It's Great! Anyone else loving it?

[justgonnadoulait]

I just wanted to gush about how much I'm loving my pregnancy.  I know it's really hard for a lot of mom's so I don't want to spill on another thread where people might now appreciate it.  

I really, really didn't want to be pregnant when I took the test.  In fact I was sure I'd sob if it was positive, but to my surprise, I got a big smile, and it's just gotten better from there (not that there weren't crashed along the way).

My hormones are fantastic, which is a big surprise.  I'm more easy going than usual, laugh really easily, feel less stressed.  Even though I'm 30 weeks pregnant and have gained 40 pounds, I barely feel pregnant, my belly doesn't really interfere with me doing anything.  My digestive system is operating at full capacity quite happily, with no complaints.  (I've not been backed up at all, but I did have some nasty nausea in the beginning, so I didn't get of scott free).  I'm not hot, but it's been a sweltering 68 degree, cloudy summer here in Seattle, so it's that makes it easier.

The baby moves regularly, but is gentle and causes no discomfort at all (well, occasionaly it feels like I get a toe in my cervix)

My husband has been incredible.  He completely reengaged in our relationship, and is really excited about the baby and very affectionate with me. (We were both coping with separate issues and had no energy left to focus on our relationship this last year).  I think he is as excited to help me through the labor and birth as I am to experience it.  We switched midwife practices because I didn't like one of the midwives in the practice.  After going to a second appt with our new midwife, he was really thrilled that we switched.  He is so impressed with her.  On the way home he was talking about the important role midwives play, and how it's one of the most important things you can do in the world.  He gets teary eyed talking about the importance of birth.  (Lots of browny points for that).  He's really encouraging me to pursue midwifery (I'm a doula now).

And our midwife is fantastic.  She is incredibly informative, no pressure, and has incredible faith in birthing and women.  Her approach is empowering and really encourages self-responsibility.  It requires me to be very pro-active in my own care, which is really empowering.  And perhaps most importantly she provides options for women.  In Seattle, as progressive as people like to think it is backs a lot of women between a rock and a hard place.  For example, if a baby is breech, midwives won't do a home birth and transfer you to OB care, and once in the hospital it's an automatic cesarean for a breech baby.  There is the only midwife I've talked with that will do breech and twins at hom.  That's not enough, but that's all it takes for women to suddenly have an option.  Of course it's still up to them to seek out that resource.  I feel so strongly about providing options for women.  And I'm really grateful to have a midwife that offers the kind of care she does.

So that was a lot of rambling. Basically I feel great.

My only real concern is money, that's a big one, and wishing I had pregnant/mom friends, but otherwise...

Anyone else having a great pregnancy and want to share?

[Shonahsmom]

The second half of pregnancy is really good to me. I spend the first half being really sick and rather depressed. But from about 20 weeks on, pregnancy really suits me. I haven't gained any weight. I don't swell at all (never have even a tiny bit with any of my pregnancies). I feel like I look really good; I tend to lose weight in my arms, legs and face when pregnant. I feel more attractive pregnant than I do any other time.

Because I am borderline gestational diabetes, I'm on a pretty restricted diet, but its one that makes me feel really good and keeps my digestive system working really well and overall leaves me feeling much healthier than I do non-pregnant.

I am pretty wiped out by the end of the day and my sciatica gives me trouble here and there, but overall, pregnancy really suits me and I really enjoy it (at least once I stop puking I do). Makes me sad that this is my last.

[KristinaMarie]

I am feeling on top of the world! This entire pregnancy has been really easy on me. Don't get me wrong being pregnant with twins while chasing around a 23 month old gets tiring, but his hugs and kisses, and the babies kicking make it all melt away.

I have had zero complications, I love my body, all 270 lbs of it :) I know it is doing its job, and I will loose the weight eventually. I started off at 255, so 15 lbs for twins isn't that bad.

Sex is out of this world. My husband is taking a fondness to my hormones.

