This post has been sponsored by Palmer’s, however all of the thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Kozy & Co.
They say that every pregnancy is different, and after nearly four full pregnancies, for the most part I would have to agree. Sure there have been similarities between all of my pregnancies. I’ve carried two boys, and now two girls, and I’ve noticed differences just in carrying a different sex. Lately though, I’ve been feeling a little sentimental as I’ve found myself thinking about how my first pregnancy was different than this fourth one, which will likely be my last (insert hormonal sob here).
From the moment that you find out that you are expecting your first child, there is a total sense of uncertainty. This is something that you’ve never experienced before. Everything about it is new to you. Every moment, every feeling, every experience. Now that I’m on my fourth pregnancy, I kind of feel like a seasoned professional (I use the term professional loosely though). I sort of know what to expect now, what I’ll feel and what lies ahead. Still though, there are things that are different this time around.
I am SO much more tired now
When I was pregnant for the first time, I was still working full time outside of my home. Every day I would come home and take a nap until my husband got home from work, and it was amazing. Back then, I thought that I was exhausted. This time around though, I know what exhausted truly is. I saw a meme the other day that said something like “I wish I was as tired now as I thought I was before I had kids”, and I had to laugh because it is so true. Being this pregnant and taking care of three kids under the age of five is a whole new level of tired. On the upside though, I suppose that I have learned just how little sleep I need to function on a daily basis!
I’m not as on top of things
During my first pregnancy, I documented everything. I made it to every single appointment when necessary. My son’s nursery was ready and waiting well in advance. A name was picked out. Every detail was planned, because I was on top of it. Fast forward to my fourth pregnancy. I forget to schedule appointments and I have barely documented anything. We still don’t have a name picked out, and we are just now getting started on the nursery. My how things have changed.
I now know what we truly need
I distinctly recall registering for our baby shower almost 6 years ago and feeling totally clueless. I went to my friends who already had babies, asking for advice on what we would need. I purchased things that I soon learned we didn’t, because I was sure that we would. Now that we have owned basically every baby product under the sun, I know what is really essential. I love it when people ask me for recommendations, because I truly feel that I can make a good one based on experience.
Things have stretched, including my belly
I’m sure you can guess that being pregnant four times in six years has resulted in some pretty big changes in my body. Muscles and ligaments have stretched, I have nursed and weaned three children (I’ll spare you the details on this) and my belly has grown to a size I didn’t even know was possible, while housing and protecting my babies as they grew. Through each of my pregnancies, I have used Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lotions and Creams on my belly to keep it soft and smooth. Their enhanced Stretch Mark Formulas have been key for me, both during and after my pregnancies, for keeping my belly and the rest of my body moisturized. I love that their Dermatologist Approved products are Paraben and Pthalate-free, Hypoallergenic, and that they contain ingredients like Argan Oil, Vitamin E, and Cocoa and Shea Butters, which smell amazing! Palmer’s has been around for over forty years, so I know that they’re a brand I can trust when it comes to fighting stretch marks and addressing my skincare needs while pregnant!
Getting back to my pre-baby body has gotten a little tougher each time
No one can truly prepare you for how much carrying a baby will change your body, let alone four. Though I have gained around the same amount of weight with each of my pregnancies, I have, without question, had a harder time losing it after each subsequent baby. After my first child was born, it was relatively easy to (eventually) get back into a good exercise routine. I could put the baby in a stroller and go for long walks and/or runs, and I could easily put him in his swing or a bouncer and get in a workout at home. That has gotten a bit tougher as we have welcomed more babies into the world. It’s not just that though, I truly think that our bodies just change after having kids. I wish I could go back now and tell my pre-baby self how good I had it!
This time I’m not AS scared of labor
I was absolutely terrified of giving birth the first time around. I had no idea what to expect and had heard countless horror stories. Plus to be honest, the idea of squeezing something the size of a watermelon out of you-know-where scared the crap out of me. I want to tell you that after experiencing labor a few times it gets less scary, and in some ways it totally does, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t still make me feel nervous. Just like every pregnancy is different, so is every labor. The birth of my firstborn was a breeze, and after that some of my anxiety eased. Both my second and third births were without incident as well, but each experience was vastly different, so even after doing this three times, I still have no idea what to expect this time around which is what makes it kind of scary.
One thing is the same
Even with all of the differences between my first pregnancy and my fourth, one thing has always been the same. Pregnancy is hard. It can be full of emotions and backaches, hormones and morning sickness, exhaustion and a weak bladder… but pregnancy is also beautiful, and wonderful, and magical (okay, maybe not when you have to get up at 2 AM to pee every night, but otherwise). I will forever and always be grateful for the feeling of growing human life in my belly. The kicks, the hiccups, hearing that heartbeat and seeing those little profiles on a TV screen for the first time were all amazing things to experience. Carrying my babies has changed me and my body, but I wouldn’t change a single thing about everything that I have experienced through all four of my pregnancies. This is a period of my life that I will treasure and look back on fondly.
If you are expecting or have recently given birth, be sure to check out Palmer’s Stretch Mark Formulas here! Their Massage Cream has been a favorite of mine, particularly during this pregnancy. I use it regularly on my belly and hips!
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