One of my friends asked me to write a post about the things that surprised me during pregnancy. Here’s the top five on my list of “things no one tells you about pregnancy.”
1. No Menstrual Cycle Does NOT Mean No Cramps!
This is one of the first things I noticed about pregnancy. Women often rave about the awesomeness of no longer having to deal with a monthly cycle during pregnancy. Since I suffer from pretty severe menstrual cramps, this was one of the things I was excited about no longer plaguing me, at least for the next 9-10 months. Well imagine my surprise when I started feeling cramps in my abdomen during the first trimester. Initially, I thought the five pregnancy tests (yes I took five…don’t judge me) I had taken were wrong, but when the cramps persisted after hearing my son’s heartbeat I asked the doctor and googled for more information. Those pesky cramps were my uterus expanding to make room for the munchkin. Oh and it doesn’t stop in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Abdominal cramps are replaced with random aches, shooting leg pains, and pelvic pressure, since your ligaments are continuously stretching and getting your body ready for delivery.
So, if you think being pregnant will rescue you from the horror that are menstrual cramps, I’m sad to report that 24-48 hours (per month) of pain will now be 9-10 months of random aches, pains, and cramps all in places you would never imagine.
2. You Are Not Really Eating For Two
For as long as I can remember people have always raved about eating for two being one of the major perks of pregnancy. I thought I would want two of everything when pregnant, and I would be totally justified. First, I already have a pretty healthy appetite, so if I ate two of everything that would seriously be disgusting. Second, during the first trimester the smell of most foods will make you sick and in some cases eating it will make you puke (I’m one of the lucky ones who didn’t experience morning sickness); and by the end of the 2nd trimester you start to feel full faster, because someone is inside you taking up space. 🙂 Finally, you’re really not eating for two grown people. You only need like 300 extra calories a day, which is the equivalent of a peanut butter sandwich.
If you thought pregnancy would be a time for you to be a total glutton, I’m sorry to ruin it for you. P.S. Remember you’re going to have to lose all the extra weight you gain anyway, and gaining too much can be bad for both mommy and baby.
3. Doctor’s Visits Are Very Short
I am not a fan of going to the doctor, and having to go so frequently drives me crazy. I know I know this is good for both me and the baby, and I am very grateful for the awesomeness that is my health insurance; but lugging my pregnant belly to the doctor for five minutes sucks. Okay it may be longer than 5 minutes, but most doctor visits are simply about getting weighed, having your blood pressure taken, and the doctor listening to the baby’s heartbeat/measuring your tummy. It seriously takes me longer to get to the doctor’s office than my entire doctor’s appointment. Now this wasn’t so bad when I had to go once a month, but when I started the 3rd trimester those visits became every two weeks, and when I hit 36 weeks they will be EVERY week! ARGH!!!
Note: You will have a few visits that are longer. My initial visit was longer because I had an ultrasound to hear the baby’s heartbeat, have blood drawn, and then sit down and talk to the doctor. The day we found out the sex of the baby was also longer, because we had a very in depth ultrasound, and then the visit when I had to complete my glucose test was much longer as well.
4. Being Hormonal Doesn’t Always Mean Crying
I am a very sensitive and emotional person in general, so I thought I would be a hot crying mess while pregnant. Instead, almost everything makes me laugh uncontrollably. Seriously, I laugh at the most INAPPROPRIATE things, and I feel bad, but I just can’t help it. Don’t get me wrong I do cry sometimes, but it’s usually food related–grapes really set me off for some reason; but my hormonal imbalance is all about laughing when I shouldn’t.
5. Your Body Is Now Public Property
I knew that pregnancy meant that my body would no longer physically be my own, since I would be a housing another person; but I was not at all prepared for the lack of privacy. I’m not exactly a social butterfly, so dealing with complete strangers approaching me and discussing my pregnant belly is not cool. It is none of your business how much weight I have gained or what I’m naming my child. Please do not reach out to touch my stomach… I DON’T KNOW YOU!!!
If the random strangers attempting to touch your uterus isn’t enough, brace yourself for tons of “unsolicited” advice. Now for the most part this does not bother me, especially when it’s newborn related, since I tend to ask lots of questions. I like to hear stories about other people’s pregnancies and life with a newborn; but I do not want your advice on how much weight I should gain or what you think about me eating a Reese’s cup and Doritos. I really want to tell them to MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND BACK OFF; but I usually smile politely and let them know that my son is doing just fine and his dad makes sure I eat well balanced meals daily. It’s my own personal way of letting them know this is none of your business, so stay in your lane.
What are some things that shocked you about pregnancy? What myths have you heard that didn’t happen at all?
