Opinion by Melissa Meehan
Women have been pregnant and giving birth for centuries.
It’s an amazing and magical thing that only the fairer sex can experience.
So why hell are we heaped with the most horrible pregnant symptoms?
Is it not bad enough we need to squeeze a baby the size of a watermelon out of our hoo-haa?!?
I must admit I’m not your typical glowing pregnant woman.
The only glow I get is becoming a sweaty mess after spending quite some time reacquainting myself with the inside of a toilet bowl.
With Little Miss I vomited for the whole 40 weeks.
And this time it’s been 100 times worse.
Sure I’ve got friends who have had relatively “easy” pregnancies – (but it’s never really that easy is it?).
But so many women struggle while growing a baby.
One friend lost all her eye lashes, another got tinea under her breasts and another broke out in a shingles like rash on her neck.
Others complain of swollen legs and ankles too, epic heartburn – but for many the constant nausea is what really knocks them for six.
My husband asked me how it felt. And the only way I could describe it is being stuck on a boat in choppy waters FOREVER.
But that really doesn’t cut it.
It’s the constant feeling like you’re about to vomit, coupled with nausea and complete exhaustion.
Doctors say the reason most women get sick is because of the extra hormones in your body while pregnant and say it often means the placenta is developing well.
There are many natural remedies that are said to help including dry biscuits and ginger but they’ve provided little relief to me.
I’m now on a cocktail of drugs to ensure I can keep meals and even water down.
And even then, it’s not always promised.
So if you see a pregnant woman standing on the train or bus – give up your seat.
She’s probably going through more than you could imagine.
*I must add that I’m in no way complaining about being pregnant and consider myself very lucky to be able to welcome another addition into our family.
I’m just pointing out the very real fact that as women we are made to procreate but the greater powers certainly haven’t made it easy for us.
- By Melissa Meehan
