I don’t believe a woman can ever be fully prepared for what to expect when pregnant. Just like every person is different, so is every pregnancy.  When my husband and I found out we were expecting, we purchased all the recommended books online and downloaded all the trendy apps.  Although the books and apps contained some great information and made pregnancy fun to follow (who doesn’t love tracking what size fruit or vegetable their little one is?), they didn’t always accurately depict what I was really going through.

To be honest, no matter how many books I read, fellow mama’s I spoke with or apps I downloaded, I never truly knew what it was going to be like to be pregnant until I started living out my own pregnancy journey. Each week that passed contained another set of milestones that slowly brought us one step closer to meeting our newborn baby.

In our case,  my pregnancy journey came to an end 4 weeks early when we delivered our daughter at 36 weeks (labor and delivery story for another day). She is now two weeks old and doing great (not to mention cuter than ever). Since our delivery, I’ve been reflecting back on my journey and have put together a list of the top 8 things I’ve learned from being pregnant.

8 Lessons Pregnancy Taught Me

1. It’s not all about you.

Your body is now the new home of your growing baby. It’s important to take care of yourself during this time, both mentally and physically. Your little babe is counting on you!

2. Things don’t always go as planned.

You can’t predict your pregnancy or your delivery. Period. Reading into old wives tales to predict your baby’s gender are fun but rarely have a lot of truth to them. I was convinced our daughter was a boy and I never would have guessed I would ultimately deliver her via a c-section.  So you take each day, week, month and trimester with an open mind. Anything is possible!

3. Let yourself be taken care of (for a change).

Your carrying precious cargo, so go easy on yourself. Let your partner take the reins on dinner plans or house work and try not to stress the small stuff.

4. Go with the flow.

This one is up there with number 2. I learned to really go with the flow during pregnancy and it made for smooth sailing. Not trying to plan every little thing made a huge difference in how I felt while expecting.

5. Never take a good night’s sleep for granted. Ever.

This one is gold. I knew sleep was a precious gift from God but never did I realize how precious until I couldn’t get any while pregnant. From heart burn to getting up to pee every hour, I could not get a decent night sleep for the life of me from 28 weeks and on. This one also applies to bringing a newborn baby home.

6. You are stronger than you think.

We were dealt a few tough cards during pregnancy. Each rough patch made me realize how much stronger we are as a couple and as individuals than I ever imagined we could be. We survived a horrible car accident at 30 weeks pregnant and had an extremely tough labor and delivery. If I didn’t know it before, I know it now that we are able to overcome whatever challenges life may throw at us.

7. Your partner is a rock star.

Your partner is experiencing this new journey right along with you. They won’t have all the answers, but they’ll try harder than ever to make sure you feel endless love and support.

8. Always stay positive.

Last but not least, always stay positive! You could spend your whole pregnancy worrying, but it’s not worth it. Take each day (and bouts of heartburn) as they come. Staying positive and talking with friends helped me get through my pregnancy during tough times and also our delivery so remember to always lean on your support system – that’s what they’re here for!

What are some of the lessons being pregnant has taught you?