Everytime I talk to my grandma and I complain about feeling fat or gross or something she says, "There is nothing more beautiful than a pregnant woman." Prior to being pregnant AND working on the postpartum/antepartum floor, I may have agreed with her.
However, now that I am pregnant and just chugging along, I've decided that feeling beautiful has not been in my vocabulary for quite some time... approximately 5 months. Here are some reasons why.... (CAUTION: I am about to be VERY blunt. Continue at your own risk.)
~ I have felt bloated since the day there were two lines on that stick. I was of course fighting a UTI like no other but even after that was treated, the bloating never ceased. Constant bloat. Constant chubby feeling.
~I have the face of a 16 year old hormonal boy. I remember the guys in high school how their faces were all oily and pimpley. That is me some weeks. Gross. I mean, I'm (sadly) almost 30 years old, do I really need to still be getting zits????? I don't remember my parents EVER having zits when they were this old... not that my memory was a steal trap back then, but you get what I'm saying.
~CANKLES!!!! AHHHHHH. My ankles have been swelling since 18 weeks of pregnancy. They've been swelling for 8 weeks now. So nasty. Some days I look like my little old ladies I used to take care of on the Med-Surg floor at St. James that had congestive heart failure. I asked my doc the other day what my BP was bc my ankles are always swollen. It was perfect. She said, "You think that's bad? Wait until you have a fat face and a fat ass then you are going to really feel pretty." Thanks Dr. D for setting things straight :) You make me excited for the next 14 weeks.
~Rectal pressure is not my friend. (Skip this part if butts and poop gross you out.) I've always had issues with my digestive tract. Always. Lately, as in the last 5 weeks or so, I have had a lot of rectal pressure after going number 2. I bought hemrrhoid pads for this problem. Do I think I have hemrrhoids? Not so much but I am willing to try whatever bc it gets to the point where I feel like I am walking funny. It's weird bc as far as I know, I am not carrying my fetus in my rectum. It is placed as it should be in my uterus. HOWEVER, rectal pressure continues on. A few days ago, I swear when the baby kicked (baby is breech right now) I swear the foot was going to come out of my rectum. He/she was doing a wonderful dance and going to town just stomping on my rectum. I was totally creeped out. I felt better when I received a text from one of my best friends saying she is having the same problem right now :) I keep the hemrrhoid pads close though. They are kind of my security blanket.
~Peeing of the pants is not so cool at 28. I think I pee my pants everyday. Sometimes it's not even associated with a sneeze. I just pee a little. Gross right?? I've decided to always keep an extra pair of underpants in my purse, book bag at work, glove compartment, lunch bag, make up bag, my pocket, wherever bc peeing your pants is just not as cool anymore. It's just gross. I mean, gross.
~Fatness is consuming me. I'm getting over the weight battle. I've gained 23 pounds so far. Oh joy. I'm tired of worrying about the weight gain. Whatever. However, my upper arms and thighs are getting so chubby. So nasty. Even though it is my third biggest fear, I have been forcing myself to look in the mirror naked lately. I'm hoping this helps me make better food choices bc stepping on the scale isn't really working....
But there are the good things about pregnancy....
I will have to touch on those for my next post. I have to get ready to go to the baby factory which sometimes reminds me of a torture chamber.
Happy Day Friends.
P.S. I love my baby and I love having him/her inside of me. I just don't understand all of the extra stuff that comes along with it.
