Quote From: lambchoppI am currently nearing the end of my first trimester of my first pregnancy with my boyfriend who I have been friends with for about six years. He is wonderfully supportive and we are very much in love and welcoming this child with open arms. We still live in the college town we met in and are both finishing up our college careers. We have always been able to enjoy the free lifestyle that has made us fall in love with this town, but now, it seems that I can't do any of the things I used to enjoy. I've come to realize that much of our recreational activities involved drinking, smokey environments and loud music. I made the decision when I found out I was pregnant that I would stop drinking and would not put myself in situations where I felt my baby would be placed in harms way, which wasn't even a question for me. However, this decision is proving to be much harder to follow through with than I though. I've found that many of my "friends" were actually just drinking buddies or people who enjoyed similar music that I guess I wanted to believe were close friends, and my alone time, which I don't especially look forward to, has vastly increased. I find myself sitting at home while all my friends are out doing what I wish I could be doing. I find myself getting angry and desperately wanting to have just a few beers. I get especially frustrated with my boyfriend. While he is extremely supportive, I get angry at him when he drinks or involves himself in activities that I can't be a part of anymore. I feel that we got ourselves into this sitaution together and that he should stop these activities as well so I will have a partner in this endeavor. I can olny imagine that this is a common problem among pregnant couples who enjoy activities that are not allowed while pregnant. I don't want to be unfair to my boyfriend, but I'm having a really hard time coping with this change in lifestyle and I fear that my anger toward him will continue to grow. How do other couples handle issues like this. Is it unfair of me to expect him to stop drinking and going to smokey places with me?
Well, sounds like you're having a tough time. I did too for a while. Pregnancy does limit so many things physically. I am now in my 27th week of my first pregnancy. My husband and I are a young couple who were just like you two and very active in outdoor activties and sports. It was so hard for me in the beginning and I still want to go snowboarding or go to a bbq with friends and have a drink or play bball with my husband, but the thought of that precious helpless baby inside of me helps me not to. My husband still does a lot of stuff I can't do like sports and heavy cleaning and stuff, but fortunately he got a temporary illness that made it so he can't drink for about 6 months! I lucked out.
My advice to you is to endulge yourself! You can't do the things you used to, so pamper yourself with things you can! Instead of spending money on concerts and alcohol, go get pedicures and your nails done or a pregnancy massage! Or sign up for pregnancy yoga on Friday nights so you don't have to worry about being stuck at a party not being able to drink. Find some pregnant friends around your area and go shopping together! I no longer work so I stay at home, and if you ever want someone to talk/vent to about pregnancy I'm here! Anyways, have fun with your pregnancy! it may seem to last forever but it's really only 9 months! Well, hope I helped...
Megan
