For those of you who haven’t experienced the (ahem) joys of pregnancy, let me fill you in.
It’s a beautiful sunny day. You decide to get out into the garden. Nothing heavy – you just want to enjoy the rare February sunshine and do some clean up. Which is normally no problem for a fit young thing like yourself, except, this time, you’ve got a beachball fused to your torso.
This… bulge, you see, makes it a tad difficult to maneuver. Reaching between shrubs is a challenge, as is performing the “squat and scoot” method of weeding. And don’t even go near any tender new growth. You’ll almost certainly crush it as you lose your balance (which is a strong possibility, given your centre of balance is way off).
The other thing that you’ll find challenging is the fact that your arms are now a good six or so inches shorter. Oh, I don’t mean literally. But your reach is certainly diminished due to the fact that you’re working around the bulge. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop you from straining to reach things that are just barely beyond your grasp… if you could just move the baby out of the way for a moment.
Trust me, it’s not a pretty picture. There will be grunting. And falling over. And your “normal” pregnancy-related backache will be increased – guaranteed. And in the end, you’ll wonder if you should really be doing this. And then you’ll laugh to yourself and think, “Of course I should.” Because really, as ungraceful and ineffective as you may be tottering around your garden, there’s no place else you’d rather be.
Anna--Flowergardengirl says
Yes, I do remember being pregnant. It was 26years ago and went too fast. I miss my children so much. I envy you starting out on a beautiful journey of life. Hold it tight because before you know it–they will be grown.
deb says
Oh my, I had eight years to forget about that, and you brought it all back. I do think my garden during my last pregnancy was especially productive. Wait till you have to garden with a newborn. Then it get really interesting.
Colleen says
I was grinning and nodding all through this post, Andrea! I was out yesterday doing a little clean-up before our latest snow hit, and I was just hoping there were no neighbors watching as I tried to maneuver around the bulge :-) Of course, that was after struggling to get my sneakers on to go outside in the first place. It’s amazing how challenging putting on your shoes and socks becomes…
Glad you got some gardening time in!
Jennifer says
Your baby will be born with soil under its tiny little nails!
Robin at Bumblebee says
It’s been a while, but I know exactly what you mean! Awkward doesn’t begin to describe it, does it? It’s very difficult to garden when you can’t bend in the middle!
Robin at Bumblebee
Jennifer says
I know how you feel. I’m due at the beginning of April and everything is difficult right now. Gardening starts in April where I am and honestly with the baby out and a toddler I still don’t think I’m going to get much done!
Erin says
I put in my first veggie garden in new raised beds last spring with a big baby belly. Our first arrived July 26th.It’s amazing how much gardening you can actually do while sitting on your butt! I work as an RN so took off the last month and got so bored and it was so hot here. We did lots of u-picking at berry farms the last few weeks. Saskatoons were easy on 4-6 foot bushes. The raspberries were beaten down the previous year, so I sat in a lawnchair to pick. By the time strawberries came around(in MB) I just took my chair out to the field to keep my husband and friend company. One of my favorite belly pictures is me in a red shirt looking as ripe as the two buckets of strawberries I’m holding!
Gardening with a newborn wasn’t bad when I had the energy. Put him in the carseat, add bug net and sun shade, set it all in the wheelbarrow and away we went! This year it will be with a toddler – likely more complicated!
Hope you found cloth diapers you like. We use Motherease out of Virgil, ON. The thought of composting diapers or liners makes the microbiologist in me cringe. If you can get daddy on board with helping wash diapers you will call yourself a woman blessed. I am.
All the best. Enjoy your blog. -Erin
Paula says
Last year I thought, “Great! Baby is due in August, I have all summer to get in the garden”; children have a special way of making themselves known. I forgot how much “The Belly” interferes and how the heat saps your will to weed. The neighbours gave me a hard time for sitting in the garden to work! I have invested in a back pack carrier for quality gardening this summer-we’ll see! Best of luck to you.
Mr. McGregor's Daughter says
Oh I remember it well! I did a lot of weeding sitting down. Invest in a couple of extra baby monitors – yours will get dirt encrusted in no time as you use naptime for gardening.
Andrea Bellamy says
Anna – Sweet. Thanks for your comments.
Deb – I can’t even imagine, although I guess I’ll figure it out soon enough!
Colleen – oh yes, the shoes! I need to invest in some slip-ons.
Jennifer – and if not as a newborn, then I’m sure soon enough there will be!
Robin – yes, I miss being able to bend at the waist!
Jennifer – I’m due around the same time, so I know exactly how you feel.
Erin – you paint a lovely picture. Thanks for the tips!
Paula – let me know how it goes with the backpack!
Mr. McGregor’s Daughter – good plan. :)
kate says
I have clear memories of being 7 & 8 months pregnant and having to be careful not to fall over. My balance was terrible and I constantly forgot that I had a baby attached to my front side.
I always thought that my son felt so comfortable out in the garden because I spent a lot of time there while I was pregnant. I talked often about what I was doing and what I was planning in the garden.
Sheri says
I will be 6-8 months pregnant when this summer rolls around, and I want to garden so bad. Thanks for this post. This will help to remind me that it’s okay to not be as good at gardening as I have in past years.
Andrea Bellamy says
Sheri – I’m sure you’ll be just as “good” at gardening – maybe just not as flexible! Good luck to you.
kendra says
This is the first spring in four years that I haven’t either been pregnant or nursing and is therefore the first time in four years that I’ve had the energy to garden. It feels incredible! I wish you all the luck with your pregnancy!
Andrea Bellamy says
Kendra – enjoy your spring – and the newfound flexibility!