How has pregnancy change your lifestyle?

B

baby and mama

Registered User
Hi, can I know how have pregnancy change your lifestyle?

How do you usually spend your time.

May I also know which are the area (product, services, etc) that you spent most?
 
Mmmmm.....this sounds like some market research going on here. :)

Anyway...the first things I thought when I read the title of this post was, "How did pregnancy change my lifestyle? Sleep!" With my most recent pregnancy instead of being the late-night person I usually am I was usually in bed, asleep at like 8 pm! So, I guess I didn't have that much time to go out and use products and services because all I wanted to do was sleep and hang around my house when I wasn't working.

But, other than that, I think most women start buying baby and pregnancy products and services when they're pregnant and have a baby, right? Wouldn't it be funny if we all just started really getting into automotive parts and tools during pregnancy. "Where are you going honey? Oh, no, not to the auto-parts store again! This pregnancy thing is going to bankrupt us..."
 
Agree with thanka on sleep. And add wine and food to that! I craved for a medium rare steak and sushi (although some say you can still eat this, I didn't).
 
hello all the great mom and mother to be :)

Hi, I am working on a market research for my MA project. if you don't mind, I hope you can share with me your experience on the following queries. If there are areas that I have miss out, please share with me :) (don't worry, this is just for educational reference)

? How has pregnancy change your lifestyle?
? How do you usually spend your time?
? What products and services do they spend most during pregnancy?
? Is there any changes in your wellness and fitness?
? Do you notice any behavior change in you?
? Pets issue
? Is there any role change in your social status?

thank you so much, cheers~
? Family relationship
 
How has pregnancy change your lifestyle?

• How do you usually spend your time?
During pregnancy? Or when not pregnant? Well, for me, most of my time is spent at work either way except when I'm on maternity leave. After that is spending time with my husband, son and friends. After that it's just sleep and eat. :)
• What products and services do they spend most during pregnancy?
Didn't really change very much. During pregnancy we spend more money on doctors. Maybe spend a bit more on baby clothes and maternity clothes--but honestly, that's not very much. Spend money on strollers/prams and baby carriers and natural health items (teas, supplements, natural medicine etc.)
• Is there any changes in your wellness and fitness?
For me, not really. I took pilates while I was pregnant and it was great. I did have back problems during pregnancy that caused quite a bit of discomfort and toward the end I had a severe issue with my liver enzymes that made my skin unbearably itchy. Otherwise, I was healthy.
• Do you notice any behavior change in you?
I got tired more easily.
• Pets issue
None at all. Actually, I quite liked having my cats around while I was pregnant. They always like to lie on the side of my belly and they are really soothing and comforting--especially since my husband worked nights and was often not home.
• Is there any role change in your social status?
This question is unclear. Do you mean, do I still hold the same status socially or do you mean is my social life different? If you're asking about social life, I would say that my social life was more full when I was pregnant because I was part of a due date club and enjoyed meeting up with other pregnant women.
• Family relationship
No major changes in family relationships during or because of pregnancy. I think the process of pregnancy and birth brought my husband and I closer together and strengthened our relationship.
thank you so much, cheers~
 
Hi thanka2,

thank you so much for the prompt reply.

and thanks for answering the unclear questions. :) yes, i meant your social life and maybe at work and in a public space.
 
• How has pregnancy change your lifestyle?
I was working full time through pregnancy -- and very long hours -- and I was exhausted all the time. I had nausea for the first few months, and then leg cramps and swelling in late pregnancy. So all I did was work and go home. I went to fewer social events.

• How do you usually spend your time?
This question is unclear. Before, during or after pregnancy?

• What products and services do they spend most during pregnancy?
Around 3-4 months pregnant, I began to buy maternity clothes, maternity bras, a maternity swimsuit, etc.
Towards the end of pregnancy, I bought some very basic baby items -- a bassinet and cot, diapers, etc. But bought almost no baby clothes, because I got a big bag of hand-me-downs from my family.
I didn't use any particular special services, unless you count prenatal medical care.

