Things I Will and Won’t Miss About Being Pregnant
In case you haven’t noticed, pregnancy has not been my favorite part of being a woman. To be honest, I am astonished by people who have more than two or three kids because I could NEVER be pregnant more than three times. (Kudos to those of you with big families!!) Matthew jokes that he doesn’t know if he can stand me being pregnant more than once!
What I Will Miss
Below are two lists – What I Will Miss and What I Won’t Miss about being pregnant. What would you put on your lists?
What I Will Miss
- Eli having hiccups
- All his little kicks and bumps
- Matthew talking to my belly
- Matthew kissing my belly
- Being able to play the “pregnancy card”
- Red meat cravings
- My parents’ excitement about me being pregnant with their first grandbaby
What I Won’t Miss
- Back pain
- Not being able to take Imitrex for my migraines
- Maternity clothes
- Not having a waist
- Not being able to take deep breaths
- Not being able to see my feet
- Swollen feet and hands
- My first trimester “all day sickness”
- Not being able to sleep on my tummy
- People saying things like “you sure are big” “are you having twins?” “you look ready to pop!”
Also, if you are interested in watching The Business of Being Born, it is available, in full online. Check it out here.
Hi Jessica… just remember at least you have 2 hands right now to get things done… it’s not as easy once the baby is here. You will be a fabulous mom. The exitement and anticipation you feel now can’t be duplicated. Hang in there.
Jamey Rogers, Lexington, KY
I echo your comment on pregnancy. It is a miracle being able to feel that life God created inside you. How he moves and has the hiccups. How his elbow, hand, or knee comes up across your tummy to the other side.
And then there is the heart burn, the constant feeling of being blotted, the headaches and sickness that comes on if you don’t eat immediately, I won’t even tell you about labor ( I am much older than you).
So it amazes me how some of these women whose blogs I read have 5-7 children. Their children should rise up and call the blessed!
I absolutely loved pregnancy and we’re trying for baby #3!!! Every person is different so don’t feel bad that it wasn’t “your thing”!
I definitely agree on a lot of the “Won’t Miss” list, especially the last one (can we say RUDE?)!
Jessica – When I read this post I had to chuckle. When I was pregnant with my first, I, too, thought “how do women do this five and six times”? Once you hold that precious baby in your arms — you will most likely have what I like to call “selective amnesia” about many parts of your pregnancy that you would like to forget…and more than likely you will look forward to your next (and all subsequent preganancies)without too much thought being given to all of the inconveniences of pregnancy. Even now – after three full-term pregnancies, I mostly remember only the good things — the hiccups, the ultrasounds, the kicks,rolls and flutters — and forget the heartburn, backache and all of that — because my beautiful girls that are asleep in their beds right now were worth ever second of discomfort 🙂 You’re almost there… thinking about you as you head down the home stretch 🙂
What I missed:
Being able to eat almost anything in almost any amount – cause I’m eating for two. 😉 Yeah – 50# later didn’t miss that!
The relaxed feeling during pregnancy that was like no other feeling in my life.
🙂
It’s been 26 years – I’ve forgotten the rest.
I have a new part time job taking newborn pics at Annapolis hospital where your adorable nieces were born : ) I can tell you after seeing all those precious miracles the past week….IT WILL BE SO WORTH IT and you will forget very quickly the discomfort ; ) That I also know from experience! I pray you get some rest the rest of your pregnancy, take care of youself and that little guy, oh and Matt too : )
I definitely miss feeling that closeness to my child. Both of mine are growing too fast and it feels like their independence takes them further from me.
I don’t miss the terrible sciatica! It was so painful. Oh, and my umbmilical hernia. Thank goodness you don’t have one of those….or do you?
Thinking of you as you prepare for the BIG arrival. Elias will never be closer to you than he is now.
You might find you miss pregnancy more after it’s over. =) Speaking as one due with her 6th, that’s certainly been the case for me. I never ever wanted ANY kids…and here I am. I am realizing that pregnancy and children are such a gift. Ones I never dreamed I wanted and I certainly didn’t love or appreciate much about my first pregnancy. Wouldn’t you know, that’s the daughter that died of mine! My heart breaks sometimes because I think back to how much I ‘hated’ about her pregnancy…only to wish it over again and again.
I have found that the pounds don’t matter so much anymore and my body will never be the same now that I’ve had so many kids.
But I have a bigger heart, more patience, a ‘softer side’, less selfishness and a more mature, humbler character quality that never would have surfaced had I not had kids.
I send love and care as you count down these final days and weeks. They may seem to drag now, but you will look back and see the time really moves quickly.
And you will forget most of your aches and pains as soon as Elias arrives. Take care and try to soak it all up!!
Hi Jessica,
I often read your blog, but I haven’t written in before. I loved being pregnant, but I wasn’t a cute pregnant person. I looked pregnant all over. I looked pregnant in my neck. I had all day sickness for the first 5 months. On my 8th month of pregnancy I was put on bed rest for high blood pressure. My feet couldn’t touch the floor except to go to the kitchen or to the bathroom. My doctor finally decided to induce on week 39. I had a beautiful, healthy baby girl. My daughter is two now. I obviously haven’t forgotten a lot about the pregancy, but I wouldn’t change a thing. ( I have been told no two pregnancies are the same.) And yes, my husband and I are talking about having another baby if we survive the two’s.
Kelley from Arkansas
I LOVE the playing the pregnancy card…did that all the time!
I don’t miss the “tummy touching”. I mean seriously…it’s like you get pregnant and people feel they have the right to feel you up! I’m a touchy, huggy person but not with those tummy lovers!
That may be one of my future posts =)
I think pregnancy is a REALLY beautiful and extraordinary thing, and I hope I have this blessing one day… But it would get me down to not be able to sleep on my tummy, too! I would definitely miss that. Soon you might be able to!
– CG