My 5 surprises about pregnancy and childbirth.

Nothing could have ever prepared me for the adventure of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood.

I hope this information can help mom’s  prepare for their journey. Every mother’s experience is so different, but these are just a few things I experienced or learned along the way.

1. Irrational dreams during pregnancy.  One night I had an extremely vivid dream. A moose was in my house. I was terrified. I finally woke up, changed positions, and was able to fall back asleep although still shook up. Upon waking in the morning,
I still remembered the seemingly real incident but knew that a moose could not actually fit through my front door, let alone turn the door handle to enter!  
  

2. Night sweats. After baby was born, one night I woke up and wondered how I managed to pee the bed without waking. Immediate panic (and embarrassment) led to a nighttime investigation. It was not pee. It was sweat. I recommend having a waterproof cover over the mattress at all times! It’s easier to clean a mattress protector than an entire mattress!    
 
3. Baby’s poop is yellow.  Initially, newborn’s rid their bodies of meconium- a dark sticky tar. Just as baby’s change so rapidly in their first days, their bowel movements do too! I had no idea that these delicate little beings could expel (with explosive force may I add!) such a bright surprise.  Until they begin consuming foods other than milk, their dirty diapers are filled with a pasty yellow muck. As new parents, it was like a game to rank the current explosion with the previous ones with the criteria being A) how many wipes were used and B) how far up the back the sludge would reach!

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4. Hair loss. I remember brushing my hair one morning while at my mom’s place about 3 months after baby was born. She asked me if something was wrong with me. Like seriously wrong. I questioned her inquiry and learned that she was nauseated by the handfuls of my shedding mane she could see in the garbage. I explained to her that during pregnancy, women tend not to lose as much hair compared to if they were not expecting. It has to do with hormones. After having the baby, estrogen levels change and the hair follicles, which are affected by the hormone, enter the resting stage. At this time, hair tends to come out. Women with shorter hair may not notice the loss as much as my mom did! 

5.  Not having a period while breastfeeding. This can help create natural spacing between children. Having said this, some mom’s still ovulate in the absence of their period and can become pregnant during the time they are breastfeeding. For some, the breastfeeding phase can be a pleasant time to enjoy freedom from Aunt Flo while others have their monthly gift back from Mother Nature very quickly. 

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My first born and pregnant with my second baby. 

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​Nicole Sailes is a certified Hypnobabies Instructor with Full Circle Birth Collective and HypnoDoula. 
​Learn more about Nicole here.