28 Reasons (No One Told You) Why Being Pregnant Sucks
Warning: This is not a cheery post. In fact it is quite depressing if you are currently pregnant and there is nothing you can do about, well pretty much everything on this list.
Some time ago, I wrote a post listing 28 perks of pregnancy. I wrote it because my first pregnancy was relatively easy, and the fact that when I wrote the post, being pregnant was quite a distance memory. Lauren was already 8 months old. Now that I’m in the midst of a second pregnancy, I suddenly feel the need to tell the world that pregnancy can be pretty sucky too.
1. The first trimester, you’d feel tired ALL THE TIME. Good luck trying to stay awake at work especially after lunch.
2. Everyone talks about morning sickness. But no one warns you it doesn’t only happen in the morning. It could last all day for months. Imagine being hungover all day for 12 weeks to 9 months.
3. Feeling hot (temperature hot, not sexy hot) and sweaty all the time. Especially if you live in tropical country like Singapore. It is unbearable to leave any air-conditioned room.
4. Pregnancy glow? Bullshit! I feel awful and dull most of the time.
6. Stretch marks. And the itchiness that comes with it when the belly is expanding.
7. Water retention. You know about feet swelling, fingers swelling and puffiness on your face, no one tells you that your va-jay-jay swells too. As the baby gets heavier, it is trapping your entire blood supply inside your labia when you sit or stand. And it hurts. Only laying down may keep some of the pressure off.
8. Ugly and painful varicose veins.
9. Holy emotional roller coaster. Just yesterday, I started with being totally in bliss with the impending arrival of a second baby. I reorganised my wardrobe to fit the newborn’s clothing. Then Lauren came to ‘help’ me and messed everything up. I got frustrated, gave up and left Lauren playing in the piles of clothes. I turned on the TV and Desperate Housewives was showing the episode where Gabby founyellt Juanita (her 6 years old daughter) isn’t actually hers. Her own baby has been mistakenly swapped with someone else’s baby at the hospital right after birth. I imagined Lauren isn’t mine and having to return her to her rightful mom and I started bawling my eyes out, went into the room and hugged her tightly. Lauren, of course was all oblivious to what was happening. And this is just one example of how hormonal my mood swing is at the moment.
10. Running to the toilet every 10 minutes. And having to wake up several times at night to pee.
11. Excited to feel baby kicks? You will get over it pretty quickly, especially when he/she is practising martial arts in there while you are trying to sleep.
12. Sneezes and uncontrolled bladder. I recommend panty liners. It will happen, trust me.
13. Highly sensitive boobs and nipples. Bra hurts.
14. I have the unfortunate side effect of unexplained nasal stuffiness every night, turning this experience into a 9-month sentence of mouth breathing.
15. Cravings.
16. Ribs kicks. You can’t even complain about it because it is a sign your baby is healthy and moving about, right? So suck it up and hope next time it happens, you don’t yell out too loudly.
17. Unsolicited advice.
18. Aches. Everything hurts. Period.
19. No more sashimi, egg benedicts and soft cheeses.
20. No more alcohol. I don’t usually drink but the cocktail list seems more enticing when it is forbidden.
21. Cramps.
22. Feeling like a whale and being told I’m too big or too small for whatever month I’m into the pregnancy. And no, I’m not having twins.
23. Being questioned whether it is going to be a boy or a girl by random strangers. And proceeded to be lectured the perks/disadvantages of having a boy/girl. I always have to suppress my urge to answer, “So what if it is a boy or gir?”.
24. The urge to fart at the most inopportune timing. Pregnant women are gassy.
25. The tummy gets so big, it gets in the way of everything – bending down to pick things up, rolling over in bed, not seeing the next step you’d take coming down the stairs, etc.
26. Expensive monthly checkups which include on average 1-hour waiting, 5 minutes consultation time.
27. Nothing 1-houright. Maternity clothes are mostly matronly and ugly.
28. You will soon forget how horrible being pregnant really is and be tempted to conceive again? Did I leave out anything? Please share how you hate your pregnancy below.
PS: Do check out why I think pregnancy can be awesome too.
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HELLO! I’M MICHELLE.
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What I can clearly remember from my pregnancy are numbers 1 and 2 above. Tired all the time and morning sickness. I did not worry about getting big and swelling nose and feet though. For some reasons luckily, I looked the same except for the baby bump. I'm not sure how that will change if I decide to have a second baby.. LOL. And also I sooo agree with the 1 hour waiting time for the doctor and 5 mins consultation, gaahh annoying! 🙂
What I can clearly remember from my pregnancy are numbers 1 and 2 above. Tired all the time and morning sickness. I did not worry about getting big and swelling nose and feet though. For some reasons luckily, I looked the same except for the baby bump. I'm not sure how that will change if I decide to have a second baby.. LOL. And also I sooo agree with the 1 hour waiting time for the doctor and 5 mins consultation, gaahh annoying! 🙂
oh, i concur. having two babies made me realize i don't plan to have 3 🙂 but i'm extremely glad to have my 2 girls regardless!! <3
oh, i concur. having two babies made me realize i don't plan to have 3 🙂 but i'm extremely glad to have my 2 girls regardless!! <3
Hemorrhoids – that never really go away – with the pain and itching.
