Facts for Pregnant Women: Help for the Road Ahead

Kids are complex, even before they are born. However, what they do to your life and your body can be even more complex. Being a mother of one beautiful daughter, I had to learn a few things for myself when it came to pregnancy. My mom told me a lot, I researched a lot, and somehow I just knew a lot. But despite this, there was a lot that I didn't know. Here are a few of the best facts I learned from others and from just being pregnant.

Your love life will not be the same...
Now I am not saying that it will never return, but my daughter is one and mine is nowhere near what it was pre-baby. I have looked into this and it can be credited to many things. Those that top the list are hormones, sleep deprivation, and emotions. There are some fixes, i.e. drugs, but having a kid changed everything for me; I am no longer comfortable just taking something because it should make it better. I was reluctant to go back on birth control because I was suddenly scared of the possible side effects that would effect my baby. The hardest part about this fact is that I constantly feel as if I am disappointing my husband. He is the most caring and understanding guy in the world, which makes it even worse. I have found that the best way to work on this and put a jump start into our marriage and love life is to just do it. Even if I don't feel like it, after a few minutes I no longer have to force myself. This was the best option for me because by forcing myself to get back to the way we used to be helps to build a better life for us, our daughter, and future munchkins.

There will be stretch marks
I did not get stretch marks until my 9th month. I literally woke up one morning and the were there. After my baby was born, they were deep and dark colored, I thought they would never go away. What was so surprising about the marks was that I didn't get very big. I didn't show until I was 6 months along and I only gained a total of 24 lbs. I did get them to go away, but it wasn't cheap. I used StriVectin, a topical cream that works for stretch marks and wrinkles. StriVectin is a little pricey, about $130 for a 6 oz. bottle, but it is so worth it!! I found mine on eBay for a little bit of a discount, if you shop around you can usually find a good deal.

Not every one gets morning sickness
I didn't know I was pregnant for a while because of our busy lives and the lack of morning sickness. It is weird because I have met people who were sick 24/7 the entire pregnancy, those who suddenly stopped being sick when they reached 3 months, and then a few who were never once sick.

Back pain can signal labor
I was in labor for almost 12 hours before I went to the hospital because I was under the assumption that labor pains would be in my abdomen. I never once felt a contraction in my belly. Actually, the only reason I went to the hospital was to see if there was anything I could take to relieve the pressure and pain in my back.

You life will change forever....
I will never forget the first time I saw my little angel, it feels like it was just yesterday. The moment I saw her, all of my anxiety about being a good mom and knowing what to do vanished, and I have not second guessed myself since. I instantly knew what her cry meant, how warm she should be, how tight she should be wrapped and how much milk she needed. I no longer sleep like a rock, the littlest noises wake me up. I find it more fun to buy for her than for myself. I find it more fulfilling to stay home than to do errands or work because I get to watch her learn. Having a baby changes everything. Even if it is not your first. I am sure I will feel all these feelings again with our next child, and each feeling and emotion will be entirely different than it was with my first.