I say this with passion. This is the one phrase that I’ve stuck to for the majority of my current pregnancy. If you didn’t know, I’m 36, this is my first pregnancy, and I’ve been on auntie vibes since I was 4. I’m not new to the process of pregnancy or the overall challenges of pregnancy. That being said, I knew that experience is a very different kind of teacher, and I looked forward to learning what the pregnancy journey would be like for me. With that mindset, I confidently walked into this space and realized one thing: everybody lied.

First of all, I knew about challenges and difficulties in pregnancy. Like I said, I knew in general what was coming. I’ve been around enough mamas to have an understanding picture. A was fully prepared for diet changes, nausea, fatigue, cravings, checkups, signs of potential health issues for me or baby, all that. Even so, what I found is that, even today, women are still not honest enough about this process called pregnancy. Even though there have been significant advancements and studies into the female body (there are whole apps that have a boat load of wonderful information to help get you through), there is still a weird glamorizing, downplaying… thing that happens that doesn’t give the full truth of what we have to go through in pregnancy. Well I’m sick of it, and I’m specifically writing this post so that I never forget my experience.

If I had to liken pregnancy to anything, I think it would have to be to the training athletes undergo in preparation for an event or season. Regardless of what happens in the offseason, once it’s time to start preparing for that next match, that next meet, that next season, every athlete goes into an intense period of training. Pregnancy is like that. It’s hard work, it’s intense, and while much of it sucks, you gain rewards through the process. And I’m serious when I say much of it sucks. There is nothing fun about trying to sleep with heart burn, backaches, and random mental gymnastics, only for you to finally find a comfortable spot, start to doze and then have to pee; and then having to do it all over again every 30 minutes to an hour until day breaks. There is nothing cute, glamorous, or sugar sweet about any of that and the overwhelming tired associated with it.

Despite the fact that the majority of people that I know, have interacted with on forums, and I have seen posting on TikTok share my sentiments, the generic response of pregnant women when asked how they are is still, “I’m ok,” with this weird “It’s not that bad,” energy. Lies! You feel like crap! You just got a monster craving and you’ll either punch somebody or cry from starvation if you don’t eat, right now. Like come on. Tell the truth. And you know what grinds my gears every time someone pregnant talks about how something in pregnancy sucks? “Well, everyone’s pregnancy is different. We all have different symptoms.” Boooo!! Why do we do that? Of course everybody’s pregnancy is different, just like everybody’s body is different and our diets are different. Why do we use that as an excuse to minimize how intense pregnancy is, especially to the ones who are currently going through it? Tell me one more time, Karen, how you didn’t have any symptoms while you were pregnant. I know you a bold-face lie for that one. Plus that means nothing to me when you have stats like (approximates mind) 90% of women experience nausea in their pregnancy. That means most of us get it! And it sucks! Pregnancy nausea is not like regular nausea. That little beast will have you down and out like the f* boy you realized a little too late was acting strange every holiday because he had to spend time with his wife and kids. Like come on y’all. Be better.

We gotta start being more honest about the journey, because this half-truth and full on lying we doing ain’t helping nobody. Like Becky I know you excited about having a baby, but slow down and get the details on the process before you start building that nursery mm’kay. No need for us to be like Daphne and the Duke. Oh, and let’s stop with this post-pregnancy amnesia that says “Oh it wasn’t that bad after the first trimester.” Lies Linda. I worked with you every day. You were miserable. The entire time. You’re one of the main reasons I kept my mind aware of the potential difficulties.

Ok, I’m done now. I just needed to get that off my chest. Still though, I’m excited to see my little; still looking forward to meeting him, and singing to him, and loving on him as a new part of the family. Just like I’m looking forward to the day I can eat whatever the heck I want because this baby don’t like nothing. Got me out here surviving on little crumbs while I’m watching everybody go ham eating juicy morsels of deliciousness. Ok that’s it. Goodbye now. 😊