Oh. And my baby had the hiccups quite often.
Hemorrhoids – that never really go away – with the pain and itching.
Oh. And my baby had the hiccups quite often.
Hi Michelle,
I so agree with all of what you said. #28 is very very true. After a few years, we miss the sound of little steps, giggling, etc. And thinking of making another baby . But everytime I think of those wonderful moments, I always think of the not so god moments that comes with it.
When the time comes that we want to have another baby, I sincerely told my husband that we will just borrow a baby from our relatives. Haha.
It is really not easy to be pregnant esp. When you already have a toddler, hubby, home to take care to.
Take care always and have a safe delivery with baby #2.
Hi Michelle,
I so agree with all of what you said. #28 is very very true. After a few years, we miss the sound of little steps, giggling, etc. And thinking of making another baby . But everytime I think of those wonderful moments, I always think of the not so god moments that comes with it.
When the time comes that we want to have another baby, I sincerely told my husband that we will just borrow a baby from our relatives. Haha.
It is really not easy to be pregnant esp. When you already have a toddler, hubby, home to take care to.
Take care always and have a safe delivery with baby #2.
Thanks Judy! Borrowing a baby is a good idea. Maybe I should start lending my baby away when I need a break. Haha!
Thanks Judy! Borrowing a baby is a good idea. Maybe I should start lending my baby away when I need a break. Haha!
Yay to having 2 girls! My second will be a girl too 🙂
Yay to having 2 girls! My second will be a girl too 🙂
So you are one of those lucky ones that stay the same except for baby bump. Thanks for stopping by to comment, Rea!
So you are one of those lucky ones that stay the same except for baby bump. Thanks for stopping by to comment, Rea!
lmfao no kids yet but this is hysterical…UGH cant wait (not) xo, jess
http://www.dreamingofleaving.com
lmfao no kids yet but this is hysterical…UGH cant wait (not) xo, jess
http://www.dreamingofleaving.com
No kids (unfortunately – or so I thought ;)) here, but enough 2nd hand experience with bff confirms your list
Vagina kicks, increase amounts of acne, not being able to tie your shoes, not feeling in the mood to do anything and hating the women who are still sporting their heels in their 9th month! Those are just a few! My first two pregnancies were relatively easy and if they were all like that I would do it over and over again. But the last two sucked majorly! Most of these happened to me! Thanks for linking up with Countdown in Style!
Vagina kicks, increase amounts of acne, not being able to tie your shoes, not feeling in the mood to do anything and hating the women who are still sporting their heels in their 9th month! Those are just a few! My first two pregnancies were relatively easy and if they were all like that I would do it over and over again. But the last two sucked majorly! Most of these happened to me! Thanks for linking up with Countdown in Style!
Can I just say how much I LOVE this post! I am 30 weeks pregnant and you nailed it on the head!!!
Can I just say how much I LOVE this post! I am 30 weeks pregnant and you nailed it on the head!!!
I'm 19 weeks into my first pregnancy and still feeling tired 24/7… Been browsing your site, you write in a very refreshing, down-to-earth style, thanks! And I'm European, never been to Singapore but it made me think of exotic places that I want to visit 🙂
Laura
I'm 19 weeks into my first pregnancy and still feeling tired 24/7… Been browsing your site, you write in a very refreshing, down-to-earth style, thanks! And I'm European, never been to Singapore but it made me think of exotic places that I want to visit 🙂
Laura
The cravings are back in full force!
The cravings are back in full force!
My hemorrhoids worsen after I gave birth. You are right, Darlene, it doesn't really go away.
I don't mind feeling the baby hiccups in the womb though. I generally enjoy the movement/kicks except when I'm trying to sleep. Thanks for commenting!
My hemorrhoids worsen after I gave birth. You are right, Darlene, it doesn't really go away.
I don't mind feeling the baby hiccups in the womb though. I generally enjoy the movement/kicks except when I'm trying to sleep. Thanks for commenting!
Haha.. What are your cravings? Thanks for commenting, Melissa!
Haha.. What are your cravings? Thanks for commenting, Melissa!
I really enjoyed reading your blog. I'm on my second pregnancy and I'm 8 weeks. It's already becoming a repeat of my first pregnancy with my son.Throwing up everyday, smells bother me, and I just don't know what I want to eat for fear of throwing up. I've already told my husband this was the last time I was doing this. His response was, 'no, babe, we can have a third.' I said well, you better divorce me now and find another wife because I'm not doing it again. Of course he was kidding, thank God lol.
