Ok, so my husband keeps staring at me in complete awe at my belly. He's shocked that my body has the ability to do what it has been doing the past 38 weeks. I personally can't believe how large I've gotten. I thought with my tiny stature before pregnancy (I mourn daily for my 120-pound, size 4 frame) that I'd be lucky if I had a five-pound baby and gained 15 pounds.
Well, 45 pounds later and an additional 28 inches around, here I am, with what my doctor thinks will be an eight pound bundle of joy.
This decision my husband and I made to grow our family was not taken lightly. We always knew and understood the consequences of bringing another life into the world and being responsible for that life, not just in feeding and care, but to raise a loving, caring, and empathetic person that will become a worth while contribution to society.
I also envisioned the beauty of pregnancy, of the glory of feeling life inside me growing, as the epitome of what it is to be a woman.
Well, what they don't teach you in health class in high school is ALL the joys of pregnancy. If they did, there sure as hell would be less or zero teenage pregnancies.
My personal experience has been three months of nausea, then we moved to the debilitating migraines for the second trimester. Barely out of the second trimester when the contractions started and the first signs of symphysis pubis dysfunction showed up. And for those that don't know what that is, it basically means EVERY MOVEMENT feels like my pubis bone is going to break in half. Walking is not an option.
Because of the way I'm carrying, my poor, tiny frame can barely handle the size of my son. My entire abdomen has felt like it has been tearing for the last eight weeks. Ligament pulls, cramps, contractions, and his constant head noogies on my cervix and bladder have really made me doubt I could do this willingly again. The pain is inordinate.
Oh, and let's not forget the constant acid reflux and flatulence. I have been able to start our fireplace by just breathing on the kindling and can't make a move without passing gas...all day. I mean it! I have been one big fart for 8.5 months! I'm sure some 15-year-old would love to get pregnant during high school knowing they're going to fart in front of their friends all day long at school! Gross!
The only thing I have not had to worry about are bowel movements and hemorrhoids so far. Haven't experienced any type of constipation, so I can knock on wood and thank the powers that be for small miracles.
I truly do envy women who have easy, or at least easier, pregnancies. What I think is scary is that there are women who have even harder pregnancies than what I've gone through. However, I do know it's all about perspective. Especially when there are so many deserving couples in the world who can't even experience all these joys.
Well, I'm more than willing to share all of my personal pregnancy "joys" with anyone who wants them.
Anyone?
Hello?
Is this thing on?
**cue crickets***
Yankee Doodle Dandy,
–TYG
