Being pregnant is fun? REALLY?

[Writer]

Look at what happens to the woman's internal organs! ACK!

http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ClickedLink=343&ck=10236&area=27

And what happens AFTER childbirth? ACK! ACK!

http://www.easybabylife.com/post-pregnancy-body.html


Why do we talk about this process like it's sprinkled with fairy dust? It's NOT! ACK! ACK! ACK!

Unless a woman were to give BIRTH to a fairy, that is.

[rcrush]

1. I'm not clicking on that

No way in hell!

[BlueIris]

2. So, do you have any names picked out yet?

Just asking.

(Yet another thing no one ever tells you about pregnancy...all the asking.)

[Writer]

3. No, I'm not pregnant, but I'm really not looking forward to the process!

ACK!

[AsahinaKimi]

12. I agree with you there...

I think I would just rather buy a kitty... Or if necessary..adopt a kid!

[Deep13]

61. Skip it.

It's not like the world is running out of people.

[annabanana]

66. The memory of the process will fade with time...

The kids will hang around the house forEVER. . .

[Writer]

4. That alludes to the inevitable loss of identity.

That's a very serious issue for me, because I grew up with a very damaged and compromised sense of identity.

[tigereye]

8. it's a cool way to build a broader identity (no pun intended)

:D

[Writer]

9. No, it's not... says my instincts.

You are no longer yourself when you're pregnant. You are a "pregnant woman," who is everyone else's object to observe, comment on, and inquire about, as you the woman gets shut out of consideration.

At least, the above is the result of growing up with a narcissistic mother who only saw me as an object to observe, comment on, and inquire about, as I the daughter got shut out of consideration. It's taken many years after leaving the house to recreate my own sense of identity. Now I need to figure out a way to handle that old training as I consider becoming pregnant myself.

[redqueen]

10. I never got so many inappropriate and unwelcome comments

as when I was pregnant.

[Writer]

14. Really? What would they say to you? n/t

[redqueen]

15. Mostly stuff about getting fat.

Or how big my boobs were getting. Mostly from men, but some women too.

One woman commented on how ugly I was looking, but said that it meant the baby was taking my beauty, so that meant I would have a beautiful baby. Nice, huh?

[Writer]

16. Good GOD. Did you say anything back? n/t

[redqueen]

19. Sometimes.

More often than not I didn't though. My dad used to constantly give me crap about how I looked so I have huge issues about that. So usually I'd just sort of shrink and hope they'd just shut up and go away.

Not trying to scare you about it... the times with just the baby, feeling her kick and all that, that was great. The rest of it was absolute shit though.

[Shell Beau]

24. The worst for me was random people feeling my belly, and if I had

to answer "when are you due" one more time....

[hamsterjill]

82. I remember that!

And I remember my mother-in-law being horrified once when I told a stranger in an elevator to get her hands off of me! But good heavens, it's inappropriate!

[Odin2005]

69. WTF? Ugh, some people are just assholes!

In my experience pregnant women always seem "radiant" and have very good skin. :shrug:

[Brickbat]

11. If you keep a badass expression on your face, no one will mention your pregnancy.

ETA: That was my experience.

I've carried two children to term and have never, ever had anyone touch my pregnant belly (other than family, in private). No one ever commented about it, asked when I was due, touched my stomach or even asked if they could, or anything, and I attribute this very much to the fact that I walk around in public looking like I'm going to eat someone's face off.

I'm also one of those awful people who had smooth pregnancies and easy labors. We do exist.

I DO understand about compromised ideas of self and the idea of making your body beholden to someone else. So, in all seriousness, it might not hurt to go back to your therapist of choice (or find one, if you never have) to talk about things that might come up and have a go-to person when the time comes that you do decide to get pregnant.

[Writer]

13. All good suggestions.

Unfortunately, my mother and my two much older sisters - of which only one has had ONE child - are absolutely no one I could ever depend on. Ever.

What's awful is that my mother-in-law doesn't understand post-partum depression (that I think I have a very high risk of experiencing.) She literally thinks that a woman who gets depressed after having a child does so because she doesn't love her family. I kid you not.

But yes, I am going to need a team of folks to get through such a process. I have a great husband, so that helps.

Boy oh boy.

[Brickbat]

17. What a helpful attitude from MIL! Not.

At least you know the BS will come your way; you can be ready for it. But that's no fun to be worrying about people's attitudes with a newborn on your hands.

