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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Pleasant pregnancy surprises

64 replies

VerityClinch · 10/03/2009 20:38

Following on from yesterday's thread about all the gross things no-one tells you about pregnancy, I thought it was time for some balance...

So what have been the things in pregnancy you have been most pleasantly surprised about?

For me, it's the fact that my forehead wrinkles have pretty much vanished, thanks either to the collagen thing going on (or maybe plain old water retention)

HA! Andi-deep-set-wrinkles-McDowell, put THAT in your pipe and smoke it.

The rest of me looks like cr@p, btw, but my forehead is beautiful.

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hmmSleep · 10/03/2009 22:43

My body hair stopped growing, I shaved my legs early in pregnancy and the hairs didn't grow back . Sadly now my ds is 18mnths they have grown back into a jungle and with dd and ds to look after no time for shaving, so trousers it is! Also the only time in my life I've had breasts,it was great, but again 18 mnths down the line and 2 breastfed babies later they are most definitely staying hidden away!

OracleInaCoracle · 10/03/2009 22:47

my hair and skin are always glorious when im up the pole. and i get really frisky.

unfortunately the vomit gets in my hair and the rocking motion makes me vomit.

brettgirl2 · 11/03/2009 07:56

My spots got better at about 16 weeks and my hair isn't as greasy as usual.

I still think that the negatives outweigh though lol.

GYoIsReallyHavingABaby · 11/03/2009 08:24

My hair can go 3 days without being washed, my chronic skin issues with PCOS have calmed down. Having said that, Im 39wks and issues are already starting to come back and I havent even given birth yet!!!

Im determined to remember the good things about being pregnant or I will never do it again!

Filofax · 11/03/2009 10:35

Mornin all,

My nails are beautiful...which I hope detracts from everything else.

WorzselMummage · 11/03/2009 10:41

I stop needing to wax my upper lip

The fact that you can see the baby moving beore you cab really feel it

Bumpsadaisie · 11/03/2009 12:50

Ooh, a good thread!

Stuffy nose I used to get terribly stuffed up and overdose on Vicks nasal spray and not be able to breath through my nose at night. Totally vanished the moment I got up the duff (totally the opposite to whats supposed to happen I know!)

Eczema Had dreadful sickness in teh first trimester but my (mild) eczema cleared up completely - those vomit-hormones must be good for eczema! As soon as the vomiting stopped, lo and behold, started to get a bit of eczema on forearms again (though to be fair its still pretty good even now at 30 weeks!)

No stretch marks 30 weeks now and no sign, even with DH inspecting the underside of bump - in fact the skin on my bump is gorgeously smooth and soft. Wasn't expecting this at all.

Relations with DH - didn't anticipate how pregnancy would bring us closer together. Thought we'd be fighting about lack of sex and he'd be getting v frustrated. Didn't happen, really; he just seems to be v. attentive and cosy which is lovely!

Sex - didn't realise that sex can be soft and cuddly as well as raunchy and hot. I can't say I have any sex drive at all and can't seem to build up enough sexual tension to actually have an orgasm, but it's still warm and lovely rather than frustrating. Didn't realise it could be enjoyable like this too. DH says preggers sex is much more like his mother described when telling him the facts of life i.e. "Mummy and Daddy have a special cuddle" (as opposed to "Mummy and Daddy get their rocks off, grrr!!")

Thought I wanted a boy and didn't anticipate how thrilled I would be when actually it turned out to be a girl! Wouldn't change her for a boy even if I could!

logrrl · 11/03/2009 17:40

What a good idea for a thread...
I have pretty much loved being pregnant!
1)As a usually very (too) serious person, I now laugh at everything, real belly laughs that make me feel great and that others seem to enjoy too!
2) I second the lack of (usually pretty copious!) body hair. I think that's a pretty weird one and it made me giggle to hear that someone else has experienced it too! Not looking forward to it growing back though-my mum had suggested that it might not

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 11/03/2009 17:43

Shiny hair and skin, fabulous breasts, smiles from strangers, eating what I wanted when I wanted.

Josiepie · 11/03/2009 18:01

I agree with lissielou on the frisky front - it's a new thing with this pregnancy which I'm guessing is because of the testosterone. With my daughter it was the last thing on my mind.

Eating whatever I like and not caring is great.

Amazed by all those hair-free comments though - my hairy belly is a sight to behold.

london11 · 11/03/2009 18:55

Not having to hold my stomach in for a few months.

