A Bittersweet Goodbye to Pregnancy

This pregnancy post has been updated from 2015.

Here I am standing in front of the mirror, staring at my big belly wondering if I will ever encounter this moment again. I most probably won’t…

In 2 days this belly will be gone, and instead, I will be standing here staring at the mirror with a newborn baby, jelly stomach, and 2 kids next to me.

They say mirrors don’t lie but why do I feel like today it is…? Why does my body suddenly look perfect when I hated seeing myself like this a few weeks back? Is it because this journey is coming to an end? Or because I will actually miss being pregnant?!

I knew that this day would come but I did not expect to feel so emotional about it…

This is my last pregnancy… and even though I’d love to have more kids, the cost of living in South Africa doesn’t allow me to. Maybe that will change in the future… but right now I know in my heart that more than 3 kids aren’t possible.

Pregnancy is rough, yes it’s hard on your body and on your emotions but it’s also a beautiful miracle. I did not think that I’d be saying this but I think I’m going to miss a lot of things about being pregnant…

I may have complained about being pregnant but I also enjoyed it. There were symptoms that made me laugh, cry and scream! It’s something I won’t forget and one day I will be sharing my silly stories with my daughter.

10 things I will miss about Pregnancy:

• Baby’s hiccups – I think this is just so precious.
• The big kicks and movement.
• The little bum pressing against my stomach.
• My tummy as a snack tray.
• Eating whatever I want when I want.
• Not seeing Aunty Flo – Big benefit of pregnancy… 😛
• Getting out of certain chores around the house.
• Seeing my baby on the scan – this always made me emotional.
• My healthy hair and nails.
• Being spoilt by everyone around me.

What will you miss about being pregnant?

For me, all my pregnancies were different. The first was perfect and everything that “typically” happens in a pregnancy happened, the second one was crazy. I had embarrassing symptoms and experienced things that I did not think that I ever would and the third was the easiest. This made me realize that no two pregnancies are the same. Each one is unique and that is why each child is so special.

10 things I won’t miss about pregnancy:

• Peeing all the time and cervix kicks!
• Insomnia
• Lack of energy
• Dysgeusia – When food tastes like metal.
• Nausea
• Sweating and Gas!
• Shortness of breath
• Cramps
• My favourite clothes not fitting me.
• Not being able to reach below my belly or see my vagina.

Someone once said: “I may have felt fat the last 9 months but I know the joy of motherhood is going to be overwhelming.” These last few months may have been a rollercoaster for me but now I look forward to the next chapter of my life – Life with 3 kids! In the end, pregnancy is worth it because it results in the miracle of life.

Not everyone embraces the gift of pregnancy and many who do, like me – end up complaining. Today I realized that embracing it is the best way to enjoy it. Not everything in pregnancy should be serious! Joke about your symptoms, laugh when something embarrassing happens and create memories.

Everything may seem miserable at the moment but hang in there! Enjoy this special journey. You have been chosen for an incredible purpose. There are some things in pregnancy that you can’t control, trust your body and educate yourself. Remember the life growing inside you is beautiful and you’re beautiful with or without the big tummy!

Tip: Keeping a scrapbook is the perfect way to capture pregnancy memories and make sure you get plenty of pictures so you don’t regret it later on.

“A baby is something you carry inside you for nine months, in your arms for three years, and in your heart until the day you die.” – Attributed to Mary Mason