What you wish you knew before becoming pregnant

[LauraRoberts1992]

Heya me and my husband are trying for a baby (just had my implant removed a few days ago)

So I was just wondering if there was anything you which you did or knew about before getting pregnant ? And anything concerning the early stages, eg. How often to take pregnancy tests lol

That you can bleed for 4-6 weeks after the baby is born - how did i not know that?!
That omeprazole is safe to take in pregnancy and far better than fucking rennies or gaviscon and if you suffer from heartburn you will do yourself a major service by asking your doctor for some.
Read Expecting Better for evidence based information on what is safe and not safe in pregnancy.

Expecting Better

I knew I might get stretch marks, but I wasn't prepared for the angry looking ones or how they'd make me feel.

I wish I knew that I'd be sleeping a lot, so much sleep in the first trimester but in the third I was exhausted still but I'm finding sleeping so hard

The inability to shave and reach places at 38 weeks.

Try to take this thread with a pinch of salt op. I didn't get morning sickness or need a single Rennie. Not trying to sound smug (I had PGP so definitely not an 'easy' pregnancy!) but just want to say that everyone's pregnancy is unique. Good luck, you'll be fine

Also you don't need to give up alcohol completely while trying to conceive, but I gave it up completely as soon as I found out I was pregnant.

I did reduce alcohol and caffeine. I never drank much before ( alcohol ), perhaps twice a month- a few drinks after work. But I was a coffee addict, drinking six cups a day or so. So I reduced that.

You don't know how long it will take for you to get pregnant, so giving up all joys in life - like going for a couple of drinks once in a while, for potentially a year or so- isn't worth it and won't make any difference anyway. Just don't overdo it and stay healthy. Take prenatal vitamins, go to the gym and eat well. The occasional night out is allowed.

Make sure you appreciate that it might take a few months for you to get pregnant, try to be realistic about that.

Once you're pregnant, you're pregnant and just have to live with whatever symptoms you get. I would say, try not to compare yourself to any other pregnant woman and just do what feels right for you and what your doctors recommend. Be prepared that others will feel they have some kind of claim on your body now, as you're carrying a new relative of theirs. So they might feel obliged to tell you what to do a lot. That can be annoying. Good luck to you !

That you can bleed for 4-6 weeks after the baby is born - how did i not know that?!
That omeprazole is safe to take in pregnancy and far better than fucking rennies or gaviscon and if you suffer from heartburn you will do yourself a major service by asking your doctor for some.

All of this 😂😂, I'm getting omeprazole tomorrow from MW.

You know what too? I had iron tablets as I was a bit anemic after giving birth, not only that first time going to the loo after giving birth was scary but I wasn't expecting what the iron tablets did.. 😂

I wished I had saved more of my disposable income . Children are bloody expensive

1. How incredible it is to feel your baby move for the first time.
2. How tired you can be in the first trimester and then how much energy you can have in the 2nd but just before birth you are exhausted again!
3. How in between contractions you have no pain!
4. The importance of not over eating and keeping up with gentle exercise and yoga throughout your pregnancy.
5. I wish I had focused on losing weight and getting fit after I had my babies. They are 14 and 12 and I still haven't managed it...

Good luck. It is the most precious time x

Your boobs will get insanely big and your nipples become the size of digestive biscuits

First trimester morning sickness is like having a 24/7 4am tequila shot hangover for 10 weeks straight

You get more constipated than you can imagine and can't take any of the over the counter meds (I'm 27 weeks here- someone let me know if there is a solution to this apart from prunes and prune juice!)

Not drinking is really, really hard, and super boring

Even if you didn't like sushi or blue cheese you will crave sushi and blue cheese

As a general rule you feel twice as tired as usual

For the tube/public transport in general you have to get a baby on board badge AND ask people in priority seats to get up for you, they WILL NOT voluntarily offer you a seat unless you ask them to

Pregnancy insomnia is a thing

If you don't sleep on your side, it's very annoying to have to sleep on your side

Pregnancy face pigmentation is really annoying and you can't use any of the creams to get rid of it until you've stopped breastfeeding

Everyone's experience is different, some people love it!

Everyone's experience is different