Besides the obvious "good stuff" of pregnancy (ie the fact that it results in a baby - the end point I keep reminding myself is worth all the not-so-fabulous stuff one endures on the way there), there are a couple of really fabulous things about my body and pregnancy that I am definitely going to miss in a couple of weeks (?) when Pebbles makes her arrival official.
Like the hair/skin. Okay, I'm in dire need of seeing a stylist, as my hair last got cut two days BEFORE I found out I was pregnant, but pregnancy changes the composition somehow and my scalp doesn't get oily. In fact, I can only wash it twice a week, for the most part, or it gets too dry. I certainly enjoy the extra minutes in my day that affords me. Additionally, the same thing happens to my skin - pregnancy is the ONLY time in my life since hitting adolescence that I haven't had to contend with acne. It's the only time my hormones are balanced enough to have clear skin.
And the dairy. I have severe lactose intolerance - to the point where I can handle about 4 ounces of dairy a day, max. Some cheeses and most yogurt don't bother me, but I absolutely cannot drink milk. During pregnancy, it all goes away - Poof! I can drink milk (and chocolate milk, which I uniquely crave during pregnancy) to my heart's content. No ill effects. As I was lying in bed during one of my insomniac moments last week I thought how my milk-drinking days were nearing to a close soon, resulting in a drastic uptick in my dairy consumption the last couple of days - sort of an "eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may give birth" sort of thing.
Allergies - or the lack of them. My normal, seasonal allergies, which are bad enough that I'm typically on round-the-clock medication (except while prengant/nursing) completely abate while I'm pregnant. Pollen? Bring it on. Grass? Nope. Not an issue (well, I still can't roll in it - pregnancy only "cures" my nasal allergies, not my skin/contact allergies). Springtime? It's lovely when you can see it through clear eyes and fairly clear nasal passages.
Headaches. I frequently suffer headaches. Last pregnancy? Three, total, in 9 months. This pregnancy? Two. Not such bad odds. Which is good, since I'm pretty much prohibited from taking anything medicinal while I'm anti-coagulating my blood and incubating a human being.
Sure pregnancy comes with injections, bruising, aches, pains, 32 weeks of morning sickness (that showed up again last week for another round - just for good measure), swelling, chronic stuffy nose, cramps and all the usual "symptoms" - but I definitely enjoy having the skin of a thirtysomething instead of a 13-year-old, the reduced-maintenance hair, the extra milk, the allergy-free springtime and the vanishing headaches.
Unfortunately, if it's anything like last time, all of the "good stuff" vanishes the moment the real "good stuff" shows up - I don't even get the 6-week postpartum window to adjust.
I've added chocolate milk to the grocery list for what is likely the very last time.
2 comments:
How great that there are some benefits to counteract all the discomforts of pregnancy! You have been a real trooper with everything you've been through. I really admire you and appreciate your good attitude.
Way to look on the bright side! Wouldn't it be nice if Heavenly Father decided you could keep those benefits permanently this time around, just 'cause of all the extra suffering? Ah well, even if you do bid those goodbye, you're right, you still get the best benefit of all outta this!
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