Not that you asked for any advice but I'll tell you something I wish someone had told me: There's no way to be a perfect mother, but there are hundreds of way to be a great mother (I think that's a real quote). Also, no matter what, someone will think that no matter what you're doing, you're doing it wrong, so decide right now that they can go to hell.

[Writer]

20. One thing about my MIL...

She's a Mexican immigrant who just naturalized recently. She's a VERY good mother herself, but she also is a bit ignorant on certain things, and tends to fall way of old wives tales and weird spiritual theories about how the world works. Which is strange, because she's a city girl.

But if I were to choose any mother to be around during this moment, I'd take her over my own mother any day.

And YES! I know that they can go to hell, but I hope that, if I get pregnant, that my emotional state won't leave me feeling too compromised to think that way.

[Demoiselle]

21. You must be from New York.

..You've just described the perfect New Yorker Don't Mess With Me Even Though I'm Riding the Subway With You face.

I had my babies relatively late (mid-thirties) and I was very very eager to have children. Both pregnancies were very easy (the births, not so much) and I sailed through, perfectly content to look, in my own words, like the QEII. Actually, that's not such a bad metaphor for how I felt...big, impressive, and floating through everything. And perhaps because I was older (and quite a bit taller?) than many, I didn't get any demeaning "Little Mother" treatment from anybody. I would have hated that! I'm sorry that anybody has to go through such nonsense.

[Brickbat]

26. I'm not, actually.

Grew up in Nebraska, live in Minnesota. You'd never guess it, looking at me. :grr: :rofl:

[Demoiselle]

29. I was taught the New York face a long time ago..

I was born in North Dakota, grew up on a farm in PA, had my first job in New York, a thousand years ago. And when I complained to my boss about the rather rude touchy feely behavior I was encountering on the subway she said...oh, you haven't developed your New York face yet. And she demonstrated right then, with the coldest thousand-yard-stare I've ever seen! I learned and didn't have a problem again.
The funny thing is, I find New Yorkers to be some of the friendliest people on earth. Except for the occasional subway opportunist.

[blue_roses_lib]

77. I recognize that...

... I always thought it was the 'Single woman on public transportation' face/vibe. There's a very definite aura of "don't f**k with me" that goes along with it. My mom always described it as, striding up the middle of a room, trailing power behind you like a wake. I have to use that one where I live also. Not so much for pervs, but for wannabe thug teenagers and hardcore alcoholics.


I don't have any children, and I've always wondered how I'd react to "Little Mother" treatment or random people that want to touch me that seems to go along with pregnancies. Everyone has a different comfort level I suppose, but I hate being touched by random people and would probably say something rather rude to anyone that walked up to my to touch my stomach. It seems as though the concept of 'personal space' flies right out the window when you're pregnant.:shrug:

[BlueIris]

23. This is my plan. Or possibly to wear a mean face and a button that says: "Don't ask me about my

pregnancy unless you want me to ask you about your last Pap smear."

[redqueen]

5. I know. People act like it's no big deal...

like all women should be *thrilled* to know they're pregnant, and only too happy to carry a pregnancy to term. Sure some women are... but they're the minority I'm sure.

Just imagine how different it would be if men got pregnant.

[NightWatcher]

6. there's too much crap you have to learn

[tigereye]

7. some of it is

It's really cool to watch your baby and stomach grow and then sitting quietly and communing, for lack of a better term, with the little one when he or she starts kicking. It's kind of cool.

OTOH, morning sickness, giantness at the end, tiredness and the intensity of birth are not always fun, but you get a cool little human at the very end.


Just my 2 cents

[kimi]

18. I don't know that I'd call it fun, exactly

As a mom of 5, and a former OB and nursery nurse, I've dealt with my share of pregnancy and pregnant ladies and their partners. And the babies, too. Pregnancy involves morning sickness, heartburn, hemmorhoids, body changes, aches and pains, balance issues, constipation - none of that is fun, but a lot of it is manageable. It's part of the trade-off for what could be one of the most life-changing experiences you'll ever have. But a lot of it is what you make of it. It's good that you're realistic about it, but there are good times, too. I can't tell you what yours will be, cause everyone has different good times. Best wishes :)

I'm glad you're aware of postpartum depression and that you may have a tendency for it. Have a good therapist, and do what you have to do. It's something that's not stressed enough in the discharge instructions of most postpartum wards, IMO. Very glad that you have a good and supportive husband, also. Makes a huge difference!

[Shell Beau]

22. The first 20 weeks of puking all day and night were awful.

After that it was amazing. Feeling a baby grow and move inside your body is unbelievable. That last month though, WHEW!!

