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Nobody Told Me Pregnancy Would Feel Like This

On the glow that never arrived, the body that had its own agenda, and the myths I wish someone had busted sooner

6 min readJul 7, 2026

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https://unsplash.com/photos/woman-in-white-dress-amidst-blooming-pink-roses-M0I74jYz7bQ

Before I got pregnant, I had a picture in my head.

Nine months without periods. A legitimate excuse to finally wear white. Luminous skin. Thick, full hair. That soft, beatific expression pregnant women seem to have in every ad I’d ever seen. I wasn’t naive — I knew there’d be morning sickness. I just assumed it would be the manageable kind. The kind you push through before lunchtime.

That picture did not survive contact with reality.

If you’re somewhere between “maybe one day” and “we’re actually trying,” this one’s for you. Not the pretty version. The real one.

Myth #1: At least you get a break from periods

This was genuinely my consolation prize going in. Nine months of white linen. No more mentally calculating where I was in my cycle before leaving the house.

I was not the woman in the crisp white linen.

What I was: nauseous, in an oversized t-shirt, negotiating with every single meal. The first trimester nearly flattened me. Not just nausea — a complete renegotiation with…

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Fiona Lim | UX Designer 🇸🇬
Fiona Lim | UX Designer 🇸🇬

Written by Fiona Lim | UX Designer 🇸🇬

UX designer based in Singapore · 7+ yrs experience, specialising in government products