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Last Updated on April 12, 2021
Two years ago I was just starting my pre-conception plan with the hopes of becoming a mom. It worked, as I now have a beautiful healthy son who just started crawling two weeks ago. As a first time mom, I went into pregnancy with a lot of ideas and beliefs that were, if not all out wrong, they were ignorant and didn’t make my pregnancy any easier. I clearly recall telling a pregnant co-worker that “I never throw up and don’t expect to while pregnant.” It shouldn’t come as a shock then that I threw up nearly every day of my pregnancy. Here are 5 unexpected pregnancy symptoms I wish I known about before I got pregnant:
1. Your overall heath going into pregnancy does not determine how healthy you will be during pregnancy
I follow a very healthy diet that is nutrient dense. I put a lot of faith in my diet because I’ve healed myself of anxiety, depression and pcos. I’ve also lost weight and managed to keep it off. I was expecting to have an easy joyful pregnancy and I was sick as a dog and grumpier than a shark with a toothache. Also, I have a friend who only eats processed foods and her pregnancy was a breeze. While I’m not saying you should just eat junk food, I do think that you shouldn’t expect your “prefect” diet to save you from a difficult pregnancy.
2. Pregnancy will change your body permanently
I don’t just mean stretch marks or a giggly stomach. I now have a permanent aversion to salads and I can no longer deal with heat. It was 80 degrees last weekend and I thought I was going to have a heat stroke. I’m already shopping for a portable air conditioner so I can make it through the one week of 100 degree weather we typically have here. The labor will bring other surprises like permanent tearing or a c section scar.
3. Sometimes it’s more than just crazy hormones
When I hit the third trimester, I started experiencing lots of anxiety and paranoia. I chalked it up to hormones and upped my fish oils (which did help) but it wasn’t until the Little arrived that I noticed my thyroid was enlarged. It turns out m thyroid levels were lower than normal (which explains my freezing cold feet) . My doctor recommended a supplement which did bring the levels back up.
4. The Hairy Belly
Not only did I have a super sleuth sense of smell during most of my pregnancy, I also sprouted more hair on my belly than my husband. Sexy right?
5. Celibacy
This is not necessarily a symptom but an important aspect during pregnancy. While some are fine with intimate relations during pregnancy, my husband and I were celibate. It was a mutual decision so at least one of wasn’t upset with the other for not fulfilling these important needs. I honestly could barely stand being touched so there weren’t cuddles or any physical affection during the long 9 months.
You can probably see why in my About me page, I have the Little described as my ONLY child. I’m a one child mama and I’m ok with that. We might adopt in the future but now we’re just enjoying our little guy.
There are a plethora more of unexpected pregnancy symptoms but these are few that I just didn’t come across in any of my pregnancy books. Mamas, I’d love if you shared a pregnancy symptom you weren’t expecting.
Please just have another baby if you’re going to do it again, unless you intend to adopt from foster care. This is not a popular thing to say and it will offend people, but I’ve seen firsthand what happens when people go, “Oh, I won’t have my own baby, I’ll just go buy one at the baby store” (which is what adoption and infant adoption in particular amount to) and the fallout that comes from that. It’s great for the adoptive parent–everyone sees you as a hero. It’s not so great for the other two members of the “adoption triad”: the mother who grieves and must bear societal stigmas unlike any other, and the child whose mother’s voice suddenly disappears and who must grow up among familiar strangers.
I don’t know how adoption got so trendy but I really wish it would stop. There’s fostering if you’re really concerned about kids who have no families.
Dana, thanks for comment and please feel free to share your opinion here, regardless if it is popular or not.
We actually would be looking at an older child if we adopted. It’s terrible to say, but I just don’t deal well with the sleeplessness that comes along with a newborn. Of course, 3 years from now I could say “Guess what I’m pregnant”
but that’s the last thing on my mind for a good long while, if ever.
Yep, pregnancy does change you. I am with you on the heat thing. Seems like my body feels 100 degrees hotter than my surroundings all the time. I’m not looking forward to summer. Sweat just isn’t pretty. LOL
Ha! No it’s not 🙂
All of these are so true! We didn’t go the celibacy route, we kept busy until about the end when I was heavy and ready to pop. The permanent body change happened for sure!
I had increased saliva. Looked it up and sure enough it is a symptom. I felt like a slobbering camel.
I guess I’m the odd woman out :O) The only thing that permanently changed was a couple stretch marks.lol I think your health before almost always affects the health during. and you’d have to lock me in a room to get me to be celibate.lol
Ha! I never thought I would we would become celibate either but it’s the way the cookies crumbled during my pregnancy.
You’re not kidding about #2!