Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Lessons learned in Pregnancy. Part 1.

I have been in blog hibernation for some time now.  Not that I haven't been reading, etc. But I have tried to collect stories from time to time, only to promptly forget them. But, to celebrate a return to bloggyville, I have put together the first in a series of lessons I have learned over the past 6 months of being preggers.

First off, I guess I have some news to divulge (though if you follow me on Twitter @sjlz, you may already know this)....

The baby that is happily kicking away in my belly? It's a ..... girl!!

Which brings me to lesson #1:
Ultrasound technicians are very sweet and kind people, but generally speaking, very clinical. When I asked her "How sure are you?" (because that's what all of the baby books suggest if you really want to know what you're having), she proceeded to show us - and label - our baby girl's "girl parts" - but using the most clinical terms. I thought my husband was going to pass out when she said the word "Labia."

Lesson #2:
Everyone is psychic, and everyone will predict for you what you're having. They will all be 100 percent sure. Now, I have thought that I was having a girl for some time. In fact, since the moment I knew I was pregnant, I have thought it was a girl. I remember getting in my husband's car about a week and a half before I'd know for sure and gagging at the smell of the air conditioner. My first thought was: I'm pregnant, and it's a girl. But, of course that didn't stop people from telling me, over the next 18 weeks or so what I was carrying. It's low, so it's a boy. It's wide, so it's a girl. It's low, so it's a girl... you get the point.

In fact, one woman - a practical stranger - was so convinced I was carrying a boy that when I gently told her that I actually knew that it was, in fact, a girl, she said to me: "Maybe you're having twins." Really?! It's not possible that you may be wrong, practical stranger? Instead, you're going to assert your instinct over medical science?

Lesson #3:
Morning sickness does not always happen in the morning, and it does not necessarily stay away after the magical 13 week mark. Mine came back. As did some of my strange food aversions. If I even look at a box of raisins, I fight the urge to gag. Some smells are still so powerful and overbearing that I just can't be around them.

Lesson #4:
No matter how hard you try: you will pee when you sneeze or laugh, you will randomly burst into tears over silly things, your baby will kick you at inopportune times (like when you're in your boss' office and it's not a time for distraction or laughter - and this is usually the time the kicks tickle you in some way).

Lesson #5:
Some things that once mattered to you, will just float away. This is true for a lot of things in my life, but one of the more obvious and trivial things: I eventually gave up makeup. Every once in a while, I'll bust out the Benefit and apply a dash of make up and throw on some lip gloss. And by every once in a while I mean... once a month. And this is from a Sephora-loving addict. My fancy collection of makeup, mascara, lip gloss, tools and brushes sits in a drawer. After week 16 or so, I just stopped wearing it. My skin had finally cleared up from first trimester acne and it darkened, so my light colored makeup would no longer fit the bill. And, mind you, I was someone who NEVER went out in public without makeup. Not since I was 17 or so. The glow that people refer to, in my case, is my oily t-zone, unadorned by product to try to lessen the problem.

There are a LOT more lessons I've learned, and continued to learn. Before I break out with part 2 - I'd love to hear some lessons from the other moms out there.

What have you learned?

10 comments:

FunnyGal KAT said...

Lessons I've Learned...

People have me doubting my instinct that I'm having a boy (because you're right, everyone is 100 percent sure they know the gender) but I was right on about you having a girl. I knew the moment you told me you were pregnant you would have a girl. It's weird that my motherly instincts may be better when they involve someone else's child.

Prenatal massages? Best.thing.ever.

Choosing a name? Much, much harder than I ever thought it would be. To the point where we will be going to the hospital with a few options and choosing once we meet the baby.

Having someone else to go through pregnancy with? I highly recommend it (especially when she gets all the crappy symptoms while you only have to deal with swollen feet and a sore back).

Soda and Candy said...

Unpregnant, un-mommy question:

When does the morning sickness start? Like, how long do you have to deal with it for? I have such terrible periods that I'm pretty much convinced I would get all the worst symptoms of preggerness.

Also, do complete strangers touch your belly? I heard that from several pregnant ladies over the years, that random people will just assume they can touch you.

sj said...

for me, the morning sickness started immediately, and got worse around the 8 week mark, lasted until 13 weeks, then came back around 23. i too had very nasty periods, and while i did have cramps for the first 10 weeks or so, i'm so happy they've gone away. i hear they may even be better after the baby.

as to strangers touching you - Yes. It happens. some people ask - but most people do not. I try to avoid people.

FunnyGal KAT said...

And again, I've had the opposite experience from SJ. I never had morning sickness (or anytime sickness). I've had terrible heartburn throughout, but never got sick.

And while I have a coworker who randomly grabs and rubs my belly when I walk by, no stranger has attempted to do it (maybe I look like I'm not going to put up with that nonsense? because I won't)

sj said...

KAT - at least the prenatal massages do soften the blow of hormonal migraines and sickness.

and i agree - it's great having someone to go through it with.. um... though... it'd be nice if it was someone who DID get a few of my nasty pregnancy symptoms.

the strangest belly moment i've encountered is when my very straight-laced boss asked me if he could rub my belly for luck. uh. luck? for the baby or him? it remains unclear.

Professor Chaos said...

My friends' 5-year old daughter correctly predicted not only the sex of her future brother, but also the day he would be born. We're all a little frightened of her now.

Nanc Twop said...

''If I even look at a box of raisins, I fight the urge to gag.''

I'm always amazed by the cravings vs the gags - everyone has something different!

Kellie said...

What I have learned is just when you think you can't possibly get any bigger or anymore uncomfortable, you can and you do. I look back at my pictures from when I was 30 weeks along and thought I was huge then... Yeah, I wasn't. I'm HUGE now. And ready to pop. Get this kid outta me. :)

Also, reflux sucks. Bad.

sj said...

WORD, Kellie. Reflux does suck. I verp more than I burp. It's truly terrible.

I still have several weeks to go, though. Today's milestone: I can no longer see my toes.

Nanc - I know! It's crazy! I usually LOVE raisins.... so sad.

Prof - yeah... that's a bit.. scary. But I'd be curious to know what vibes the psychic child can get from the internet...

Sam_I_am said...

I'm so excited to see that 1/2 of the baby prediction was right on. A woman that I knew from my church at college, said she suffered more sickness and such from her 3 girls than she did with her two boys.