Enough with the negativity already!

Pregnancy is an interesting beast all on it’s own. I have learned quite a few things over the last few months about the human body, babies and so much more.

The biggest take away I have so far is further insight into human nature…so I must say this:

Please, for the love of all that is good in this world, stop making pregnancy and newborns and babies sound like they are the worst thing ever. Seriously. This needs to stop.

This is a typical conversation I have:

Person: How are you?

Me: Great!

Person? How are you feeling?

Me: Good, a little tired. OR Good, my back hurts a little. OR huge, even though I know I’m not.

Person: Well – you just wait…it’s only going to get so much worse.

I don’t even know how to respond to this. And people say these things like pregnancy is such a horrible thing. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve had this conversation. At no point in this conversation am I complaining. You asked how I was and I answered. What would you like me to say? Awful? Miserable? Amazing? I don’t know what response you are hoping to elicit from me but honestly, stop asking if you need to throw in jabs and opinions.

I wake up some days and my back really hurts. But honestly? It puts a smile on my face. My husband and I spent years, yes years, hoping that one day this would happen.

Don’t you get it? This is exactly what we wanted. We would have given anything to have gotten to this point with our first pregnancy but unfortunately we were denied that. We have experienced loss already. This is what we hoped for. Every ache, every pain. Every kick even if it’s to the bladder.

I go to bed achy and I wake up achy and I thank my lucky stars every. single. time. This is a blessing to us.

This is a weird and sometimes gross experience. But it is amazing and beautiful and wonderful. Yes I cried when I found my first stretch mark. Yes I cried when my scale went up (okay I always cry when my scale goes up).

These are harsh realities to accept. But I’m still happy about it, no matter how many pounds I gain or how many tears are shed over it. I cry over puppies also, it’s not that big of a deal. I would not trade a single moment of it away.

But I just can’t believe how down on pregnancy everyone is!

Sleep is another one of these things that is always a point of contention. I still sleep really well and people are shocked by that.  Everyone tells me, just wait — that will go away. Or you won’t ever sleep once the baby gets here. Or enjoy it while it lasts.

Seriously everyone makes it sound so awful. Newsflash, I’m not an idiot. I realize babies wake up and cry in the middle of the night, or they need to eat every two hours. Things will change but that is part of this entire experience.

I know there is someone out there reading this thinking…well those opinions don’t go away when the baby gets here! People will be telling you from here on out what to do, how to do it or that you’re doing it wrong.

Well…STOP! Opinions will be asked for when they are wanted. This is not a free for all. Simply because I am pregnant, just because someone is a new parent, or has a child at all, doesn’t mean they need free lecturing, unsolicited advice and someone constantly telling them how it is or how it should be!

Please, enough with the negativity! Society as a whole should recognize pregnancy is a wonderful thing and there are so many amazing positives. Can these be focused on? There are enough terrible things in this world, not every conversation needs to be negative.

Happy Monday, hope you all have a great week! Take some time today to think about all the positives around you. Share something positive about your day in the comments below!