Dear Pregnant Body,
Hey you! We’ve known each other very well these past 2-years. Considering I’ve been pregnant for eighteen of these past 27-months, I’d say we are peas in a pod. We get each other. It has been my greatest life’s privilege to be allowed to carry three babies, and I am forever grateful, but as this is likely my last pregnancy, I’d like to pen a warm ‘so-long’ to the things I will miss about being pregnant.
1. Washing my hair.
Let me rephrase, the excuse I’ve had for the past year-and-a-half to NOT wash my hair. The energy it takes not just to wash your hair, but to then dry it and style it is exhausting! I’m going to miss my dry shampoo dependency.
2. Not worrying about my tummy and having no guilt from that bagel I just grabbed from Einstein’s.
I’ve found I am most confident when I am pregnant. I don’t feel uncomfortable about how I look in anything because, hello! I’m pregnant! I wish I could rock that same confidence post-pregnancy, but I know what comes next- worrying that people still wonder “is she pregnant?” months after delivery. I’ll also miss the freedom of not worrying too much about what I eat. I don’t eat too differently when pregnant (minus allowing myself free range at the Whole Foods candy bar and BBQ chips selection), but I also don’t stress about extra calories or worry if I allow myself to indulge once in a while. It’s much less stressful.
3. The clothes.
Oh the clothes! I may miss you the most. My jeans are never tight because of the built-in band, so it’s like I am wearing leggings every day of the week. Have you ever heard of anything so wonderful? Can you imagine how blissful that has been these past 9-months? I’m having a winter baby, so I’ll likely try to stretch out the maternity pants through the remaining cold months….because I can.
4. An excuse for an early bed time.
On an average day, I’d say I am upstairs “prepping” for bed by 8. I’ve been known to go to sleep at 7:30, on occasion. With a 15-month-old who still night-wakes every now and then, this has been such a great opportunity to catch up on sleep. I live in a state of tiredness, physical and emotional, so the early trips to hit the hay are so refreshing!
5. The urge for everything to be perfectly clean all the time.
Other than the last few weeks of pregnancy when it is a challenge to WALK, my house has never been more clean or in order than when I’m in expecting mode. Nesting? Nesting is brilliant! I wish I had the pregnancy-nesting urge all year-round! Alas I don’t and I will miss the spotless countertops.
So pregnant body, I will soon bid you adieu, but I will always cherish the great times you’ve given me – besides the baby of course.
What will you miss or do you miss most about being pregnant?
