Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Every year a bit wiser 2017: the journey of a pregnant woman!

Introduction
I have not written a long time.
I started a new post, but didn't finish it.
Because I hadn't written over a year I think. (24/2/2016 last time and I have to give birth 25/2/2017, so weird is it a sign ? hehe)
So I wanted to keep you up speed, but that will have to wait. First I have to write this...
I have to write more often and shorter posts, but sometimes I want to write but I don't have the energy or the right spirit. Especially pregnant you're too tired sometimes. Sometimes it is hard to share your life with other people. But a lot of blogs and posts have helped me during my pregnancy and other fases in life, so maybe my experience and blog will help someone else. Or just show them you're not alone. Life is a struggle, but it is beautiful too, you just have to look at it from the right perspective.

Pregnancy
I'm now almost 34 weeks pregnant.
It has been life changing.
And it is a New Year..
We're expecting a baby boy around 25/2/2017...

A real challenge
This was a real challenge for me.
Because I love children, but 'never' wanted to be pregnant.
But it is not possible to have babies without being pregnant.

From independent to dependent
I went from an independent woman to a very pregnant woman who can barely put on her shoes!
I have got pelvic instability from 27 weeks of pregnancy and had to stop working. I couldn't come out of bed, barely.
I was scared I couldn't do this.
But nobody gives you a choice, this is it!
There is no way back. It isn't like an exam and you can chose to do it or not, it is not an exercise you can say okay today I decide to not be pregnant, you just have to accept.
This is ACT, this is mindfulness...You can't fight it, and if you fight it, it gets only worse, because the very little energy you have, you waist on being annoyed.
It took me really some time to accept the situation. (Now? hehe)
I did the courses of ACT, but being pregnant learns you really to ACT, because with other stuff you can give up, but being un-pregnant isn't possible.

Respect
I have so much more respect for people dealing with this every day, people with pelvic problems because of other reasons, for people who are depending from other people because of an illness. I know (hope) this will stop once the baby is born, but some people have to learn to live with health problems every day. Or are in pain everyday!

How ACT helps chronic pain
Pelvic pain is like chronic pain, I'm not in pain the whole time, but when I do something that used to be normal, like turning sides in bed, or sitting/standing for a while, I feel pain. And during my study at nursing school, ACT is used to help with chronic pain. You have to learn to live with it. I notice when I'm with people and doing fun stuff I forget the pain or it is just at the background, like the radio, when something stupid is on the radio, you just don't pay attention, this is how you should deal with less fun stuff in life. It isn't every day like this, but then I think "don't let it ruin you're nice moment".

Cinema with my father
Like when I went with my father to the cinema, I was scared I had to go pee every minute, and that I couldn't sit the whole 2 hours, but I SURVIVED it and it was FUN! I was smart, I bought us tickets for an early movie, when there aren't a lot of people in the cinema, than we took the cosy seats, because my hips are wider, so it was more confortable. So for every problem is a solution as a good friend of my said hehe! And I went to toilet as when I was not pregnant, because I also took a seat that was easy to go fast to the toilet and everybody sees that you're pregnant, so nobody cares.
People don't care
and most of the time, people don't care, you just care..you think people care, but people are so busy with themselfs and their life, that they really don't care! I noticed how many people really stayed in touch or asked how I'm doing, you know your real friends in this situation, and some people I just don't blame, I was so busy too...working, evening courses nursing, courses theology, and so on...and you can't relate with not pregnant woman/people, especially with the not mom's..and with the already moms sometimes, but we are all so unique and every pregnancy is unique, you find more support online, than in your neighborhood, because online you can find women who had the same problems, and also everybody experiences it differently..Just trust yourself!

Renovations
Also we had to renovate, and I missed my husband almost 60 days of the pregnancy, because he was working during the day, and renovating with his brother during the evening.
So no time for baby-dreaming, or shopping.

Life goes on
As I said all my friends have their own lives, they write me, but their lives go on and on.
For me time stopped and went very slow, but even then it passes, everything passes...

Coping
I had some tricks, I pretended I worked from home.
I wrote and read..but pregnancy makes you numb and tired.
I watched a lot of movies, Hallmark Christmas movies, I recommend them!
They are really feel good movies and show you the importance of life!
That is family!
Children are happiness, but they say, NO PAIN NO GAIN hehe!

