“What no one told me when I was pregnant”

Most people will tell you only about the physical changes you’re about to undergo when you’re newly pregnant, but they’re not too forthcoming about the psychological changes you will go through as well. I for one believed that pregnancy would be a breeze, that I’d have this cute baby bump, buy cute clothes and have weird cravings – and that’s it! Boy did I receive a rude awakening!

Shopping around for baby clothes is fun but I can’t say the same for walking around the mall, or anywhere really, with a huge bump that draws the attention of almost everyone around you, along with a painful lower back and nausea triggered by everyday smells.

I had morning sickness for an entire six months and ate my weight in avocado and tomato sandwiches while having a banana and peanut butter obsession – this was weird because I usually hate bananas! And to top that all off, my baby was already 2.9 kilograms at 35 weeks and constantly pressing down on my bladder.

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“The result of those 40 long weeks was undeniably worth it when we were able to hold the tiny new human being that we’d bonded within the womb.”

I was completely miserable! I cried over the tiniest things such as when my size 32 high-waisted denim shorts didn’t fit me when I was 38 weeks’ pregnant and I’d gained 10 kilograms (of course I was being completely unreasonable here). But pregnancy is a great excuse for wacky behaviour.

I hated my partner towards the end of my pregnancy and blamed him for everything, including my very smelly gas. I twice made him wake up at 4am to get me chicken wings, and I didn’t end up eating them because he always took too long! However, the worst experience by far was waking up three to four times a night to go pee and I’m pretty sure I fell asleep on the toilet at some point.

The result of those 40 long weeks was undeniably worth it when we were able to hold the tiny new human being that we’d bonded within the womb.

You might have thought you were completely in love with your partner before you fell pregnant, but you only really understand unconditional love for a person when you’ve had your baby. I always tell my friends that the moment you become a parent is the moment you realise how far you’re willing to go to protect the true love of your life, which goes for moms and dads.

Written by Katlego Mphatseng

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