5 Things No One Tells You About Having A Baby

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Poise for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Being pregnant is a beautiful thing. I remember, when I was newly pregnant with my oldest, sitting on the couch and staring at that ultrasound picture in awe. Where a few weeks previous there was nothing, now there was a baby growing. My body was making another human being that would one day walk and talk!? It really is mind blowing when you think about it! I have experienced that miracle three times now and there are some things I wish people would talk more about when it comes to pregnancy. Not because it would change anything, but just so I knew what to expect.

Here are my list of 5 things no one tells you about having a baby:

Stretch Marks- No one told me that some stretch marks don’t show until after you have had your baby.  I slathered my belly every day with lotions and oils and I was determined to keep my skin strong and moisturized. I made it the full nine months of pregnancy stretch mark free only to find them a few weeks after my son was born.

Joint Pain- My back, my hips, my knees, by the end of my pregnancies most of my joints are just about done. My three kids were born within 4 years and that has taken its toll on my body. I knew about this pain, but what I didn’t know is that sometimes it sticks around after you have already had your baby! My youngest is almost nine months old, but my hips seem to be stuck at “nine months pregnant”. Ouch.

Nose Bleeds- Did you know nose bleeds are a symptom of pregnancy? I sure didn’t and I have read most pregnancy books cover to cover. I had not had a nose bleed since I was seven years old and right in the middle of a meeting for work I found myself ruining a shirt and rushing to the restroom with a horrible bloody nose! Apparently pregnancy can cause the blood vessels in your nose to expand.

Stress Urinary Incontinence- I had a friend who had an almost 11 pound baby, she would always laugh and say, “I will never look at a trampoline the same.” I always laughed, but now that I have had three kids it seems less funny! I don’t struggle with  stress uinary incontinence, yet, but thirty-five million women do, so I have a feeling it might be in my future.

Stress Urinary Incontinence is a common type of bladder leakage, which can be triggered by coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting or even exercise. Unlike stretch marks, there is help available for SUI! Poise Impressa Bladder Supports, the first and only over-the-counter internal product designed to help stop leaks before they happen.

Inserted like a tampon, Poise Impressa Bladder Supports are available in three sizes that adapt to the unique internal shape of each woman’s body. The size has nothing to do with your weight or amount of leakage, but everything to do with internal shape. Using the Poise Impressa Bladder Support Sizing Kit kit, you can easily determine which size you need. Visit impressa.com for more information.

Poise Impressa Bladder Supports can help discreetly prevent leaks for up to 8 hours every day so women can experience a renewed sense of freedom and confidence. Get a Poise Impressa coupon here.

Overwhelming Love- Nothing could prepare me for the love I feel for my kids, for the pride I have in their accomplishments, for the heartache I feel when they are hurting. You always hear about a mother’s love, but for me, experiencing it is the most amazing part of my life. The love shared within the walls of our home is almost tangible, worth every symptom or tough part of pregnancy. Even my poor hips. There is absolutely nothing like it and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

What was the part that surprised you most about pregnancy?