Weight gain
Pelvic instability is painful, getting fat is painful!
Because I always had an issue with my weight!
I used to practice Judo. And being in your weight class was very important, so I was always on diets.
And then puberty is hard on you and then the girls from my birth country Serbia are all like models.
But is that really how we should look?
And now I realized I had/have a beautiful body!
And I'm really proud of my skin, because even I'm huge hehe, my skin is nice!
I knew I'm going to get fat, but I have already gained 27 kg and still 7 weeks to go!
I tried not to eat and still gained 2 kg's in two weeks, so I said "fuck it" and I just eat what I like hehe.
Of course I want a healthy baby so I eat healthy, but you just have cravings, and I for sweet things, because my husband likes sweet hehe, so now do I, I liked sweet (chocolate) but not as much as now, and not the sweet things my husbands eats, I always went for a healthier version..but now haha!
I was also like, o if I was eating every day McDonalds I would understand why I gained so much weight but I was really eating and still am eating home cooked meals, but hey it is what it is!
I first felt ashamed but why? (A friend of my husband said today pregnant woman are sexy haha, nice ! So be proud ladies!)
I went online, and read blogs from other pregnant woman and was so happy when they told me the same things..
Because everybody was like I just gained 8kg or 12kg, but some of them their start weight was higher than mine, and some not, but had other problems, nobody is perfect, and nobody's life is perfect, sometimes you think the grass is greener at your neighbors, but sometimes you just don't see they fake/pretend..or they struggle with other things that are going well in your life, so don't judge before you're sure..You will survive!

A lot is pressure from the environment.
Just life your live by your values as I promote this..
Normally I had to gain 15kg max, but hey that didn't happen..
My OB never said anything, that was so weird, because as you know I want to become a nurse, one year left! (I had to postpone because of the pregnancy, first I was sad, but now I ACCEPT haha, no choice!) and as a nurse I knew this, but I learned more during this pregnancy than at any school I attended! Theory and practice are two totally different things! Too bad the people working in the health sector aren't always that nice and understanding as we had learned at nursing school to be. Especially with pregnant women, they should be more nice, and have nicer chairs in the waiting rooms!!
My blood pressure is okay, my urine is okay and the MOST IMPORTANT THING THE BABY IS OK! A real little Jackie Chan in my belly! Hehe Ribs are his favorite like his fathers hehe!

The whole truth and nothing but the truth 
I decided to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth hehe!
Because other woman will maybe need this, as I needed it, to hear the truth!
People like so much to make their life more beautiful than it is, especially on Facebook..
But it was like that even before Facebook.
It is like a competition, but that is not life!
Life is as you want it to be!
Sometimes I think I shouldn't post that, maybe somebody isn't happy, but I just have to do what I feel, today is a good day, and another day a bad day!
I had really difficult days and I thought every morning Oh my God I'm still pregnant hahaha! This is for real! Never again!
But feeling the baby inside of you is really special, but a pregnancy isn't short!
There is a book from a writer from Montenegro, he went to jail and the title is "A year passed a day never.." That is how I feel, "9 months passed a day never" hehe!
Time began to go slow when I was home, and totally depending on my husband.
But I survived.
And I read in the Bible:Matthew 6:34 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I will post the whole Bible quote in an other post, it is so life inspiring! I read it with my students!

Woman should be proud!
Also I learned what it means being a woman: a woman has superpower. She has to ability to be a mom, to breastfeed (that is apparently a choice in Belgium, because in my home country, you just breastfeed, it is what our breasts are  really for, and it is the best for your baby and you, not the easiest but hey no pain no gain, you know!)  So you just have to accept that you're a woman, not a man, you have to be the one carrying the baby in your belly and feeding the baby and It should be an honor. I see how my husband is sometimes jealous, because he can't feel the baby as I do. So enjoy that...there is time for work, but sometimes it is time to life, if you already decide to go for kids, and this I tell myself more, as I said, I don't like people interferring with my life, so why should I with yours, but I just learned to be proud of myself and my body!
Because I studied a long time, I did a lot of stuff, and being pregnant was the hardest for me, but I will get something really special in return for it, and I love to learn, and how better to learn than through life experience, every year you're a different person, but after a pregnancy wow you really change,... Things that looked so important before are not! Now this baby is everything, because that little thing can't survive without you and your husband!
I love to help people, but now I become very different in who really needs my help, in the sense when somebody asked my help I was thinking "really can't you do that on your own??" Sorry I'm not waisting my little energy on you, a little thing in me that can't stay alive without me needs me!
A real momzilla haha! But still I will help if I can, that is also what I will learn my baby, but people have to realize that sometimes you just need the energy for yourself. People were so used to me helping them, but now I needed their help, and help came from unexpected places!  Thanks to all my family and friends who helped me and listened to my hormonal changes complaining and crying and being happy moments hehe!

