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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Things they don't tell you before you get pregnant

302 replies

AnguaVonUberwald · 12/09/2008 11:51

I know this has been done before, and that there are lots of bad things they don't tell you before you get pregnant.

But also, everyone goes on about how once you have the baby your life will never be the same again - they don't mention that you will love the baby so much, you will really like the new way, and not mind that everything you once enjoyed about your life has changed, because you have your baby instead.

OK, and then there is:

That you might never get the second trimester energy rush, and in fact might be exhausted all the way through!

That you will get instant attention from the NHS, until you get to 36 weeks pregnant, and then they will ignore you unless you can prove you are in labour (something that is impossible to do)

That you will never see the same midwife twice

That they will make you take home your wee, clean out the tub, and wee in it again a month later!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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cyteen · 21/09/2008 13:03

RaggedRobin, you beat me to it re. postnatal flatulence but neglected to mention that it will also smell worse than it ever did before (or maybe that's just me ).

That the secret me-too smiles pregnant women exchange on the street are not saying "isn't this wonderful?" but actually mean "you need a wee, don't you?"

expatinscotland · 21/09/2008 13:09

peppermint tea goes into my hospital bag every time.

it helps cut the wind to nill, however vile it tastes.

as well as fennel tea.

thecatbrighton · 21/09/2008 20:01

That you'll hurt afterwards for a good three weeks and that you'll hate sitting down as you're so tender

RaggedRobin · 21/09/2008 20:30

i'm off to buy some fennel tea! farts begone!

franfoxy2003 · 21/09/2008 21:34

can cause hiatus hernia's my ds pushed everything upwards (like they do) and it never went down again so have constant heartburn and he is 2.5 years old!!!!

on tablets for it but if i dont take them im in agony!

that when your pregnant you can drink a bottle of gaviscon a day and then your doc says 'no more for 2 weeks' and your in agony!

that babies refuse to come out after kicking out their waters and u hav to be induced at 36 weeks!

Prettyfull · 22/09/2008 10:27

No body warned me that after you have a certain amount of pain relief (pethidine)they cant give anymore and after a certain time, if u r close to pushing and its wearing off,...tough sh*t!! If id have known i would have held off the pain relief and made it last longer! grrrrrr

Totally agree with the whole bladder thing,...4 years on and still now my bladder is sooo weak!! And back pain,...arrgghhhh

Havnt a clue how women have more then one child,..theres noway my body could handle it!

apsie · 22/09/2008 10:31
  • that your hind waters can break and no-one will check you again until 3 days of pessary, injection and fruitless pushing have passed and then they break your FORE waters and the baby comes out in 2 under hours!
  • that you can escape morning sickness vomiting only to spend the majority of active labour throwing up every half an hour.
  • that you may think you got away with no stretch marks until you look in the mirror a couple of days after the birth and realise they'd been hiding under your bump.
  • yup, totally agree with the hairy belly!
babyangels · 22/09/2008 10:40

that your nose runs constantly during pregnancy and as soon as you remove any underwear after the birth you can spontaneously wee yourself.

MadameOvary · 22/09/2008 12:04

-that you should do your research and find out about the crap that can happen (as OP has done) because then you can prepare yourself and then the surprise can be the good stuff

  • that you can go from someone who never sweated much to someone who feels rank if she goes for more than a day without a shower.

-that you shouldn't feel like you "have" to TTC before you're ready because most things ppl have mentioned are fine if you are mentally prepared, and much, much worse if you're not.

Alexa808 · 22/09/2008 12:28

when you wake up at 30+ wks your fingers will ache, be unmovable and look like claws due to water retention. Also: the soles on your feet will be painful for the same reason.

Worst cover up: when you kneel (if you are still able to), you'll feel as if you are doing a number 2. But it's only piles coming out...

Spiky hair growth on parts of your body that used to be smooth.

Alexa808 · 22/09/2008 12:29

kneel, sry, I meant: squat

roseability · 22/09/2008 12:35

That your pelvis will feel like a badly screwed together, rusty, creaking piece of equipment

Turning over in bed takes ages and the use of cleverly positioned pillows

ruthosaurus · 22/09/2008 13:20

That your breasts don't grow evenly during your pregnancy but have growth spurts and can double in size overnight, scaring your DH in the morning .

That one of your nipples is now significantly bigger than the other (or is that just me?).

That you liked your breasts better before, even though they looked like gnat bites on an ironing board, and you never thought you'd be sick of bigger boobs.

lexysmith · 22/09/2008 13:23

If only they had got bigger.... Have managed to just about go from AA cup top A cup and theres still a a bit of room to spare... Last time I was pregnant they actually got smaller after DD was born.... If that happens again I shall be concave. And somehow strangely pear shaped.

Nice.

Alexa808 · 22/09/2008 15:09

Lexy, my Mum had a C cup before she had me. Then an A.

ruthosaurus · 22/09/2008 15:52

Huh. Suddenly wondering about all this excess boobage. I wonder if they'll go away again and stop bothering me?

Zazacat · 22/09/2008 16:14

This one is less traumatic than most of those dreamy little troubles mentioned above, but why did noone tell me that the smell of one of my favourite after shaves made me feel soooo sick and in fact I still stuggle with the smell when my husband wears it now. Even though my dds are now almost 3 and 5!

Prettyfull · 22/09/2008 16:25

AND NOBODY TOLD ME PETHIDINE INJECTION IS IN YA BUM LOL

Emmanj · 22/09/2008 17:24

That Gaviscon will become your saviur and you will have various forms of it all over the house!

2boyzmum · 22/09/2008 19:15

That you wee your pants when you sneeze.

expatinscotland · 22/09/2008 19:28

that that jab to make teh placenta come out hurts.

that if you don't feel the rush of love or bonding or that right away it's not abnormal or teh end of the world.

that PND is a possibility.

superkat · 22/09/2008 21:52

All the snot! It is never ending :0(

Kat

www.mamatobegoodies.co.uk

chelseamorning · 22/09/2008 22:18

How tediously uncomfortable it is to have your baby's head engaged for weeks.

How you can get 'false' labour for days and days before the big event, leaving your tired from the broken sleep at night and impatient for it all to be over.

How important it is to stretch your vagina opening to make delivery shorter and less painful, months ahead of the game.

How long it takes for your hormones to settle down once you give up breastfeeding after 18 months!

sarahmikeharryandrosie · 23/09/2008 08:06

love this tread and you are all right!!!!! but i would have a third DC tomorrow¬!!!!! if dh would agree!!lol

Lovejay · 23/09/2008 09:37

Just because you beg for an epidural doesn't mean you'll get one. The anaethetist seems to have to come from Outer Mongolia!