I am bummed though that this is our last pregnancy. We decided that with my husband being 40, and having to do IVF in order to conceive a viable pregnancy that we wouldn't go down the IVF route again. I am enjoying every teeny, tiny bit of this pregnancy for that reason and many more.

Our Bodies Rock! We grow babies, how awesome is that?

[Amy May]

Justgonnadoulait- I'm so happy you started this thread!  First of all, it is so awesome and positive to focus on all of the positive things about our pregnancies- how amazing is it that we have little human beings inside us?!?!?  Yes, there are challenges (heartburn, peeing during the night, rolling over, round ligament tweaks and stretches), but life had challenges before we were pregnant too.  There were days that I didn't feel 100%, or was slightly more emotional, or had a stomach ache or whetever it was before pregnancy, and that is just a part of life!  So, I think it is GREAT that you are making such an active decision to focus on all these really positive things!  I love it!

Also, I could relate to so much of what you said... last year I started a midwifery course in MA (it is a direct entry program to become a CPM, and I'll do an apprenticeship and eventual certification through NARM).  I remember the first day of class the instructors (all practicing midwives themselves) said that every year 1-2 women in the course end up getting pregnant.  I remember looking around the room wondering who it would be!  Anyway, here I am now, 28 weeks!  I took my doula certification course in the spring, and am getting certified as a childbirth educator this September.  I'm not totally sure how I'll balance everything once the baby is born, but I know we'll figure it out.  DH and I are an amazing team together, and we will make it work!  Currently, I'm working full-time, and we're hoping that after my maternity leave, I'll make the transition into just doing birth work.  Anyway, I related to what you wrote, and it reminded me how much my interest in midwifery shapes my perception of pregnacy (at a most basic level through the belief that pregnancy is natural and normal, and my body was designed to do this!), and how my experience pregnant, as well as the midwifery care I'm receiving, shapes the kind of midwife/doula/educator I seek to become.  I truly love how it all fits together...

Being pregnant is non-stop amazing.  That doesn't mean I feel perfect every second of the day, but I feel like I share this incredible secret with God, the Universe, and every other woman who existed as I carry this life inside me.  My pregnancy has been very easy so far.  I had 1 day of bad morning sickness (ugh, vomiting in public trash cans, etc), but felt great. 

I've been lucky I've been able to be so active. I've always been an athlete (runner), and I have been running during the whole pregnancy, including a 1/2 marathon at 20 weeks.  Now, I'm jogging about 2-3 days a week, and super slow, but I feel so blessed that my body continues to feel good enough to move...  My office building has a gym, which is subsidized so it ends up costing $12.50 a month.  I've been going to all sorts of classes- spinning, Zumba, sculpt, kickboxing, step, etc, none of which I really did before.  Yes, I'm heavier now, and outside of the belly, my thighs chaffe a lot (oh, but I am NOT complaining that all of a sudden I woke up one morning with this FABULOUS set of tatas!).  But despite that, I feel more fit than I have ever been in my life.  I'm eating better, caring for myself more, and exercising more consistently (and a whole lot more stretching).

Pregnant sex...  Also another perk.  We're more creative about positions, but there is something really powerful about sharing intimacy with my husband while pregnant, both physically and emotionally.  Our relationship has also changed in really loving ways.  He takes such good care of me (cooking and pampering me), and it is so touching the way he is supportive of our homebirth, even the possibility of my mom being here for the birth, and how he's preparing to support me.  He treats me like I'm a pregnant goddess.  Even when I'm grouchy and sensitive and short with him. 

Anyway, I could go on and on.  However, as much as I feel like I could just gush nonstop as well about how much I love being pregnant, I also want to emphasize that it is far from perfect.  Sometimes I have to really work and make an effort to have a positive attitude.  Sometimes I'd rather eat dried mangos and ice cream for dinner, and I sulk when my husband "forces" me to eat swiss chard and chicken and quinoa. But again, that is life.  Pregnancy feels about as wonderful as life feels too. 

[nicolian]

Me! I have loved each one of my pregnancies, and this is no different. Only I have gained much less weight this time. haha!