[nolabear]

25. I'm not minimizing the discomfort, but

although there are discomforts associated with being healthily pregnant, and morning sickness can be awful in extreme cases, the female body is designed to have those organs pushed around and we spring back incredibly well from childbirth. Ideally, i.e. you are not under extreme emotional distress, your brain is bathed in hormones that calm and slow you down, as you should be. The first time you hear your infants heartbeat, like a little chugging washing machine, is stunning, even if, like I did with my first,you hear it for the first time in the ER after having had a head-on collision in an ice storm (I was much better off than the poor guy who hit a PREGNANT LADY head on). The baby's movements are not like anything you've ever felt--not painful; it feels exactly like what it is...somebldy's IN there! If you know it's this little person that you've been taking such care of, the reassurance of a good rollover is as satisfying a thing as I've ever felt.

I'm as athiest as they come, but when I had my sons I felt a connection to something that stretched back to forever, and I think it's the most fundamentally capable I've ever felt. And believe me, I'm someone who also prizes the kinds of competence that are far removed from that kind of thing!

No fairy dust. It's visceral, primordial, powerful, life creating life and casting it out to find its way along with all the rest of us poor slobs in an uncertain life. But I swear to you, it's holy.

[Lars39]

27. The movements can be pretty painful when the round ligaments are involved.

youch!

[nolabear]

28. LOL, well, yeah, my youngest did tapdance on my bladder.

And it was a fine predictor of the man he turned out to be!

[Shell Beau]

30. It is a miraculous feeling for sure.

I had a 4-D ultrasound and that was unreal. I wish I'd enjoyed it more while I was pregnant. I long to be pregnant again. We will do it one more time (if I am lucky enough to be able to conceive again, it took me 5 years, 2 ectopics, and 2 miscarriages, 2 surgeries to get there). We will try again I think this spring or summer. I am super excited. I dread the first 20 weeks, if they are like last time. Not sure how much harder it will be to have a 5 month stomach bug with an almost 2 year old, but I will make sure to enjoy every moment of this next pregnancy.

[Writer]

31. What's a 4-D ultrasound? n/t

[Shell Beau]

32. Looks like this

as opposed to this

[InternalDialogue]

47. nolabear, that's a beautiful post.

And I'm a man with no chance of being pregnant. You moved me!

[Fleshdancer]

33. I didn't like pregnancy

Im 5'3 and short waisted so my fetus had no where to go but straight out and it sucked. My body felt possessed (it was!) and I had no control over what was happening to me: urinating every 2 seconds, getting kicked in the ribs by the little monster, random gas, sciatic nerve pain, random changes in my center of gravity, nausea etc. Miracle my ass.

Fortunately I was preggers in Japan so if people said annoying things to me or about me, I didn't understand them. However, when you're willing to rip off your own right arm and ANY body part belonging to your SO for southern US comfort food while living in Asia...well both you and your SO are screwed.

[Shell Beau]

34. I had pregnancy induced carpal tunnel. Who knew it even existed?

[nolabear]

37. I developed a sudden allergy to angora. Couldn't wear my favorite sweater.

Once I'd delivered and was again small enough to wear it, it was fine.

[Writer]

44. Good LORD. Is this all the crap I'll have to deal with?

I have a friend who, after birth, developed a line of food allergies that only continues to grow. I feel just awful for her, and now she's pregnant with her second child. How is she supposed to maintain nutrition while pregnant when many foods can make her deathly ill?

Seriously - what are the chances that I will just be pregnant? And that's it. No BS with allergies, or other medical oddities that will arise due to the pregnancy?

ACK!

[annabanana]

67. It could happen..but then "ordinary" means different things

to different people.

Everyone has tough days, everyone has days that are kinda neat. It's a fascinating ride altogether.

[OhioBlue]

75. Well, pregnancy is a 9 month medical condition for sure.

don't let anyone try to tell you otherwise. Your body will change - and even in the easiest pregnancy... you will be uncomfortable and deal with hormonal changes like you've never dealt with before. But no matter what the difficulties are, you will adjust and you will deal with it. It will be amazing and you will find new pride in yourself.

It is a wonderful experience to know that you are creating a life. it is so strange to know that you are working so hard at something so important and you don't even have to put much thought into it - your body does it all by itself. And when you feel that little guy or gal kick and move.. it's amazing. I loved being alone and just holding my belly.

