I grew up in the Country, but I did spend the past 13 years living in the City. When I was pregnant with Lacey, I gave birth in one of Sydney’s best hospitals. To be honest, I’m kinda making that up. I’ve not frequented many hospitals, so I can’t compare but it seemed pretty good {besides its dated purple walls}. For this pregnancy I’ve been sent to a hospital that seems like a whole bush-trek away, it’s a tiny country hospital that I have to drive over mountains, bridges and bushes to get to. They do things differently there.
For starters, on arrival I walked into a teeny room filled with pregnant women {the waiting room at my Sydney hospital would have been 10 times the size}. I’m not complaining, just comparing. I introduced myself to the receptionist, who pointed to a stack of coffee cups and asked me to go pee in one and come back and wait for my appointment. I’m not sure how comfortable I am sitting in a room with other people {partners included} with an open cup of urine. But I did it.
There are things that I just forgot become totally normal when you’re pregnant. I had my third appointment just this week, and I’m an old hat at the coffee cup thing. I see newly pregnant women come in and kinda baulk at the idea, I give them a knowing look and we giggle. Welcome to the new normal sunshine.
Other things that are completely normal during pregnancy? These.
Crying anywhere, anytime. Even in the supermarket.
I went to visit my Ma at work on Monday, and I spotted the New Idea with Fifi Box on the cover {she’s an Australian radio host for those not playing in Australia}. So Ma and I flicked through it, and the tears rolled down my face. Why was I crying? I can’t be sure. I think it was the fact that she looked like a real new mum {no make-up and no back-to-fab-body-shots-in-a-bikini}, and that Jules was there by her side supporting her as he said he would. Oh the tears.
Peeing on demand.
I know, enough with the toilet talk. But it seems at every appointment I have they either want me to drink a rather large amount of water and hold it for extended periods, or pee into small cups. And so I do it, on demand. It’s a fine art.
People making comments.
This has happened more than once. I see someone after a while of not seeing them and they’ll say, “Oh you look great! How are you feeling?” I’ll mention the constant morning sickness, and they’ll respond, “Yeah, you don’t look good, but I didn’t want to say anything.” Umm, thank you. Also, apparently sex {the bedroom kind, not the gender} is open conversation too. Uncomfortable? You bet.
But talking about gender, that’s on everyone’s lips too.
I’m so guilty of this. So so guilty. I ask every pregnant person, “How are you feeling?” quickly followed by “Do you know what sex the baby is?” And now I’m getting the same too. {But seriously, what else are we supposed to ask?}
Smiling for {seemingly} no reason at all.
The best thing that I totally forgot about being pregnant is the secret bond between me and the baby. Feeling the baby kick is like magic, and I’ll often find myself smiling over those little movements… and to anyone not in my head {which is everyone, hopefully!} it looks like I’m having a grand old time by myself. I’m just happy, and grateful.
You would think 4th pregnancy in I’d have this down pat but no. I’ve never really been a crier during pregnancy, this time around I cry ALL the time. And my sense of smell has gone completely wacky, I smell things that aren’t there to be smelled eg last night on the couch I suddenly got a strong wiff of Aeroguard. Crazy!
YES! People smell like soil to me all the time. It’s so strong! What’s with that?
Oh no! I was always really funny about peeing in a specimen jar, and then wrapping it in toilet paper so no one would see or touch it! an open coffee cup! I would have got over it quick if it was the only option!
Fabulous post Chantelle – Am still laughing about the open coffee cup of wee – Hilarious!
I’m not sure if I’ve got a complex or not but I’m surprised by how many people stare!
People touching my belly without even asking! That annoyed me. So I started telling people it made me feel sick and they backed right off 🙂
When I was pregnant with my son I went to a very eccentric obstetrician… On my first appointment the receptionist told me I should BRING IN a urine specimen. “Should I collect a specimen jar from you first?” I enquired. “No” she said “just bring it in an old mayonnaise jar”.
Um, that was awkward.
How did she know how much I loved mayo? 🙂
God I am under a rock Telle!! I had no idea you were expecting!!! Congratulations!! The reason I’m not allowed anymore babies is because my husband can’t deal with me when I am pregnant!!!
