I am about to be brutally honest... so be prepared... :)
Before I got pregnant I had NO idea what I was in for. I have always had the desire to be pregnant and believe me, I wouldn't trade it for the world. However, I was not aware with the trials I was about to face within the next 9 months & I haven't even gone through the hardest part yet... labor!
Well my pregnancy started out difficult (could have been worse, but I was still so miserable) from 6-18ish weeks I was sick. From 6-12 weeks I was nauseous every single day, but it was worse at night. I could hardly eat a thing besides speghettios and pickles and all I wanted to do was lay on the couch because I felt like crap. Therefore I did not start my pregnancy being active which I highly regret, but honestly felt too terrible to want to work out. From 12-18 weeks I threw up almost every day, usually just once, but a couple of days a few times. I couldn't ride in the car without getting carsick and wanting to throw up everywhere. It sucked. At 20 weeks I finally started to feel better. From 20-24 weeks was the best four weeks of my pregnancy I had energy and actually felt GOOD. Right when I decided I needed to start walking every night (literally THAT NIGHT) I started peeing blood. This was at 24 weeks. I went into L&D thinking I had a bladder infection and it was in fact my beloved kidney stones. I returned to L&D two more times due to the stones once because I was in INTENSE, awful, up all night, pain. The 3rd time I went in was because for a little over a week I couldn't empty my bladder. I would lay down to pee and get up (literally at times) every 5 minutes. I would finally just get up for good- sleep was impossible, I don't know how I didn't die of exhaustion. This kidney stone business and pee problems went on for about 4 weeks. The 3rd time I went into L&D they pumped me full of fluids after a very painful IV was inserted into my hand and I was finally cured.
28 weeks & the 3rd trimester. Everything started to hurt. I couldn't lay down on the couch without having intense hip/leg/back pain trying to get up. Hurts to walk at times. The only thing that doesn't hurt is sitting. So much pressure & pain. I am now almost 35 weeks and let me tell you.. pregnancy is not easy.
Have I mentioned how hard sex is when you have a huge belly in the way? Well it's not easy! Obviously Austin and I still want to be intimate (and we are) but its not always easy. There are about two ways to do it and after the fact contractions set in along with round ligament pain. I am so looking forward to the days of normal sex again. Sorry for the TMI, but like I said brutally honest. Plus he's my husband, thats how this babe was made... so whatever :)
Another thing, I have very dry skin and have never had acne. This pregnancy has brought on some occassional acne, but more than I'm used to. Not a big complaint, just one of those things!
Have I mentioned emotional? I am an EXTREMELY emotional person as it is and every month at that certain time, I turn into a witch. Well for most of my pregnancy my emotions have actually been a lot lower than when I'm on my period so Austin and I sure have enjoyed that. As of lately though (about hmmm 30 ish weeks on) I have been SO emotional. I cry for no reason, get frustrated, get upset, get mad at Austin for dumb little things. It stinks. I honestly think if a man can love a woman while shes pregnant then he will love her forever! He's such a trooper even when he doesn't understand why I'm randomly crying.
Last but not least... weight gain! Before I was pregnant I couldn't stand when people complained about gaining weight or how they felt about their bodies because it really is silly.. but when you go from the most you've ever weighed being 123 pounds to weighing nearly 160 it's not easy! It's a battle. Everything I have read says you should gain, in total, 30-35 pounds. Well at 32 weeks (nearly 3 weeks ago) I had gained 33 pounds. Let me tell you, its not all belly! I absolutely LOVE my belly and wouldn't trade it for the world. I wouldn't trade this baby in there that I get to feel many times a day elbowing me, kneeing me, hiccuping- seriously I love this little guy! Anyways, I stayed pretty small for the first 24 weeks then I started to gain. 3rd trimester really does pack on the pounds because as of now my arms have doubled in size (literally so huge!), my face is a puffy little devil, my legs are bigger than ever, my butt has lost it's cute shape, and all around my body is just not the same. Which of course I expected, but I wasn't prepared for such extreme gains. Like I said, I have not been nearly active enough, but I do eat pretty healthy. Its a pregnancy mystery! The last piece of beautifullness that JUST showed up within the last 3 days? Stretch marks! Yep I made it nearly 35 weeks with no stretch marks and now I'm finding new ones all the time. It wasn't unnatural to see them on my tatas because oh yeah... they've at least doubled in size HA. :) Then about 3 nights ago I found some little ones on the top of my thighs... bleh I thought. Well last night I found some little one appearing on my hips as well. My belly doesn't have any yet, but I'mn not holding my breath about it anymore. They say stretch marks are genetic and thats a lie. My mom didn't get a single one and gained over 80 pounds when preggo with me. Its more about your skin type. My skin is so dry, therefor I'm getting the marks.
The truth is my body has changed. The truth is I have changed. I am a mother & though I have had internal battles within myself about my image I know that after he is born I can work back down to where I want to be and if the stretch marks stay forever thats okay. I have gone through nearly 9 months of the most amazing thing possible. I have grown my child in my body and done everything possible while he was in there to keep him growing, healthy, & safe. A little piece of me and the person I love most in this world is one little cute perfect being growing inside my womb. Thats pure beauty and when you look at it that way the emotions, acne, weight gain, & stretch marks don't mean a thing! What matters is my child and the family Austin and I are creating. Nothing can take that away and I am so greatful for my little blessing from above. I wouldn't trade Cohen for the world! I am so in love with my child & can't wait to meet him SOON! :)
