“Are you consuming a lot of carbs?” This seemingly innocent question came from my obstetrician during my 32-week check-up, right after she estimated that I was carrying an (already!) hefty 4-pound-13-ounce baby. She’s a great doctor, and I truly appreciate her candor. After years of experience, she’s clearly unafraid of the potential backlash from a pregnant woman harboring a sizeable baby, who, let’s face it, was just indirectly labeled as “big.”
In that moment, I felt like a child caught sneaking cookies from the jar. I stumbled through my response, referencing my petite mother who managed to carry four babies, each exceeding 9 pounds. “It’s in our genes, I guess,” I said, attempting to justify my carb cravings. My husband chuckled, and my doctor’s unimpressed expression prompted me to give up on my defense.
You know what? Yes, I’m all about the carbs right now. Let me explain. As much as I fantasize about meals filled with quinoa, kale, and ethically sourced chicken, the reality of caring for my 21-month-old means meal prep is often a low priority, not to mention time-consuming.
Surprise! Nausea has decided to stick around for my third trimester, particularly during breakfast. “Why not try an egg-white omelette?” she suggested. Oh sure! I definitely have the time to separate eggs, chop ingredients to make it palatable, and cook it just right—all while my toddler demands my attention. Honestly, I often forget lunch. Once my little one is napping, the pregnancy hunger hits me like a freight train, and I find myself tapping away on my iPhone for some McDelivery.
If I’m lucky, I procrastinate dinner just long enough for my husband to volunteer to pick up groceries and whip up something that might meet my doctor’s expectations.
And let’s not forget that familiar bloated feeling that comes with overindulging on carbs. But honestly? Since my growing belly made its debut at 20 weeks, I haven’t felt that discomfort. So, I’m embracing this phase while I can. After all, I believe it will turn back into jelly once the baby is out. Can’t I just relish this experience a little while longer?
Here’s the kicker: during my first pregnancy, I ate whatever I wanted, gained weight like it was going out of style, yet I welcomed a perfect little human into the world who, as far as I know, is not lacking any nutritional essentials. Also, breastfeeding worked wonders, and those extra burgers vanished in just a few months without much effort on my part.
So, please spare me the knowing looks and comments about my second pregnancy being different. I’m not interested in your reality check right now. I’d rather learn this the hard way, especially since I only have five weeks left. How much bigger can this baby really get in that time? Only time will tell, right?
I asked my mom about it, and she confirmed that women in our family tend to gain substantial weight during pregnancy and shed it quickly afterward. It’s just in our DNA. We’re meant to create these big babies and bounce back afterwards.
So whether it’s the rapid weight gain or my strong cravings, I’m convinced it’s genetic. You can’t argue with science, right? You, of all people, should get that.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to head to my “yoga class”—which really means making a trip to the supermarket for more frozen yogurt because we just ran out. See you next week, Doc!
This article was originally published on April 19, 2016. For more insights on pregnancy and home insemination options, check out this informative post on intrauterine insemination.
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In summary, pregnancy can be a rollercoaster of cravings and challenges, and while it’s easy to feel judged, it’s essential to embrace your journey and make choices that work for you. After all, every pregnancy is unique, and it’s all about finding what makes you feel good.
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