Pregnant and Loving It
Shanna, age 18, California
Sweet Designs Featured Writer
The experience of being pregnant has brought me so much joy I never believed possible. Some things about pregnancy in the media are overrated. At least I think so. I'm not crazy about the idea, but when God brings you a precious gift, you embrace it and fall naturally into the role of a mother.
Would you believe there are things that go off your list of foods once you become pregnant, like some types of fish? Not that I'm a big shark eater, but it still is something to wow about. I mean, no cream cheese, which has lots of calcium. When I became pregnant my teeth became so horrible. I've gotten my first two cavities since, and even experienced a tooth breaking while flossing. You couldn't imagine looking down and seeing that those chunks of food were tooth fragments and not at all edible.
Also, my dreams have become so real. Doctors believe your dreams become more realistic. I have awakened in a cold sweat a couple of times because I imagined I felt the cold air from my dream. I know ... weird, right? Only thing that makes me a little self-conscious is realizing that my little pudge kicks, and sometimes I get the visual of my daughter's hand - it's kind of cool actually.
Being a college student and being pregnant is not at all bad. I thought everyone would stare and judge me. The minute I began showing I started wearing more jackets and darker colored clothes, but you wouldn't believe how many people on a college campus have children. I received so much mental support I never thought imaginable. What I've learned through this whole experience is to not be ashamed, but embrace my coming into motherhood, because there are people who will never be able to experience it.
As of now, I am 8 months, and I have only gained 10 pounds. I'm feeling great and happy, except for the times I'm not able to breathe, but I get on with it. Also, peeps, don't believe the hype that you get huge, because I still fit into all of my same clothes. I haven't bought maternity clothes yet.
Once June 28th rolls around, I'll be able to get writing about being a mom, which I'm sure is something people would like to hear about. Be happy, be healthy, and live life to its fullest.
