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

[BestZebbie]

Inspired by the thread about giving women more information about natural birth.... What happened to you/ your friends during pregnancy and birth that came as a total surprise?
I'll start with:
Temporary deafness in late pregnancy (probably fluid related, like swollen ankles)
Arthritis post-pregnancy, apparently triggered by it
Pains when the placenta implanted (meaning that I thought it was all going wrong)

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

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 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

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

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

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!!

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

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!

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

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.

Oh, and the post partum night sweats!

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!

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 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 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.

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.

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!

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

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

The diclofenac injection given to me after birth caused horrendous constipation. I had to give birth all over again, alone, 3 days later.
The pregnancy mask on my upper lip that looked like a weird fake tash.
Best time ever.

I don't have children but my great grandmother had 13. After reading this terrifying post the poor woman is now my heroine!

The extreme pain in your ribs at the back when baby grew to a certain size- above your kidneys. Horrible and couldn't sit down, only stand or lie down and nothing else helped. Working in a desk job was not so fun!!!

Laiba do speak to your GP - I had uncomfortable ribs after birth - didn't seem to go back properly - is that how it feels for you? I in fact mentioned it to my cranialsacral therapist / osteopath who I was seeing anyway and she helped to balance things all together. You may get a good result from a complementary practitioner if your GP doesn't take it on board. Or maybe physiotherapy? It really isn't unheard of so please don't suffer!

Oh my god. Reading this while only 11 weeks pregnant with my first is the most stupid thing I've done in a very long time. Ladies, I salute you. And I'm fucking terrified.

timegate I didn't have any pain relief and I didn't have anything like an orgasm.... -sigh-

the pain at night of lying on one side, then changing to the other when it hurt too, then sleeping sitting upright on the sofa when both sides hurt too much. No one ever did explain to me what it was. I don't think it was pelvis pain. It felt like I was bruised!

The postnatal hair loss....arrrgh DS is 15 weeks and it's driving me INSANE. I have a lot of hair so didn't notice anymore during pregnancy, but it's everywhere. My hair is up all the time now. I find it in my hairbrush, the shower, hanging down from between my buttocks, in my food, in DHs food, in DS's hands, in DSs mouth....arrrgh