What's your favourite side effect of pregnancy?

[knittingirl]

We all know (and are experiencing) the nastier side effects of pregnancy, but what symptoms do you like?

For me, both with ds and with this pregnancy, my leg hair pretty much stops growing so I go from shaving every day to maybe once a week especially good when I'm getting too big to easily reach!

The wind down to maternity leave and not particularly caring too much about work.

Getting to work from home two days a week after my company moved to a location further away (no way would I have been allowed otherwise).

I have a very clear head each day and I'm not at all fussed about client meetings on a Monday morning. God, I miss booze though!

Oh yes! TTC for 2 years so not missing temperature charting, ovulation sticks, blood tests, fertility drugs and DTD all the bloody time!

Boobs. I feel like an actual grown up when I have cleavage.

For me there were few perks of pregnancy but the slow-growing leg and erm intimate hair was one of them, as was being able to go a whole week without having to wash my (head) hair and not looking greasy either!
Oh and free prescriptions/ dentist.

No period every 3 weeks

36 C boobs. Ooof.

Last pregnancy was my amazing thick gorgeous hair. At the minute I can't see past the terrible nausea!

Definitely not having to worry about whether or not I look fat. Love feeling the movements and all the special treatment - people giving up seats and fetching drinks and things like that! And I feel like it was about time for my body to have a break from relentless boozing and smoking I was doing.

After years of adult acne - finally had beautiful glowing skin.
Randomly after years of suffering with IBS, all symptoms stopped immediately.
Felt much less stress and anxiety all round.
Also loved rubbing my bump.

Mmm, going off the beaten track here, but did anyone else have better sex (before the bump got in the way of course)?

Clear skin, pregnancy glow and everyone telling me how well I look, which always feels surprising as I've not slept through the night in 7 months!

No periods no periods no periods. Oh and swingy glossy hair!

Gorgeous strong nails that grow mega quickly. I can actually treat myself to a manicure in a salon now!

My boobs are AMAZING! Gone from a 34B to a 36D and they are lovely and firm. (Shame my husband doesn't like boobs)

No Periods, No PMT, just felt chilled out and very even tempered after the morning sickness was over. Nothing seemed to worry or faze me. Slept like the proverbial log too.

Pregnancy seems to have come with a free facelift for me. All the lines I had before seem plumped out. I guess that's the positive side of the fluid retention.

I have to say that another plus is becoming much more relaxed with DH about burping, vomiting and other bodily evacuations. We'd both lived alone for so long that we were quite prim and proper about not letting each other know about any of our less than delicate activities when we moved in together but the lack of control I've had since I became pregnant has removed all that especially as he has started making really loud burps (and worse) himself just so I don't feel embarrassed!

We also both enjoy laughing at my chest and giant bras that fit on his head. I'm afraid my 30HHs look more comedy than sexy. At 30 weeks I can only just see my bump over them!

Ahhh pregnancy, I kind of miss it.

I especially liked not having to hold my tummy in, no periods, lots of sleep, my hair, skin and nails were great and my bump.

I also loved knowing that as soon as I went into labor, I'd have 17 lovely weeks off work!

No periods and amazing hair!
Too bad it'll all fall out again when Ds2 hits about 4 months old though . Plug. Hole. Full.

I WISH my skin got clearer in pregnancy. My hormonal spots (once a month break out) are more evil and massive bastards than ever!

I was the most chilled, relaxed and serene I have ever been, when I was pregnant. I floated through my days on a big, fluffy cloud of good vibes and felt the happiest I had felt in years.

Which almost made up for the hyperemesis ...

I have zero B.O. day 3 of no shower or deodorant ( I'm poorly ) and I dont smell one bit.

Its the only time I can wear a maxi dress without looking ridiculous.

Freinds come round for a cup of tea, they bring cake and end up making the tea themselves.

Getting to sit down everywhere you go.

Lying in the bath watching the bump move.

The excitement at the very end when you are finally off to the hospital or the MW has been called.

I loved the HH boobs, thick hair , being told to eat snickers bars because I was burning ketones, not feeling guilty lying in bed just reading and the bizarre need to sew toys/bibs/rattles/bunting despite not having touched a sewing maching since I was 14 - and finding I could still do it!

I worked in an HR role in an engineering environment and had to do lots of travel and site visits and such like. Everyone was really solicitous of my physical comfort and safelty in a way that I found surprisingly touching. And everyone tells you about their babies and you're suddenly really, really interested.

Loved being pregnant.

I enjoyed having boobs I went up to a DD .. now back to a B and I'm missing them!!

I think this is a lovely thread. I'm not going to lie, most of my pregnancy was miserable because I was so sick but I would do well to remember there were good bits about it too.

No periods, obviously.
DH doing all the washing up.
Getting boobs.
The wonderful wriggling.
The less greasy hair.
The relaxing holiday where my parents looked after my DD so I got to rest - a real holiday!
The genuine good will and good wishes from people.

I wasn't very good at pregnancyast time! I felt (and looked, apparently) terrible for most of it, and when I stopped feeling so sick, I found it really difficult to wield this large and ultra-feminine body (I'm a bit of a Tom boy).

But, I liked the feeling of being special. Look at me! I'm not like those other humans, I'm in a special club where we make new people! Look at me doing it right now! (I can even do it in my sleep!)

This time I've found out early enough that I've had a week and a half without feeling sick, and where all the tiny intricate early development is happening. (I missed this bit last time) it's so amazing!

Oh, and I liked birth. That was something I could do. And the placenta was fascinating!

I'm determined to enjoy this one more. I like reading all your positive stories.