8 Things You’ll Miss About Being Pregnant
Pregnancy is no walk in the park. Hormones and a growing baby prompt all sorts of symptoms, and some of them are far less pleasant than others. Plus, with so much on your mind, the stress can add up. But there are also lots of things about pregnancy that are pretty great! If you’re not reveling in them now, you may very well come to appreciate them in hindsight after baby is born. Here are some of the top things you’ll miss about being pregnant, according to The Bump users who are now on the other side.
Okay, maybe not whatever you want, since sushi and rare burgers (among other things) are off the table. But the idea of not constantly feeling guilty about chowing down on a big brunch or snacking at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:00—you get the picture—is kind of liberating. “I miss the food!” says The Bump user teachergal05.
It’s an intimate and private thing to feel baby kick—you’re the only one who’s connected with baby that way. “I thought I wouldn’t, but I miss feeling baby kick and rubbing my belly and that connection between the two of us while she was in there,” rzurbr says. Over time, you’ll miss the kicks less and less and find ways to bond one-on-one with your child out of the womb.
“I miss being able to play the ‘pregnant card’ in almost any situation,” says starlababy02. You can get out of almost anything when you’ve got a bump. (Just feign fatigue!) The good news? You’ll soon discover that the “baby card” is even more powerful and a lot less temporary, as it can morph into the “little kid card” and the “Spanish test on Monday” card once middle school starts.
Those relaxing naps you’re squeezing in over the weekend? A new mom might get a couple, but they’re in an effort to replace the four interrupted hours of sleep she got last night, not the full eight her pre-baby self got. “I thought I wasn’t getting enough sleep when I was pregnant,” says Jocelyn0415. “Oh, how wrong I was!”
Just while walking down the street or checking out at the supermarket, you probably get well-wishes and questions about how’re feeling. “Everyone wanted to take care of me, insisted I rest, asked if I was okay or just flat-out helped,” says DollphinFreek10. Once you’re a mom, you might feel practically invisible—when an adorable baby enters the room, you’re just the person holding her.
“I miss seeing my midwife,” says Mack924. Surprise! Prenatal checkups may seem like a chore right now, but you’ve likely bonded with a few nurses and your OB. Except for your postpartum checkup at around six weeks, you may never see them again.
Yes, your body is going through major changes right now and it can take some getting used to. But the upside? You don’t have to “suck it in” at the beach, you feel curvy in all the right places and everyone compliments you on your pregnant glow. “I loved being pregnant; I felt beautiful and awesome,” says BioGirl21.
Once your morning sickness abates and you figure out the best positions to accommodate that bump, sex during pregnancy can be pretty amazing. “I miss the sex. I’m too tired for it now!” says Bonzai. As a new mom, not only will you be tired, but you’ll still be healing down there, and your libido may dip in those first weeks and months. Getting your sex life back on track can take some time and patience, but eventually you’ll get your mojo back.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
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