What They DON’T Tell You About Pregnancy

I feel like nowadays, getting pregnant young is becoming less and less of the norm. I was wanted to be a mom early on in life, and was finally blessed with getting pregnant at 20 (now 21). I mention my age because the younger you are, the more common you are associated with being naive. BUT, I don’t think any age would properly prepare you for the unknown world of pregnancy!

I have been super blessed with an “easy” pregnancy. I’m not at high risk, I never experienced morning sickness, and so far me and baby have been very healthy. I put easy in quotations, because even without those complications, these 8 months haven’t gone without a hitch! I have learned A LOT about being pregnant and how much your body truly changes for 9 months. Here is what they don’t tell you about pregnancy, so hopefully you don’t go in as blind as I did!

You can smell everything.
This can be a good and bad thing. I can sniff out if someone has chocolate (my newest craving thanks to pregnancy), but you can also smell if someone left rotten eggs in their trash or if something is a day expired. Your sense of smell is so heightened, and this can be a major downfall if you experience morning sickness! 

Heartburn.
I only ever experienced heartburn eating hot cheetos. But now, I experience it 25/7. No, that’s not a typo. Be prepared and carry Tums in your purse at all times, I learned that the hard way. 

You won’t be able to sit, stand, or lay down.
Everything will now be super uncomfortable. Standing will make your feet swell, sitting down will make you feel super uncomfortable and like you can’t breathe, and laying down will never be the same. Invest in an exercise ball as soon as you can and don’t put off buying a body pillow of some sorts. Laying on your left side is your best bet, but even then it will sometimes fail you and you’ll wonder why you weren’t more thankful for your nights of solid sleep before pregnancy. It’s totally normal to struggle getting up from your chair and having your husband push you out of bed.

Discomfort Down There.
Going along with getting up from a laying position, what they won’t tell you is you might feel a sharp pain that feels like your lower half is going to just separate. Seriously, you may feel like your just going to split in half. But it’s totally cool it’s just your body getting ready to deliver a baby. 

Nothing Fits.
Remember those maternity clothes you invested in to last you your entire pregnancy? Yeah, those will stop fitting you at one point too. You will just get to the point of wearing your husband’s shirts or being okay with showing some belly. I don’t know who invented the maternity pants with the built in band, but I wish they would’ve taken into consideration that you already feel like a whale and don’t need a spandex band constricting you even more. I highly recommend living in flowy dresses if weather permits.

Your Boobs Will Hurt.
Think the soreness starts when baby has been delivered? Oh, we are so wrong! You will feel sore, heavy, and sometimes leak way before your little bundle of joy arrives. Don’t be under the impression it only happens when you begin breastfeeding, your body enjoys practicing your pain tolerance early on.

Braxton Hicks.
Before getting pregnant, I had never heard of “braxton hicks”. Is he some country singer?! If only. It depends on how early you will start feeling this, but your belly will randomly become rock hard and sometimes it can be very uncomfortable and even painful. It can happen for a variety of reasons too, which makes this whole pregnancy/labor game more fun. It can come and go whenever it pleases, last however long, and will eventually lead into real contractions that involve heavier cramping and back pain. 

Shaving is an Olympic Sport.
No one warned me that the days of shaving my legs would no longer be the same. You better trust your balance and feel confident in just feeling around, be comfortable with using a mirror, or get the courage to ask your husband for help. Or you can get smart and have someone wax it for you, since your hair will grow at rapid speed.

Everything Makes you Tired.
Walking from the car to your front door? Panting. Getting up to use the bathroom for the fourth time? Exhausting. Walking up and down your stairs more than once? Forget about it. Everything you took for granted before, will now make you so exhausted and you may or may not get out of breath from normal everyday activities.

Driving.
Especially if you are blessed with short genes, driving will not be quite the task. Being able to reach the pedals and steering wheel with a huge belly between you? Better to save up for an uber now. You will learn to lean back in your seat and reach as far as you can.

Gassiness is the New Classiness.
You will have more gas than you would ever like to have and also sometimes have no control over it. Start practicing on blaming the dog now, because it will be bad. I was never told this, and found myself burping even after drinking water or eating normal foods.

Strangers Will Want to Touch the Belly.
Not only will they want to touch your belly, but they will ask how far along are you, when you are due, what gender is it, what’s the baby’s name, and what have your cravings been. They mean well, don’t worry, but I definitely wasn’t prepared to be bombarded with questions as I waddle around the grocery store.

This is just a short list of what I really didn’t know about pregnancy.
What are some things you found out while adventuring into motherhood?
I’d love to hear your real, honest, and probably funny stories! Embrace your pregnancy and every little fun thing you learn along the way. This is such a special time, and sometimes you need to find the humor in the uncomfortable situations!