They call it the most joyous time of your life. They say that you are more beautiful than you have ever been. You have a glow about you.
Most of the women out there can’t tell you what this is from just these descriptions. The way they see it they are fat, ugly and hurt all over. Pregnancy has a way of doing that to a girl.
Being pregnant does have it privileges. People are so happy for you that they throw you parties and you get all kinds of great stuff. Now mind you that none of it is actually for you. It’s all for the baby and you had better get used to that because once they come there won’t be many more times when anything is just for you. That includes your time.
When you first find out that you are pregnant most people are overjoyed at the prospect of adding another member to their families. They can’t help but feel good about bringing another life into the world. One that will be the continuation of their family name and will bring them such pride. They know, at that moment, the possibilities are endless.
And then it happens, Morning Sickness. No one really knows why or who decided to call it that because it can happen at any point in the day. Sometimes it lasts ALL day. The nausea that makes your stomach lurch every time you smell some previously innocuous smell. Even the cologne that you loved on your husband is now making your stomach wretch and you can’t stand to be anywhere near him.
The doctors will tell you that the good news is that morning sickness only lasts for the first trimester and then after that you should be alright. They say that as if it’s something to look forward to and by the end of that three months it will be. The first day that you can get up and put your feet on the floor without having to run to the bathroom will seem like the best day of your life.
During all of this you can’t help but notice that you are hungry almost continuously. You know that you are eating for two but not two cows. And the things you are hungry for have become bizarre. Some women don’t have “cravings” per say but some want the oddest things when they are pregnant. Cravings are your bodies way of telling you that it wants something that you aren’t giving it. Some crave ice cream and may be lacking calcium. While others may crave rare steak and need to get more iron in their diet. These are the normal things that happen during pregnancy besides the other more obvious things such as weight gain, swollen ankles, heart burn and even increased flatulence. All such wonderful things all by themselves.
Bringing a child into the world is a beautiful and ultimately rewarding experience. But with everything that comes along with it, it is no wonder that women don’t want to hear how beautiful you think they are right then. All they can see is what you have done to them and how miserable they feel.