The skin, hair and nails thing.

Sleeping WITHOUT snoring.....for some reason I stop snoring when pg!

The feeling of 4 arms and 4 legs wriggling around inside me

loganberry12 · 11/03/2009 20:05

I feel so special and so very very privileged to be having this little miracle, a baby i never thought id have at 42 every time my baby wriggles it makes me smile, this pregnancy has made me so happy although iv had the usual pregnancy symptoms, feeling my baby grow inside me is worth it all

ChocFudgeCake · 11/03/2009 21:50

Not-so-hairy legs.
DD breasts (for DH. I'm much happier with a C)
My hair is not falling.

liath · 11/03/2009 21:56

I hated being pregnant but 3 things were nice about it.

  1. Hair was far less greasy and didn't need washed as much.

  2. Fabulous boobs after years of being flat chested.

  3. Lots of incredibly vivid very raunchy dreams .

Poppet45 · 12/03/2009 10:42

Yey for this thread! There are soooo many positives....

  1. being there right at the start of the most amazing, unique relationship of your life, and that special time where for a little while at least it feels like it is just the two of you, and you start to get to know each other.
  2. The moment when hubs gets in on the soppy hormonal happyness too. Makes you love him in a whole different way.
3.The jollyness, and frankly hilarious babybrainedness. My new belly laugh was my first 'change' before I knew I was even pregnant. Am normally a miserable bitch very serious and often cynical person, and love being able to take so much of life less seriously and hubs is enjoying having a dotty, and much less shouty other half too I think. 4.The wonderous boobs to replace my mozzie bites.
  1. Your skin does glow! Even if sometimes, like now, it does itch like a bastard too.
  2. Lying in bed at night trying to work out where jnr is, then finding them.
7.The buddha belly, as a skinny sticky out hipped gal of the past I love this new shape. I love stroking it.
  1. An excuse to stop being all neurotic and self-absorbed. It's NOT all about me!
  2. Smiles from strangers.
10.Finding out more about yourself and your relationships with all your family around you.
flippineck · 12/03/2009 11:18

I can get away with washing my hair a lot less, and even when I do I no longer have to unblock the plughole every time.

Very different orgasms (, and !)

logrrl · 12/03/2009 19:15

does the comparison between this and the "bad pregnancy" thread suggest that people much prefer to moan ???

wobbegong · 12/03/2009 19:59

That you can wear a bikini for the first time in your life without needing to breathe in.

dinkystinky · 12/03/2009 21:06

That you and your DH can spend hours just watching your huge tummy moving around as the baby moves around. I never thought I'd prefer watching my belly to the tv!

Wattinger · 13/03/2009 00:45

I was so sick for the 1st 3 months and so tired for the last 3 but...
Great boobs!
Great skin!
Great excuse to eat lots!

lauren61 · 15/03/2009 01:31

nothing beats feeling your baby kicking away and moving around, i love it! i dont even care about the few stretch marks ive got, theyre my trophy for my LO.

..and the sex is amaaaazing, at 35weeks so not doin bad

thecatintheflat · 15/03/2009 01:48

how lovely ... this is what i found:

  • plumper, pinker lips eating anything* you wanted
  • smiles from strangers
  • friskyness (& intense orgasms)
  • vivid sex dreams (, but too!) being told it was a boy by everyone* but secretly knowing all along that i was growing a wee girl
  • feeling the connection between you and your child (that just increases every day after the birth) wearing tight tops and being proud* or my belly!
  • cleaner, shinier, thicker hair
  • loving my tummy

best thing is the outcome tho - good luck everyone!

Hybrid · 15/03/2009 23:11
  1. Finding out that I completely LOVE being pregnant
  2. Having the privilege of feeling our little creation wriggling around inside me all the time - amazing!
  3. Actually feeling relaxed about walking around the room naked as I don't have to hold my belly in anymore!
Queenoftheharpies · 17/03/2009 14:31

Tummy pats from friends - even though there's not much tummy to pat just yet. I know it really annoys some people, but I like it.

Somehow people seem more willing to talk to you when they see the bump - it gives normally reserved brits a 'way in' to making contact.

Beccabump · 17/03/2009 16:15

where oh where is my raunchyness and crazy naughty dreams????

loving feeling DC having a wriggle before anyone else can feel it!