Worry be gone?

I never imagined a side effect of pregnancy would be that I worry less, but as I cruise along comfortably in the second trimester, I am surprised at how laid back I am about certain things that typically have me all worked up. Don’t get me wrong: I can still rile myself up at a moment’s notice if the situation warrants it, but overall I tend to brush more things aside, and not just absentmindedly, but intentionally.

I’ve also noticed that my priorities are shifting. I don’t care as much what my outfits look like, as long as they are comfortable. Who needs designer clothes when your waistline is expanding weekly? Granted, it’s still important to look nice, but there’s something to be said about practicality. Another obvious change is to my eating habits. Prior to pregnancy, I would sometimes “forget” to eat, if I was engrossed in a project at work, or had some errands to run. And even when I did eat, it wasn’t always balanced.

Now, however, I am fully aware of everything that I put into my body. The whole “eat for two” does hold true, to an extent. All a pregnant woman needs is 350 extra calories a day, which is roughly the size of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Several people have commented how “lucky” I am that I can eat whatever I want, since I am “eating for two.” Perhaps now, more than ever, it is crucial for me to adhere to the food pyramid. I avoid high fructose corn syrup like the plague that it is, and surprisingly don’t have much of a taste for sugary foods. Of course, ice cream contains calcium, an integral component to a pregnant woman’s diet. But it also contains fat of the less desireable kind, ringing true the saying, “all in moderation.”

On occaison I feel as though I have felt the first “flutters,” or “quickening” of the baby, though it is hard to distinguish that between regular stomach rumblings. In a few weeks Nick and I will be able to see the baby in motion and learn whether we will be having a son or daughter. Exciting times, indeed.