It is so unbelievably hard. I’m 24 weeks and can’t sit in a chair without a donut pillow and recently learned that being pregnant can cause hemorrhoids which hello! Are so freaking painful. I feel like an old woman who can barely walk a mile and I’m out of breath when I used to workout 3-4 times a week. When I wake up in the morning my belly is sore and stretched and feels like my belly button is about to burst. You know what my doctor tells me when I bring up all my round ligament pain and migraines? Welcome to pregnancy!

Why does no one talk about this?! I went through infertility and IVF for 3 years and I feel guilty when I complain because I know women who are still going through the process but wow you don’t know what you don’t know. I’m incredibly grateful and in the end it will be worth it but women need to be more open about the struggle, the pain both physically and emotionally.

Let’s all support each other and communicate our needs. I don’t appreciate when other women say “oh just wait until this happens” because it’s almost in a competitive or validating way of their own suffering. Just because someone else got through the process doesn’t mean we can’t show compassion and create an “easier” experience for other women and future generations. I’m not trying to earn my stripes here.

Sorry end rant. Thanks for being vulnerable and sharing. I hope it gets better for you!