What a trip!
Okay I get that for some women it’s a terrible time filled with indigestion, constipation, nausea, endless fatigue, fat and ugly… but for me it was AWESOME!
Pregnant women are gorgeous and incredible
I found this to be one hundred percent true during my pregnancy.
There’s something so spiritual and spectacular about carrying another human being that truly softens even the hardest hearts.
Once my beautiful bump started showing, even, people I worked with who had never before smiled at me let alone greet me would stop to find out how I was.
I grew to love one colleague who would always take the time to find out how baby and I were.
He’s a BIG guy and yet if I bumped into him in the elevator he became soft and as flexible as a cloud – becoming almost like a shield around me. It was incredible to see such tenderness. Thank you Thsolofelo. What a heart!
Somehow the whole world seemed to be tuned in to the growing life inside me and I became special. In my mind no star on the red carpet ever received such sterling treatment.
I worked until I was about 9 months and two weeks pregnant.
At that stage I was still flying up and down stairs (I generally don’t recommend this).
I still drove with relative ease although I sat on massive garbage bags and carried a towel with me in case my water broke. Little did I know my water breaking would need WAY more than what I was prepared for.
Right up until the day I went into labour I had TONS of energy and was feeling more beautiful and more confident than I ever had.
Celebrating the bump
I, like most women, am very conscious of how my tummy looks in outfits. That flew out the window during my pregnancy. I WANTED my bump to show.
For once I could revel in the size of my non-abbed belly!
At around 7 months I went for a preggy shoot with a professional photographer. I HIGHLY recommend this.
I wanted the pictures of my beautiful bump to remind me how much I enjoyed carrying my son. I also wanted to, one day, show him how happy he’d made me.
I think it’s a powerful thing to let our kids see how carrying them made us feel remarkable.
Please don’t disturb…
For me being joyful about my pregnancy was how I could thank my body, my husband, my son and my God for what was unfolding in my life.
During my pregnancy there were times I would I take days off from everything and everyone around me to just enjoy being pregnant.
I would tell everyone who would want to reach me on such days that I would not be taking calls or seeing anyone as I would be spending time with my baby.
I spent these days resting, connecting with my unborn child and reveling in the bond that was being forged between us.
Me time…
I made bath times very special; especially in the last weeks of my pregnancy.
I would take this time to appreciate the beauty of candlelight.
I would soak in bubble baths and on the odd occasion hot water* (again I don’t recommend this).
In the very last week of my pregnancy I would spray lavender* around me as I soaked – preparing myself and my son for labour.
I savoured drinking tea* in way I never had before.
When you think of it
Pregnancy is one of the most remarkable celebrations of life.
When one thinks of everything a woman’s body is doing while it’s carrying that life – WOW WOW WOW! No words can describe the complexity or the awesomeness of this.
No invention, not a single one on this earth, comes even close to the intricate operations at work when a woman’s body nurtures her unborn child.
Before I got pregnant I heard some very unsavoury stories about pregnancy.
I would hear pregnant women bemoan their state and once I got pregnant I never understood how one could complain about being pregnant!
I was determined to not join this chorus.
Before my pregnancy I told people that when I did get pregnant I would be beautiful – and I was.
Indigestion and my significant other
Granted the heartburn that kicked in about four months into my pregnancy was – excuse my French – a rabid bitch! But really nothing else can describe in words how terrible the heartburn was. Even using the word terrible is so horribly tame. But other than that I had the best time of my life. Well that was before the even better time of having my son in my arms came.
My preggy happiness was on steroids.
I hardly wore maternity clothes.
I bought regular clothes that made me look as hot and as beautiful as I felt. This also saved me wasting money on clothes I wouldn’t wear after my pregnancy.
On the rare occasion I woke up feeling not so hot – getting all dressed up in my cute outfits usually managed to get me all perked up again.
I was determined to look sexy right until the not so glamorous position labour forced me into.
While I let my sense of good eating go – I NEVER ate for two! Again it’s all in the mind.
Oh and sex! HELLO!
I get goose bumps just thinking about how delicious that was!
I do think that the idea of incredible sex during pregnancy might be a tad over rated. I think my having a great time with it, again, had much to do with my mind set.
At first it felt odd. And only because I thought it strange.
While I felt sexy when I was all dolled up – clothes, cute shoes, great make-up and hair – I didn’t feel so fantastic when in front of my husband naked.
