Pregnancy Pro’s & Con’s

34 Weeks! Only 6 to go!!!

As I round the corner to the end of this pregnancy (which I fully expect to be my final pregnancy) I thought it would be fun to compile a list of things that I will miss someday about being pregnant, and then things I will not miss.  Of course, it’s all very skewed when I’m in the midst of being pregnant (the grass is always greener on the other side idea), but I’m at an interesting point right now.  I’m at the point again where I don’t remember what it feels like to be “normal” again.  The point where I worry that I’m going to stay this way forever.  I know it’s illogical, but who said pregnant women are logical?   😉

Things I WILL miss about being pregnant:

• Not having to worry about my belly looks in outfits
• Feeling the baby move inside of me
• Getting to see the baby on the ultrasound and knowing it is actually growing inside of me
• The hilarious (and sometimes inappropriate) things total strangers say to me about being pregnant
• Josiah talking about my belly getting bigger
• Watching Josiah put his tiny hand on my belly trying to feel the baby move
• The kids being excited about the baby coming and talking about how helpful they will be
• The humor of the baby having the hiccups inside of me
• Getting to go to my midwife appointments and hearing the baby’s heart beat inside me.  It’s such a cool feeling
• The camaraderie I have with other pregnant women–or even women carrying young infants.  They smile as if to say “hang in there, you’re almost to the best part…”
• The freedom to eat whatever I want whenever I want (I probably shouldn’t be taking so much advantage of this…)
• How excited people are for me–even total strangers
• The instant compassion people have on me because I’m pregnant
• Knowing that this is “the end of the era” of having babies.  We’ll be onto a different phase in our lives

Things I will NOT miss about being pregnant:

• Not being able to play on the floor with the kids
• Random people wanting to touch my belly
• The fact that I can’t do anything these days without being winded
• How my hands fall asleep easily
• Having to sleep propped up and on my side (I sleep with 7 pillows these days!)
• Constant hip pain
• Being limited in what I can do–I don’t like being limited.  I can’t carry salt bags to the basement anymore…
• Not being able to give regular hugs b/c my belly’s to big!
• My hands swelling so I can’t wear my wedding ring
• My lips swelling.  (Did you know that could happen?  Well, it can.)
• Not being able to tie my shoes without grunting and resting between feet
• Having to get up multiple times during the night to use the bathroom
• Having to literally roll out of bed (for said bathroom breaks) because I can’t just sit up in bed anymore
• Having a messy shirt (be it food or water or something I accidentally leaned on) and not even knowing it because I can’t see the bottom of my belly anymore!
• Woman problems that would be inappropriate to share on here…
• My enormously round face
• The stress I have worrying about the baby getting strangled in it’s umbilical cord (again, I know it’s irrational…)
• Trying to agree on a name for the baby

But after all is said and done, I think the thing that will stick with me the most being pregnant and eventually getting to hold that little tiny baby in my arms is how amazing God is.  It’s breathtaking to see a new baby for the first time and see how they’ve grown into a complete little person right inside of me.  They have perfect little noses and fingers and ears.  They go from breathing in the womb to being able to instantly breath the air.  They already have a personality and likes and dislikes.  God’s plan is fascinating.  And I count myself lucky that, even though I’m not crazy about being pregnant, that I’ve been able to experience His perfect plan.