Pregnancy is such a special moment that brings forth a whole new appreciation for our own mothers. How did they do it back in the day when there were not as many resources readily available? Or was it simpler back then when one doesn’t need to wrestle with so much information overload? Why didn’t they warn us about the things to look out for so that we don’t get overly anxious when we experience it ourselves? We talk to three mothers who shared what they wish their own mums have told them about pregnancy so as to make the journey smoother.
Table of Contents
Morning Sickness
“I wish my mom had told me that morning sickness does not mean ‘feeling a bit off in the morning,” said Catrina, a mother of three. Her version was more like a ‘whole-day sickness’ whereby she threw up at any time and anywhere from morning till night, and even during sleep time. “I had to wake up to rush to the restroom at least once each night just to throw up. Nothing helped during this time… I just had to throw up through it all,” she said dolefully.
Feet Size
Catrina was also taken aback by the transformation on her feet. “I knew that my body will expand during pregnancy but believed that all will return to normal after birth. Not so with my feet,” she sighed. According to Catrina, they swelled up like puffy pillows during the last few months of pregnancy and while the puffiness disappeared after delivery, the size of her feet had increased by half a size. “I started with size 7.5 feet and I am now a size 9 after three kids. Well, it’s a small price to pay for having babies, I guess,” said the proud mama.
During a recent shoe shopping expedition, she discovered that her mom had also experienced the same thing and now have size 10 feet after four kids. “While it is not quite earth-shattering, it goes to show that for every tip she shared with me, there are many others that remain unveiled!”
Breastfeeding
Hwei Hong, a mother of two, shared that while her mother imparted many tips to her, there was no compulsion to follow each and every one of them. “I just listened to everything she had to say but didn’t pay much attention back then,” she admitted sheepishly. “The only thing she did not share was the importance of breastfeeding. I guess it wasn’t her thing back then. So my sisters did not practice it and neither did I initially.” She only mastered it after the birth of her second child. “Yeah, I wished I knew about breastfeeding earlier so that my firstborn son could benefit from it, too,” she remarked.
Post-partum Blues
Many mothers battle with postnatal blues but most chose to keep mum about it. Cindy’s mother was no exception.
“I wish my mom had mentioned the fact that postpartum depression was real. I experienced it with all four of my children and had to deal with it alone,” she recalled. It took every ounce of mental and physical strength for Cindy to raise them that she did not even have time to wallow in her feelings.
“In retrospect, not having ample idle time on my hands could be a good or bad thing. I had no idea if my mom ever experienced it and I certainly did not confide in anyone while I was going through it. The only thing that helped during that trying period was knowing that I had to be there for my kids and having the support of my family members. And that everything did become better eventually,” Cindy divulged.
What Mothers Everywhere Wish They Knew
There is something every mom would want to know – if they are pregnant and how far along are they. With Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test with Conception Indicator, you can! The test is over 99% accurate at detecting pregnancy from the day of the expected period and you can conveniently do it from the comfort of your home.
