Pregnancy... (the real truth)

We’ve all heard women say it ‘i loved being pregnant, I have never felt so good in my entire life’... ‘if i could be pregnant all the time then i would’. Surely there must be some conspiracy? Why if so many women felt such harmony in their pregnancy did i feel in limbo, nothing changing accept the varying maladies my pregnancy presented me with? My life on hold, impatiently awaiting the arrival of ‘baby’!

I was recently describing my newly acquired medical complaint to an acquaintance and yet again was presented with this romanticized version of pregnancy. My knuckles whitened and teeth clamped tightly shut when she concluded her fairy tale with her easy 2 hour labor.

I have exhausted most media sources for pregnancy related information to see if my experiences were ‘normal’ but very few convey the true impact of pregnancy, by that I mean the varying degrees of physical and emotional stress women are subject to in pregnancy.

Pregnancy in the media is like a new fashion trend, the rapidly increasing column inches dedicated to celebrity pregnancies. Opening such publication and being presented with a celebrity with her size 6 figure and perfect bump lying on some tropical beach ‘taking time out before the arrival of her 3rd baby’, doesn’t exactly help. Media conditioning basically stating ‘this is how you should look if you’re pregnant, nothing less than perfect will do’. Great we think as we’re sat on our sofas resting an aching back made worse by the November hurricane whirling around outside, whilst munching on our 3rd bar of chocolate. This is our reality and we must remember that we’re the normal ones, only a small percentage of UK mums can afford such luxuries. This is the media’s representation of ‘pregnancy’ and its a fallacy, these women are women not superhuman and are subject to all the ailments we are, the only difference is a large bank balance and careful media management to portray the ‘perfect’ pregnancy.

My sole reassurances within my pregnancy come from sources where a mum has opened her heart to her experiences. I want to know how these women feel, not only the physical ailments within pregnancy but the mental impact of such problems. The emotional roller coaster that is pregnancy that no glossy magazine or pregnancy guide can prepare us for. Anyone can write a list defining a pregnancy condition. Pass me a medical dictionary! However, what about telling us the true impact of such a condition, that only someone who has been through such an experience can truly convey to the reader.

Take Morning Sickness for example. Who on earth put the morning in that statement, i think it should be renamed and redefined as the following;

COMPARABLE TO THE WORST HANGOVER OF YOUR LIFE

‘Varying severity of nausea, often resulting in sickness. Sickness can be triggered by small things like your partners beer breath, or opening the fridge. Unlike a hangover this is not triggered by alcohol and won’t go away after 24 hours. Sickness can occur at any point during the day and for as many times as your body decides. Your toilet will become your best friend, and don’t worry if you find yourself crying for your mum whatever age you are!

Be prepared for mouth ulcers due to the stomach acid, an aching upper body due to intense retching and don’t be shocked to find blood in your vomit due to the stress placed on your throat. Don’t expect it to be gone after 3 months, for some unlucky women it can last until the end of their pregnancy if not longer! Oh and if you’re really unfortunate you might even get a trip to hospital due to severe dehydration. During this period you will probably have to take off work or even quit your job as the sickness will restrict you from leaving the house. You will be physically thus mentally exhausted as your body won’t be getting the nutrients it needs, and any nourishment in your body will be on first refusal to your baby, don’t expect them to share!’

A slightly different outlook on morning sickness to what you may have read before, however anyone who has suffered severe morning sickness will know this is the truth. Wouldn’t we much rather read this and feel reassured that we’re ok, this is normal and we’re not a failure for finding the whole saga completely exhausting to the point where you begin to wonder if its all really worth it. If anything it would probably cheer us up.

What i intend to compile is a series of articles on ‘Pregnancy (the real truth)’, taken not only from my experience but from other mums who have found the whole ordeal particularly overwhelming. Hopefully, it will provide some comfort and reassurance to other mums to be.

Francesca Killen

So-Natural