Sunday, September 5, 2010

joys of pregnancy

I love to brush my teeth first thing in the morning. It helps me to feel somewhat ready for the day even though I'm still in my robe and my contacts have yet to meet my eyes for the day. So it is quite disheartening when the pregnancy hormones settle in and my gag reflex is heightened to the umpteenth degree. The sounds coming from the bathroom are definitely not pleasant ("Oooyick" and "Aaaacck"). It irks me to the point that it has made the top of my list of pet peeves. The phrase, "The Joys of Pregnancy", automatically kicks my gag relfex into high gear. Don't get me wrong -- I am truly blessed to be able to even get pregnant the old fashioned way minus the gadgets and drugs, etc. I am even more blessed to have babies thus far without any serious physical or mental ailments (though sometimes they make me mental). I do realize that. But all the in- betweens (aches, uncontrollable urge to pee, uncomfortable sleep, nausea and vomiting, swollen ankles) make it harder to focus on the pure joys of having a beautiful baby as the end result.

In my quest to overcome this unpleasant relfex, I have come up with ways to try to avoid the inevitable. You know the feeling -- your mouth starts to water, you can feel your tummy begin to boil over, your tongue betrays you by moving into place to help whatever in your body that wants to come out, come out. After how good I treat you and this is how you repay me?
  • when I first feel the gag I immediately tip my head up and look at the ceiling in my bathroom. This usually leads to thinking about how awesome of a paint job Ammon did and how I hate to paint, with a passion! Then I feel glad we were able to pay someone to do it instead of having to ourselves. To live with that kind of regret is just awful. Paint regret -- shudder.
  • when I have to tip my head back down to spit and I feel the gag return I scoop some cold, cold water in my mouth to swish.
  • if this still doesn't work, then I get some more cold, cold water to gurgle. I usually do this several times in an effort to try and freeze those gag muscles in the back of my throat. Then I do a little dance, a party will do. Do a little dance, a party will do. Do a little dance...um...
At this point I know I have won. I have defeated the gag and can now face the day without feeling overly unpleasant. Or with a bad aftertaste in my mouth that seems to never go away. One ailment down, 457 more to go. ;)

5 comments:

Rebekah said...

i would have to agree 110% on this one!!! while i love that fact that I'm having these ailments (because getting to this point was no easy task) i still hate every moment of it. weird.... hopefully it will end for you soon!! and just think, in a couple of months it'll have all been worth it (that's what I have to remind myself of anyway! ;)! )

Angie said...

I loved that post!! It made me chuckle... I am one of those rare women who never had morning sickness though... so you probably want to slap me... I did have other problems that most women don't face... like seeing a surgeon everyday for 4 weeks with nursing problems on baby #1... maybe that makes us even!! :)

dayna said...

oh baby! i feel for you! i really hope you get past the icky part and can enjoy some of the 9 months:)
i love you lots and miss you even more. i wish i could see your cute pregnant belly:)

Catherine Cazier said...

Hey girl good to read your post I can definately relate. I hate to throw-up more than anything in this world. When are you due? Some people say #3 is the hardest but I didn't think it was that bad. #4 now that one has been the killer for me. It was nice to be in the states but it is also nice to be back home. My parents will be here in China in a little over a week so I am looking forward to that. I am glad we are able to keep in touch the internet is a wonderful thing. Talk to you later.

JoLynn said...

Hang in there! This too shall pass right? That little one is so blessed to have you for a mom!