Enjoying Pregnancy

My palms are red all of the time.....strange right?

My legs are getting little red squigglies on them....veins, stretch marks? Only time will tell. My mother has varicose veins AND spider veins, my father has varicose veins, so I guess I am doomed for that.

My boobs, oh man, my boobs have went up a cup size. I don't want to buy a new bra because who knows where they will be in 4 months. This would be a good thing if they didn't hurt so much. Also there are so many veins on them, my chest looks like a road map.

My belly, yeah it's getting big, but that's fine, the problem? It is hairier than EVER. I tried nairing like a month ago, but you could tell because I only naired around the belly button so it was like a circle with no hair, surrounded by hair! Also, a week later I find out you should NEVER use nair during pregnancy, because they don't know the effects....great.

Speaking of belly buttons. Mine is getting wider. I can see the little knot on the inside. So, I'm sure in time it will poke out....yippie.

My feet, oh man, my feet - who knew they would grow?!?! I have small feet - size 6 (man I wish that was my dress size) but they aren't so small after about an hour of walking, my shoes don't fit!

So here's something good - My hair has always been thick. But now - it's thicker than thick, I just dyed it, and oh man it is GORGEOUS! Soft, shiny - I LOVE it.

Also, I can feel him kick. No one around me knows what is going on in there - but me! That is good - AND because I am having a boy - I am growing a penis - and I love saying that to people when they ask what I am having.

I love being pregnant, really I do. I love feeling my wonderful baby boy kick, I love hearing his heartbeat inside of me at the doctors' office, I'll admit, I love the attention, and I love being able to eat a bit more and not feel bad about it. Of course there are pregnancy woes, but for me, the good parts outweigh the bad by far.

My baby is very active, I feel him kick and move around all of the time now. I am never alone, and he makes sure I know that. Sometimes I play with him by poking him back. I am even making a video of his movements throughout my pregnancy week by week. I never want to forget this feeling, though I fear I will someday.

When I hear his heartbeat every other week at my doctors it reminds me once again that a real human is growing inside of me. Of course many women go through this all of the time, every day millions of babies are born - but it feels so personal, so special to me to know my body is capable of this.

People always notice now. They open doors for me more now. They move out of my way, they help me out all of the time. People look at me differently as well, even strangers. I almost always get a smile just for walking by - and I love that. Of course there is the downside of every other woman wanting to tell me her birth story or complete strangers asking me if I am going to breastfeed, but again the good outweighs the bad.

Sometimes it makes me sad when I think about having the baby. Only because I know I will no longer have this great feeling. The hope is the feelings of overwhelming love for my son will outweigh the loss, but I'll admit it scares me.

I love my pregnant body. Sure, I don't like the stretch marks, or how my thighs seem to be growing at the same rate as my belly, but overall I really love it. I love looking in the mirror naked now - something I never did before. I love my big round belly - I feel more like a woman now than ever. Also - the big boobs are very nice.

But the best part is - my husband loves my pregnant body. He once said "I love touching and looking at it as I may never see your pregnant body again". We don't know if we will have any more children. Physically this pregnancy has been rough on me. I have gestational diabetes; I am in pain all of the time, and am always fatigued. We may have another but for now; it's not on the agenda. So I am trying to cherish each and every moment of this pregnancy knowing it may be the last.

I feel grateful that my husband loves my pregnant body. He is always rubbing my belly, talking to my belly and just loving on it. I know there are men out there who are completely turned off by a pregnant woman; my man is not one of them, thankfully. Of course, again, the big boobs are a big help.

So in my final two months, my main goal is to just enjoy it. No matter how painful getting out of bed in the middle of the night with a full bladder is, no matter how bad the heartburn is - to really enjoy it.

"What to Expect when You're Expecting" is a book most mothers and mother to be already know about as it is practically the pregnancy bible. It is something almost every mom-to-be will get as a gift at some point in her pregnancy, though it is best if given early on.

A Complete Breakdown
What to expect when you're expecting starts of with a chapter on signs that might mean you are pregnant, and how to start eating healthier even before conception. So it can also be useful for wanna-be Mommy to be's. It also as a good breakdown of a good pregnancy diet. This shows you what you should be eating every day when you first find out you are pregnant, as diet is one of the most important things in pregnancy.

From there the chapters are broken down into months - your fist month, second and so on. The beginning of every chapter has a good check off list to refer to of symptoms you may be having. It also has an illustration of how big your belly may be and what your baby looks like. From there it is all in question and answer format.

The questions range from "Is it OK to keep swimming/having sex/exercising?" to "I am throwing up a lot - will my baby be ok?" It is a very good guide for new mothers, and can be handy for mothers who have just forgotten what to expect, plus every pregnancy is different. Even if your first was a breeze doesn't mean your second will be. This guide helps to understand what is OK and normal, and when to call a doctor.

You can read it all at once, or just read up to where you are in your pregnancy.

It also has a chapter especially for dads to be. It covers different fears they may be having, and it is a good read for dads. After that there is a good pregnancy workout section which covers some easy and helpful pregnancy exercises. It is OK to exercise during pregnancy; as long as that is something you did before. As an example, I belly danced before I became pregnant, so for now it is completely OK for me to continue to do so, in fact they say the movements in belly dance could actually help you in your labor. But if you want to start something new when you are pregnant you should always talk with your doctor about it, and as I did - let any teachers you are working with know that you are expecting.

Of course this book isn't the "be all end all" - it can't tell you everything and you shouldn't rely on it for medical advice. Don't let this book freak you out. I have heard of many moms thinking everything is wrong with them after reading it as well. I myself didn't feel this way as it actually reassured me that I was fine more than freaked me out. If you have any concerns, always make a list of questions for your doctor so you do not forget. And relax.

Of course it is in it's 3rd edition, so that alone should tell you it is a good book for pregnancy. Although everything you can find in this guide you can also find on the internet - it is good for when you just want to lay in bed and read.

This book is highly recommended as a gift for that newly pregnant woman in your life - or you can buy it for yourself.