When I got engaged, it seemed like the only question people ever asked me was “How’s the wedding planning?” Fast forward a few years, add a baby bump, and the only questions you’ll hear are “When’s the baby due?” and “How are you feeling?” And not just from coworkers making small talk in the kitchen anymore. From everyone…family, friends, and random people off the streets. I realized this past weekend that my answers have all been pretty negative. It starts with a sigh, then an “Okay, I guess, considering!” on a good day, or an “Ugh! Don’t ask!” on a bad one.
It struck me that I don’t have much time left in this pregnancy, and I don’t want to look back and just remember the negatives. I don’t want to be sad that I missed out on some of the wonder of it all, because I was so focused on all the uncomfortable stuff. So, I am resolving to try to make these last 10 weeks of my pregnancy as positive as possible. Even if it just gets harder and harder. When someone asks me how I’m feeling, I am going to smile and say “Great!” Even if it’s not quite true, but maybe a positive attitude will go a long way.
Instead of complaining about the constant back pain, I will think of it as an excuse to take warm baths and naps on the weekends without feeling guilty. And I’ll be thankful that my car has heated seats that work just as well as a heating pad. Instead of cursing the heartburn that follows most of my favorite meals these days, I will be glad that I feel fine (better, even!) after eating sweets, and will keep saying “Yes, please!” to dessert. I may wake up with nosebleeds (one of those symptoms no one ever tells you about before you get pregnant), but I’ll be glad that at least I haven’t had a period since September. Instead of freaking out on the scale at the doctor’s office, I’ll marvel at the size of my new boobs. When my feet are too swollen to fit comfortably in most of my shoes, I’ll use it as an excuse to buy new ones. When I have to stop during my commute for bathroom breaks, or am battling a recurring antibiotic resistant UTI….well, I haven’t thought of how to spin that one positively yet. But, when I am sitting there and can feel a foot wedged oh-so-comfortably up under my ribs and a fist embedded in my bladder, instead of lamenting that fact, I’m going to stop and think about how pretty damn incredible it all is.
image from Babycenter.com
