience a wave of emotions each day.
My experience: Werd. (We won't discuss my mini-breakdown the last month when I realized that Chick-Fil-A will never, ever carry the Southwestern Chicken Salad again.)

They say: You might be a little sensitive to heat and humidity.
My experience: If you plan, like myself, to endure your second and third trimesters during the summer, I'd give serious consideration to investing in a commerical walk-in freezer. Or, see if you can take up residence in the one at the local Pizza Hut, right there next to the frozen calzones and chicken wings. Because that's where I'd live right now if I could. I looked at this week's forecast here in AR and literally wept last night. I may need to procure a timeshare in Poland for the next three months.
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Know what though? At the end of the day - every day - I thank God and our lucky stars that we are having a baby. I am utterly humbled at the gift that is Caroline. Truly, I am. Every time I see her precious little body bouncing around on the sonogram screen, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude.

And the urge to pee.

*Again, please know that we are so, so happy about this pregnancy and, as much as I like to joke and "put it all out there", I am fully aware of how blessed we are to have been given this gift. If you are currently in the process of "waiting" for a baby, my heart and prayers go out to you.

11 comments:

  1. Very true! I thought it would be *so* easy to get pregnant...and then my husband I were diagnosed with infertility. We're on our second round of IVF, and at $15,000 a cycle (meds not included) hearing that people take for granted their easy conceptions makes me beyond frustrated. Especially when they complain non stop about their symptoms and are not grateful to be pregnant to begin with! I'd love to have some morning sickness over here!

    I'm so excited for your growing family and can't wait to see your beautiful baby girl!

    m

    abrinkadventure.blogspot.com

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  2. Pregnancy is SUCH a blessing - but you are SO right. It is hard!!! Anyone who says it's not is a liar - for real. I love that you put it out there though, because it seems like a lot of women are afraid to say that it's not easy. I think they feel like saying anything but rosy, glowy, positive things would make them appear ungrateful. During my pregnancy, I tried to share some 'real' info about pregnancy, and I had a comment telling me that I shouldn't have gotten pregnant and was not fit to be a mother. Excuse me, what??? Brought me to tears. All because I was honest about what happens during pregnancy. Go figure. I can't wait for you to meet Caroline. You love her now, but you truly just can't imagine how much your heart will grow the minute you see her little face - it literally feels like you might explode with love. My little man is 4 weeks this week and I still feel like my heart my explode when I see his little cheeks or watch him smile in his sleep. SOOO precious!!! Such a blessing!!!

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  3. As someone who has never been pregnant but is hoping to become so in a year or two, this was a very sweet and quite funny read! It's always nice to hear the truth about how pregnancy is for people, especially when you know it's not cake for everyone... it's lovely to read how excited and thankful you are though, this really is a beautiful post:)

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  4. Every time I read your posts, I think, "Oh girl, you have no idea what's still ahead!" I have 3-4 weeks to go with my 3rd girl, and you're experiences are so true, and yet only just beginning! I hated being pregnant when I was in the 'pudgy' stage, and then I loved the bump, and the girls- yeah, they grew. But now, they can just go back to the B cup they shrank to after baby #2. The belly- forget it. It's too huge to dress, and my rear end has grown at least 2-3 sizes! Getting out of bed, pretty impossible! I'm so thankful for the air condition, and knowing that I won't be pregnant in August when the heat and humidity are really bad- although, you do have night sweats after birth and I am NOT looking forward to that.... Enjoy it though; it really is worth it! I absolutely love watching Adalyn move and kick and squirm and I cannot wait for her sisters to meet her!

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  5. Amen sister! Way to speak the truth. I love my son to the moon and back but pregnancy was a trip. The birth was even crazier but I had drugs for that. Only god knew I could make it through all of that because I had some serious doubts. I didn't read a single book or go to birthing classes because it all freaked me out to much. I went in blind and that was the best for me.

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  6. Thank you for sharing! I haven't had a baby yet, but I love knowing what to expect!

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  7. I watched The Business of Being Born when I was sick in bed with e.coli and a handful of other issues and I can't stress enough what a terrible idea that was. I am THRILLED to think/hope that one day I'll be a mother, but watching a movie with mothers in labor when I have a terrible stomach ache? Horrendous idea.

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  8. This is delightful, and so incredibly true! It's not all plum pudding, but it's definitely worth it! Congratulations on your October girl--we can endure the heat of the summer together.

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  9. Timeshare in Poland.
    You are presh.

    Love reading your baby Caroline updates!

    xx

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  10. You are SO RIGHT! My first child was a girl and to be honest when I found out I was pregnant with my second I wanted another girl. I had "been there, done that" and had the clothes and I wanted my daughter to have a sister. Well, some genetic testing came back that there may be some chromosome and health issues with my baby and so on that ultrasound day, sex no longer mattered. I was having a baby boy and HE WAS HEALTHY!!! I really think God had me go through that time to make thankful for having this wonderful gift. And I wouldn't have it any other way. I love my baby boy so much :) So glad Caroline is healthy too :)

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  11. Girl, I was the same way when I got pregnant. I thought it was going to be rainbows and butterflies (or whatever else is perfect!) Until...I was throwing up everyday for three months!

    I was so sensitive to food smells, particularly the smell of meat cooking that everything made me hurl. UGH!

    I also cried at the drop of a hat. To be honest, I am still like that with my hormones trying to back to normal. It was most intensified being preggo and is still here...possibly here to stay?

    It is important to know the truth though. No one told me any of the real stuff about being preggo. Everyone just said how wonderful it was...blah blah blah!

    I have a great book that you can read once little one gets here that I LOVED!!!! It was honest and really informative with tons of great suggestions and information about your baby. Let me know if you are interested!

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