tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post1007970345637655257..comments2023-10-07T22:37:49.244+13:00Comments on The Hand Mirror: Nine and a bit monthskatyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15742280289613450293noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-53286697190502426692010-08-08T11:30:54.253+12:002010-08-08T11:30:54.253+12:00I did fine on my pregnancies, save from throwing u...I did fine on my pregnancies, save from throwing up reasonably often throughout both of them, and finding it very hard to move by the end of the second one (twins). Looking back, I had easy pregnancies. As Alison said, women's experiences vary, and we do ourselves and other women a tremendous disservice if we think and act as though all pregnancies are just a minor disruption, or that all pregnancies are incredibly difficult. Talk about reducing women to being reproductive ciphers.<br /><br />Even though my pregnancies were easy, there was a point when I was throwing up during the second one when I thought, "I am NOT doing this again."Deborahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14182573274494086468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-46011136876888703222010-08-05T23:48:31.399+12:002010-08-05T23:48:31.399+12:00Great, great post! I particularly liked the way yo...Great, great post! I particularly liked the way you highlighted the fact that keeping your pregnancy secret for a while (for me it was right up until at least 20 weeks both times) meant that you couldn't therefore get any allowances from work even though you were going through some of the toughest symptoms.blue milkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15341937205299573052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-8911891815670709952010-08-02T10:04:19.202+12:002010-08-02T10:04:19.202+12:00I did try the seabands during my last pregnancy an...I did try the seabands during my last pregnancy and I think they had some effect, but it lessened over time. This time I was first pregnant in summer and wanted to keep it private for as long as possible - the bands would have been far too obvious. So I went for acupuncture instead, and I believe that helped. The acupuncturist was quite astonished at my level of sickness even after several treatments, so I think I must just be really susceptible. If I ever do this again maybe it will all be different!<br /><br />On the issue of belly touching - the first time I had a bump I got quite a bit of unwelcome touching, but the second was better. Perhaps I now have a Don't Even Think About It aura going? It really is very rude, especially when you are a stranger. People ask all sorts of intrusive questions too, and, as has been pointed out by others, judge you for your choices. And it's hard to know how to respond when it's coming from someone you don't know particularly well or can't afford to offend (they don't seem to be so worried about offending you however).Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08977150346842277994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-85848264325460627892010-07-31T16:27:35.161+12:002010-07-31T16:27:35.161+12:00The worst part about being pregnant - the constant...The worst part about being pregnant - the constant pelvic pain (I didn't get it with my first though).<br /><br />The best part about being pregnant - the ability to orgasm really easily.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-85267646371355880992010-07-30T16:22:33.030+12:002010-07-30T16:22:33.030+12:00You know what freaks me out? I was at a food court...You know what freaks me out? I was at a food court this week and there was a pregnant woman at the next table. Everyone smiled at her (nice), three people asked if she was going to pop soon (a little invasive), and one woman actually touched her tummy (WTF). I no longer attend concerts because I have a tendancy to panic when in large amounts of contact with strangers. The idea of someone I dont know invading my personal space panics me beyond belief.<br />Urgh. When did a pregnant body cease to belong to the owner, and start to belong to the public in general?Scuba Nursehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00248129325790275090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-34671495603157603042010-07-29T10:55:36.358+12:002010-07-29T10:55:36.358+12:00When I've been pregnant (twice) I've been ...When I've been pregnant (twice) I've been lucky to have it relatively easily, so I can only be very sympathetic to you Julie. However, I've also made a point of telling my pre-pregnant friends (shall we say) what it's like, so they're not too in the dark about what it'll be like once their time comes. It's a bit of a balance though, sharing without whinging!Tamaranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-22786196769806495612010-07-28T21:58:33.391+12:002010-07-28T21:58:33.391+12:00Thank you! Why aren't there more articles like...Thank you! Why aren't there more articles like this? I'm just into the second trimester of my first pregnancy and I truly believed it would be easy - that I would just get on with my life and just happen to be pregnant.<br /><br />Nausea, exhaustion, insomnia, pains too numerous to catalogue, brain fog, and constant anxiety about whether some particular pain means that Something Is Wrong With The Baby.<br /><br />Not to mention the long list of Things Which You Mustn't Do - buy a sandwich and a cup of coffee for lunch and I'm a bad mother already.<br /><br />And the fact that I now seem to have become a living incubator in the eyes of the relatives and inlaws - endless phone calls to inquire about my health and whether or not I'm getting enough sleep and the correct diet. Please just trust me to be a responsible adult who is probably more concerned about my child than you are, and no you may not touch my abdomen ... not that you asked permission in the first place.<br /><br />I truly wish someone had told me what pregnancy is like before I got pregnant - not that it would have changed my decision one bit, but at least I might have been prepared!