Blame it on celebrities who make motherhood looks so effortless. It's amazing how they are able to bounce back right after a pregnancy with superb amount of energy, a hot body to go with, and multi million dollar acting contract deals awaiting them. You see them bringing out their tots, decked in designer outfits, lazying on the beach and looking so amazing in a tiny bikini with hardly any post pregnancy signs. Are they just blessed with good genes or tonnes of money to spend to get them looking so yummy-licious?
In the less dreamy and real world of motherhood, I was dumbfounded by the reality of being a soon -to-be new mummy. Where is my pregnancy glow, my shiny locks, my hot mama look that I had expected and pictured way before my pregnancy? Guess all those are not as effortless as they seemed.
Sure I do not have tons to splash on weekly manicure and spas, makeup artist and stylish but I am damn sure I could look like a million bucks if I wanted to since I am fashionably vain to begin with and I could do all that myself to achieve the glamorous look. But alas, I did not expect to suffer so much from all the symptoms that pregnancy brings and suddenly my chic form fitting dresses, high heels, shiny mane, manicured nails and perfect makeup are ALL replaced with flats, Au natural no makeup face, loose dresses, lackluster hair and plain nails. How could Kim Kardashian and Kate Middleton managed to still look so well groomed and hot while preggers?
Mirror.co.uk
Below are some of the pregnancy symptoms which I suffered that hugely impacted my quality of life and zapped whatever else energy I have left, totally destroying any mood of trying to look great while pregnant:
1) Severe nausea and vomiting (hyperemesis gravidarum) from the start of week 5 right up till the 5th month of pregnancy. I vomited up to 20 times a day, sometimes nearly every hour till I ended up in the hospital for severe dehydration and have to be given drips. Nausea and vomiting only improved at the mid of the 5th month. I was nausea and vomit free for a month, only to have it all come back at the end of my 6th month. This had led to extreme tiredness.
2) Increased exhaustion and tiredness as my body is working hard to nourish and support a growing baby inside me. Increased sleepiness which makes me sleep more than 10 hours sometimes and needing naps in mid afternoon or evening. Each naps could last up to 3 hours.
3) Heart palpitations which makes me dizzy at some days where I feel as though I'm going to faint any moment.
4) Expanding belly that swells up to accommodate growing baby can be uncomfortable and painful. Sore, painful and tender breast.
5) Back aches and swollen ankles, couple with a belly that is becoming heavier - making it difficult and painful to walk for long period of time. An injured hamstring on my left leg from dancing well before my pregnancy also worsen the pain on most days.
6) Painful leg cramps in the middle of the night causing me to scream in pain.
7) Frequent peeing in the middle of the night, needing to wake up several times from my sleep.
8) Contractions or Braxton Hicks which becomes stronger as I approach the final trimester.
9) Baby kicking harder and more regular , causing me to lose sleep at night as I am awaken from all the hard kicking.
10) No appetite for food, and indigestion of food making my body feel uncomfortable. Vomiting after eating too full when I didn't really had much to eat in the first place. Blood in vomit from over-vomiting, bleeding nose and constipation that last for few days in a row.
I really don't know how I made it through right up to the 7th month. I have 12 more weeks remaining till my baby arrives. Honestly, on one hand I really just want to get it over with as I have never been through something as tough as pregnancy before, and on the other hand I am afraid of the whole delivery process when the time draws nearer.
I do not wish to hear another mother who have gone through this telling me it will all be worth it once the baby come and that you will completely forget it all once you held your beautiful baby in your arms. Which is exactly why I do not wish to forget any details of my pregnancy, since it's such a huge milestone. I often heard mothers reassuring me labor is nothing, and that they have forgotten the whole process. I want to be able to remember the whole pregnancy process and tell whoever who cares to ask about it. These would be the stories of my life. I wouldn't want to forget and tell the next mom -to- be that pregnancy was a breeze and judge her when she gets afraid. I want to be able to tell it like it is, which is why I document it all here in my blog. Hope some readers will find this informative and not scary or deterring them from trying to have a baby.
For now, I am preparing myself mentally and physically for the impending labor and to face it positively.
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