Oh, my version of PICA surprised me. The smell of freshly laid asphalt/bitumen was what I craved… to the point where people would ring and let me know of where roadworks were because they knew it would simply make my day. My best ever pregnant day was when I discovered they were doing roadworks near my house for a week AND I got to know the foreman well (yeah, walk past half a dozen times a day while smiling blissfully, luckily he was a Dad several times over and figured it out) so that he actually came to tell me when they were packing up to move on and forestalled my hormonal cry with “And I’ve got a nice little square of it rolled out and ready to put in the sun here… where would you like it?” Nicest man ever, I swear.
oh my gosh! I think I better move to the country when I’ve finished having babies:) 🙂 that is hilarious with the coffee cups! hilarious!
what always surprises me is how my usual appetite and food likes go right out the window! just give me wedges, fish n chips, fried food and don’t give me fruit unless it’s grapes. Usually I love eating apples but if I’m pregnant then it better be in an apple pie. Once I’ve had the baby I’m back to usual habits but it’s so weird that everything you want to eat can change so much!
Corrie:)
with my second pregnancy, it was the morning sickness that surprised me the most. It was constant, never felt good until i hit about 25 weeks. with my first it was just the feeling icky all day that i got up until the second trimester.
Oh man, the comments. I remember going to the supermarket…with makeup on, mind you…just after bub was born and the check out chick (who I usually try to avoid as she’s the slowest on the planet) commented on how tired I looked. Ummmm thanks? I had to force myself not to punch her square in the face.
This is my fifth pregnancy, and except for initial tests, I’ve never had to pee in anything (and you do realise you don’t have to do it if you choose not to?!)
I think I’m a bit blasé about it now, “been there, done that, need to find a tshirt that fits”
Love that last line.
Yep, I know I don’t have to do anything… but why not… I say. It makes life interesting and I’m an information junkie so if I can find out anything from peeing in a cup, I’m on it.
It is funny things that happen. The heightened sense of smell is one thing that bugs me, coupled with a perpetually snotty nose. I wake up every morning and have to have a gazillion tissues shoved in my pocket because if I sneeze without one, its lite a waterfall (tmi sorry). And the fact that almost the day after conception, my body wouldn’t let me smoke! I had quit before I even had an inkling that number 4 was on the way! They are clever little jelly beans!
what surprised me most was the fact that i couldnt have anything touch my neck for the entire time i was pregnant! as soon as something would touch my neck i would be heaving! It was crazy! Another thing that surprised me was getting pregnant again 3ish weeks after having my first baby! Especially after being told i would never be able to have children!
Oh gosh, that would have shocked me. So your kidslets are close together then? That must be beautiful. x
If it’s the hospital I’m thinking of, all of the Country Practise-ness of it melts away when you get to snuggle your baby OUTSIDE on that verandah with the magical views.
Squeeeee, so excited for you x
Unfortunately I have to give birth at another hospital… but it would be nice to be so country for the birth.
It is the hospital you are thinking of…I work there albeit not in the maternity unit…I work in rehab but it is the best hospital I have ever worked in since I started nursing in at 17 in 1977. It has such a nice “feel” to it as soon as you walk in the door you feel like part of the “family”
I love your comment about other peoples comments. I find it so hard that women find it so offensive when people ask them about their pregnancy .. it’s natural. There are only so many questions to ask. Enjoy the attention, appreciate their concern and interest. Just enjoy. xx
I first became a Mum at 17 and it was a WHOLE different World back then (35 years ago) A coffee cup would have been nice! Back then we were given a giant scrubbed out detergent bottle and had to collect 24 or 48 hours worth and then traipse to the hospital by 8 am next morning! being so young obviously I didnt drive and neither did my boyfriend ( now hubby) and my Mum and Dad both worked, so there wold be me, at 6.30 am setting off from the suburbs to head into the city, firstly on a bus, then a train and then a tram WITH A GIANT 4 litre bottle of pee in a shopping bag! Every visit involved a finger prick for bloods and the dreaded internal exam. My doctors nickname was ‘knuckles’ Murphy ( draw your ow conclusions) Six weeks before my due date one of the results from the tankard I had supplied was not great and because I was 17 it was assumed I may not cope and was put into hospital for the duration!! I realised only recently that same hospital is one where babies were being take from ‘young’ Mums ‘ for their own good’ up to the 80’s. My boy was born in 1979 and I believe they saw I was coping perfectly well, had the Dads support as well as plenty of family around and so wasn’t considered a candidate, THANK GOODNESS! Baby no.2 I had my appendix out at 26 weeks which was terrifying and apparently unusual because when it came time to deliver I was asked did I mind a couple of students being present to learn the consequences of surgery so close to delivery time. I said that would be ok. I obviously misheard because a couple of DOZEN students attended all gathered around my nether regions hitched up in the dreaded stirrups!! The day you conceive is the day you open the window and wave your dignity goodbye! You lose that, you lose sleep, you lose your sanity at times…but what we gain is so, so worth it
Gosh, I think you’d love my Mum Donna. She gave birth at 17 too {in 1977} and I’m sure you guys went through many similar things. She also had the room full of students present as well.
