PREGNANCY & YOUR BODY
…AND ALL THE WEIRD THINGS THAT HAPPEN BUT NO ONE TELLS YOU.
Yay! You’re pregnant! Congratulations!! Time to plan an announcement social media post, pick baby names, and decorate the nursery! How cute and fun, right? Right!
I absolutely loved being pregnant. I think I was about 20-22 weeks or so when I finally felt like I was showing and I was so excited. Prior to pregnancy, I had lost almost 90 pounds and up until that halfway mark, I was pretty sure people would look at me and wonder, “did she have a big lunch or…?” Needless to say, I appreciated and loved my bump.
My skin was great, my hair was amazing, my nails were growing fast! Though I had some strange food aversions in the beginning (spaghetti squash, I’m looking at you) and my first trimester felt like one long hangover without having a drink, I never got sick, thank goodness.
And by some miracle, with my third trimester taking up practically all summer, I was still able to wear natural deodorant without smelling like a cheeseburger topped with onions. These postpartum days, though? It’s a different story. Perhaps a “What Happens to Your Body After Having a Baby” post is on the horizon.
A friend of mine sent me this and it’s become a “sisterhood of the traveling book” for my soon-to-be-mama friends who I met through my weight loss journey.
Also, was anyone else also excited to say “GOODBYE, TAMPONS! See you next year!!” like I was?
Well, what I didn’t realize was that tampons would be replaced by their ugly step sister, the panty liner. Holy moly. Why wasn’t I made aware of this beforehand?! Most of the time I thought I was peeing myself, but I learned that it was basically just sweat… but I was prepared in case my bladder decided to rebel.
There’s also the gas (both ends), the new knowledge that the baby pees and then drinks it in utero, and then there’s something terrible… the pregnancy poops.
I will be 100% truthful with you. One time I left my phone in the other room and I thought I was going to die alone on the toilet. The constipation is real. Stool softeners are your friend.
Luckily, I had my mama friends along my journey and they were happy to share their pregnancy tips and horrible stories so I knew I wasn’t alone. They even let me share some with you:
I went to the doctor thinking my water broke and it was just a ridiculously sweaty vagina
– Erin
I vomited for almost the whole pregnancy. They tell you it gets better…. They lied.
– Meghan
I think the National Geographic nipples took the cake for me.
– Cheryl
Your boobs become unrecognizable, your nipples become the size of a giant pepperoni. People don’t tell you that your nips will change colors during pregnancy! At this point you realize things will never be the same!
– Ashley
My feet swelled earlier than most. I can remember I was 20 weeks at a work function and I couldn’t even keep my slip-on shoes on my feet because I was so swollen. I also had swollen, bleeding, and painful gums. I remember having my teeth cleaned and the hygienist having to stop and take a break because there was so much blood and pain. When I asked a friend with kids she said, ‘yup, the things we don’t tell women before they get pregnant.’
– Jessica F
3rd trimester in the summer... was not prepared for how sweaty and stinky I would be “down there”. Never had an issue with sweaty odor down there, but during that third trimester there was a funk.
– anonymous
What kind of things did your body do to you? Drop them in the comments!