• Is there any changes in your wellness and fitness?
Well, your entire physical being changes during pregnancy, so you might want to narrow down this question.
In terms of fitness, I did prenatal yoga and some swimming. When I got too big to swim, I walked in the water around the pool.
I stopped doing riskier or more strenuous outdoor physical activity.
But I did more light exercise, like yoga, walking and swimming.

• Do you notice any behavior change in you?
Again, you might want to narrow down this question, since your whole life changes when you're expecting a baby. But, if you're asking about hormonal mood swings, etc. -- no, I didn't have anything like that. No moodiness, etc.

• Pets issue
No issue with pets. I was shocked when my HK Chinese relatives asked if I was getting rid of my cat. Of course we wouldn't.
We kept our housecat, who was a great comfort to me while I was pregnant. He's proven to be wonderful with the baby -- he never hurts her, touches her or any of her things. He comes and gets us when he hears her crying!
My relatives worried about cat hair and allergies -- but I think the more children are exposed to things early, the stronger their immune systems get. Our baby sneezed a few times when she first contacted the cat, but she's stopped now.
The only small change is that I stopped cleaning the litter box -- animal feces can carry a germ that is dangerous to pregnant women.

• Is there any role change in your social status?
I don't know what you mean by status. My status among my family? My position at work? Or do you mean social life?

I hope that helps.
thank you so much, cheers~
• Family relationship
 
• How has pregnancy change your lifestyle?
my lifestyle changed completely. with my first, i was extremely sick. could not even look at food. i lost over 20lbs in the first 3 months. i was only 5 lbs heavier when i gave birth than when i got pregnant. with my second, i spent 4 out of 8 months in a wheelchair due to debilitating hip pain.
• How do you usually spend your time?most of my second pregnancy was spent on the sofa. i couldn't walk at all. i needed my husband even to help me get to the toilet or into/out of the bath. if i wasn't on the sofa, it was because i was in the hospital. i was hospitalised 13 times over 2 pregnancies.
• What products and services do they spend most during pregnancy?
During my second pregnancy, i tried a lot of massage, because my hips and back were so painful. i also tried a chiropractor for the first time.
• Is there any changes in your wellness and fitness?
see above answers
• Do you notice any behavior change in you?
hubby and i argued a lot more during my second pregnancy. i think it was because he was feeling a lot of pressure financially and also having me in a wheelchair and completely dependent upon him was very stressful for both of us.
• Pets issue
my two dogs were wonderful. they kept me company on the many nights i slept on the bathroom floor (due to morning sickness, i was ill a LOT.)
• Is there any role change in your social status?
really don't understand the meaning of this question....
 
Hi Gracey and Carang,

Thank you very much for sharing your experience.

Sorry, I was unclear in the question of social status. I am actually referring to the change of your social life with your friends, colleague and and public.

May I know is there any change with you family relationship?

What if you have a wish list that can make you pregnancy more comfortable, what would you wish?

cheers~
 
How has pregnancy change your lifestyle?

The first trimester of both my pregnancies sucked. I was very nauseous, ravenous, and generally unwell. I pretty much got through it a day at a time, dragging myself into work. Second trimester on, I was pretty active - though I did slow down due to my growing bulk. I went to sleep earlier, ate more, etc. Towards the end, I'd avoid going out on Friday night after work... too tired. I gave up alcohol and coffee but still drank iced tea. I was more careful with food for my first pregnancy - though by HK standards I was very lax - and this pregnancy have eaten everything. However, I craved spicy food in my first pregnancy and can't stand spicy this pregnancy. This time around finding food I want to eat is a problem though I'm hungry all the time.

• How do you usually spend your time?

I have a one-year-old so I spend most of my time with him. Other than that, life went on as normal.

• What products and services do they spend most during pregnancy?