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-44100813858327588242010-07-28T17:29:41.065+12:002010-07-28T17:29:41.065+12:00Phew - that's nine and a bit very trying month...Phew - that's nine and a bit very trying months.<br /><br />I swore by sea bands (elastic bands with a button which you wear on your writsts, buy them at chemists with remedies for travel sickness) for morning sickness.<br /><br />My GP,s wife was a doctor who worked with people on chemo and had found they helped them with nausea.homepaddockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596903968235369282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-41101106243456875492010-07-28T17:01:56.713+12:002010-07-28T17:01:56.713+12:00Thanks for the feedback. I guess I just wanted to...Thanks for the feedback. I guess I just wanted to paint a picture of what it's like for me, because we've had so many discussions here lately about pregnancy in a different context, that of abortion, which have completely ignored any reflection on what being pregnant can be like. <br /><br />I've been lucky to not have any particular medical problems like high blood pressure or fibroids or an incompetent cervix (is that what it's called?) or anything like that. With the exception of the pregnancy that ended at 6 weeks, things have been pretty normal from what I've read and been advised by people who Know About This Stuff. I can only imagine how much more challenging it would be to be pregnant with multiples or with an existing health condition of your own or with some other high risk factor. <br /><br />My assessment is that my pregnancies to date have been worth it. You never know what kind of pregnancy you are going to get. If I have another one it may be that it's not like this at all. But the risk is always there that it's going to be really really tough. And actually the risk is always there, even now and even in NZ, that you could die.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08977150346842277994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-5328591421080797082010-07-28T14:05:26.499+12:002010-07-28T14:05:26.499+12:00hugs babe.. pregnancy isn't easy and those tha...hugs babe.. pregnancy isn't easy and those that say it is probably have crap labours or something else nasty to deal with, my last two pregnancies were not great, ehnce to say no more babies for me, the not being able to walk was the biggest issue, I couldnt even carry my 18 month olds... it is worth it but sometimes I wonder....<br /><br />anyway not long to go then you have the more broken sleep to deal with, and the leaky breasts, etc.Azlemedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09817866704889651040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-51324018155698631412010-07-28T12:08:30.177+12:002010-07-28T12:08:30.177+12:00Pregnancy can be tough tough tough. And my feeling...Pregnancy can be tough tough tough. And my feeling from working with women is that what makes it hard is that every woman's experience is slightly different - the symptoms are different, the way those symptoms impinge on the rest of life is different, the way the rest of life causes and effects symptoms is different. And yet we still make out that there are more similarities than differences, and that the mental and physical stresses of pregnancy are just minor annoyances. So unrealistic. I find myself constantly assuring women that what they're experiencing is normal, while still not quite like anyone else's experience. At times it must feel terribly isolating for women. So thanks for this Julie. I hope you have some better weeks ahead.Alisonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-38156190971188465772010-07-28T11:12:25.671+12:002010-07-28T11:12:25.671+12:00OMG, this sounds so familiar. i didn't have s...OMG, this sounds so familiar. i didn't have so much vomiting, but extreme nausea that would start around 3pm, and i'd have to be in bed by 7pm because i couldn't stand to be upright. i couldn't bear the smell of anything - curry, perfume, coffee, anything at all really. and yes, the heartburn! we put the top end of the bed on bricks, so that it was leaning downwards and we'd slip down during the night, but it was the only way i could snatch a couple hours of sleep at a time. that was after a big bowl full of ice cream and the regular dose of gaviscon.<br /><br />i also had severe back pain starting from the fourth month, which meant i couldn't sit in one place for any length of time. i'd pretty much be in constant pain all day and night for a few months. also familiar is the missing out on food - couldn't take any chili or spices while pregnant or breastfeeding. given that i'm not good with bland food, this was really hard.<br /><br />before labour, i'd have pre-contractions starting 3-4 days before which meant i just couldn't sleep. so i went into labour both times totally exhausted, and wouldn't you know it, i had all night labour pains as well.<br /><br />thinking back now, i don't know how i survived my pregnancies, but as you say, there was this wonderful little person at the end of it to love. i would definitely not do it again though.stargazerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430290445762377335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-88130343525161568902010-07-28T10:30:32.866+12:002010-07-28T10:30:32.866+12:00You made me cry. I was having trouble chasing wrig...You made me cry. I was having trouble chasing wriggly without the baby bump!<br />Thank you for your honesty. For those of us who have not yet had kids, it is like fight club - first rule? "noone talks about fight club". <br />Pregnancy is like a secret society where no one is let in until they have experienced it, so where is the chance to prepare?<br />And yes, I know there is no possibility to actually be totally prepared for all that is to come, but its nice to at least have a peek into reality.<br />Thanks again, it means more than you realise.scubanursenoreply@blogger.com