Finally, a pregnant woman who speaks the truth. No endless waxing on about pregnancy being the most magical, amazing experience of her life like some famous women (ahem, Alyssa Milano), but rather Carla Bruni, First Lady of France, says she wants her booze and cigarettes back.
As bluntly as possible, she recently told La Pariseian that being pregnant is driving her crazy:
Frankly, I cannot stand it. I have to stay sitting or lying most of the time, cannot smoke or drink wine. I cannot wait for it to end.
Swap the cigarettes for a cold, lunch meat sandwich, and I was right there with Bruni when I was pregnant. As excited as I was about the babies I was carrying and preparing for them, I also really missed my wine and sandwiches. Nine months is a long time, and besides an occasional sip, I wasn't one to indulge while I was pregnant, so I really missed it.
But when you mention missing vices, some women get all smug and judgey -- how dare you complain about something so trite when you're given the gift of pregnancy. This commenter at BabyCenter pretty much sums up the sort of ridiculous reaction some offer up:
Oh poor baby. To be so completely burdened by the miracle of pregnancy and childbirth. And on top of that, she actually has to make a sacrifice for her child by not drinking or smoking. Wowzers. Some people sure have a tough life…..* rolls eyes *
But pregnancy isn't all one big, warm, fuzzy journey (sorry, it's just not), and it's okay to want things you're not supposed to have. Some would argue it's okay to even have the things you're not "supposed" to have in moderation, but that's another argument for another time.
So I say good for Bruni and her bluntness. Whether they admit it or not, most women likely feel just like she does about something. Maybe it's not alcohol or cigarettes, but there are things we all give up to bear children that we wish we didn't have to, and admitting it doesn't make us bad mothers. It makes us the best kind of mothers -- human.
What did you miss most when you were pregnant?
Image via americanistadechiapas/Flickr
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Comments 75
I guess I'm the opposite of most to me being pregnant was the best part of it. I didn't mind at all the thought or act of sacrificingmy habits or likes for the baby. For me it was a bonding experience Now the labor was the real horror story for me .
i stopped smoking when i found out i was expecting, but only because the smell & thought of cigarettes made me want to puke.
i'm 18 weeks and i eat sushi (well, california rolls.. it's still considered sushi, right? lol), and
i have an occasional beer or glass of wine (moderation is key!).
... i also eat cold lunch meat. sandwiches are too damn good.
a ton of people today have a one-sided view on this sort of stuff..
but i say to each their own.
i'll do me, you do you. :D hahah
I don't drink personally but if it makes YOU happy, go for it. So let me get this straight about smoking: If I smoke cigarettes I'm a BAD parent? As long as I am parenting my 2 children properly, why does that make me a non "stellar" parent? My kids know it's not healthy & it is not done near them. Let me guess...because I smoke I may die sooner, so that makes me a non-"stellar" parent? Any one of us could be gone sooner rather than later. And now to say that someone is a BAD PARENT because that is something they enjoy that "may be" hazardous to their health? Then maybe we could be up to your "stellar" standards. I don't eat fast food, practice yoga & jog, 35 & weigh 115 lbs, but if you, mother of the "monkeyboys", are overweight or enjoy fast food maybe some would say your parenting isn't "stellar"....Have an opinion but don't accuse ppl of being bad parents because of cigarettes. Maybe beating them, not feeding them, overfeeding, neglect in general, shooting up, etc... THOSE are things BAD parents do; not smoking legal cigarettes. Please.
My daughter isnt even born yet and I already love her more then I ever even thought was possible but I wil be the first to admit that pregnancy sucks! I dont think it is the least bit of a bad thing that carla admited to missing these things. To be honest, if you change wine to sleeping on my stomach, Im right there with her. Pregnancy is hard, quitting smoking cold turkey made it even worse and even now that Im a day away from my due date, I crave cigarettes on a daily basis which makes it even worse. I dont give in to this craving but trying to ignore it doesnt make the craving go away.
I hate commenting late, but I was surprised that no one pointed out that Carla Bruni is French and the culture is very very different when it comes to drinking and smoking compared to the US, in fact, drinking moderately during pregnancy is not "banned" in most of Europe, but studies have been done finding that it may not be harmful at all. Smoking is also very cultural although I think its great that she has stopped while pregnant, starting after she delivers may not be seen in the same light as it is here in America.
I had a European trained doctor for the births of my first three kids and then an American trained doctor for my 4th and the differences were HUGE! With my first doctor I never felt restricted or stressed about food and she encouraged a small glass of wine once or twice a week during pregnancy. With my American doctor I felt like I was in a cage, which made the pregnancy less enjoyable. I was always stressing about everything I ate, exercise, etc etc. As far as the general point of the article, I missed PIZZA with all of my kids I couldn't stand the smell, thought, taste, picture......you get it. Actually, it was anything that combined tomatoes, cheese, and bread or pasta, so I missed out on a lot of really good food:(