Pregnancy Woes

Ok, so let's start with pregnancy. No amount of reading, stories from other moms, or videos can prepare you for the "joys" of being pregnant. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of good things about pregnancy, but that's another post. First, comes morning sickness. I have never heard anything more improperly named. We should just call it HOT DEATH since it lasts most of the day and it makes you feel like curling up in a ball in bed. If you read the "pregnancy books" they will tell you that it's usually only during the first trimester. While most of the time this is true, some cases it can last the whole pregnancy. (Honestly, I might just make a whole post about this.) There are many home remedies for morning sickness that truly do help. Even if you are lucky enough to skip morning sickness (pray that you do) there are still a vast amount of hurdles to overcome. Second, we have heartburn or acid re-flux. In my experiences, it can be caused by anything. Literally, one time I burped and I got acid re-flux. Milk and pickle juice (not at the same time) are your best friends for this. Next we have swelling, aches and pains, bloating, diarrhea, and peeing our pants. You also can get gestational diabetes and preeclampsia (high blood pressure). These should be tested for and taken very seriously. Ok, so what books and no one else tells you is that you can get Shingles while pregnant. This, my friends, is a game changer. There is nothing like this feeling. Take the worst rash, poison ivy, whatever, and now imagine lighting said rash on fire. Yes, there are creams that "help" but pretty much you're on your own. I'll make a post about helpful remedies for all these later. The main issue is that during your pregnancy most people don't give a crap about how you're feeling. You are just a human incubator and they worry more about the baby than you. Just remember, from this point on, everyone will tell you what you don't want to hear. You will have more advice than you know what to do with. My advice, write it all down and save it for later. While it seems crazy now, sometimes trying something outside the box will save the day.