s/o misconceptions about pregnancy

pepomntpat · February 2013

I was actually thinking about this the other day and how little I knew what I was in for. None of my misconceptions were in the least big logical, but I just never really bothered to think it through until I got two pink lines.

I thought I'd feel the baby much sooner and show (like look pregnant) much sooner. I had no idea I would just look fat until halfway through third trimester. Why did I buy maternity clothes when I was 12 weeks pregnant? LOL!

I am sure I had others, but those were the ones that struck me most. Where is the baby? I can't feel it or see a bump!

What were your misconceptions?

hollandmama · February 2013

HAHA I did buy maternity clothes at 12w and they are all there hanging in my closet with the tags on! I'm still wearing my usual clothes and don't look pregnant at all... FTM here, so yes, I had that one.

I had and have many more and I discover new ones every time:

1. Pregnancy is 9 months, but those are not 4-week months so you're counting 40 weeks and not 36, duh!

2. Globally, doctors count 2 weeks before conception in which you were not technically pregnant. No idea this happened.

3. You will be eating for two.

4. It's no common that your water breaks like in the movies, lol! I was actually expecting this thing to happen before going to the hospital. Also, you don't go to the hospital as soon as you feel a contraction hahaha

I have many many more but being in these boards really helps because BDTD moms like you can help clearing those up Thanks btw!

PrimRoseMama · February 2013

That labor would be HORRIBLE. It wasn't half as bad as I thought it would be. That was my experience at least.

I also underestimated how hungry you could be or how tired you could be.

jennipalmer · February 2013

PrimRoseMama:
That labor would be HORRIBLE. It wasn't half as bad as I thought it would be. That was my experience at least.
I also underestimated how hungry you could be or how tired you could be.

I was terrified of labor!! But really wasnt that bad...it hurts but nothing unbearable, I will admit I feel mine was kind of easy even having fat babies. I also didn't know babies came in 10 pounders until they told me what my DD weighed LOL I thought we all got cute little basketball bumps...HELL NO. I swelled everywhere my feet got bigger, my nose was bigger and yes you really can feel like the guy in alien.

Love the movie What to Expect When Expecting. Saw it with pregnant friend not to long after my miscarriage...I cried but also laughed till I cried more.

Rushmore · February 2013

morning sickness= morning sickness. I was sick 'round the clock. It was even worse in the evening time.

I thought I wouldn't be in maternity clothes til way later. I've been living in my maternity jeans and loving it since two weeks ago.

Rushmore · February 2013

sandraynic:
4. It's no common that your water breaks like in the movies, lol! I was actually expecting this thing to happen before going to the hospital.

I just realized this after talking with a friend who's birthed a few children. I didn't realize that labor can start before your water breaks.

Erinm278 · February 2013

I never realized how tired I would be all the time or how biiitchy I would get.

I also was looking forward to no tampons/pads for 9 months...well I didn't count on wearing a panty liner everyday!

I also thought I would show a lot sooner!

angelsnight · February 2013

My biggest one is that I just don't feel pregnant most of the time. I cannot feel the baby yet, and aside from looking fat, I don't look pregnant yet. I mean obviously I know I am, but without movement or showing, it's hard to connect with the idea that there actually is a baby in there.

My other is that I had no idea how quickly some symptoms come on. I was exhausted just a few days after getting my positive, constipation set in right around 5 weeks and even though I've heard of women that spot or bleed all through out their pregnancy, I never really thought it would happen to me. Also, I had NO idea about the sore gums.

angelsnight · February 2013

autumnmahler:
I will get my energy back in the second trimester..... still waiting! It's been a little better the past couple weeks, but I get home and do nothing because I'm really tired after work- so the house looks like a hell hole!

