So, here’s the thing—they tell you all sorts of things about what it’s going to be like when you give birth. You know the drill: you’ll be screaming in pain, you’ll get ugly, you’ll be vomiting, you’ll be completely helpless, and oh, don’t forget the horror stories about the down there area. And, let’s not forget, you’ll be exhausted for the next two years. But guess what? That didn’t happen to me. At least, not all of it.

Let’s take a deep breath, shall we? I’m here to tell you the real story—the one that’s a bit different, and definitely a bit more comical and light-hearted than you might expect. Because if I had listened to all those horror stories, I might have spent my whole pregnancy terrified instead of excited. But I’ll get to that later.

The Fear of the Unknown: Where It All Starts

Before I became a mother, I had a thousand fears racing through my mind. I’m sure you’ve heard them all too: “Will I survive labor?” “Will I look hideous after giving birth?” “Will I ever sleep again?” “How will I manage to actually take care of a tiny human?”

The problem was, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. The thought of giving birth used to send shivers down my spine. But here’s the thing: no one’s experience is the same, and no amount of advice could have fully prepared me for the actual day.

So, I decided to throw those fears out the window. I thought, “I’m going to do this my way.” And let me tell you, that mentality actually helped me more than I could’ve imagined.

“Cravings? Nope. Just Ice. Lots and Lots of Ice.”

Sharmin Sultana

Author

The First 7 Months: Completely Normal (I’m Not Complaining)

When people talk about pregnancy, they usually mention the exhaustion, the morning sickness, the hormonal changes. But for me, the first seven months were a breeze. I didn’t feel anything physically—nothing at all! No nausea, no cramps, no throwing up in the middle of a grocery store. I felt like a normal person… just, you know, with a growing belly.

I wasn’t even glowing. I didn’t get that pregnancy “glow” they talk about. But here’s the kicker: I didn’t smell bad either. Everyone warned me that I would start smelling like a walking perfume factory with all those hormonal changes, but nope! Nothing out of the ordinary, aside from maybe a hint of ice cream on my breath. (And that’s a win in my book.)

Weird Cravings? Nope. Just Ice. Lots and Lots of Ice.

When I heard about pregnancy cravings, I pictured myself munching on pickles at 3 a.m. or, even worse, pairing chocolate with spaghetti (which, no, just no). But guess what? I didn’t have weird cravings at all.

Except for one thing—ice. For some reason, in the last couple of months, I became obsessed with eating ice. I’m not talking about a fancy snow cone or a slushy, but just plain, crunchy ice. I’d chew on ice all day, and my husband would look at me like I was a human popsicle. It was my thing. So, I guess my craving wasn’t exactly bizarre, but hey, I wanted ice. Go figure.

No Gagging, No Vomiting: Just a Baby Growing in There

The Vomiting? Never Happened

You know the stories—women vomit everywhere, right? You’ve heard about it. They’ll be vomiting throughout labor, and if they don’t, something is wrong with them. Well, guess what? I didn’t puke. Not once.

Did I feel a little nauseous at times? Sure. But it wasn’t the dramatic “I’m gonna lose it” kind of nausea. It was more like, “Oh, this is uncomfortable, but I’ll just take a deep breath and move on”. Honestly, I was more focused on the task at hand—you know, delivering a human being—than worrying about whether or not my stomach was in the mood for a snack.

Peeing—Yes, That Happened, and It’s Totally Fine

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The one thing I wasn’t prepared for: peeing myself. Yes, I peed during labor, and guess what? It’s normal.

I mean, no one tells you that this might happen. But as you’re pushing with all your might, your body does what it needs to do. I wasn’t embarrassed or mortified about it—I was in the middle of creating life! Who cares about peeing? It happens. It’s part of the process, and honestly, no one even seemed to notice (or if they did, they were too busy to mention it).

The Big Reveal: Labor Was Hard, But I Forgot About It in 2 Days

When I finally went into labor, I was ready. But I won’t lie—it was hard. Painful? Yes. Long? No. The thing is, I forgot all about the pain just two days later. The memory of it faded so quickly that when people ask me what it was like, I have to pause and think, “What was I worried about?”

Of course, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It was exhausting. But here’s the thing—when you hold your baby for the first time, everything clicks. You forget the pain, the weird moments, and the challenges. What you remember is that tiny human who’s now depending on you—and that makes it all worth it.

The Aftermath: You Won’t Remember the Pain—Promise

Here’s the kicker: once you hold that baby in your arms, you forget the pain. It’s like it vanishes. Seriously, two days after giving birth, I could barely recall how tough the process had been. All I could think about was this tiny human who was depending on me and how much love I felt in that moment.

It’s like your body has this amazing ability to block out the traumatic parts of giving birth, leaving you with just the good stuff—the joy, the wonder, the feeling of having created a life.

What I Learned: Let Go of the Fears and Trust Yourself

Here’s what I want you to take away from my experience: You are bigger than your fear. Yes, labor is hard. Yes, it’s uncomfortable, and yes, you might pee yourself or feel nauseous. But you know what? You’ve got this. The fear they warn you about doesn’t always line up with reality.

So, to any first-time moms-to-be out there: take a deep breath. Whatever happens, you will get through it. And trust me, the joy of holding your baby is worth every ounce of fear or discomfort you might face.

And remember, every experience is different. You might not experience the same things I did, and that’s okay! But don’t let fear control you. You are stronger than you think.

Final Thought:
Fear of the unknown is natural. But once you experience the magic of becoming a mother, you’ll realize that the fear is just a tiny blip in the grand journey of parenthood. So, embrace it, laugh at it, and know that no matter what happens, you will survive it—and come out stronger.