My pregnancy was pretty inexpensive. Antenatal appointments were the most expensive but that actually got covered by insurance in the end. I had to buy larger clothes as I went along but except for two pairs of pregnancy trousers - one formal for work and one pair of jeans - didn't specifically buy maternity wear. Found maternity clothes overpriced.

• Is there any changes in your wellness and fitness?

I wasn't super fit to start with. For my first pregnancy I was spotting and so deliberately stayed off exercise in the first trimester. Later, I started taking long walks.

• Do you notice any behavior change in you?

My husband claimed I was more hormonal.

• Pets issue

Don't have pets in HK but I'm an animal lover so don't think it would have made a difference if I did.

• Is there any role change in your social status?

My colleagues at work are more solicitous - they look out for me when we're walking together down the street, they're scandalised at some of the food I eat. I didn't go out as much but my friends remained my friends and always ran restaurant choices by me because they knew I'd become more picky about food.

Wish list - hmmm nothing that money can buy I guess. I wish the first trimester didn't suck. I wish people would give up their seat in the MTR, especially when you're standing in front of the seats marked for the purpose. I wish there were hospitals offering services somewhere between public and the currently overpriced private.

Honestly, the big changes in life come once the baby is born. Pregnancy is not such a big deal relative to that.
 
• How has pregnancy change your lifestyle?

For my third pregnancy my lifestyle didn't change much as you still have to deal with the daily routine for the first two kids. Tried to sneak in a nap here and there but not much else.


• How do you usually spend your time?

Not much different than usual. Would nap more in the afternoon...but as I have two others the same routine was kept.


• What products and services do they spend most during pregnancy?

Doctor appts. Baby stuff (for first baby only) with this one ni money spent on baby stuff.
• Is there any changes in your wellness and fitness?

As I only gained 9lbs eith each pregnancy, I have become more fit than before. I eat mire healthier as many foods I avoid, and eat more frequent meals rather than big meals three rimes a day.

• Do you notice any behavior change in you?
Less patient and have higher expectations from adults around me as I assume they are smarter than the average Joe.

• Pets issue

More adamant that my dog gets her bath and finger nails cut.

• Is there any role change in your social status?
Yes, now I go by my marries name more...especially in places where money is being spent...schools, doctors clinics etc.


• Family relationship
No change as we have always been close. With MIL a bit different...my expectations and her time spent with my kids do nit match so a bit of a problem,
 
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I agree with Charade. The things that would have made my pregnancy easier were things that money can't buy.

Your original question was about "products and services". Special pregnancy products are nice luxuries if you have the money, but they're not the main point. I could afford maternity outfits, but regular larger-sized clothes are fine, too. Some spend money on special prenatal yoga classes, but you can also stay fit just by walking through a park or doing yoga at home for free. (That's what I did).

Here are things that would have made my pregnancy / early motherhood easier

* Better manners from people using MTR lifts, etc. Younger people (teens, early 20s) were the worst. I attended a university lecture when I was 7 months pregnant, and not a single person offered his / her seat, even though many of the students were just sleeping anyway!

* More honest private doctors. I got outright lies and fearmongering from doctors trying to "sell" me C-sections, with skewed information on the "pain and dangers" of natural birth. It got to the point that I felt that one had violated medical ethics by trying to make up potential complications that I didn't have. The stress of finding a decent, honest doctor was a huge problem for me those first few months.

* Better information for pregnant mothers to prepare them for breastfeeding, diet, etc. I'm lucky because I am a fluent English speaker, well-educated, and could afford pre-natal classes run by British nurses and midwives -- all private. But I was shocked by the lack of information some of my more Chinese-speaking local friends and relatives had. There are so many (scientifically unproven) superstitions and untruths out there. Most local moms spend 9 months worried and stressed about all sorts of things due to a lack of knowledge.

The biggest help to a pregnant woman is good, relaxed, supportive care from both medical professionals and family.

The expensive products are services are just optional.
 
Hi all great mama,

Thank you all so much so the valuable insight, they are all very helpful for my project.

all the best.

cheers~
 
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