You have no idea what to expect when you are pregnant. At least not until you have experienced pregnancy for yourself. As I reach the end of my 3rd trimester I feel like a bit of a pro!! There are quite a few things that I have learnt from my pregnancies that quite frankly I didn’t expect (this is what I have learned/experienced – I realise everyone is different!)
What to expect when you are pregnant
People talk you all the time.
When you are pregnant everyone will talk to you. Seriously, strangers in the street will potter up to you to chatter about your pregnancy. Whilst I find this a little baffling, I have noticed that when I see a pregnant lady, I have an urge to go and chat. Strange I know.
You have no idea how big you will get!
During pregnancy here will come a time when you think you can’t possibly get any bigger…but then you do. The human body is pretty amazing.
You can never plan for labour
This is what I really didn’t expect when I was pregnant. You can try to plan for labour, but in my experience every labour is totally unpredictable. All you can do is go in there with an open mind and go with the flow
You are aware there will be a lack of sleep once your baby arrives
However you have no idea that a good sleep is long gone way before the baby arrives. Sleeping with a big bump is uncomfortable, the endless middle of the night trips to the toilet and, for the last few weeks, waking up at around 5am every morning. I am sure it is my body preparing me for what is in store!!!
You think you will go into labour early – everyone says it.
I think this goes back to the point above, you don’t realise how big and heavy you get. I have found myself saying it with this one and, whilst a little early would be nice, only a week please, and possibly on a Tuesday when the girls are in school and pre-school? Am I asking for too much?
Morning sickness does not necessarily mean in the morning.
It can happen all day (with Meme it did!) It also isn’t exclusive to the first trimester. However, in the first few weeks when I was so sick with Meme it did give me hope and I remember counting down the weeks until I hit that magic number, 12 weeks pregnant. I actually ended being sick up until week 20 and I know plenty that have experienced pregnancy sickness throughout!
With your first pregnancy you will spend crazy money on baby bits
What to expect when you are pregnant is that you will spend an obscene amount of money on baby stuff you will possible never need. Thankfully you wise up after the first (you also can’t afford it following your first)
And finally, you can never put into words the feeling you have when you have done that final push and you are handed your baby. The 9 months of struggles, being sick and tired (and in my case grumpy) become a distant memory, which you would do all over again. The feeling of relief, love and happiness is incredible – possibly the best feeling in the world.
So, 8 months in and, whilst I’m feeling hormonal and fed up and ready to throw my pregnancy leggings in the bin, I look at my girls, as challenging as they may be at times, and know it is all worth it.
Oh my goodness, I can’t believe you are nearing the end. That time seems to have flown by! #ablogginggoodtime
Aww what a lovely post. You’re so right, there are many things people don’t tell you about pregnancy and I sometimes think it’s a bit of self-preservation really, if we all knew the rubbish stuff first time round, would we do it anyway??
Nat.x
I learnt so many things with my pregnancy. It’s funny how many things you think are true but they aren’t, like waters breaking in a splash! I couldn’t believe how many people just stop and talk to you either, and touch your bump!! Great post, good luck x #sharingthebloglove
So exciting you are nearly there!! I agree so many things that you have no clue about and things I forgot the instant I had Alice. I guess that’s why we go on to have more, because we do forget a bit. The strangers thing is really weird, but so true!!! Thank you for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove X
Aww this is so precious, and you’re so right, it will all be completely worth it. I felt a bit sad reading this that I never had any strangers approach me when I was pregnant as I never had a bump, not one person asked me if I was pregnant the whole time, even sat in the midwife clinic clutching my green notes. I sometimes wonder if I would have a bump with a sixth…haha! #sharingthebloglove
Oh this brings back memories. I now remember not sleeping through a lot of my pregnancy and just shuffling about very very slowly. You look gorgeous with the bump and I hope you have a very easy going labour. I’m very excited for you 🙂 xx
You brought back such fond memories for me ? No I joke your final paragraph sums it up brilliantly as nothing can beat that feeling when baby finally arrives! Lovely post ? Thank you for linking up to #ablogginggoodtime
I completely agree with all of these points – I am currently 40 weeks pregnant with my second and fed up of waiting. We all thought that this little one would come early because he felt so much heavier than my first, but I’m still here overdue again! I’ve also found that everyone comes and talks to you, or points out the fact that you are pregnant (as if you hadn’t noticed!). Good luck for when the baby arrives! #PicknMix
Not long at all now 🙂 I am so looking forward to baby spam, and I really feel for you as I still remember how uncomfortable the last stage is.
Thanks for linking up to #PicknMix
Stevie x
I’m 30 weeks into my third pregnancy too and this is all so true! I’m on countdown now! #ablogginggoodtime
Pregnancy and Labour were miserable, complicated, traumatising affairs for me both times, but I certainly will never forget as long as I live how I felt, like I couldn’t catch my breath I was so awed and over whelmed by how much I LOVED that little person the first time we met. I stared for so long in awe at my first. With my second it was not so extreme as it was expected but instead I let out a huge sigh of relief, like ‘finally, you are here in my arms!’, it is a magical moment 🙂 x #sharingthebloglove
I agree with all your points! I too want to talk to pregnant woman! madness!
#sundaybest
Such a lovely post, and all so very true! Almost makes me miss being pregnant though in a strange way?! Thanks for joining us at #SundayBest, hope to see you again tomorrow! x
I keep saying that I feel like this baby will come early, though I bet she doesn’t haha! Thank you for linking up to #SundayBest x