That is if heartburn, false labor, and loss of bladder control is considered downhill.
I honestly don't remember the last few weeks of my first pregnancy being this rough. When I complain voice my concerns, my husband kindly reminds me that I was pretty uncomfortable then too (and maybe a little uncomfortable to live with).
While the pregnancy symptoms may be the same, I definitely think my attitude is different.
With Rooster I followed most of the rules. I didn't lick the brownie bowl (risk of salmonella in raw eggs). I took a vitamin every single day (as opposed to most days...). I avoided all caffeine, and I made sure to eat all the colors of the rainbow as often as possible. I even remember worrying about my bath water being too hot (don't remember why...), and making sure I got out and walked around on long car rides (to decrease the risk of blood clots). I read all the books and kept up with his weekly growth.
This time around things are different. Way different. I have to admit: I mostly just act like I'm not pregnant. I don't do any terribly dangerous things, like play contact sports or climb tall ladders, but I definitely eat more sweets than I should including raw cookie dough every now and then. I don't panic if I don't feel her move for a while, and I definitely don't sit around and let my husband feel my belly. Who has time for that?!?!
I've sometimes wonder if this child will be less than perfect because of my vivacious living. I wonder if maybe I'm not loving her enough by not giving her the attention and care I gave Rooster. Then I remember that I have to get supper on the table or my little man has a melt down. Time to stop wondering and start working!
While I am definitely busier this time around, I think most of the changes in my attitude come down to perspective. With Rooster pregnancy was novel and lots of fun. I was so caught up in creating new life that I didn't even notice when I had to get up and go to the bathroom a million times a night.
Then came delivery day, and as any mother knows, nothing compared to the joy that I felt when I held my little boy for the first time. Pregnancy was a thing of the past! I realized that the whole experience of pregnancy was just the spring board. The ups and downs blend together into one long waiting game. Good or bad, nothing really matters when you get to the end, when that baby is here, and your life is completely changed for the love of a 7lb 12 oz bundle of joy.
My little Rooster |
And I am so looking forward to that moment, when I get to see my daughter, to feel her, to hold her in my arms and tell her I love her.
So while this pregnancy thing may make life a little uncomfortable for the next 6 weeks, I can guarantee I won't notice too much. I'll go about my life taking care of my family and waiting. Waiting for the day when we meet our new little one, and the rest of our lives begin all over again.
I'm now pregnant with my 3rd and I feel the same way...I have to admit that I have not taken my prenatal for the last week. I have one cup of coffee a day...and maybe a soda 2 times a week. This is NOT how I was with my first at all! I think we are still fine...and so are our babies....I think we just grow and mature some too. ;)
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate! I'll be 36 weeks on Wednesday with our third and life has been so much busier this pregnancy taking care of a 4 and 3-year-old. :-)
ReplyDeletePrenatals are so hard to remember!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up to Mommy Moments!
- The Mrs {co host}
www.mrsvolnoff.blogspot.com
Thank you for this! I'm 24 weeks with my first baby (though I lost two). I can totally relate to trying to live "perfectly" because of all the rules midwives and doctors lay out for us! Somethings I have been more lenient on - once or twice I've bought freshly made sushi! And I have Coke every now and then...But at the back of the mind, I do pray and worry because the rules make you feel like you're a terrible monster!!! But my friends who've had babies in the past say with each pregnancy they get more relaxed, and the older generation can't believe it and ridicule the rules!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the rest of your pregnancy! Blessings!
I am 35 weeks with my fifth and you definitly do ease up with each pregnancy! blessings...Nicole at Seven Flowers
ReplyDeleteI'm 34 weeks pregnant with our seventh child (13th if I count the ones waiting in heaven), and I had to laugh at this with you. OH MY. I was SO CAREFUL during my first pregnancy. I did EVERYTHING I was supposed to do and NOTHING I was not, and you know what happened? I gained 60 pounds and had a horrible delivery and beautiful baby boy with lots of health problems. Just goes to show you that following the rules don't always matter. :)
ReplyDeleteAs the pregnancies have passed, I, too, have acted less pregnant with each one. I am busy busy busy and just simply don't have time to follow every single suggestion in What to Expect.
Some of my pregnancy symptoms have gotten worse each time - more sickness in the beginning, more wet pants/less sleep in the end (LOL) but some are better: I don't eat ice cream every night because everyone would want some, and most days I don't finish a single cup of coffee before it's too cold to drink. Chasing a busy babies has kept my weight-gain in control better that Mommy Yoga ever did. But ultimately, I find that I'm actually calmer and more patient with each one. After all, I have a baby, a toddler, and homeschooling a kindergartner, two grade schoolers and a middle schooler to fill my days, so if this baby wants to wait until 43 weeks to come out, frankly, I can use the extra time. :)
Thanks for your wonderful blog!
Heidi
http://www.bootcampforlousyhousekeepers.blogspot.com
PS I put one of those tiny magnetic calendars and a magnetic pin inside my bathroom cabinet to remind me to take my vitamins....and to help me remember if I had already taken it! (Because some days I'm sure I took 2 or 3 because my mommy brain is so fuzzy.) Works for me!
Oh how I wish I had your attitude!
ReplyDelete