Pains and gains of having baby

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Lifestyle

Sun, October 1, 2023 | 04:05

Healthcare

Pains and gains of having baby

Posted : 2013-02-22 16:30

Updated : 2013-02-22 16:30

By Jane Han

Whoever came up with the name "morning sickness" must have never been pregnant, had it super easy, or was a man. I like to compare the queasy and nauseous feeling to getting off a 50-hour plane flight (which of course doesn't exist) and heading straight on to another 10-hour rocky boat trip, all with a serious hangover. This is definitely not pleasant.

I was counting down to the magical 12-week mark, when doctors said morning sickness miraculously disappears for most pregnant women. Now 16 weeks in, I'm realizing that I'm not one of the "most pregnant women."

Sigh, too bad. But apart from this downside, it really is a quite an experience to have a bun in the oven. Actually, in my case it's two buns.

I still can't forget the day when I found out that I'm carrying twins. It was surprising just as much as the pregnancy news itself, or maybe even more.

Just as the doctor began my very first ultrasound back during week eight, he immediately noticed two separate sacs — a moment when my pregnancy got a completely new and heavier spin.

Initially, I must admit the thought of twins terrified me. Having one baby seems hard enough, so expecting two at once was utterly overwhelming, to say the least. But it didn't take long for me to realize all the advantages of multiples.

I didn't even have to think too far ahead. Going through morning sickness only once for two babies is already a good enough deal for me. Then there is a whole long list of the other upsides of having twins, which I'll proudly share in another entry.

Now beginning my second trimester, it's a time when I can feel safer and a bit more relaxed. It's a much-needed period for this mom-to-be, who just flew 14 hours from Seoul to New York.

For expectant moms, here's a word to the wise: Always follow your doctor's orders. The doctor insisted that I get up every hour to walk the aisles. Instead, I chose to sleep and watch movies, only to regret my decision when my leg pain quickly started changing from bad to worse.

The draining plane trip is now over, but I have a whole new trip waiting ahead. Friends, family and even some random people I met at the mall have kindly warned me how daunting and exhausting a twin pregnancy can be, but I can confidently say, at least until now, that the thought of two beautiful girls can easily beat any pain.

All you ladies, expecting moms and any curious souls, I welcome you to read on for a no-frills look at what pregnancy is all about.

jhan@koreatimes.co.kr