And all that attention - can be a positive. I connected to the women in my life like never before. Even the ones that didn't have children, were so supportive. My mother, grandmother, aunts, sisters, cousins, friends, etc... were amazing when I was pregnant. Our bonds grew stronger.

Try to relax, and when you are pregnant, journal it and live in the moment. Life is so short, and to know that it is the moment when you are starting your family is powerful.

[Fleshdancer]

40. I've never heard of that!

It's amazing what one little fetus ninja can do to your entire body. My sciatica was so bad that one morning my entire leg gave out and I collapsed. Thankfully nothing bad happened...aside from the constant occurring nightmares of me falling down.

Was the carpal tunnel in both arms or your dominant one? That is so weird.

[Shell Beau]

49. It was in both of my hands. It felt like what I imagine arthritis

must feel like.

[redqueen]

50. I got that too... and preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced hypertension).

Fun!

[OhioBlue]

74. I had the same thing!!! I had no idea until I talked to my OB

about it and then did some google searches.

[MicaelS]

35. Damn, I certainly could get rich if I were a genius....

All I would have to do is invent a fully functional artificial human uterus. A uterine replicator. Sounds like many women would pay big bucks to not have the problems and risk associated with pregnancy. An egg, some sperm, and nine months later, uncork the kid. Hey maybe I could even offer designer babies. You get to pick all the characteristics. Hair and eye color, height, what have you. O Brave New World (hint, hint) that has such people in it!

And yes, I am a man. :evilgrin: :beer: :hide:

[nolabear]

38. No, pregnancy is an important part of the bonding experience.

Not that you can't bond with a baby you didn't deliver; there are wonderfully bonded adoptive families. But it is a unique thing, fantasizing about the child and experiencing the hormones that put you in that dreamy state. I think most women wouldn't go for it as the preferred alternatie.

[LeftyMom]

36. Pregnancy wasn't bad. The newborn period sapped my will to live.

I need sleep. A lot. My son? Not so much.

Oh, and he had colic. If you've never had the pleasure, basically your baby screams in pain for four hours or so every afternoon for three months or so, for no identifiable reason and there's not a damned thing you can do about it.

I could deal with pregnancy, labor really wasn't the worst thing ever (after 25 hours I had a 10 lb, 24" long baby with no drugs,) but I'm not having another one until they come up with a way to skip the first eighteen months entirely.

[nolabear]

39. Poor thing. That sleep derivation can make you pure crazy!

I had one good natured, reasonably easygoing baby and one who went against the grain for his whole life, right up til now. Fortunately sleep wasn't bad, but when he was awake he was going 24/7 and Katie bar the door! We survived it, though, and I adore the man he's become. He's gonna need a woman with a heart of gold and a cat o' nine tails, though! LOL!

[tango-tee]

41. I enjoyed my pregnancy.

Guess I was lucky. No puking, no swollen ankles, no hemorrhoids, none of that stuff. Had lots of energy, glowing skin and thick hair. And I had cravings, usually around midnight and they wouldn't go away. For stuff we in all likelihood did not have in the house, which then forced my husband to get in the car and drive to the all-night supermarket clear across town.

It was a wonderful experience to feel the baby grow, do twists and turns and kick. I could actually "play" with him. When he kicked, I would push back a little, and a whole volley of kicks would follow.

Once the baby was born, your experience and mine were eerily similar. Baby with colic for the first six weeks, and I was so tired and exhausted I thought I would never feel rested again. My son had a really odd sleep cycle, and never once slept through the night for his first two years. There IS a reason he is an only child.

[Odin2005]

70. I was a horribly colicky when I was an infant.

It was my mom's first indication that I was "different". I suspect the "colic" was actually my autistic sensory sensitivity.

[Shell Beau]

81. Interesting that you mention that. My friend just recently

found out her almost 3 year old is autistic, and he was a very very colicky baby. She is actually having an easier time with her small twins than she did with him when he was small. And I imagine twins would be tough because there are 2 babies!

[Withywindle]

42. I'm not clicking on that.

If I had health insurance, I'd've gotten spayed long ago.

As it is, though, my biological clock's about to run out. :woohoo:

I've NEVER wanted a fucking Alien chestburster parasite, nor have I ever wanted to change the stinky diaper of some noisy squishy-headed not-quite-human-yet floppy thing. I am so looking forward to being finally totally safe from the danger of it happening accidentally.

(When maternal instincts were passed out upstairs, I was obviously either asleep, or getting a second helping of sex drive. I love sex, I just have no attraction to the by-products.)

