Being pregnant is an exciting and strange journey with many twists but more importantly, pregnancy brings lots of joy. The joy of knowing that you created something, and in nine months, there will be a new life in the world. The joy of knowing that for the first several months, you have a secret that no one knows about. The joy of knowing that you can give into cravings, sleep at odd hours, dress however you want to, and decorate the baby's room however you want to.
When you first find out that you're pregnant, you may have an overwhelming feeling. You're going to have a baby. You created life, and that life has started growing inside of you. Your body is not yours anymore, it belongs to the baby. And that baby is going to grow and cause your hormones to do crazy things to your body. Some of them will be annoying, but oh it's going to be worth it when you see that little face for the first time. What a great and wonderful joy all in itself.
Another wonderful joy is going to the ultrasounds to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time, finding out the sex if you choose to do so, and finding out that the baby is healthy or that you may be having multiples.
Have a craving for tuna and V-8 juice mixed together, or have a craving for dirt? Have the satisfaction and joy of giving into those cravings. Cravings are a way of letting us know that we're missing something in our diets. If cravings when you're not pregnant are there, imagine the cravings when you're pregnant. Cravings can hit you anytime during pregnancy at any hour of the day. Feel free to enjoy the gallon of apple juice or peanut butter with pickles or a steak if you're a vegetarian.
Enjoy the satisfaction of taking naps at odd hours of the day. If you're like a lot of pregnant women, you're fatigued during the day but unable to sleep at night. Your body will let you know when it needs rest. Enjoy taking a nap at seven in the evening and then getting up to go to bed for the rest of the night. Better get all the sleep you can because after the baby is born, you may lose the sleep that you wished you would have gotten.
As your belly gets bigger and rounder, your clothes will start to feel a little snug. Enjoy buying cute maternity clothes that enhance the roundness of your belly (watch out though, a pregnant belly is a magnet for strangers' hands). If you find that maternity clothes are too expensive for you, buy bigger sized clothes. If your feet and ankles get swollen, wear comfortable shoes and put your feet up if you can.
Enjoy being put first and center when you're pregnant. If you take public transportation, someone will get up to let you have their seat. People will hold doors open for you. At some clothing stores, they even have a parking spot designated for expectant mother and mothers with newborns. You will be inducted into the great society of motherhood by others mothers who will pass by you. And let's not forget the gifts that you'll be receiving from people from day one.
The most important joy, of course, when you're pregnant is knowing the end is near. Knowing that your contractions are uncomfortable but knowing that a little one will soon be on his way to bring even more happiness and joy to your life.
