The REAL, SWOLLEN, UN-EXERCISED TRUTH About The Pregnancy Journey with Eliza B

Who is Eliza B.? She is one of our newest Editors at NEXTonSCENE. In this article she shares her journey about her unexpected pregnancy.

Although finding out I was pregnant turned out to be great news, it was completely unexpected! My husband and I had just shaken off the wedding jitters and had barely even unpacked the clothes in our new house when I got those two blue lines. So as I said, it was completely unexpected!! And I’m here to give you the REAL, SWOLLEN, UNEXERCISED truth of it!

SO NOW WHAT?

While most people start thinking of who to tell the big news first, one of the most important steps of my pregnancy journey has been finding and taking advantage of the support system I never knew I needed.

It’s different for everyone. For some, it’s their parents or other couples. For me, it was mostly my sisters. But the most surprising to me, was my neighbors! Moving an hour away from your home of 30 years, and not knowing anyone in your area can be scary- pregnant or not! But I quickly learned that I had the best support system I needed right on my own block! From baby swings to cribs, to daily check-ins and advice, they have been the biggest help to me! I am beyond lucky to these caring and genuine ladies in my life! As important as the positive support in your life is, I do want to mention the other side of this that a lot of people tend to ignore. The reality is, not everyone in our lives are a positive influence. Whether it’s a family member or a long time friend, it is important- especially during pregnancy- to set boundaries and protect your mental health. The first step to motherhood is making sure you and your baby are your first priority. Sadly, sometimes that means distancing yourself from certain people, even just temporarily, to ensure your pregnancy is as stress free as possible. You have enough to worry about!

Possibly one of the hardest times in history to find out your pregnant is during Covid!

We are all already feeling isolated and unsure of surroundings. Finding out that it’s not just your health you have to worry about may be very scary! I feel that it is important to stay calm and not become frantic and overwhelmed by fear. Find healthy and safe ways to fill your time, especially with the pandemic still lingering.

Finding a doctor was one of the most daunting and stressful parts for me. I was over an hour away from my lifetime gynecologist, and I had to find someone who took my new health insurance and fast. I’ve had some less than satisfactory experiences with doctors in the past, and it was honestly really scary for me to take on this hugely important task. I used a website called "zocdoc" that showed me who accepted my insurance, a photo of them and their availability. I could just scroll through the list at my own pace in the comfort of my home. It made the process so much easier!

I ended up connecting with a great doctor- he even gives out special cookies at the end of each visit! What a way to win a pregnant woman’s heart!! There are also many potential “problems” that can be easy to get worked up over, especially when hearing these medical terms for the first time. During my journey, it felt like every time I went to the doctor they told me something was wrong “but not to worry” . A lot of the time I got a sonogram, they mentioned my ‘baby was breech’ sounds scary right?! A breeched baby just means that he’s facing down or backwards. This is nothing to get worked up over. The baby is still constantly moving around inside of you, mine moved before the end of my ultra sound a lot of the time! A breech is not a big deal at all until the end of pregnancy! Another issue I had was “having too much cord near the baby’s face” . So they scheduled me for a high risk ultrasound. A few days later and by that time there was no cord near the baby’s face. They said he was probably just playing with it!! My point is, when talking about babies, we all worry, including doctors! There’s tons of extra precautions taken during this time! But try to remember to stay calm, and in the words of Grey’s Anatomy “let’s not worry until we have to” .

Create A Realistic Birth Plan That

Works FOR YOU: Whether you're having a vaginal or c-section birth, it is important to have some sort of plan in place for yourself. This is where getting yourself a birth doula can be helpful. Figuring out ideal goals for your birth. Sometimes everything never goes as planned, so being flexible is key. Having guidelines and a prepped birth bag in case of an emergency is important. As someone that’s not big on group classes or professional help, it was a bit of an overwhelming process to come to terms with my pregnancy. I was a drinker and cigarette smoker and enjoyed living my life on my terms. That all came to a crashing halt when I got those two blue lines, and to be totally honest it wasn’t something I was entirely ready for. I definitely want to emphasize this because I want any moms/ moms-to-be who are reading this, that may be struggling, to know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Body changes are obvious and expected during a time like this.

You think you can see your baby maker?! THINK AGAIN. See you in a couple months! Feeling big and swollen doesn’t stop at the boobs and belly! Even on my most rested days, my legs feel SO HEAVY! Elevating your feet is so important! It helps with circulation and to relieve the pressure. It’s been super helpful for me!

It is also so important to try and keep active. Whether you are super active or on bed rest, just be sure you talk to your doctor about potentially doing light exercise and be patient with yourself. Pre-pregnancy, I have to admit, that my favorite vegetable was potatoes and I was not a fan of many others! Fast forward 7 months into my pregnancy, the ONLY thing I want to eat, everyday single day, is Brussel sprouts! It’s been a complete 180 degree turn! Something takes over inside of you and makes you want things you have never even tasted before. It’s crazy how the baby knows you like a food before you even know! It’s not always pickles or pizza, sometimes it’s something totally simple you would’ve never eaten before.

THE CRAVINGS! 5 things you might not realize until you go through it!

1.The waddle is REAL! A lot of the time, we don’t see women truly waddling until they look like they’re about to pop. Personally, I started ‘waddling’ before even 6 months! This could be because I was small before my pregnancy or because my body became so full. Regardless, I quickly learned that THE WADDLE IS REAL!

2. You’re gonna need backup for

your back up - Constipation! I have always been one of those people who has pooped every morning, right on schedule. Since the beginning of my pregnancy, things started to back up immediately. This was super frustrating. My OB actually gave me this all-natural, easy recipe for “poop paste” that her OB gave her when she was pregnant. It was a life changer and I’ll share it with you!

3. MOISTURE CONTROL! If you think constipation is something you don’t want to talk about, there are other things in private parts that can be most aggravating, including "the sweats. " There’s not enough panty liners or showers in this world that can solve this problem! And if this happens to you too, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! 4. Google is LIFE! Though some may disagree and advise against it, Google has become my most used ally during this pregnancy! It can be hard to reach out to doctors or friends (especially non-pregnant ones) about all of these strange, new changes your body is going through. Google has been a life saver for finding quick answers for the things I’d never want to ask! Use your discretion and if something seems confusing check with a medical professional.

5. Financial stability: Even with the best health insurance, you’re still looking at monthly and weekly copays. For someone on a budget, the extra $100-$200 a month can add up fast. And that’s before the baby is even here! Be sure to plan ahead for this.

Who knows you better than yourself, right? You would think that pregnancy cravings are something you’d be able to predict before actually getting pregnant, but boy was I wrong!

POOP PASTE RECIPE

1 cup corse ground wheat bran (amazon) 1/2 cup apple sauce 1/4 cup prune juice And mix!! Add some cinnamon to make it taste better!

Refrigerate and take 1 tbsp each night and increase daily until you have regular poops.

In conclusion, no matter what your situation is, it can be hard to know what to expect especially if your pregnancy is unexpected!! Everyone’s journey is unique, and it should be! No matter where you in your journey, I hope this article gave you some insight. I wish you the best of luck on this amazing next step in your life. .