I cannot believe how fast this pregnancy has gone! It was easier than I thought in certain areas and wayyy harder than I thought in others! For example:
as far as hormones and emotions go - they have not been an issue at all until I reached around 35 weeks. ( I am currently 37 weeks). And I am not even sure that it has anything to do with the pregnancy as I have undergone numerous and severe stressful situations, one after another! Perhaps it adds to the things I am experiencing.
as far as cravings go - never really had any. When I did they were like my regular cravings for foods BEFORE I was pregnant (nothing too demanding) and they went away soon. However - I often dream of foods and I want to eat them the next day! Once I dreamed of eating a cheese burger and orange crush and I walked down the strip (I live in White Rock) and got myself just that! I normally do NOT crave such things and orange crush is NOT one of my fav's! The consistent thing I have found that I eat, that MUST have to do with the pregnancy, is chocolate! The last part of my pregnancy has been filled with chocolate and I actually really don't like chocolate at ALL!!!
The WORST part of pregnancy is the WORRY that something will go wrong or that you DID something wrong! At least for me anyways. I found that this worry dissipated after 7/8 months preggy. A log of the worry goes away around 5/6 months because you feel your baby sooooo much and bond with him finally. AT 7/8 months you and your baby are on a schedule - you know when he has playtime in the tummy, etc. This schedule provides a lot of comfort and soon all of the worry goes away!
The 2nd WORST part of pregnancy is discomfort! I have felt it at all levels of my pregnancy but nothing has been ongoing or relentless. Just certain days were BRUTAL and then I never heard from that particular pain again (example: back pain, siatic nerve (however you spell that), etc.). The minor aches and pains come and go (leg cramps, sore belly (kinda like it's bruised?, etc.). Nothing has been to difficult to face and eventually lets up and gives me a break. HOWEVER, starting around 35 weeks pregnant - things have been a big unbearable. The consistent Braxton Hicks contractions, restlessness in bed due to discomfort, sore tummy, not being able to find a comfy position in bed or on the couch, trouble walking, and sore pelvic area. Wow! These can really get on one's nerves! The last stretch is the WORST and I cannot WAIT to be done with it! What I find helps with the sore belly? A nice belly massage (softly). Ken will do this for me when I'm quite uncomfortable and the comfort it provides is AMAZING!
I have not had swelling ankles or anything like that other than a few days here and there where I just pushed myself too hard (cooking, cleaning, walking, or all 3!). A simple foot massage and a couple hours of rest took it all away and it has not been an ongoing problem.
All in all - pregnancy has been AWESOME!
If I could suggest anything to women out there facing pregnancy it would be the following:
1) put yourself FIRST. Everyone else can figure out their own problems!
2) look into natural birth techniques early on in your pregnancy so that you can make the best informed decisions. I scoffed at it before and kinda still do! HOWEVER - there are some REAL amazing ideas, concepts, and techniques that Doctors will NOT tell you about that I think would help in a natural birth OR a medical birth!!! I MUST say I may have changed my decision had I looked into it sooner! It's too late now as the techniques I am referring to take a lot of practice, soul searching and it should remain a constant theme throughout your pregnancy. For example: water birth rocks! I am strongly considering doing this in my 2nd pregnancy - which means doing it at home! Which means getting mentally prepared for natural birth! In a perfect world - the hospitals and medical world would offer water births but noooooooo! Why would they do this?
3) get away if you have to. It doesn't have to me a dramatic event. Simply tell your partner how much you love him but that you need some alone time. If I wasn't so close to delivering I would REALLY consider this right now! It is VERY important to focus on your SELF in pregnancy! I suggest a couple days away in a 5 star hotel with a spa treatment facility! I would definitely save up for this for my next pregnancy!!!
4) eat healthy. Don't worry about gaining weight - just eat healthy! You should try and maintain healthy eating habits throughout your entire life anyways! Luckily I have always been a healthy eater (on a scale of 1-10 I am probably an 8!) without even trying! I just happen to naturally love eating healthy. It is not a struggle for me and therefore weight gain throughout my pregnancy has been minimal.
5) brainwash yourself into truly believing with all of your heart that you will lose the weight immediately after giving birth. If you keep this mentality throughout your pregnancy and even BEFORE you get pregnant - it will be TRUE! I have always just truly believed that and so far, I am 24 days away from delivering a baby and I have only gained 30 Lb's. Not bad! And nothing looks freakishly fat on me - everything is proportioned as it should be.
That's all for now. Time for a bubble bath for me! Oh yes - and bubble baths are a MUST every dayyyyyyy! So is reading! Find good books to read and occupy yourself with being a bookworm, taking peaceful walks (preferably by an ocean!), video buff, and bubble freak!
No comments:
Post a Comment