Some Unforeseen (or forgotten) Aspects of Marriage and Parenthood

I'd forgotten how interesting the life of being (a) married, and (b) pregnant/with newborn, really was. I mean, once your significant is deemed pregnant, really the whole world is upended. Your priorities change. Where money might once have been pooled for a family vacation or some other such extravagence, now it goes toward the purchase of diapers and frilly pink (or blue, depending upon your prospective situation) clothing for this little individual who will soon grace your life with his or her presence.

But this is a simple change. The greater issues come along the social areas of life. The conversations between pregnant women and their partners now takes on a whole new vocabulary, especially for the first time parent. Colorful words like "mucus plug" and "afterbirth" are now deemed palatable for the dinner table. Women's conversastions with fellow girlfriends take on a whole new dimension as the unfortunate eavesdropper hears tell of a plethora of physical changes taking place that said eavesdropper could have lived the rest of his life without knowing about. Eventually, the very thing that incited the pregnancy, the almighty lovemaking, finds itself put to the wayside by the very thing that it was created for.

Yet, this is nothing compared to the point when the child is actually born. A whole new structure overtakes the life of the individuals who now bear the titles "Mommy" and "Daddy". Friends no longer inquire as to your wellbeing or as to your weekend plans. Instead, the questions fall along the lines of, "How's the baby?" People flood the home to see "the baby". But, this is not all. It gets even more strange. Sleep is no longer possible. The cries of this little person whom you had a part in creating no takes their pound of flesh out in trade, seeking to occupy all moments previously designated for sleeping and rest for their pleasure and enjoyment. But something strange has also occurred within the one known as "Mommy", too. At random times during the day or night, you stumble into a room only to find "Mommy", once known as "honey" or whatever relational nicety you choose, with a breast bare to the room with this little person attached. The bare breast is now normal. Nipples abound and discussion of various lactation issues help to pass the time between the Mother and her friends. And that stuff that got you there in the first place, that lovemaking that took a plunge during the latter trimester, is now forbidden by physicians! Oh cruel world!