12/10/2015 0 Comments Musings.It's 4:28 a.m. I finally gave up fighting with my now very much used and hated "preggo pillow" as I like to call it and came downstairs so R can get a few more zzzs than me at least.
It's a normal theme for me, and has been since finding out our special news of baby "b" but chasing sleep is just the icing on the cake. I have been amazed at all women out there are going through to bring a new life into the world. Here are some observations I've made as I sit sleepy-eyed and itchy in the dark...about pregnancy. Early days: I was sick everyday, not always puking, but just sick. Tired during the day, but unable to sleep well at night with frequent bathroom trips and upset stomach. I would try all the tips people gave, but nothing really SOLVES these issues...you learn quickly that this is a common theme in pregnancy! If I was lucky, some minor relief would come in the afternoon for an hour or two. As a couple you learn a lot of survival skills such as snuggling up on the couch with netflix or cable series every night as soon as work is done. There's really not much else you can do when feeling as crummy as one does. I was absolutely thrilled to be pregnant, though it's a hard time with waiting for that next appointment or ultrasound...hoping and praying each time for news that this tiny life continues to grow, and that heartbeat continues to beat. I learned, as I've written before, to take it one day at a time and with each day be thankful for the gift we were given no matter what. Halfway: Though I've learned there are really amazingly different experiences for each pregnant gal, it seems in general most feel a bit better during this point and it was true for me even if it took what seemed like it's sweet time to get there! I loved being around 22 weeks along...the bump I longed for finally started to take a nice shape, we had incredible pictures and memories of little man in our hands and we finally found out the gender! New ailments included bad sciatic pain, increased discomfort with sleep, skin rashes and itchiness and growing feet {yikes!}. Bland crackers in my diet were replaced with intense cravings for Big Macs, lemonade {and it better be coooold} and dill pickles. I could finally drink my beloved coffee again too. YIPPEE! A new appreciation again for the hard work pregnancy is...how much it changes you and stretches you, that you learn to really rely on God in a new way as well as others for help. I continued to hope even harder for other friends that they too could join me in this journey, yet felt blessed that God gave us the trials we went through so we could appreciate the gift even more. Late stages: This is a tough stage. I'm not gonna lie, I've told R on more than one occasion "I can't believe people keep having babies...this is really hard!" I'm hanging on to the fact that it's worth it, as I've heard from the seasoned parents out there. ;) As the skin around my stomach stretched and tightened, weight is at it's max it seems and I find less and less clothing that works I am still thrilled to be experiencing something that eluded us for such a long, long time. Eating has become difficult again as either nothing sounds good and I am starving, or you eat and heartburn is a close cousin I wish would leave you alone! This stage is also one that seemed to slow down for me a bit as there aren't any more ultrasounds to "show" me a glimpse of little one anymore. That being said, he's reminded me again and again that he's alive and well with all of his crazy acrobats in utero. Insomnia has become a verrrrryy regular visitor for me at night and it stinks but I cling to the fact it means a baby will be here eventually for me to snuggle in those early hours instead of just punching pillows. I look forward to having my body back {well, sorta} and shedding this sort of strange "suit" that is incredibly uncomfortable and heavy and I cannot get out of! Yes, just telling it the way it is! Whew. Okay, I think that's enough for today...or tonight, not sure what time it is, yawwwwwnnnn. I'm over 40 weeks and while I wait and wait and wait to see this little man's face I know I will probably forget all of these details and am thankful for the chance to have held him close these last 9+ months. It may well be the only time and what a unique and special blessing from God this has been!
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