We never spoke about how he saw me – but as soon as I realized that he still found me hot and attractive – well…
And it didn’t hurt any him telling me he thought I was an insanely beautiful woman – and not just because I was pregnant – but in general.
I basked in the glory of that compliment and still carry it with me.
In hindsight
Looking back at my preggy pics – I see now that my nose was huge, my face was puffy, my boobs were udders, my skin was weird and yet I still see the beauty now that I experienced then.
Pregnancy changed my body and it will never be the same. And that’s fine with me.
I got stretch marks – despite the religious regimen to keep them away with the most spectacular/dermatology recommended products. My belly seems to have a whole body of its own, my voice has dropped to an odd (and not so pleasant) octave and may never be the same – and yet to this day I still look back on that part of my journey with such fondness.
Pregnancy is no excuse to indulge in getting fat and feeling ugly - on the contrary.
It’s an opportunity to enjoy the fullness of life and experience one of the most incredible operations in creation.
Acknowledgements for this article
I want to thank all my dear friends and family who had much to do with making my pregnancy such a joy.
Tembisa for the wonderful dish of tripe when I was so craving it. Thank you for having such a cushy shoulder for me to lean on when times were tough.
Elu, what a pillar! Thank you for the patience to listen to all my long discussions about what I was going through. And for making my baby shower memorable.
Mercy, thank you for reminding me always that even if I became a mom you would still expect me to be as fun and as quirky as you know me to be. And thank you for helping me see good even in the most painful of situations.
Vanessa for rubbing my tummy and feet and simply reminding me of Hannah’s song. Thank you for welcoming Luke through every detail you paid attention to in making my baby shower so special.
Mommy for not allowing me to let myself go while I was pregnant. Thank you for all the cute outfits you gave me during this time. You inspired me to stay beautiful.
Thsolofelo for your jovial bellow: “Bun in the oven!” Every time you saw me. It brightened me up every single time!
Linnette for helping me through a very difficult time.
Ellen for giving and giving.
Photographer Kevin Mark Pass for making me feel so fantastic and boosting my confidence through my photo shoot. Thank you for capturing my inside through your work.
P.S. If you want a preggy shoot and would like to contact Kevin you can visit his site: www.kevinmarkpass.com or give him a shout on 0832828008.
Luke for allowing Mommy to be pretty.
Rico you remind me every day how blessed we are that you are Luke’s dad. So much of my beauty during my pregnancy, especially in the latter months, stemmed from knowing that you truly love me.
My body. Thank you for the humility, strength and compassion you showed me while doing what you were created to do.
And always, Father for allowing me this experience. And for answering the many prayers, we and, all the people that love us offered up to You during this time.
Notes:
*Hot baths are not recommended during pregnancy.
I was told it’s because the baby’s temperature can rise to dangerous levels.
I didn’t take hot baths often because of the potential risk to my baby. It’s one of those things that are best to not find out from your own experience.
*Lavender may not be wise to use in early pregnancy.
It’s best to, ALWAYS, ask an aroma therapist which oils and herbs are safe when pregnant.
* I steered clear of caffeinated tea.
In the last two weeks of my pregnancy I started drinking raspberry leaf tea. I was told it was great in preparing my uterus for contractions.
I might as well tell you that I was also told that evening primrose would be fantastic in getting my cervix ready for labour – so I used that as well two weeks before my due date.
Again please please get advice on this from your health care provider.
About coffee
Well for me it was an absolute no-no. I had it twice during my pregnancy. Once before I knew I was pregnant and another time when I was already far along and was insanely craving a cup. My son detested it and let me know immediately.
My tummy went hard and uncomfortable and I never again even entertained the thought of coffee during my pregnancy.
Alcohole etc - I hope that goes without saying...
About smoking while pregnant:
I don’t’ want to clog this blog entry so I entered a whole other article on this subject.
You’re welcome to visit my entry "moms light up for their babies at: http://mommy24-blogger.blogspot.com/2011/10/moms-light-up-for-their-babies.html
This blog has moved to our new home mommy24.com. Please join us there. DISCLAIMER: This blog is based on my opinion and should not replace advice from your health care providers and/or qualified medical practitioners.
I’m not a doctor or medical practitioner of any sort. I’m a mom.
In some of my blogs I include research, references and recommendations to various sources – I provide this information without any warranty of any kind, express or implied and I’m not liable for its accuracy nor for any loss or damage caused by anyone who uses this information.
I strongly encourage moms to do their own research on any and every subject I blog about.
You made us the cutest baby :)
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