[M.M:1] What no one tells you ~ [pregnancy].

Welcome to the first edition of Monday Mamalogues!

A place to celebrate the beauty and breakdowns of motherhood...
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For my part.. I'll be starting up a mini-series that's been echoing around my head for the past number of months.  The basic theme is 'what no one tells you' about four separate stages of motherhood (pregnancy/delivery/infancy/toddlerhood).

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*Warning: the following nuggets of maternal *insight* are highly subjective and based solely on this mama's experience; it contains truth with a pinch of hyperbole...  your job will be to discern the first from the latter!*

Pregnant with our first - Azriel 2009

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I never dreamed of being a mama.  You may recall how I wrote about us not being 'kid people' in the past.  When friends started to announce they were expecting I used to be pretty non-pulsed.
"Meh" I thought.. "good luck with that".

But now - on the other side of baby hatching - I'm elated to hear of such news.

I rejoice with loud hurrahs!

"Congrats" I squeal... while in the far back of my brain there's this maniacal laughter snorting "they don't have a clue what's about to hit them!".

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It seems that no one tells us a lot of *important* things before/when we get pregnant... (at least I didn't feel prepared for these):

* First, fertility is craziness!  

Peeing on a stick to say you're a "|" not pregnant... or "| |" you are, is a roller coaster of emotions.  (I don't recommend doing it at 3am and discovering that you ARE.. and then you're supposed to just go back to bed and pretend its a dream instead of waking your husband and freaking him out too!).

* Morning sickness.. is a myth.

All day, all night... no mercy is more like it.

Did you know vomiting is like being strangled... your eyes pop their blood vessels and you look truly horrific.. that's a thing.  I have the health card photo to prove it.

I thank God for the wee miracle pill Diclectin.  Not sure how the pioneers survived without it!

* Personal space is hijacked.

I think most women are a bit self-concious about their belly jelly.. it's usually not 'flat, taught or tight' enough.  So you get pregnant, and suddenly every stranger and their dog want to caress that growing - but still awkward - part of your body!!

I get that it's holding a blooming miracle. I do.

But I'm not a petting zoo.

* Cravings... now these are fun.
Whether it's pickles and ice cream... or 6 popsicles in a row, pregnant women get what they want!  Well... unless it's alcoholic... or loaded with sugar or caffeine.
So of course - those were my cravings!
(I was eager to test the theory about a rich Stout helping with milk supply after birth!).

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No one really told me that 9 10+months of pregnancy is like a glowing gauntlet.
I think God timed it to take several months so that by the end of your 'baby.brewing' you're finally eager to embrace any labour pain - just to get that '10 pin bowling ball' off your tail bone!  

Now, don't get me wrong... it's a wonderful miracle to house a lil' soul in your belly.
(It's even fun to document your growth with fruit!)
I wouldn't trade this beautiful mess of a time for anything.
 

Oh, and you know what else no one told me?

Maternity pants are incredible.

Did you know such 'trousers' existed... with a stretchy waist you can pull up and over your own head?  The perfect solution for what to wear to Christmas dinners! 

Well now you know.

Just wait till next week where you hear more *insights* about labour/delivery! Ha.

Any other things 'no one told you' about being pregnant? I'd love to hear!

Mama Mel ;o)

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Now here's the real FUN part... any and all blogger mamas out there are welcome to LINK UP and join this Monday community here.  No commitment, no pressure.. just pop in a post any Monday you want to!  I'd love to see your heart here  ----------->