The Return of Aunt Flo

I know there are a couple males who follow this blog out of curiosity — or better yet, out of a genuine desire to understand their pregnant wife better. Right gentlemen? Either way, consider yourself warned: this post is all about menstrual cycles.

Let us begin. A year and two months of no period was bliss. A definite perk of pregnancy and subsequent nursing. But I got a little too comfortable with the absense of that not-so-pleasant gift from mother nature. I hoped and almost assumed it would stay away for months to come. But Monday turned into a dreaded day when I marked the return of my least favorite "aunt."

I forgot just how unpleasant she is. And I forgot how strikinlgy she resembles her wicked step-sister, labor recovery. The back pain, the bloodflow and the inability to stand for too long because of the pressure bearing down gave me flashbacks of recovering from my baby's birth, and the birth itself ... because my contractions felt a lot like intense waves of period pain.

In my opinion, it would have been considerate of mother nature to let me ease back into the world of having a period with a gentle one. No such luck. I was not exempt from experiencing the full-blown package: the wacked-out emotions of PMS, cramps, bloating — you name it.

So, I breathe a sigh of defeat, dust off my boxes of tampons and reclaim my status as a menstruating woman. I guess I should be thankful I even have one, right? It means I'm healthy and can have babies. I think I'll work on that thankfulness later.

Pregos— relish your non-period bliss. Really relish it.

Oh and by the way, it was getting back on birth control that forced my period to come. Talk about a love-hate relationship.

—Kim (the Belly Mama on her period. Bleh!)