Yes, it’s like your body becomes common property. We’re just going to take a look at your nether regions, OK? Sure. Whatever. It’s like I don’t care, and the same when it comes to boobs etc. But once the baby is born, it’s like it’s all mine and private again. So funny!
In my experience the public back off post birth, but my body apparently has been co-owned by my kids for half my life now (all boys, currently 19,16 and 5yrs). My teens have relinquished ownership …. sort of …. there is nothing like a lanky 6’2″ young man trying to fold his boney limbs onto your lap! or a hairy man-child casually draping his buffed up gym junkie frame around your shoulders as your knees start to buckle!, but my for my youngest the line between where he ends and i begin is still a bit blurry … and I am more than ok with all of it :)))))
Agree with all these Chantelle! Not to be negative, but how about the unsolicited memories (not the good kind), I’m talking about badge-of-honour horrific birth stories. I make a point to stop people mid sentence and gently ask them not to continue – it’s not helpful at all. Maybe you can tell me after the birth, maybe. If I ask you.
I don’t know why I was surprised, as I do it myself, but being stared at everywhere I went, especially towards the end of the pregnancy when I got waddle-large!
And as you touched on, I was very disappointed by how unpleasant sex became after the halfway point!
My sense of hearing surprised me most with both my pregnancies – suddenly the world around me was REALLY LOUD!! Hubby used to come home and ask why I was watching the TV in silence, it was so quiet he couldn’t hear it, and I remember going to a Duran Duran concert with cotton wool in my ears to try deadening it!
I got Asthma with my two pregnancies, to the point that I had to go to emergency dept and get put on ventolin, however give birth and the Asthma is gone, never had it before being preggo and not since, random!
Oh, the hormones. Those damn, bloody fantastic hormones. You have every right to cry or laugh, or bond with that baby of yours. Own it Chantelle! (Gorgeous post) xx
I was laughing at your gender paragraph. Everyone wants to know the gender and when I tell them, we want it to be a surprised we get a snide expression and, “why?” Like I’m so awful for choosing to be surprised when ther doctors announce “it’s a (fill in the gender here)!” In the delivery room! Which they don’t do here (in Canada) anymore! I guess everyone knows so when we got handed the baby everyone just assumed we knew it was a girl and didn’t say anything. We actually had to ask someone, “was it a boy or girl?” Lol
I hated the stupid comments from strangers like “how are you coping in
this heat?: {I’m about 28kg heavier than normal, sweating in crevices I
didn’t know I had, my ankles look like they should belong to a hippo –
how do you think I’m coping sunshine??!!}
and “How long to go? THAT LONG? You’re HUGE! It’s not twins?”
bugger off
Chantelle.. Is there a particular reason they get you to pee at every appointment??? 🙂 I realise it is test certain things but I think I only ever peed twice with each pregnancy. I too would smile like a fool for much of my pregnancy, sometimes I would find myself blush when I had been off in my own little baby and me world and someone interrupted.. Oh you are bringing back all the best bits of being pregnant! 🙂 but no two is definitely probably it… 🙂
I just thought that was normal? They weigh, take pee and do blood pressure each visit. I’m public though? I don’t know!
Oh I so miss those moments…enjoy! They go back far too fast and then they grow up far too fast.
I miss those kicks, and baby rolling over moments where they move from one side of the belly to the other and you can see a foot or hand or arm or leg! xx
I was a complete klutz during both of my pregnancies, so I reckon an open cup full of widdle in my hands either would have ended up in my face or the receptionist’s!!!
I worked in a hospital, and during my first pregnancy a lovely plastic surgeon took me aside and suggested I ease up on the eating for two, since I’d already piled on so much weight! Nothing like those unsolicited comments on your appearance and size to have you bawling in the toilets!!
Those kicks do make it all worthwhile though – every now and again I kind of miss them…nothing else like it in the world!