Don't get me wrong. I am so grateful to have the privilege to carry a child. And I know some people who thoroughly enjoyed their pregnancy. BUT, pregnancy for me was hard. Here are the reasons why:
1. Gestational diabetes (GD): I was diagnosed with GD in my third trimester. It means that I have to prick my finger to measure my blood glucose levels 4 times a day (before breakfast, 2 hours after breakfast, 2 hours after lunch, 2 hours after dinner). And basically I was told to have a low-carb and sugar diet as they spike sugar levels. My diet had to be super restrictive as even 4 tablespoons of rice would send my levels over. So I can't even have regular toasts for breakfast anymore. So ridiculously minimal amount of rice, pasta, bread, sauces. Eating out is almost impossible when salads are out as they are on the 'no-no' list during pregnancy due to bacteria risks. I ended up on insulin, so I had to inject myself on my belly every night! GD will need its own post as I can't explain how terribly difficult it is in a single paragraph.
2. Constant nausea: I never vomited. But I don't know what's worse. Vomiting or on the verge of vomiting all the time. I basically felt like having a tummy bug 24/7 for my first trimester. It got a bit better from 20 weeks for a few weeks. But then it came back in my third trimester. I still remember in my first trimester, I spent half a day in the bathroom because I felt like I was about the vomit. I had to wear the seasick pressure straps on my wrists so it might help me feel better, at least mentally. There are certain smells that particularly intensifies this feeling, which is basically any smells. From cheap hand-washing soaps (Sukin or any other essential oil soaps are fine) to dish-washing liquid, chewing gums, cleaning sprays, perfume and my husband...
3. Bloated/Burp that got stuck after meals: Especially after dinner or fatty meals. It felt like a large bubble stuck between your throat and stomach, similar to the nauseous feeling. I remember rocking back and walking around the house for a whole hour just to get that burp out. It was a horrible feeling.
4. Needing to pee all the time: Especially in the third trimester. I woke up nearly every hour at night to go to pee. Even flipping to another side on the bed pushes the bladder, and you know once you feel like peeing, you have to go, if not you can't fall back asleep. During my last week of pregnancy, I remember I went to pee in the toilet in a shopping centre. As I was walking out of the toilet, I felt the urge to pee again. I held it in and continue walking, but after 5 minutes, I had to head back to the toilet again.
5. Leaking wee when sneezing: Crossing your legs did help a bit. Had to consciously hold my pelvic floor when leaning over when brushing my teeth as wee had leaked too!
6. Back and pelvic pain: At around 19 weeks of pregnancy, I had bad pelvic pain. Especially at night when I get up to pee and moved at a wrong angle, my right buttock hurt so much that I couldn't move. At the physio, I remember rating the pain as 8 out of 10. And I have a pretty good pain tolerance. With exercise and stretches recommended by the physiotherapist, it got better. But in the third trimester, the lower back pain came especially by the end of the day. I remember having to pause and rest several times when going out for walks during COVID stage 4 lockdown. It's already not easy walking with a mask on during pregnancy!
7. Can't lay on my back or tummy: I am a physically active person and I'm also a pole dancer. So naturally I like rolling around on the floor and I do random handstands while waiting for the microwave to beep. No more gymnastics and monkey bars at the playground was a huge adjustment! Not to mention I can't get comfortable sleeping at night as I'm 50% tummy sleeping and changes my positions a lot. My husband bought me a pregnancy pillow and it helped a bit but in the last trimester I had terrible nasal congestion which made me couldn't sleep!
8. COVID: No partners allowed to ultrasound appointments. That means hubby missing out seeing our baby moving in my belly and hearing his heartbeat. But to me, it also means facing the fears alone as bad news could happen in ultrasounds and any appointments. Telehealth appointments - over the phone appointments also robbed my first-time mum experience visiting the hospital and midwives. Birth suite tours cancelled - I'd never been to the birth suite until the actual birth; this made me slightly nervous as I couldn't mentally prepare my birth. Birthing classes cancelled - isn't one of the most exciting things in pregnancy is to attend a birthing class with your partner? I had to find a private birthing class via zoom and I don't think it can compare to attending one physically! Restricted baby shower - No indoor gatherings allowed so I could only have a few friends having a picnic in the park. It's like having a graduation without the gown and certificate. No catch up with friends - some of my friends had not seen my pregnant belly at all!
