I think massage varies on the stage that you are in.  I went to a massage therapist during my pregnancy because my upper back couldn't handle the weight of my chest, and my lower back was being pulled by the weight of the baby.

I also wore a special “girdle” type thing - it helped support the weight of my belly and take some of the pressure off of my back.  I wore that thing every day from about 5 months til I delivered … it helped A LOT!

unfortunately though, pregnant women just “put up” with a lot of pain and discomfort, but the good thing is you can milk it ;)  just say, “oh honey, my back is killing me” … plop down on the couch, kick up your feet, and enjoy some downtime!!

yes and no.

I do not like ANYTHING confining my stomach, especially during pregnancy.  I would even roll the waist of my maternity pants so that it was below my belly.  but the girdle that I had came up and over the belly, and rested just under my bra - that helped ease a lot of the anxiety I have about things around my middle.  And the biggest thing was, the way I felt WITHOUT it for a single day - UGH!  the pain was agonizing.  I dealt with the discomfort so I wouldn't have to suffer the consequences - lol.

Guess you are lucky, Kay. My friend, too. She never experienced any pain or morning sickness during her pregnancy. And when it's time for the baby to arrive, she went to the hospital on a motorbike!! I told her she's crazy! She could have had complications or the baby could have been born there!! Anyway, all went well. It was a normal delivery and she said it could be because she is young and strong. She is 21 by the way….

And when it's time for the baby to arrive, she went to the hospital on a motorbike!! I told her she's crazy! She could have had complications or the baby could have been born there!! Anyway, all went well. It was a normal delivery and she said it could be because she is young and strong. She is 21 by the way….

How did she even balance on a motorbike at nine months pregnant?! Good grief LOL. Glad it all turned out well in the end. I've heard an old saying that if the pregnancy's rough, the birth will be a breeze and vice versa. How true that is I have no idea.

I've heard an old saying that if the pregnancy's rough, the birth will be a breeze and vice versa. How true that is I have no idea.

Hmmm….not sure about that but another friend of mine had a pretty rough pregnancy. She coughed and had bad asthma attacks throughout. She felt like she was dying and could not continue the pregnancy. When it was time for the baby to arrive, she spent 10 hours in labour and it was an excruciating delivery. My poor friend…words couldn't describe the pain she had been through…..

SO true!  It is rare to find someone who is absolutely honest about child birth.  A friend and I were discussing it last night … the good, the bad, and the REALLY ugly!  lol

we both have said that we will tell ALL if anyone asks us, because it is horrible to go into it thinking it will be “simple”.  Obviously, you DO get over it, because people do have more than one child, but still, it's a bigger deal than many let on.

I wonder why that is though?  Do you think our mothers and friends worry about discouraging us from chid bearing if they tell the truth?

So many things about child birth and pregnancy are hard to foretell.  I think the best thing you can do is to go over your fears of pregnancy with an obstetrician and discuss options for dealing with those things.  Your doctor will tell you if it is just too risky for you to have a baby.

It's funny because my husband and I were discussing this the other day. He is done having children, but I would love to have more.  We adopted our youngest and I would LOVE to be able to adopt another, but I would even be open to another pregnancy!  I laugh at this myself because my first pregnancy was a breeze, and my second was a nightmare.  I have always said I don't want to do it again, but the pull for a little one to hold in my arms is stronger than the pain and discomfort I felt.  I could easily see adding another little one to my mix