[Odin2005]

71. Ew, i find your attitudes towards babies disturbing.

"Alien chestburster parasite" "noisy squishy-headed not-quite-human-yet floppy thing" :puke:

[Withywindle]

76. So do I. But it's just a gut response--totally kneejerk, not rational.

Don't worry, I supress these feelings in polite company. I'm even genuinely happy for my friends who are parents and happy about it.. I've even held their babies and been as gentle and smiley with them as I knew how, and pretended, I hope convincingly, that I thought they were cute. (I'm just privately very relieved when I hand them back.) I would never, ever harm one.

[ScreamingMeemie]

43. After two losses, I would have gladly transferred my heart to my throat

and my spleen to my big toe if it resulted in a healthy baby. It finally did, and that's why it was sprinkled with fairy dust and unbelievable joy for me and MrG. To each his own, but I relished the "discomfort" which really wasn't much discomfort at all.

[BrklynLiberal]

72. I agree iwth you 100%. I had to stay in bed for 9 months after I got pregnant following a

miscarriage. It was all worth it.

[MilesColtrane]

45. If that's normal, Michelle Duggar's innards must look like East Detroit.

[BlueIris]

53. Dude. What a mean thing to post about

East Detroit.

[proteus_lives]

46. Well, my mother did it three times.

My sister twice and my other sister once so far.

My mother apparently ran the course for different types of pregnancy. My eldest sister was overdue and a long, painful labor. My second sister was a month and half premature. I was on time and less then two hours of labor. (An easy going fellow from the start, ;-) )

My oldest sister's first one was hard on her. She lost a lot of blood during her c-section and was white as ghost for weeks after. My nephew had an infection at birth and had to be one of those glass cases for a month. Her second birth was much easier. No problems for her or her daughter.

My other sister was fine, physically, during her pregnancy but was an emotional rollercoster. She scared the hell out her husband a few times. But the birth was fine and a year later she's still enraptured by her new daughter. She wants another one.

I have no children but if I ever get a woman preggers, I'll support her and keep my mom on speed-dial for tips.

[Bucky]

48. It's getting close to harvesting time for the new crop of pregnant teenagers at my school

They all seem to be having a pretty good time.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

51. I'd still take that experience

over my unwanted hysterectomy.

[Taverner]

52. Its not fun. I'm a guy, And I have no right to speak. But wifey DID NOT HAVE FUN

[Arugula Latte]

54. It's no picnic ... BUT -- I'm glad I am female and got to experience

what it feels like to have a small human moving around inside of you. No man will ever know that, and I wouldn't trade places with one.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

55. Hmm. I have never really heard women talk about pregnancy as though it was magical

or the other hand, most women go through it just fine

It sounds more to be like you are searching for reasons to deem pregnancy awful.

[Writer]

56. C'mon. Really?

No.

I'm just scared shitless about the process and need some reassurance.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

58. in which case wouldnt it be better to phrase the op in that way?

Hey guys, i am scared shitless about pregnancy, can you tell me about your experiences? The reason i say this is because this OP has/is going to elicit only negative responses because of they way its phrased.

[Writer]

59. Go find someone else to pick on today. I'm not in the mood.

And as you can see, not everyone saw the OP as negative. So just go find someone else to piss on.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

63. whatever

:eyes:

[ScreamingMeemie]

83. As a person who has gone through childbirth twice, and been

pregnant 5 times, I saw it as negative.

We're all aware, most of us anyway, of the discomforts (which they aren't really) of pregnancy.

That said, I can understand fear, but the stories most women tell you are going to be grossly enhanced tall tales. Both labors and deliveries, while not "happy, happy, joy, joy", were not half as painful, disgusting or scary as my "friends" told me they were going to be.

[Shell Beau]

84. Exactly. Even though I had a yucky labor that ended in c-section,

it really wasn't that bad. I also had the puking, and everthing else, besides gestational diabetes, that you hear a typical pregnant woman complain about. In hindsight, none of it was that bad. Certainly WELL WORTH IT!

[KG]

57. all that scary talk about rough pregnancies makes me glad i'm a man.

well, that and being able to pee standing ups.




















oh, and being part of a patriarchal society is ok, too.

























:hide:

[Pithlet]

60. It's weird. I had less than ideal pregnancies, and somehow I still miss it.

I miss feeling their movement and kicks. After my first one, I actually missed being pregnant, and thinking I must be out of my mind for feeling that way. Unless you have issues that are extremely rare, you'll get through it, and you'll probably even find yourself enjoying aspects of it. I loved following along week by week and seeing where my baby was in its development. And the first time you feel movement is beautiful. Things like that really do make it all worth it. The things you read about you often find sound a lot worse than they really are. I remember going through some of the stuff that I read about that horrified me, and when I experienced them, I thought, "That really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be." There will be moments where you will be so over it. It's true. It's different for everyone, but I think for most people it all balances out.