I really enjoyed reading your blog. I'm on my second pregnancy and I'm 8 weeks. It's already becoming a repeat of my first pregnancy with my son.Throwing up everyday, smells bother me, and I just don't know what I want to eat for fear of throwing up. I've already told my husband this was the last time I was doing this. His response was, 'no, babe, we can have a third.' I said well, you better divorce me now and find another wife because I'm not doing it again. Of course he was kidding, thank God lol.
Hahahaha. Your husband asked at the wrong time! At least my husband waited until after I gave birth. As soon as I pushed the second baby out, he was like, "Two down, two to go", Of course everyone in the delivery room laughed but I know he wasn't joking! *cringe*
The funny thing is I do want more. Point #28 is definitely real. Pregnancy brain is wired for a reason – to trick us into conceiving again!
Hahahaha. Your husband asked at the wrong time! At least my husband waited until after I gave birth. As soon as I pushed the second baby out, he was like, "Two down, two to go", Of course everyone in the delivery room laughed but I know he wasn't joking! *cringe*
The funny thing is I do want more. Point #28 is definitely real. Pregnancy brain is wired for a reason – to trick us into conceiving again!
I'm so not in the mood to ready "perky, up beat" blogs about the "miracle of pregnancy". I'm tired and on the verge of puking all day. This sucks!
I'm so not in the mood to ready "perky, up beat" blogs about the "miracle of pregnancy". I'm tired and on the verge of puking all day. This sucks!
I was in the same boat when I wrote the post. Hang in there, girl. This too shall pass. All the best!
I was in the same boat when I wrote the post. Hang in there, girl. This too shall pass. All the best!
Being unpredictably and pathetically sick in the first trimester while trying to work.
I'm a server at a prominent high-end restaurant. I bring home 3/4 of our income and we get insurance through my job. Trying to make the money we'll need and cheerfully and professionally describe alcohol and food to strangers while you're throwing up bile out back several times a shift JUST SUCKS.
Hahahaha. Your husband asked at the wrong time! At least my husband waited until after I gave birth. As soon as I pushed the second baby out, he was like, “Two down, two to go”, Of course everyone in the delivery room laughed but I know he wasn’t joking! *cringe*
The funny thing is I do want more. Point #28 is definitely real. Pregnancy brain is wired for a reason – to trick us into conceiving again!
I was in the same boat when I wrote the post. Hang in there, girl. This too shall pass. All the best!
So you are one of those lucky ones that stay the same except for baby bump. Thanks for stopping by to comment, Rea!
Thanks Judy! Borrowing a baby is a good idea. Maybe I should start lending my baby away when I need a break. Haha!
My hemorrhoids worsen after I gave birth. You are right, Darlene, it doesn’t really go away.
I don’t mind feeling the baby hiccups in the womb though. I generally enjoy the movement/kicks except when I’m trying to sleep. Thanks for commenting!
Haha.. What are your cravings? Thanks for commenting, Melissa!
The worst part about pregnancy so far for me has been the hormones. I’m 90% sure I’m in the throws of antenatal depression and have my first therapy session set up for next week. I’m in the first week of my second trimester and have been warned about the new symptoms I’ll have to deal with in place of trimester 1 symptoms. I will take the headaches, I will take the leaky bladder, varicose veins, stretch marks, sore breasts. I just cannot handle feeling like a prisoner in my own mind. I’m not used to being this irrational and it has completely taken the joy out of becoming a first time mom, not to mention my marriage. I know there’s light at the end of the tunnel and I never have to do this again once it’s over. My husband and I will persevere and have a blast raising our little one. But right now, I’m gonna say that pregnancy can go to hell.
Ps. This was a completely planned pregnancy and everything I’ve ever wanted since I can remember, to have a family that is. I am aware that I’m lucky to be pregnant at all and many women would give an arm and a leg to be with child. I’m very fortunate. Still doesn’t discredit the emotions I’m feeling while this fetus wreaks havoc on my sanity lol. Good luck to everyone out there in whatever struggle you’re currently in with mommyhood
I’m so sorry to hear what you are going through at the moment and you are right, there is light at the end of the tunnel! Good on you for seeking help and not suffering alone. People need to hear this. All the best for the therapy session next week! *hugs*
Don’t forget also dysgeusia, crazy salivation that makes you choke and, if you’re asthmatic, even without smoking, at the second trimester your asthma will go insane. I’m hating so much to be pregnant. It’s constant non-stop sickness and weird awkward symptoms. 🙁
Never been through this before and I’m almost 38. It’s bizarre af!!! =/