Lauren Brant: 'How Google helped me feel more comfortable with my pregnancy.'

We have all been given the advice to never ‘Google’ a symptom, as the internet will most likely tell you that you are dying, right?

When it comes to pregnancy, I find it to be the complete opposite.

The internet has proven to be such a comforting and knowledgeable place for all my pregnancy symptoms.

Just when I think I am experiencing something totally unrelated to pregnancy, I just type it in and sure enough — results from health sites, forums, social media and blogs will pop up, with ladies experiencing the same thing.

Mummies to be – although I don’t know you. I feel ya! I am just passed half way in my pregnancy and although I have always loved kids, wanted kids and can’t wait for my own… this whole pregnancy is a real journey. One that I have no idea about and am literally wading my way through. When there are weird feelings, random vomits and exhaustion, I just go with the flow. I’ve been really positive through everything this far, including the first 3 months of nausea. But today really tested me and I questioned a whole bunch of things, none of which I had the answers to as I’ve never been through this before…Have I put on too much weight? Am I exhausted from growing a baby or just being lazy? I’m not seeing pregnancy glows, but I’m seeing a lot of pregnancy woes! I see some super mums who don’t ever stop, right up until they have their baby and others who stay in bed for 9 months. Some have huge bumps, some have none. Some carry water retention, others are so slim! I have definitely learnt that every woman’s pregnancy is different and their pregnancy of each child can be different. But I still question whats right and wrong about mine? I’d love to hear from some other woman who have been or are pregnant? Having moved to a new state, I don’t know many people, never mind pregnant woman who I can discuss boobs, butts and bellys with! Thank you ladies xxx . . . #pregnancy #pregnancyjourney #motherhood #motherhoodunite #mothers #mumtobe #mumsupportingmums #22weeks #pregnancypower #pregnancyproblems #pregnancylife #pregnancyfitness #babybump #expecting #bubhub

A photo posted by Lauren Brant (@laurenbrant) on Jan 8, 2017 at 10:34pm PST

My partner asked me the other day what the most surprising thing about pregnancy had been so far. I found it really hard to answer, because this is my first pregnancy and I guess nothing is surprising in the unknown as there are no expectations.

However, I have to say that apart from those stereotypical characteristics of pregnancy — the ‘big belly’, ‘weight gain’, ‘baby brains,’ ‘constant need to pee’ and ‘morning sickness’, etc — being lucky enough to be pregnant definitely exposes you to the reality of just how much of a transformation the body, mind and soul goes through.

I go to the toilet. I flush. I wash my hands. I leave the bathroom and…… I feel like I need to pee again. Surely it all could have been positioned in a different way so that the baby didn’t have to rest on the bladder? Someone? Anyone? . . . Repost: @queenbeematernity #pregnancy #pregnancyjourney #pregnancylife #pregnancyproblems #pregnantlife #peeing #pregnancyperks #thepregnantlife #motherhoodunited #expecting #24weeks #bladder #pelvicfloor

A photo posted by Lauren Brant (@laurenbrant) on Jan 26, 2017 at 10:39pm PST

I gained comfort when learning my odd sensations were actually common symptoms, and I am sure other mums will experience the same satisfaction when finding the same result.

Some of the odd symptoms I’ve had to type into the search engines include: itchy ears (random), facial pigment (yes, a line above my lip resembles a moustache), and (divulging a little deeper here) a higher susceptibility to UTIs.

To my relief, I wasn’t dying or contracting a disease that was slowly eating my flesh from the inside out; it was merely confirmed that I was pregnant. After doing this enough times, I stopped with the Googling and just accepted each new minor side effect as ‘part of pregnancy.’

Meshel Laurie gets very honest about her struggle to get pregnant with a partner who isn’t interested in having kids. Post continues below.

With that, I realised I am effectively in ‘Boot Camp’ for motherhood. I am being trained right now to be tough, to endure all sorts of less-than-perfect scenarios, to adapt and get on with the job.

I mean, I was pretty strong prior to this, but in a totally different way. I could lift some weights and hold strong in difficult situations. But as soon as I felt something less than perfect, I had to figure out what was wrong. I’d call the physician, tell everyone about it — “Hey Lauren, how are you?” “Oh I’m okay, I guess; I just have this weird pain in my finger that’s SO annoying…” — and basically put my life on hold till it was fixed.

Now, I’m getting on every day with at least five symptoms attached to my growing belly, and when asked how I am, I say “GREAT.”

Because you know what makes any difficult time worth it? A justified reward at the end. And honestly, there is no greater gift than that of life, of parenthood.

Yup. Definitely pregnant! Next week I will be half way and everyday I experience new little changes to my body. Take for example these pants that fit me a few weeks ago – not even close today. Little bub is the size of a capsicum now! However I feel like im growing another couple in my thighs, butt and boobs! While I’m already there, might just add to it with some popcorn and a choc top at the movies tonight ???? . . . . . #pregnantlife #pregnant #babyfeels #pregnancyfeels #mamabear #muma #mumlife #mumtobe #mumandbub #pregnanttummy #19weeks #uniteinmotherhood #motherhood #growingbelly

A photo posted by Lauren Brant (@laurenbrant) on Dec 17, 2016 at 10:51pm PST

So, from being someone who’d let their whole day be ruined from a bad night sleep before, I am now saying, “Come at me back pain, swollen ankles and, let’s just say, more ‘aromatic’ underarm scent – I’m going to be a Mumma”.

I have a reason for all that I am feeling and a purpose to not only endure, but conquer. I dream about that day when I get to hold my child in my arms for the first time and have all of the highs, lows and experiences from the previous nine months melt away as I take a big breath… and look into my baby’s eyes.