Pregnancy: The Things They Don't Tell You

Bearing a child is a wonderful experience. It is the single most life defining moment in a woman's life. However, there are many unspokens about pregnancy that are seldom discussed. This may be due to what I like to call the 'after effect'. After the child is born we don't remember the pain, the agony, and the despair. In fact, it is pushed further into the recesses of our memories with every milestone our child reaches. Overall, it is in everyone's best interest to keep the unspokens under wraps because the future of each generation depends on procreation. That in mind, I still wish that someone had better prepared me for child birth. I read baby magazines, I asked plenty of questions during my doctor visits and I spoke with many veteran moms. But the only thing that comforts you when you are in the delivery room is the knowledge that it will be over eventually. Or so I thought. The after pain seemed more unbearable than the delivery. I think that this is the biggest unspoken about the child bearing process. People talk about the pregnancy, the morning sickness, the delivery, but hardly anyone talks about the recovery. Obviously the recovery process is easier on some than on others as is the case with the other processes of child bearing but the truth is that there is some measure of discomfort to overcome after birth. After all, your body was altered in ways that it will not be ordinarily altered. Based on my experience, I would advise those who are pregnant and those who plan on becoming pregnant to remain active during the pregnancy. Activity allows your body to maintain the flexibility necessary for a fast and pain diminished recovery. My lack of activity added to the complexity of the recovery process resulting in excruciating aches and cramps. I therefore strongly recommend walking, swimming, stretching and taking Lamaze classes wherever possible. Of course, there are many other mitigating factors that determine what level of discomfort you will experience during the child bearing process, but any activity that can help is well worth the effort.