Pregnancy Woes

 

Pregnancy is hard. Beautiful, but hard. Amazing, but hard. Sometimes, I feel bad complaining because I have so many friends and family members who had it significantly harder than I do, but you know what? I’m going to vent and complain anyway!

Don’t get me wrong, feeling this little lady growing inside of me has been one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced. I know there will come a time where I will miss being pregnant, her midnight dance parties, and having her all to myself. But, at 33 weeks, now is not that time. With less than 7 weeks to go, I don’t know how I’m going to make it! Between the shortness of breath, swelling, heart burn, acid reflux, midnight bathroom trips, and insomnia, I really don’t know how I could possibly be more uncomfortable and tired. “Just wait,” is one of the many pearls of wisdom people reply with if I even yawn in front of them.

Let’s take a few minutes and discuss these super helpful tips everyone is always throwing at you when you’re pregnant. “Get your sleep in now, because it’s going to be much worse when the baby gets here.” Well thank you Barb, but I am already not sleeping. Those of you who know me, know how much I love my sleep! I am well aware that I will not be sleeping the way I used to from here on out, that doesn’t make me any less exhausted. “That’s the baby getting you ready to be up all night with her.” Is it though? Because while I am running to the bathroom and then staring at the ceiling for hours before I have to get up for work, Baby G. is sound asleep. “You know, heart burn is a sign that you’re going to have a hairy baby.” As if I’m not already concerned that my baby is going to have my crazy Greek eyebrows or Mark’s super hairy arms, don’t confirm my fears with old wives’ tales! Finally, my favorite: “But you’re so small!” I feel like a whale. I have gained much more weight than I care to share and I can’t leisurely walk from my office to the bathroom without gasping for air. This is the heaviest I have ever been and it’s uncomfortable. I know weight gain is part of the process, but again, it does not make it any easier every time I see that number go up at the doctor’s office.

I’m going to go ahead and speak on behalf of tired pregnant women everywhere: please try to go back and remember when you were pregnant and how it felt. I know you felt the same, if not worse! I know you mean well, but please remember you are talking to a hormonal, uncomfortable, tired, pregnant woman. Cut us some slack, we just need to let it out. We are well aware that our lives will be forever changed once this little bundle of joy arrives. Granted, we may not know exactly what we are in for, but it’s no secret that it will be hard, exhausting, and amazing.