My toddler will be two tomorrow and I’m currently 14 weeks pregnant with baby number two. I’m going to be honest, I did not enjoy pregnancy first time around and I’m definitely not loving it yet this time either.
In fact, number 18 on my list of things I learnt during pregnancy is the reason I was so reluctant to give pregnancy another go. The thought of 9 months nausea again was pretty daunting. And, I tell you what, 3 months in it’s as horrific as I remember. But, this time I’m also looking after an incredibly energetic toddler! So, here are some things I’d sort of forgotten but that have come flooding back to me this time around…
- the dislike of tea
Anyone who knows me well knows I love a good cup of tea. So, similarly to last pregnancy, when I suddenly didn’t finish my morning cup of tea three days in a row I began to wonder if I might be pregnant. I am so well known for never saying no to a cup of tea that my sister-in-law guessed I might be pregnant after two refusals to a cup of tea. To be fair, it was probably me asking whether she had any fruit tea that rang more alarm bells! - the all-day nausea
Morning sickness is a cruel and misleading title. Last time around I had 9 months of nausea. Well no, that’s an exaggeration, I had 2 weeks of rest bite in the middle where I felt sort of ok. As well as my sudden dislike of tea, the added nausea was a big indication for me that I might be pregnant, even though a test didn’t show as positive for over a week after the nausea began. Whilst I am incredibly grateful that I’m not actually being sick, here’s hoping that my nausea passes this time. I worry I’ll be the size of a house, or my teeth will fall out, if I keep eating fizzy strawberry laces and pepperami at the rate I’m currently going! - the unquenchable thirst
No amount of water is enough to satisfy how incredibly thirsty I am. I can drink a litre bottle and then need to refill it immediately because it doesn’t quench the thirst at all. Also, no drink is cold enough. No matter how much ice I put in it.
And the problem with the unquenchable thirst is… - the weeing
In the day, I need to wee slightly more but not annoyingly so. But, as soon as I get into bed, I’m desperate for a wee. Every time. Without fail. We live in a house with only one toilet, which is downstairs and at the other end of the house, so my repeated nightly visits to the toilet are a little bit of a trek. - the ‘greenness’
(or the greyness). Many a morning I’ve looked in the mirror and thought, ‘I think my skin is actually a little green’. Nausea makes me look like a cartoon sick person. Confirmed by my husband who said, ‘maybe you should start wearing a bit more make up for a while’. Other people who’ve experienced pregnancy nausea will spot this a mile off and in fact, I’ve had a few people say (since we announced our pregnancy), ‘I did think you were looking a little green’. - the smells of food
whilst my increased sense of smell during pregnancy makes me feel like a super hero at times (I’m aware that a super sense of smell might be a lame superpower but you’ve got to find the positives in pregnancy!), it also means that I can really fancy a meal, get my husband to cook it, and then as soon as it’s served up and I smell it I can’t even bear to look at it, let alone eat it. It makes me feel like a terrible person but if any of you have experienced this you’ll know that you cannot force yourself to eat something you just don’t fancy! - the exhaustion
I did not appreciate with my first pregnancy what a luxury it was to just have a nap when I felt tired. This time around, I am exhausted but life goes on! I had headaches last time but I found that power naps and paracetamol were enough to stop them. This time, I’ve had to go to the Doctor to get stronger painkillers as I’m finding that my headaches are so bad by the evening I’m just having to lie down as soon as I can. - the mid-stage between regular clothes and maternity clothes
Urgh! This stage is horrible. You show quicker the second time round. So, at 10 weeks, my regular clothes were getting snug but my maternity clothes were all stretched to the end of a pregnancy so they don’t really work for the early stage either. And during this stage you don’t really look pregnant anyway, you just look like you’ve eaten way too much cake. Miserable. - the lies and deception
Finally, the lies and deception. I hate lying. But, when I first found out I was pregnant this time round it was the week before my birthday. I’d organised an evening of dinner and cocktails. I’d actually signed up to be part of a TV programme where I didn’t drink for a month and they looked at the impact on my health (as well as lots of other participants). When I got pregnant I dropped out of this but for my birthday I had to create an elaborate story about not knowing the dates of when it started (actually not a lie) and how I was now not drinking (also not a lie). It was quite a handy cover! Ultimately I just created a lot of deception but man it gets complicated trying to hide pregnancy! Especially when people know you for loving a drink (proved by the many gin-themed gifts and cards I received for my birthday!)
Sound familiar to anyone else? How’s your pregnancy been?
5 Comments
Michelle Twin Mum · November 9, 2017 at 10:39 pm
Oh bless you, at least it will all be worth it in the end! I never enjoyed my pregnancies either sadly. Mich x
starsinclayjars · November 10, 2017 at 11:21 pm
Hey, I’m so sorry to hear it’s been so rough! 🙁 Just wanted to say… Apologies for the bad timing on my blog! I swear it wasn’t on purpose… I started writing it a few weeks ago and then felt awful when I read yours! If it’s any consolation, I have to say I have generally great pregnancies, but absolutely horrific labours! (Though I’m still not sure which is worse…!) Hope this second one gets more enjoyable for you. Lots of love xxx
Annie · November 11, 2017 at 11:44 pm
Oh you’re so kind. I really enjoyed your post. No hard feelings when someone else is feeling good on pregnancy! Will be praying your labour is not horrific this time though! xxx
starsinclayjars · November 12, 2017 at 7:22 am
Haha thank you! Well, put it this way.. I have a growth scan in a few weeks, and if it’s anywhere near no.2’s dimensions it’ll be making an orderly exit out of a side door, thank you very much!! 😂😣 xx
WildCityMum · November 18, 2017 at 10:47 am
Oh Annie, congratulations my friend, and sympathy in an abundance. I too have pretty dire pregnancies. I think what I found the hardest was seeing other pregnant people glowing and telling me how amazing theirs were going. Or people telling me I looked “huge” at 14 weeks. With my first I had SPD which left me unable to walk at all at the end. Labour was complicated because I couldn’t move my hips at all i felt like a caged animal towards the end, no position sitting of lying was without pain in the final trimester, it honestly felt like torture! I found the mental struggle of being in constant pain day and night without end so hard to reconcile with the knowledge at the sane time that my body was making something miraculous. It’s so difficult to be grateful and appreciatI’ve of the miracle you’re making when you are suffering so much! My pregnancy with Elsie was even worse. I had hyperemisis grivadem (sp?) and was on injections around the clock for the entire pregnancy to keep fluids down. My sickness would start as soon as I woke. Couple that with an autistic child that you don’t yet know is autistic screaming you awake every morning and I honestly thought I might lose the will to live! I had to set myself little achievable goals throughout the day; walk to the next gutter to be sick, walk down the alley to preschool before the next vomit. When I was no longer able to be upright my aim was to get the injection in before I started the sickness cycle. It was just unbelievable! Anyway, my point is that it did come to an end eventually, and we did all survive it. When you’re in the middle of it 9 months feels like an age and it can quite literally depress you both. We had to rely on the grace of our friends and family in a very humbling way. I literally couldn’t have managed it without them. That’s why we chose a name that means “God provides plentifully”. Praying for you friend. We are just up the road so let me know if you need us to drop by a meal?