Pregnancy is a magical time when a woman’s body undergoes a myriad of changes to accommodate a growing fetus. Depends on what your definition of magical is, though.

People often highlight the glowing skin, luscious hair and “cute” baby bump. Those can be great side effects (although there are no guarantees), but the wonder of pregnancy definitely has its unglamorous sides as well.

This post isn’t meant to deter women from getting pregnant or to bash the process. I’m just making sure that everyone knows exactly what they’re getting into. I sure didn’t. HA!

Morning Sickness
Nothing new here. This is a common occurrence in pregnancy that is talked about frequently. It’s the feeling of nausea and vomiting that can occur at any time of the day, not just in the morning. It can be particularly difficult to deal with during the first trimester, and for some women, it can last throughout the entire pregnancy.

For me, I was nauseous with all three pregnancies for the first trimester. Then, I was fine by the 13th week. Princess Kate, on the other hand, was terribly ill for her whole pregnancy. May the odds be ever in your favor.

Changes in Skin and Hair
The pregnancy glow people talk about is real–they just don’t tell you that sometimes that turns into a pregnancy mask of blemishes. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause a woman’s skin to darken, break out, become dry or develop dark patches. For me, my armpits and neck got darker. Not “tanned” darker; it was just an ashen, not cute shade that looked like dead skin that couldn’t be peeled off. (Is that what you call ‘glow?’)

My hair betrayed me like no other, though. During the entire pregnancy, my hair was lush and longer. Even after giving birth, it was still there like a soldier. Oh, but the retreat was real after three months postpartum. It started shedding like crazy, and my edges were snatched! Not the “yaaaaas, sis!” kind of snatched. I mean the “Oh my goodness, he stole my purse!” kind of snatched. My full edges were bald and embarrassing. That took about six months to a year to get back on track.

Swollen Everything
Pregnancy can also cause fluid retention, which can lead to swelling in the feet and hands. This can be particularly uncomfortable if you’re on your feet for a long period of time. During my pregnancy, my shoe size grew one full size. And my fingers got so puffed up that I had to cut my engagement and wedding rings off my finger.

Couple that with the weight gain that will round out your face and spread your nose, and you’re in for a time of low self esteem. (HA!)

Joint Pains and Slow Downs
That weight gain will do a number on your system. It can lead to back pain, hip pain, joint pain, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, extreme exhaustion and more.

No lie: With each pregnancy, I’d have to use those motorized carts at the grocery store if I went shopping in the last month or two of pregnancy. I received plenty of dirty looks from the elderly in the process, but I needed it too, dangit! Also in those last months, it was hard to sleep because I could barely breathe. Everything was just SO uncomfortable.

Delivery Aftermath
Here’s the part no one really goes in depth about. They say delivery “hurts,” but how now, brown cow?

What they didn’t tell me is that you can get straight tears down there. TEARS! It makes sense when a huge head is coming out of a tiny hole, but sheesh! I didn’t compute that. I got fourth degree tears with my first child. I didn’t really feel it because I had an epidural (hush, natural birthers). But, I’m grateful for my doctor who sewed everything back together and had me back in pre-child conditions by the time I left the hospital.

Also, you’ll be bleeding for a while. No one told me that, either. They give you these adult diapers, dinosaur pads and wish you the best in your bleeding endeavors, which could last weeks.

Postpartum Depression
While not directly related to pregnancy, postpartum depression is a common and serious mental health condition that can affect women after giving birth. This can be a difficult and isolating experience for women to go through, and it’s important to seek help if needed.

I didn’t have depression, but I think it’s safe to say that I had the “baby blues”–feelings of sadness that you may have in the first few days after having a baby. It was nothing against my babies. I just looked at my deflated, Michelin man-looking body and had to reevaluate life. I had love for my kids, but the process–which didn’t end because breastfeeding started immediately–took a toll on my esteem and confidence.

Now you see why I look at people with the side eye when they say their pregnancy was like strolling through the fields of Austria. That wasn’t how things panned out for me. It may not be how yours will either, but the good news is that after experiencing all of this, you can and will bounce back.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1

Give yourself time and be patient. Afterall, you grew a whole human. That’s something to be proud of (unless you’re a deadbeat parent… no props for you).

What are some of the unexpected things you discovered about pregnancy or delivery? That’s what I’ll be talking about in this week’s video. I’ll give more insight to the ugly side, including some things I didn’t mention. I’ll add in your responses as well. Guess it’s a girl talk kind of Friday. HA!