I’ve spent a lot of time on this blog joking about the negatives of pregnancy, so I thought I should take some time to highlight the positives. As much as I poke fun, it’s been pretty wonderful.
Even the most horrifying of physical changes that I had heard about prior haven’t been nearly so bad as I’ve lived through them. Overall I adore being pregnant. Here are my four favourite things about pregnancy.
Experiencing my body’s true potential and purpose
I am in complete awe of my body. It has silently taken control, confident in what it needs to do and doing it without any instruction. This lack of control is totally surreal and bizarre, but also so amazing. I’m experiencing a whole other side of my physicality and femininity that I never knew was there. The feeling is so hard to describe: exhilarating, unnerving and gratifying all at once. My body is doing what it was created to do and I’m just a very proud spectator, enjoying the view.
A deeper, stronger love for my husband
Being pregnant does wonders for your relationship. This is not to be confused with having a baby, which I’m told will be a serious test for our relationship. But that’s a worry for tomorrow. For now I’m just basking in the warm, happy glow of the best our relationship has ever been. The love that I feel for my unborn baby has also intensified my love for my husband. I am completely obsessed with him and crave his company all the time. Add to this the fact that my husband is so much more attentive, helpful and loving (not that he wasn’t all of these things before of course) and I honestly wish I could just stay pregnant forever. We’re living in glorious limbo: all of the promise of the joys of a new baby without the harsh reality of the challenges he will bring
The excitement of family, friends and people on the street
Once visibly pregnant you see the world through rose-coloured glasses. I get a daily dose of happy energy from those around me, like I have a personal sunbeam following me everywhere I go. Total strangers see the bump and get excited, whether by starting a conversation or just sharing a quick smile. And that’s nothing compared to the joy of family and friends. The belly rubs are constant. My presence (more specifically my tummy’s presence) gives an automatic boost to everyone’s mood, which is a strange but terrific feeling. The baby isn’t even here yet and he’s already brought so much happiness to all our lives!
Discovering a whole new kind of love
September 23 was the best day of my life. In the darkness of the ultrasound room I lay facing my husband and watched his face light up. I turned my head and there it was. Our baby. Heart beating, bouncing up and down in my uterus, completely healthy and completely perfect. I have no words to describe the fierceness of the love that I felt in that moment. It was so much stronger than I could have imagined (btw I’m totally crying while I write this, I picked a bad day to write in the coffee shop). And since that day it has, impossibly, grown even stronger. From the first nudge that I felt, I knew that I’d never be alone again. “I” became “we”. My little squirmer reminds me daily that he is with me, sharing everything that I do. It’s the beginning of a bond that will link us for life.
In Search of Bliss 