What I Didn’t Know About Pregnancy

There are several things to find out about pregnancy, perhaps you know a lot already, the first time round I had no idea what was going to occur. These are some of the things I wish I’d known in advance.

What it was going to be like being pregnant in the summer months? Let me make it plain that it is unbearable, you sweat madly, and you are far more beat than normal. Irrespective of how much you try you are miserable. I however did not learn from this the 1st time around and have been heavily pregnant in summer twice.

Morning sickness, no one said to me that it didn't only last in the morning. Most days it lasted all day from morning till night and sometimes through the night. All I know is that not very much helps it, and there nothing you can do to prevent it.

What I could and couldn't do? There are so many things that you cannot do while being pregnant. Which after the list stops it is pretty much everything. Ok so I knew the fundamentals of no drinking alcohol, or caffeine but it does not end there! No eating sushi or shell fish certain cheeses are off limits too , and after a most things will give you heart burn so you do not need to eat it any way. You can't lift heavy objects, go up ladders, shouldn't be around bleaches, (passes the bleach to partner). After they are going thru the list of things you can't or shouldn't do, it feels like there’s not too much left left!

How hard the heart burn was going to get? Now I have had heart burn before, but it typically went away with a pitcher of cold milk, though not this heart burn. Once it came it was here for good, no matter what I ate I got heart burn. I swear even thinking about food gave it me often.

There’s an excellent chance you'll get Huge. I expected to gain weight from being pregnant. What I did not realize was that I might feel massive! Those photos of expectant mothers with nice round neat bumps have gotta be photoshopped!! Where are there big bumps? Outsized boobs? There were days I could of sworn I had another baby growing in my bum! As if this isn't sufficiently bad to people pronouncing ‘can’t be long left now ‘ or ‘I thought you would of had that baby by this time ‘ when you are hardly 30 weeks is just like torture! Oh and I got really bored with asserting YES I AM SURE There's Only One IN THERE!!!!!

That whole thing about “pregnancy brain” which I thought was a myth is true. You can try your hardest hide it but it is certain.

The emotional wreck that you may not even know lies inside you will come out. Tears will flow readily at the slightest of things. From feeling your baby kick to watching your fave TELEVISION shows. I almost had a breakdown when I put the washing powder in the fridge (see pregnancy brain above) and was sad.

Folk treat you differently. Nothing is off limits, from peculiar inquiries to the darn right rude you'll get them all. Everyone thinks they have the inalienable right to touch you, even strangers. A few of the people love this but I didn't, I am not a sensitive type - I like cuddle with my kids and husband, I may hug my nearest family infrequently but thats about it, I'm actually not OK with folk wether I know them or not thinking that because I'm pregnant they can touch my bump! I would never dream about going up to someone in the street wobbling the belly and walking off!

It's not all bad though. And I smilingly do it all over again.

You’ll always remember the first time you see and hear your baby which makes it all seem realer. Your heart will stop the first time you see him or her poke an arm or foot out and make your belly move. The excitement when you start buying things for baby. Feeling each kick or movement and sharing them with your boyfriend and other youngsters. But just as significantly when you see that baby for the 1st time and fall in love straight away you may pardon every last thing that your pregnancy put you thru.

Emma Smith is a mum of 2 who writes about her pregnancy experiences on PrenatalCareAtHome.com