Same here, I could have written this. I'm still waiting for that so-called second tri energy and my house is a sty because I never feel like cleaning.

angelsnight · February 2013

maryannespier:
I was a runner before I got pregnant, and I was convinced I would just keep running like nothing was different. Um, wrong - at least for me. First my boobs hurt so much the thought of jostling them around trying to run was horrifying, and now sometimes I get out of breath walking up stairs. Occasionally I'll "jog" when I'm out with the dog, but it ends very quickly. I've been sticking to Wii Fit (mostly the free step) and yoga.
I also thought I'd look pregnant by now, like a PP said. No clue it took so long for FTMs to have a bump. Then part of me was scared that because I wasn't super skinny to begin with, I wouldn't EVER look pregnant, which I calmed down by finding some thread that had hundreds and hundreds of bigger women and pictures of their bumps. Rest assured, I will probably look pregnant. Eventually.

Would you happen to have the link? I was worried about this too. I carry most of my weight in my tummy anyway, so I am worried I'll never actually look pregnant, just fatter and fatter.

arlingirl · February 2013

I thought I would have more self control over food...nope, not yet.

I didn't know I'd be in maternity clothes so quickly.

I figured my workouts would slow down, but not be almost non-existent.

I'm curious to see how the rest of the pregnancy goes and labor/delivery.

hollandmama · February 2013

Rushmore:
morning sickness= morning sickness. I was sick 'round the clock. It was even worse in the evening time.

Oh yes, I forgot to list this one.. mine was evening sickness!

pantsarella · February 2013

I actually had the misconception that I wouldn't look pregnant until later on. My mom said she didn't show until 6 months with her first. Yeah....at 13 weeks when I couldn't fit into my pants anymore, I had to go out and buy maternity stuff. Haven't looked back since.

I also had the misconception that lots of exciting things happened during pregnancy. Nope. With the exception of a few appointments and a few big purchases, it's pretty boring. Maybe towards the end it gets more exciting?

I definitely fell for the 2nd tri "you'll energy will come back" thing too. Nope, still falling asleep at 8:30pm. My prenatal workout DVD is so depressing because at one point she says "OK- 2nd trimester! This is all the energy you're going to get!" and I just want to cry.

pgermain11 · February 2013

Let's see:

1. That I'd be catered to. Not happening much these days.

2. I wouldn't have morning sickness (which as you all have mentioned is really all day sickness)

3. I'd eat "healthy". Pfft... I can barely eat period.

4. My skin would glow and I'd stop breaking out. Yeaaahh.....

5. I'd be happy all the time. ::Cue grinch music::

JCWhitey · February 2013

Maybe it's because I'm among the last of my friends and family to get PG, but I've had a pretty good idea of what was coming for me. I knew I wouldn't feel the baby until closer to 20 weeks and that a lot of people don't show very early. In fact, the only thing that really caught me off guard was how quickly I DID show. I expected 20ish weeks and I'd be showing. I also had this weird fear that I would be one of those women who never really looked pregnant. But that wasn't the case with me... in the first tri I suddenly got hips, my breasts went from 32Cs to 34DDs and I was having strangers ask me how far along I am when I was 13 weeks. I was wearing maternity clothes at 11 because nothing in my wardrobe fit me.

I also knew that you could feel horrible all day, every day in the first tri, I was just hoping it wouldn't be me. And while I did have that, I am at least grateful it was only for a week or two!

Stina2012 · February 2013

angelsnight:

My biggest one is that I just don't feel pregnant most of the time. I cannot feel the baby yet, and aside from looking fat, I don't look pregnant yet. I mean obviously I know I am, but without movement or showing, it's hard to connect with the idea that there actually is a baby in there.

I feel all of this as well. And the metallic taste in my mouth that I have all the time. Yuck! Pregnancy is also pretty boring, but I'm really thankful that it is so boring!

jrosehistory · February 2013

I also agree labor was not as bad as I thought it was going to be and my recovery was very fast. I was feeling so much better after just one week. It is amazing how your body recovers so quickly from labor. They also had to break my water in the hospital and the contractions were not as bad as I thought they would be in the beginning. They were like bad gas cramps wrapping around my back but were manageable. Later on they got painful but in the beginning they were okay.

I also had no idea how bad the heartburn could get. It was pretty bad my first pregnancy and right now it is mild but I know it might get worse. Hoping for more mild heartburn this time around.