The first trimester - in retrospect.....

As you could probably tell from the absence of posts on my blog for a while there, the first trimester was challenging. All of you who have experienced that can attest to the truth of my statement since it seems to be the same for everyone. Morning sickness? Maybe - maybe not. Exhaustion? Absolutely!

So, in retrospect, I have some thoughts on the experience as a single person and also some suggestions for other single women tackling this process. First, I'd like to say that having a man (or another woman - if you prefer) around during this time would have had its advantages and disadvantages. I don't mean to suggest that I had it any worse or that I'm complaining. Well, I'm complaining a little bit - but every pregnant woman should be allowed to complain a little - partner or no.

The advantages of doing this on my own:
1. I don't have to give a rat's butt about how my "situation" is affecting my partner. I'd have very little sympathy anyway - so it would probably only have resulted in some fights.
2. Actually, I can't think of any other advantages - but I'm sure those of you with partners could fill in the blank. Besides - the first advantage cannot be overstated.

The disadvantages of doing this on my own:
1. I never did figure out how to teach my cats to go get me crackers or water while I lay flat, trying not to move. A partner with apposable thumbs would have been handy.
2. My cats don't know how to run a vacuum cleaner either. In fact, they can't even clean up after themselves and yet still believe that I should feed them without complaint. Besides, there's nothing sexier than a man running a vacuum cleaner.
3. What looked good to me (food-wise) five minutes ago, now makes me want to throw-up but I spent what little energy I had getting the original food. There's nothing sexier than a man who can cook - oh, wait - I just said that about the vacuum.
4. I think you get the idea. Between wanting to throw up for no external reasons and being too exhausted to do anything more than necessary, a man or partner could have come in handy. But if I'm being honest, even if he was vacuuming while cooking me dinner, I still don't think I would have found him sexy - not during the first trimester.

In my next post, I'll offer my suggestions for other women doing pregnancy solo. I'll bet those of you with partners will find some of them useful as well.