When you become a parent or as you age, your memory goes to the dogs! That being said, for giggles and stuff, below are a few things that I forgot about being pregnant. Let’s say my second pregnancy opened up a whole new world.
ONE: Nausea
Oh the nausea! Honestly this time it’s much worse. I think nausea is worse than puking because that urge to puke can cause one to feel so uncomfortable and disgusted. The funny taste that you have in your mouth is yuck! I found myself praying about this one.
TWO: Diarrhoea
This is a sore point every day, for about 4-5 weeks I needed to use the loo all the time when I woke up the morning. I would get up to pee, then I would have to go, TMI I know. But then again is there ever too much information in pregnancy? I seriously doubt that.
THREE: Urinary Incontinence
This one really sucks! After giving birth your bladder just doesn’t seem to be the same again. I would pee on myself when I sneezed. It’s not even that I needed to pee, it’s just that my bladder isn’t what it used to. And I would have the wet underwear to prove it every time I laughed or sneezed. Pantyliners are your best friends!
FOUR: Fatigue
Where do I even begin? This is a tough one. Every night I went to bed at the point of what seemed like death. I was so tired, all day, every day. But I forgot that this came with the territory. And having a toddler did not help matters. Even doing my hair felt like a never-ending chore.
FIVE: Pregnant Cravings
With my first baby, I thought I was imaging things. With the second baby, I realised that I was not. See the below trend;
- First Baby: Nandos jumbo peri chips/wedges with peri-naise sauce or just salt and vinegar crisps.
- Second baby: Fresh chips from Spar/Shoprite. Nandos no longer have jumbo chips. Chicken Licken Burger or Steers Wacky Wednesday.
Sometimes I would give in. sometimes I would cage my heart and silence that nagging need.
SIX: Big Breasts
“Say it after me… Milk jugs!”
Yes, that was what I had, my breasts went from small to a full-fledged melon real fast!
SEVEN: Bloated Tummy
Maybe it was the potatoes? I was obsessed with chips (mafresh). But even when I didn’t have them, I still felt bloated. My stomach always felt larger than life.
EIGHT: Gas
Can we talk about how stinky pregnancy gas is? Wow! When one is heavily bloated, they obviously have to release the gas. PSHEW! Please give those around you some warning. The smell is enough to cause irreconcilable differences, ha-ha!
NINE: Stretchmarks
Well with the second pregnancy I had the map of Africa all around my body. The stretchmarks were around my waist area. I have learned to embrace my ‘zebra stripes’. After all, they are my war stripes – they show that I went to war and I was victorious in delivering a baby.
TEN: Pregnancy Glow
You will fall in love with your pregnancy glow. It usually doesn’t last forever (though sometimes it does). In my case, I have noticed that things go south in the third trimester.
ELEVEN: Discolouration
Hold up! Hold up! What is it about second-born children? Or maybe it’s just me? Getting pregnant again seemed to escalate in the body. In the second trimester, my body was riddled with some dark spots.
TWELVE: Swollen Feet & Fingers
Goodness, gracious! Where do I start? My feet became the size of an elephant when I was pregnant. My shoes didn’t fit, I could only wear flip flops! At least with this pregnancy, my feet got swollen later on, around 30 weeks. Unlike the first pregnancy when it happened right after 20 weeks. My fingers were swollen too and my ring was off before the second trimester.
THIRTEEN: Back Pain
It’s almost like the back pain is saying, ‘hello mama. I missed you.’ It is real that carrying a baby may bring about chronic back pain. If you are like me and don’t like being managed, then you will feel helpless at times. But note: pregnancy massages are good for you.
FOURTEEN: Not seeing anything below your tummy
As the baby grows, the tummy grows larger too. There will come a time when you will no longer be able to see anything below your tummy. You will not be able to bend down. So when something falls, one of three things will happen;
- You will part your legs like the red sea and squat. It makes a giraffe drinking water look elegant.
- You will call out to your toddler/spouse to come and help you.
- Or you will give up.
Pick your battles very carefully.
FIFTEEN: The Long Last Months
The last few months feel like years! Goodness, it seemed like forever waiting for the baby to come. The wait is always difficult.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my article, and if nothing else it made you smile. On a serious note though, if you’re pregnant have you read about the Maternity Laws in Botswana. Have a look and know what you’re entitled to.
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3 Comments
Lovely, funny read as always Shaz 😍
I remember with my first child, I felt and was sick the first 5 months! I couldn’t stomach anything for those months even hubby had to go roll on free, ijoo 😅 it was just terrible.
I remember thinking, never again.. Lol
10yrears later I still went and had my 3rd.
Amazing how we easily forget.. But I count it such a blessing to be able to have children and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! ♥️
Haha! So true, except I had no cravings with my first pregnancy, hoping to have them next pregnancy haha! Well I want some special care during pregnancy 🙈
This reminds me so much of my first pregnancy. I look forward to having my next child. Pregnancy is a beautiful thing. Well done Shaz for this wonderful article!