Pregnancy has become a distant memory for me already. One must ask, why? Isn't it the most unforgettable experience of anything that could be imagined possibly? I would tell you, yes; but they all seem to have become a bit of a blurb to me. So I thought I would take this opportunity and platform to relive it once more, and to document 10 things I have learnt about the "P" word.
1. IT IS A LONG AND GRADUAL PROCESS
When I first found out I was pregnant, the only visual image of myself that floated on my mind was me with a massive belly and silly me I thought I was going to have that yesterday!
I didn't realise how long and gradual the process was. Baby takes his own time, day and night to grow over the course of 10 months (for me Lear came 40 weeks + 1 day), or thereabouts. Whenever I see (or notice) a pregnant lady on the street I would already have noticed the bump. So naturally a pre-pregnancy self would associate pregnancy and big bump!
2. DON'T PANIC
As a first time pregnant lady, it's only natural you worry about various things if not everything. For me it was the size of my bump and how "late" I had started feeling those first kicks made by Lear.
Just ignore (well, at least try to) what people say about how big or small your bump looks. They mean well though. But for ladies who are pregnant for the first time, they are left with worries but nothing else. Also those saying, "oh are you 2x weeks now? You should be feeling those amazing kicks. Well I didn't until quite further down my pregnancy, probably around 25/26 weeks at least. Lear might have done spins and kicks but I wouldn't have known because honestly my tummy always rumbles anyway so I got very confused.
Trust your instinct, but if you are worried; ask your doctor or go for a private scan if you can afford it; that's what I did.
3. THERE WAS NO MOOD SWING
They say pregnant ladies are full of hormones and they send your moods up and down. For me I have mood swings any time I want to be frank. Being pregnant didn't bother my mood (swing).
4. THE FOOD CRAVING WAS TRUE
Apart from the first 12 weeks I wasn't able to eat properly, the rest of my pregnancy evolved around food craving. Food cravings in pregnancy was true!
I had specific food items/ dishes I seriously craved and needed to consume: Hainanese Chicken Rice (never in my life have I wanted this this bad), frappucino, almond croissants (the number of these sampled was huge!), scones, cheesy sandwiches, peanut butter on toasts.
On the reverse, there were things I couldn't handle: Oranges, cereal and milk. These were some of my pre pregnancy favourites but I couldn't put them near my mouth in those 10 months.
5. YOU ARE NOT EATING FOR TWO
Physically it's just impossible to eat for 2 people even though you really are carrying an extra human being inside you. My appetite was good most of the times but I had to take a little but often approach. That baby inside me took up a hella space that made eating a cow in one go impossible. The worst thing was to keep myself hydrated. It was simply unrealistic to be drinking too much fluid in one go despite how thirsty I felt most times. I could literally feel and touch my stomach every time after I have eaten perhaps just an apple, it was crazy. So, go easy on food, pregnant ladies!
6. THE PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION WAS INSANE
Apart from the 2nd trimester which is often known as the honeymoon period. The rest of the times I actually felt very tired. Whilst I was suffering from morning sickness, I was pretty much house/ bedbound for a good 2 months. Towards the end, even though I still felt like going out and be sociable, I had to be more restful than other times. A mid-afternoon nap was often what I needed. Without it, I couldn't go on to the evening. Those energy level was dropping it was simply beyond my control.
7. THOSE MORNING SICKNESSES WERE MISLEADING
Morning sickness doesn't just happen in the morning. The name is totally misleading. I could be sick any time during the day and I would just be waiting for it to happen. It was horrible to say the least. Came around 13 weeks, I was totally fine and food became my best friend once again.
8. HOT, HOT, HOT
It was hot. Man, I literally felt like the heater was on everywhere I went. Anywhere that was lack of good ventilation was my worst nightmare. I could faint! The solution for me was to be constantly drinking iced water and at one point I was eating ice everyday. It was that hot!
I just want to say, every pregnancy is different; and that every person's pregnancy story is also unique. These are the things that I have experienced and have remembered the most when I tried to recall.
What's your pregnancy stories?
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