Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Random Musings on Pregnancy

Before I'm through this construction project that's taken over my life, I want to share a few random thoughts I've had about it. Just bare with the pregnant lady a moment, please.



There is a delicate balancing act going on in my fridge lately (read: the past several months) called I'm-Pregnant-And-Can't-Stand-Leftovers Syndrome. It basically consists of me making a new meal for dinner every night and then shoving the half in the fridge that we didn't eat, saying it'll make a perfect lunch for the next day. Now Joseph has been a champ about taking his share of the leftovers and disposing of them for said lunch meal, but me and Sophie? We've not done so hot. I can't abide the thought of rewarming something up the next day for me, and since I'm responsible for Sophie's sustenance, she doesn't get leftovers much either. We have managed to choke them down every once in a while, but generally the dishes just continue to pile up in the fridge until they've covered every inch of space, creating an almost complete solar eclipse with the fridge light. It's not cool when you have to search for the butter with a flashlight.



I want to know how women who get huge bellies right away sleep the rest of their pregnancy. Maybe it's not hard when baby is still small, but when the baby is full-term and you know they're just as uncomfortable in there as you are having them there, how does anyone get any sleep? Every time I lay down on my side, I swear I can feel myself crushing little toes, only to flip over (which right now is a MAJOR accomplishment alone) to the other side where I know I'm causing brain damage to a little head. So my solution? I just quit sleeping on my side altogether and sleep away on my back. I know "they" say to not do it, but my doctor gave me the go-ahead to sleep on my back since I don't have any kidney/heart/other internal organs issues that would make it dangerous, so I do it. That way I only imagine my baby also having to lie on its back strung out over my belly from side to side like a beached whale. I know, I have issues.



And could somebody please explain the whole nesting thing to me? I hear some women have a sudden urge to clean their entire house in preparation for baby to come, but I think that's a bunch of bologne. That's just a cover-up explanation for what I'm feeling right now: a need to make my house look spotless because my mother is coming to stay with us next week. Not that our house is dirty because I do my best to keep it clean even when bending over to sweep causes Braxton Hicks contractions that last for the next hour. But when your mom comes, it's gotta be ultra clean to prove that you're not spending your afternoons when toddler girl is napping writing a blog post instead of cleaning the toilet. And the funny part about it is this is completely self-inflicted; she doesn't say things that make me feel I have to do this, I just tell them to myself and Joseph just rolls his eyes.



Last but not least, what poor brain surgeon did they con into doing a study that discovered that women lose brain cells while they are pregnant? All they had to do was ask the millions of moms out there who've gone through it! I can tell you right now that my memory is daily being sucked through the umbilical cord, never to return again. But they needed a scientific study to prove this. Pregnant brain is not a myth, unfortunately. I have it bad, which is why I walk out of WalMart with everything in my cart but the two things I went there specifically to get, or stand in front of the full length window in my room, looking outside with my daughter, only to realize that I haven't in fact put my clothes on yet over my underwear? Sorry neighbors! (Apparently my dignity is also being sucked away.)



Have any of you ever wondered these things, or am I losing a lot more than memory with this pregnancy? Oh well, kids are supposed to make us a little crazy, right, so I guess it only makes sense that it starts when we're carrying them. :)

16 comments:

Annie Leavitt said...

oh becky you are too funny. i really needed a laugh this afternoon. all i have to say is amen to every one of your thoughts/feelings. my mom says the inability to sleep is just god's way of getting you ready for a newborn, which i totally agree with. i've done every single thing you mentioned there, except i can't even get near the fridge or leftovers when preggos, yuck! hope you survive the last week!

The Lambs said...

I love sleeping on my back, but I get short of breath and feel my heart having to work harder when I do, so I'm stuck on my side. You know I can't do leftover either, although they're on the menu for tonight, I'm just making enough sides that I'll eat and Peter can eat the leftovers. Thanks hubby! As for pregnancy brain, try working on your talk for church all morning, getting loaded up in the car, and forgetting to print the darn thing until hubby says "Do you have your talk?" I hope husbands get smarter to compensate!

kim said...

LOL! All so true. And I have to say that the sleeplessness preparing yourself for a newborn is the dumbest thing I've ever heard--so you're going to be pushed to the edge of sanity (and life) with your newborn--lets start it a couple months early so you won't have anything left if your baby doesn't sleep through by 3 months? Who thought of that?!!

most of pregnancy really confuses me--the why it has to be that way and why it has to be SUCH a sacrifice for the mom. But the newborn that comes out of it isn't so confusing, so I guess I'll take it. :) Just not anytime soon ;)

Anonymous said...

Ha Ha! Thanks for the VERY good laugh :) You are HILARIOUS! (But I've always thought that!) At least you are better than me....When I'm prego I don't have a problem eating left-overs, it's just that there are none to eat! What I mean by that is I can't stand cooking....Uggh! Nothing sounds good! Anyway....LOVE YOU LOVE YOU and only 1 more week and you can sleep on your side again :)

Erin said...

Becky, you are too funny! Sorry I can't relate to any of that--I guess that's one of the advantages of adoption! :) Good luck dealing with it all though until your little one comes. I'm excited to see pictures!

Alison said...

That is funny! I saw that article about losing brain cells and I thought, "ohh, lucky me. I guess I will stay smart." I agree with Erin that there are some advantages to adoption :) But I don't think keep brain cells with kids is one of them :)

Laura said...

Amen to all of it! J
ust wait though... the baby comes out and the hormones go even more out of whack (if that's possible)!
Good luck! Can't wait to see pics.

Alyssa said...

Poor thing!

Hang in there--

And when my time comes I look forward to getting some great insights into all this from you.

Brian&Pam said...

Becky! Can't believe you are due so soon...Yay! You are SO STINKIN' CUTE - I've never experienced pregancy, but you gave me a good laugh. :) Good Luck with everything this next week - can't wait for the upcoming posts! Love and miss you!

Melissa said...

Very funny- thanks for the laugh. Now I want to know how you still have the energy to cook a new dinner every night. You are awesome!

Cranberryfries said...

HAHA!

Jill Hunt said...

I am so with you right now on so many of those things. Good luck this week and I can't wait to read all about you new little girl!!

Matthews Family said...

Oh Becky. You are reminding me of some of the fun things about being pregnant. It's quite the mountain to climb being pregnant. Our bodies take such a toll, even our brains. I can't believe she's going to be here so soon, but I want to see a picture of you before you give birth, please!!

Jeanne Lawyer said...

Poor Becky. Thanks for making me laugh. I needed it this morning. However, I do feel a little guilty for laughing. I can relate with the leftover thing though and I am not even pregnant!! I do have a lot of meals I have gathered that are made to be 2 meals. One the first night and something completely different the next with the left overs. I will get them together and email them to you. Hang in there till that baby comes. I love you!!!!

Kristin Lynne said...

I totally know what you mean about sleeping on your side while pregnant! I'm a back sleeper myself, and I have just said too bad to the side sleeping and started sleeping on my back again. It's the only way I get decent sleep, so I feel your pain. And it's the only way I can keep my neck and shoulders from getting all out of whack!

Unknown said...

Best post ever! That is dang funny. Umm, no sleep. Yea, I have wondered that too. And for the brain, hehe that part made me laugh, hey at least you have modest undies!!! Only a few more days!!