Things That Have Surprised Me About Pregnancy

As you know, we were trying for baby Mac for quite some time before he arrived, so I had a LOT of time to read up on pregnancy and all things baby-related.  I did my homework on everything from what foods to  avoid, to what activities were ok, to what vitamins I should be taking.  I educated myself on all pregnancy related symptoms, from the normal to the bizarre.  I was prepared for morning sickness, swollen hands and ankles, back aches, breast tenderness, heart burn, bloody noses, pregnancy brain, itchy skin, insomnia, stretch marks and all the peeing.  I think I had a pretty good idea of what I could expect.  Some of which I've dealt with, some I didn't.  I'm now almost 34 weeks and all in all, I think I've had a very normal pregnancy.  However, there were a couple things that I was not prepared for.  Here are just a few things that have really surprised me about pregnancy (for good or bad).

- My giant pregnant belly is not always "round."  Some days, depending on where Mac is hanging out, my belly is really misshapen.  It's got strange angles and bumps (from body parts poking through), or it's skewed to one side or the other and sometimes it's even square looking.  No idea what he's up to in there, but I'm constantly surprised to look down and see such weird things going on.  

- My boobs.  I'm not really going to get into it here, but needless to say...holy shit, they're huge.  And they just keep getting bigger.  My friends love making fun of me about the size of them (which I can't blame them for, it's quite hilarious because I'm so short).  My husband is in absolute awe of them (although not allowed to touch them) and we both constantly stare at them and question whether it's even physically possible that they'll just keep getting bigger.  How many times am I going to have to buy new bras?  How will I be able to walk if I'm that top-heavy?  Well, at least this kid won't stave.

- The boldness of strangers.  I've heard horror stories about the things strangers will do and say to pregnant women and I'm still shocked anyone can be that bold.  Luckily, I've been really blessed that people have been so sweet to me while pregnant.  Knock on wood, but I've been spared the horrible questions about how much weight I've gained and the lectures about whatever people feel the need to lecture pregnant woman about.  I've mainly been the recipient of sweet comments and over-excitement, which still surprises me daily.  A few days ago Ryan and I were at a cocktail event for his work and he finally got to see what I have been going through first-hand.  There were a number of women who would see my belly and basically squeal with excitement and need to touch it immediately.  Absolute strangers in a bar, smiling from ear to ear with all the excitement for me that they probably felt with their first baby.  They ask a million questions about how I feel, what I'm having, whether we've picked out a name, etc.  It's very sweet, actually.  I've been so surprised how many people have told me how beautiful I look, how pregnancy obviously agrees with me or how excited they are for me - and they don't even know me!  I think I'll actually miss this when I'm not pregnant anymore. 

- My insatiable thirst.  From the moment I got pregnant, I cannot get enough to drink.  I must have 10 giant bottles of water during the day, a few more when I get home, a couple glasses of water during dinner and then I have to get up repeatedly in the middle of the night to drink even more.  What is up with that?!  Of course, drinking all this water leads to more bathroom breaks than I ever realized was possible.  I've worn a path in the carpet from my desk to the ladies room.  My hands are chapped from washing them six million times a day.  I joked early on in my pregnancy that I was growing a fish, not a baby and I still believe that some days.

- Clear skin. I heard so many of my girlfriends complain about breakouts and acne while they were pregnant that I fully expected nothing less than 10 months of pimples.  However, in some weird twist of fate (not  that I'm complaining), my pregnancy skin has been better than it's ever been before.  I've barely had a single breakout since getting knocked up.  It's amazing!  A girl could really get used to this!  I've been really lucky, but I know it's not to last.  I'm fully expecting my skin to go back to it's blemished normal state within minutes of giving birth, just in time for pictures.

- Belly fuzz.  Where did all this hair on my belly come from?  It's soft and blonde and harmless, but I feel like I've grown a coat of fur on my belly.  Perhaps to keep the bambino warm?  So strange.

- Tongue-tied.  We've all heard the term "pregnancy brain."  And for the most part, I'll admit that this strange phenomenon is true.  Some days I feel as though my brain is surrounded by fog and it's just so hard to remember things or focus on anything.  You can blame it on hormones, lack of sleep, anxiety, or a combination of all of those things.  But what I've been experiencing is much more specific.  I can't speak.  I cannot come up with the words to put together basic sentences.  I can't remember the names for things like Popsicle (you know...that frozen thing...on a stick...that's cold...and fruity...and it's cold...and frozen...ugh...you know?).  I make up words (misunderestimate, hydragenation, boycottalige).  I string together random words to form sentences that make zero sense.  It takes me minutes to finish a thought out loud, with lots of awkward pauses and intense concentration.  And, of course, I have no idea any of this is happening while I'm doing/saying it.  I don't know until I notice the strange look on the face of the person I'm talking to as they stare at me in complete and utter confusion.  Sometimes I'm shocked that I'm still allowed to practice law - like everyday is another incidence of legal malpractice.

- The intensity of things.  I fully expected crazy cravings, increased tiredness and the need to pee six hundred times a day when pregnant, but I did not expect for them to be so incredibly intense.  When I have a craving for a taco, I MUST HAVE A TACO IMMEDIATELY OR I'LL STARVE TO DEATH!  If I'm tired, I MUST GO TO BED AT THAT VERY SECOND OR I'LL DIE OF EXHAUSTION.  If I need to go to the bathroom, I MUST GO NOW OR RISK A HORRIBLY EMBARRASSING ACCIDENT.  There's no lag time, there's no waiting, there's no messing around.  Any delay is the end of the world as I know it.

- And lastly, the overwhelming need to protect this baby.  It's hard to describe how you could possibly love someone that you've never even met so much it hurts sometimes.  I'm constantly surprised by my overwhelming love for this tiny being that hasn't even taken his first breath.  I'm fiercely protective and amazed by the mama bear instincts that have come out of me lately.  I want to wrap my entire SUV in bubble wrap, I walk on the far side of the hall when passing someone at work, I hate that the sidewalks are so close to the street.  The other day I caught myself standing at the salad bar of a packed Whole Foods, glaring daggers of hate at this oblivious man and thinking, "If you so much as come close to bumping into my stomach I will straight up slit your fucking throat."  Wow.  

Anyone else experience any of these things?

What surprised you the most about your pregnancy?