The things I never knew about being pregnant...

I just had a cup of tea with a friend and we were discussing this, now I'm SO not complaining, as most of you know, I'm thrilled about this baby growing inside of me, but it does amaze me all the things you never knew about being pregnant, even though as a woman I've been preparing for it all my life.

• Sleep shouldn't be taken for granted. In the first 1/3 I could fall asleep anywhere anytime, usually after work on the couch while waiting for Andy to cook me some potatoes. But now as I hit my 3/3 I find that I can't go to sleep, can't stay asleep and feel crazily wide awake at 6am. Many people have told me that it's preparation for baby, but I think they are wrong. Yes, I will have to wake up a lot in the night, but you'd think I would have no problem falling back asleep afterwards, right? Stay tuned... I might just eat my words.

• 9 months is a long time. Well it's not in the scheme of things, but it is when your body has been taken over by an ever kicking and punching being, it is. I'm kinda ready to be over with it now, pregnancy does put a physical strain on your body and your relationships. Every time I see someone I know (or don't know for that matter) they want to discuss my bump, tell me how big I am (gee thanks) or launch into their own birth story... now realistically you only get about 5 months of this, when people can see your bump, but still, that's more than long enough.

• Pregnancy will have an effect on the relationship you have with your partner. Now this is not a dig a Andy, cos he's still a major dream boat, but pregnancy has caused a few arguments between us and I'm often surprised about viewpoints I never knew he had. I guess you tend to think that you are so similar, you have the same ideals, but you never really know until you face a lifestyle change. Maybe having a child is a bit like travelling together, it shows you a deeper different side to your main squeeze...and I'm sure it goes both ways... nuff said.