Things you only learned about pregnancy and birth once you were committed

Nah Kirinm don't forget the cuddly, milky, gorgeous baby at the end. When they look at you like you're the whole world.

I had a baby many many years ago but am considering another. This thread is terrifying!

That first labours aren't necessarily slow affairs where you 'go for a walk, have a bath or cuddle your OH to get the endorphins going' as they suggested in our NCT class - I went from 0-6 cm in 2 hours!

Oh and someone mentioned ribs on here! That they move and don't go back to place. Is this true? I have been saying this to everyone that my ribs are sticking out they are hurting but everyone "due to the anxiety " thinks am just paranoid! This btw is 3 years now and I still don't have an answer. Could someone please tell me. I dare not tell any gp or medic in case they think I'm going mad and I'm not. I'm fine. But it doesn't help Me Not knowing why they are not how they were.

The pgp! !!! The night sweats that nobody told me about even when mentioned to the hv the gp the hv again!!! To get so anxious as a result of unexplained post partum symptoms that it wrecked my ability to look after my baby and myself. To have the mv tell me to "get a grip " . Fuck you!
I was in such an awful anxious state that it took all reasoning away from me, it was believe it or not mumsnet that helped me "get a grip " after readING about all the things they never tell you that actually are the more cause for worry. I researched the answers to my own symptoms.

I agree with waters nod breaking down naturally. I assumed that was the case until labour! With DD they had to break the sac, with DS he was born inside it!!! I was paranoid I'd break waters on my new mattress, had lots of towels and mats... I thought it was going to be like in films that you break waters and the baby is pretty much there! I now go mad at those scenes in films!

Also, melasma (the dark patches). I had two lines on my cheeks do dark that looked like camouflage paint! I once opened the door to a neighbour that screamed and asked what had happened to me!

Finally, the fact that I didn't have crazy cravings-omg-you-have-to-buy-it. I fancied things occasionally, mainly"something salty" or "sweet" or "meaty", but nothing prompted 1am shopping and nothing like I must have pickles dipped in chocolate and wrapped in lettuce, iykwim. I'm very mad at films!!

The hay fever thing is because your immune system is less sensitive (to stop it reacting to the new things growing inside you). I think other autoimmune problems like arthritis also often improve.

I got nosebleeds in early pregnancy too! I got one a little while back and it worried me (especially as husband has had snip!!!) migraines, bad hip joints, low iron and the stupidly long process of labour in my case! Generally though I was happy when pregnant, probably because I ate well and didn't have my wine!

Oh, and the post partum night sweats!

That I'd be constipated for the first trimester . God that was painful. And that having your waters broken was worse than actual labour. That some babies come very fast without the need to push. She just kind of fell out.

The hot flushes after a c section! I'd randomly go so hot and sweat buckets..awful.

That morning sickness is not confined to the morning. I was sick all day,every day from the moment I hit 4 weeks until 13 weeks. That labour is the most excruciating painful thing you will probably ever experience. Breathing exercises my arse!

And don't remind me of the stiches!! Ouch!

Hobbling around like an old woman, if I stood or sat for too long, as my hips decided they were made our of rubber bands!!

Stabby fanny daggers, having a soggy fanny for a lot of the pregnancy and also nips of fire. And then afterwards, how much the after pains would bloody hurt when feeding

that going overdue means incessant calls ( & text these days) wondering if anything is happening yet & the subsequent deelings of failure when it hasn't.

And it is possible to have pain free labour, I was supposed to be induced with my second & when I was assessed was already 7cm dilated with no pain, only knew when to push by keeping an eye on the monitor to see my contractions

I was sick morning noon and night from my 1st week to my last. Got preeclampsia and was induced a month early. 2 day labour and ended in emergency c-section

Nosebleeds!

I only had to sniff a little too hard or scratch the tip of my nose for it to be pouring with blood.

After birth..pads type things every fucking...where..breast pads, dressings (c sec), sanitary pads, bed pads,.plasters..nappies...

I still get milk drunk now and ds is nearly 3!

Until they were doing it, I had never thought about how just 'attaching the ventouse suction cup to the baby's head and gently drawing it out' means shoving something up your chuff and how much that was going to hurt. Before they even got the baby's head out.

That your body could start pushing regardless of what anyone else told you to do.

Xenadog - OWW! That sounds pretty horrific and exactly the sort of thing I was terrified of after my section

I still have my heightened sense of smell. It's incredible.

Having a breech baby automatically means a ELCS - utter bliss without any of the horror mentioned up thread. However, you need to be REALLY careful after your csec and not go shopping in Mothercare on your way home from hospital, check out baby grows for tiny babies and then overbalance, almost fall over and then feel something "ping" inside so that a few days later you bleed and get rushed to A and E because your stitches have come apart!

Oh and the heightened sense of smell is horrific. I couldn't bear to have the dog near me, have people stand too close or go shopping for raw meat and fish.

Oooooh the bidet! Porcelain heaven...

Yes to the dreams - I can still vividly remember some of them and my youngest is 4!
Faster definitely isn't always better, DC2 shot out like a bat out of hell and we both ended up on oxygen in shock for a short while (both fine after about 20 minutes )
Pregnancy can make you snore so loudly it can wake next door
How bloody marvellous pethadine is. In fact it was so good I specifically requested it to not be offered to me in subsequent labours due to the fact I was totally off my tits the first time round and made an arse of myself (another )