[Deep13]

62. Jesus Christ!

:wow:

[crim son]

64. Somebody says it's fun?

I think those who have not been pregnant may fantasize about the condition but those of us who have know better. You lose your body, your sex appeal, your independence and your dignity, all very quickly. Of course this is necessary to prepare you for being a mother. :eyes:

[Shell Beau]

65. Parts of it were fun. Many parts were not, but I somehow

have a better memory of the wonderful parts. They were truly wonderful. That first heartbeat, that first ultrasound where it looks like an actual baby, the first felt movement and every movement thereafter. Even birth wasn't that bad, and I had a bad labor that ended up in a c-section. All day of labor, 4 hours of straight pushing, then C-section, but I remember thinking this ins't really that bad. And it wasn't.

[Odin2005]

68. Human childbirth is proof there is no "Intelligent Designer".

No engineer would make it so that a child is born through a ring of bone barely bigger than the baby's head.

[Deep13]

79. +1

[Manifestor_of_Light]

80. And many women don't have a hole big enough in their pelvis.

I'm one of those. Knew I was having a C section at term. Would have died without it. Had a beautiful eight pound baby girl.

I'm short and small boned and narrow hipped. It was a great deal of stress on my body. I barfed twice a day for four months, due to a sinus infection. The doc told me it was morning sickness. After 24 weeks he finally put me in the hospital because I had only gained six pounds. Then I got IV antibiotics and cured the infection quickly.

Then when I got out of the hospital, I stayed home for the next four months because I got too heavy to sit up. The pressure on my ribs hurt too much to sit up, so I couldn't work. I laid around the house and ate and slept and tried to breathe. My baby never kicked me very hard because she didn't really have any room to kick. She was stuck diagonally. Everything stuck straight out. I got to 53 inches in the waist.

Shoulder presentation, NO dilation, NO dropping. I was about as dysfunctional as you can get in labor. Fortunately my doc didn't let me push futilely for two or three days. My contractions got really painful and then went away, since they were not pushing the baby out. I had a C-section six hours after I got to the hospital.

If we had intelligent design, women would always be able to deliver vaginally. Other mammals need C-sections too.

I think pregnancy is much harder on small women and much easier on large tall women.
But it was still worth it. It's too bad that our society does not support pregnant women and mothers well.

[clyrc]

73. It seems to be easy for some women

And if it is easy, I imagine it could be fun. But for me, no. With my first one, I had morning sickness for five months, I got bronchitis, a bladder infection, and high blood pressure for the last month. The birth was excruciating, so painful I could hardly believe it. For about a month afterwards, everywhere I walked I felt like my insides were going to whoosh out, because I had to push for 2 and a half hours. But I have to say meeting my daughter face to face was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and yes, it was worth it.

With my second daughter, I had morning sickness for 7 months, bronchitis and a bladder infection, with Bell's Palsy thrown in for two weeks as an added twist. She kicked my kidneys, which was not really all that pleasant, either. The birth was even more painful than the first one, and I was in awful pain for several hours afterwards. She slept for most of the time her first month, but then she had colic for 2 months. That was a nightmare, but still it was worth it.

My kids are the most fascinating people I've ever met, and they are definitely worth the hell of pregnancy. I even managed to get pregnant two more times, although both times ended in miscarriage. When I think what a huge deal all the childbearing stuff has been in my life, it seems strange how it is more or less glossed over in everyday life.

[carlyhippy]

78. oh yeah.....but....it's worth it afterwards

morning sickness, getting internally elbowed under your ribs, kung fu kicks down on your intestines, heartburn because your stomach is nearly in your throat, hips hurt, back ache...and I don't even wanna get into labor, no need scaring the young women who have never experienced the birthing process. BUT.....after all that you have a beautiful baby, so it is all well worth it, and you WILL forget all about the nuisance symtpoms you just dealt with for the past 9 months.

[RainDog]

85. I loved being pregnant

it was an amazing experience and I'm glad I had it.

what's even better is that I got to know two people I really like because of it.

it's fascinating to watch your belly move around of its own accord, to see a foot pop up, to have the opportunity to participate in the human version of Wild Kingdom.

:)