Pregnancy – Some love it, some despise it!

I used to look at pregnant women and have a sort of jealousy and awe about them.  I would think about how fun it would be to be pregnant and have a baby and all the fun stuff that babies use.  Then I would think about how much pain that woman was about to endure and all the other previous happy thoughts were erased.  I never thought about all the other “stuff” that occurs behind the glow of being pregnant and having a baby.

Now, none of these thoughts go through my head!  Now when I see a pregnant woman I still have that warm fuzzy feeling but I also have flash backs of all the sleepless nights, diaper blow outs, continuous nursing sessions, etc.  It’s amazing what happens once you personally experience labor and delivery and everything that follows.  Completely life changing!!  Would I do it all over again?  Yes, in a heart beat!  (But we have decided to wait a little while before the next.)

Pregnancy is such an amazing experience.  I loved being pregnant!  I was never sick or had any complaints.  Granted that I didn’t find out I was pregnant until 13 weeks along, so it was nice to “skip” that first trimester.  However, I had lots of worries as well since I didn’t take the best care of myself during that first trimester as I would have if I knew I was pregnant.  But thank goodness all turned out perfect and he’s the best baby ever!  It was so much fun to be pregnant but exhausting at times, which allowed me to have another excuse to nap (a few times a day)!  There are lots of women that have morning sickness and I completely feel for them.  It has to be SO difficult to get over the fact that at the end of all the throwing up etc. that a miracle will arrive and change your life forever!

Food tastes so much more delicious (for the most part) when I was pregnant.  I definitely indulged a little too much at times but it was well deserved indulgence for what my body was being put through.  From stretch marks, to waddling, to back pain – it was a lot of change in a short amount of time.  I was very sensitive to smells as well.  C was a smoker during the first half of my pregnancy and I would tell him how much he wreaked and he didn’t notice until he quit.  Then he totally noticed!  I was so thankful that he quit because I don’t think I could have been with a smoker for much longer.  Granted I was guilty as well but I quit cold turkey when I found I was pregnant.  Easiest decision ever and so glad for it!

My significant other was so very understanding and helpful when I was pregnant (and still is, for the most part ;).  He would cut my toenails when I could no longer reach them.  He would make dinner for me so I wouldn’t have to be on my feet.  He even got the heartburn that I never had during pregnancy!  He was always talking to the baby in my belly, kissing it, and showing off that he was going to be a Daddy.  He went to every doctor appointment and ultrasound.  It was so wonderful to see how excited, proud, and supportive he was about everything.  We went to a birthing 101 class and a breastfeeding class at the hospital we were delivering at and he paid more attention than I did to some things – it was great to see how attuned he was about everything.

It’s so important to have a good support system and help when your pregnant.  I would have never been able to survive by myself.  There are times when you feel so ugly inside and out and that support will help you pull through all those emotional highs and lows.

My pregnancy did have one complication, which was almost having placenta previa.  This is where the placenta is low lying and covering the exit into the real world.  The doc was watching this closely by having ultrasounds done every month until the end.  Thank goodness the placenta moved and we were able to go full term without any complications.  I was almost put on bed rest.  I was ordered not to carry anything heavier than 5 pounds and abstain from sex.  These were orders I could easily handle in order to keep my baby inside until he was fully ready.

Everyone always says the last few weeks are the hardest.  I never believed them because I was loving being pregnant.  But once I reached mid-February I was very uncomfortable!  I was impatient and wanted that baby out of me.  I was thankful that sleep wasn’t affected much except for the constant needing to go to the restroom!  I definitely slept a lot and watched TLC’s programs about delivering babies constantly.  I thought it was a good way to prepare myself for what I was about to go through.  It helped me get into the zone that my life was about to change forever!  I also went walking at the mall a lot to help gravity do its thing.  Which, in the end, worked and one day after walking at the mall a bunch with my mom my water broke that night!  It was actually the night before we were supposed to go in to be induced.  So, I think the baby heard what we were saying and he decided to stop being stubborn and come out by himself. 🙂

If I could do it all over again I would have done SO much more research and reading than I did.  I never knew about things like midwives and doulas, or Bradley Method birthing classes.  I just went to my OB that I had been going to, followed her lead, and let her inform me what I needed to know.  Don’t get me wrong, she did a great job and I didn’t have any issues with her but for the next baby I am doing it differently.

I ended up having a c-section after 3 hours of pushing.  I believe that if I had a midwife and doula I would have succeeded in birthing the natural way.  At the time, I was exhausted and felt let down that the baby wasn’t moving any more.  I was so done with everything and threw in the towel pretty much.  I remember my OB saying something about the fact that she didn’t think I was as far as the nurse who had been helping me push for 3 hours.  So in hindsight I might not have even been all the way ready and was pushing prematurely anyways.  Thus, if I had just gone another hour he might have arrived naturally.  So next time will be a lot different and will hopefully be the experience of a lifetime to never forget!

All in all, being pregnant was amazing and I loved everything about it. (Well mostly everything…)  Every baby truly is a miracle and a gift!  D has changed my life completely and I am so grateful for being blessed with him.  I can’t even remember what my life was like before him.  Well I can but it sure was uneventful compared to now!  I wouldn’t change a thing and can’t wait for the next baby! 🙂