I've never realised just how much my natural senses have been taken for granted. This pregnancy has shouted it out to me.
Sensitive nose begone!
My sense of smell has become to acute that I am unable to stand certain everyday smells. I stepped into our car one day and immediately wanted to retch at the scent of the air freshener. My immediate thought was that I had accidentally set it to the "high" mode, but upon checking I realised it was still at the lowest setting it always has been. I had to pluck out the entire thing and air the car for a bit.
I also can't stand certain cooking smells, which has led me to have to change dining plans more than once. The most memorable one was at Cedele. I thought I would go there with the family to have some healthy salads. The moment we reached the entrance, the smell of oil hit me and I could not step into the restaurant. Blimey!
Oh my poor tastebuds!
Most readers of this blog would realise by now that I love my food. I love to eat and I love to eat different things. I already prepared myself to be 'deprived' of my favourite sashimi, oysters and medium rare steaks because of this pregnancy. But I never did realise what is much worse than this deprivation is the inability to enjoy food.
Firstly, everything I put into my mouth now has a faint metallic taste to it. Certain meats and fish taste so strong to me that they immediately create a lurch in the stomach and I have to stop eating. Most things just taste more bland than usual.
The ultimate of it all is this: during the rare moments where I actually have somewhat of an appetite and want to eat a particular thing - the actual taste is always never like how I imagined it to be in my head, and it is a letdown.
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Did all the above sound depressing?
Well the good news is that not every woman will go through what I did. The bad news is that I know people who have had it worse.
But you know what? I guess this is the beginning of many sacrifices I'll have to make for the little one within me! And from everything I've heard - they'll all be worth it!
11 comments:
Babe, another piece of good news for you - this too, shall pass. The first few months can be terrible due to the raging hormones and all the changes going on in your body. Look forward to the second trimester. You should feel better!
I was the opposite. I was always hungry and couldn't stop eating, so I put on quite a bit of weight in my first trimester! :p
yuling: Thanks for the assurances. I'm now banking on the fact that since I have had such 'textbook' symptoms (I even got nose bleed!), that I will similarly go on to have a 'textbook' feel-good 2nd trimester. Right now I would rather be hungry than feel like I've been abducted by an alien with my body all going wonky! heh
I just remembered that I actually felt sick at the smell of food too! =) Walking past those Cze-char place was horrible... but it'll all get better.
Heh I had nosebleed in my first tri too. And I haven't had it since primary school!
Some preggers do lose weight in the first tri due to nausea. But I'm sure you'll feel better in a month or so. Rest up more, babe. :)
moo: Oh yeah those places are bad. But the enclosed ones are even worse coz the smells are stale. Ugh
yuling: Me too! I freaked a little coz I didn't know it was one of the symptoms. I thought I was too heaty. Haha!
Hehe I already had sensitive nose and picky tastebuds before pregger so these didn't really bother me. Tehpeng said I've been priming him all along! ;)
It does gets better with a burst of energy (that's when shopping and prep for baby can go full-speed ahead) during 2nd tri.
lilsnooze: Ooh, 'burst of energy' sounds great to me. I'm keeping a look out for it! Just in time for the Taka baby fair I've been told will be coming in March/April.
I had the same problems! My sense of smell and taste went absolutely kuku. It was so depressing that I think I broke down into tears one day. Haha.
It WILL get better in the 2nd trimester!!! Before it gets challenging again in the 3rd...oh well. :)
Till then... Eat what you can!! This is the best time to "follow your tastebuds"!!!
cindy: Oh no, more food problems in the 3rd tri? :( "Kuku" indeed! There were times I got really depressed too, esp after bad puking fits followed by intense giddiness. Thankfully those times didn't last that long.
oh reading this made me feel a little sad because it is a little hard to be happy without food + taste + smell. but i'm sure there are different stages to pregnancy? perhaps this would go away haha but then something else would come! ohhh.. but definitely worth it! it's your baby :D
melly: I'm hoping it will go away! But this doesn't happen to everyone for sure. Every pregnancy is different! But no matter what, you're right - my baby :)
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