Pregnancy Positives: The Benefits I Did Not Expect

I feel like it is always easy to write about the negative side of things...or maybe that's just me.  My husband says I tend to notice the glass half empty before I realize, hey I've got half a cup of juice here.  So today, I am appreciating the fact that my glass is more than half full, and I'm going to share with you some pregnancy "side effects" that were surprising in a good way!

Hair that doesn't look dirty

Now some of you maybe have heard that the hair on your head gets longer, fuller, and more voluminous.  While I may have experienced a tiny bit of that, I am more excited about another aspect.  Since I have been pregnant my body overall has been a bit more dry, which includes my scalp.  This means, my hair doesn't get as greasy as quickly as it used to!  Prior to being pregnant, if I skipped a day of washing my hair, it would look dirty and greasy.  If I was leaving the house, dry shampoo was my best friend.  I used to envy my friends who said they could get away with washing their hair every three days or more.  Now that I'm growing a human, I know the glory of being able to get away with clean looking hair for multiple days in a row without having to take the time to wash it every single day.  

Dryer Skin

This ties into the above paragraph about my scalp and body producing less oil.  Since my skin is a little bit more dry my face has benefited.  Most people talk about that "pregnancy glow" which has been graciously tossed my way here and there.  But prior to being pregnant, my skin was combination.  I would have blackheads all over my T-zone.  My esthetician friends had a field day extracting my skin.  But since my skin is a bit drier now, I have noticed less blackheads and oil.  Another plus to add to the list!

Slower Hair Growth

Since I work in the beauty industry I always wax...pretty much everything.  I am used to my normal hair growth cycle, typically bringing me to get waxed once a month.  Since I have been pregnant, I have noticed that the hair on my legs has slowed down dramatically, and the hair coming in is less than it was. This was totally unexpected.  Another bonus:  the hair on my big toe completely stopped growing!  I hope that this pregnancy plus is a permanent one! *fingers crossed*

Spicy Foods: no problem

I am a hugeee fan of buffalo chicken dip.  My Aunt makes it all the time.  No joke her refrigerator always has a huge bowl just sitting there, ready to be eaten.  Before being pregnant I would delve into this delectable dip knowing that later I would be paying for it.  The last time I ate so much it was quite a traumatic experience.  In the middle of the night I was almost in tears because going to the bathroom hurt so bad.  Fast forward to pregnancy, and this problem has completely disappeared!  I noticed that I can eat spicy foods and all the buffalo chicken dip my heart desires without any fear of dealing with the aftermath.  I don't know why, and I don't care.  Thank you baby boy for allowing your mama to enjoy the spicy things in life <3.

Nesting

I'm sure you have all heard of the nesting phase of being pregnant.  I find this to be such an awesome pregnancy plus.  You know that closet which has needed organizing, or the cabinet that needs to be revamped.  Yup, you want to do it all.  This means a cleaner, more organized house.  Gone are the days of dreading those types of projects.  Lately, I cannot wait to get everything in order.  I just wish I was this motivated all the time!

These are just a few of the great unexpected things I have experienced during my pregnancy journey.  I wanted to share them with you, because I know that pregnancy can be scary and overwhelming.  But just know that there are positives that come along with that baby bump.

<3 P.S.

I know that everyone's experiences are different.  Keep in mind, I am having a boy, and sometimes the symptoms tend to differ if you are having a girl.  But I hope if you are pregnant, you get to reap some of these benefits, even if only for a few short months :)