Had a fun week after the renovations
But THANK GOD when the renovations ended 23.12.2016, we had a beautiful week,my husband had the week off. So first Christmas with the family, I love Christmas, my favorite holiday! Everybody was huging my belly and kissing it, and everybody felt the baby; the baby wasn't shy anymore and let the family know, I love you too hehe so magic!
And My husband and I went baby shopping, and we went on trips to the Netherlands, and I was scared again that my Pelvic Instability would ruin everything, but we were smart again and went after our breakfast when I had the most energy, and rested in the evening at home. I enjoyed it so much that I didn't let my pelvic instability ruin this week. I was so looking forward to spending time with our little family. We also spent New Year at home, was so nice! I believe how you start your new year that is how it will be, but it is what you make of it..We had nice breakfasts together at home as at a beautiful castle restaurant also, and coffee/cappuccino a lot that week!!
And between two renovation periods we did a massage, I a pregnancy massage and my husband a normal one, we needed it hehe, and than the second time we had the week off..

Now we enjoy every evening together, because no more renovations, now it is baby time hehe! We're almost prepared hehe! 


THANKFUL!!!
Enough complaining!
Being pregnant isn't only bad, it brought me closer to my family, mother, sisters, father and especially to my husband!
His wish was to become a father, other people want careers and money and cars, but when I met him 6 years ago, I asked him, what is your wish for the future, my husband was like, I live from day to day, 6 years with him and I still have to learn to live day to day(..this pregnancy learned me do that as you can see, because I never knew how I went to feel the next day so planning was a scary thing, but I SURVIVED nicely)...and he said my only wish is to have a family and become a father..so I let him waiting a long time because I didn't want to be pregnant and dependent, that all happened, but now my husband proved even more how great he is and he is doing a great job of helping me, being a super husband, and already the father of the year! Getting everything ready for the baby! So proud of him!

My sisters and niece are also special, they organized a surprise baby shower in minion style, loved it (21/11/2016)!
Little minion on the way hehe! They're already aunts of the year!
So thankful, all my friends made time in their busy agendas to be there, and they came from far, so thank you guys!
My parents helped, so thank you, grandparents of the year!
Friends of my sisters helped, so thank you!
My mother also bought a lot for the baby, helping out, because she knew we were renovating..
SO THANK YOU!!
My brother in law, who made time for us, and to renovated our house: already uncle of the year.

LOVE
This baby is loved, so loved by everyone, first grandchild for both sides of the family..the youngest..
He is spoiled already, and that really touched me, how we can love someone we haven't yet met!
We can't wait to meet you little boy!
Mommy knows no pain no gain hehe!
But I will be so happy to share you with daddy and have my body back hehe!
But I will miss the "what the heck I'll get fat anyway, so let's eat another cake-feeling" haha!

Advice
People really will interfere with your pregnancy.
You just have to listen to your heart!
You're an adult person, you know what is best for you and your baby.
Thank the people for their advice, what is useful use, what isn't say thanks and then do it you're way!

Practicing yoga and swimming for pregnant woman, or something else can really help to connect with the other ladies and to know you're not alone, but do it only if you feel up to it...
Prenatal lessons were nice for me too, but that is just a tip..
Every pregnant lady should do as she pleases..
I'm just a freak..I did everything with pregnancy in it!
Massage
Yoga
Swimming
Prenatal
HEHE!!
I just love to do courses! And I'm an active woman, I biked 40 minutes every day, ran sometimes, swam recreative before being pregnant, so I had to stay active.. At first I still biked, walked a lot, swam, yoga, but then I got the Pelvic Instability, so biking, walking reduced. And also a first pregnancy, you don't know what you can and can't do, and when you're in pregnancy lessons the midwives know and you realize wow cool exercises I can do them, but also they understand if you have had a hard day and give you a lot of advice for birth..We shall see how it goes, I'll write you about it..

So this is a hard journey, but soon we will meet our little prince!
And I'm looking forward to learn him everything, and he gives me a reason again to find the little girl in myself who really loved live and childhood, but on the way of growing up just lost it...

PS: I can't write short posts hehe! SORRY! People know me for my long messages, annoying, that's me!

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