Alyson Said What?

This post is mostly a rant/winge and a pep talk for myself. It's honestly pretty boring, so don't feel obligated to slog through it. Trigger warning for food-talk and depression. Two points to make clear before we begin: 1. I don't think there's any such thing as 'bad' food. Food has no moral standing. It is food. 2. This isn't about weight. Full stop. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I feel like rubbish. Why? Well, aside from the ongoing SPD/PGP saga throughout this pregnancy, I feel like rubbish because my eating habits have been rubbish. Simple carbohydrates were my saving grace throughout the rough seas of the first trimester when the mere suggestion of anything else made me gag. Knowing how utterly addictive simple carbs and refined sugar are for me, the necessary survival tactic has carried on into my second trimester long after morning sickness subsided.

I want to have a chat about a serious, ongoing feminist issue: reproductive rights and respecting choices. Let me make it ardently clear from the get-go that I believe that self-determination and bodily autonomy are inherent human rights, and that this is a far-reaching umbrella that covers other issues such as consent and the right to die. All of these concepts are deeply nuanced and rely heavily on a multitude of factors, like a person's capacity to make decisions and other contextual circumstances. However, this post will hash out my thoughts about how people treat one another in regards to whether or not they want to have children. A wee disclaimer: These are my personal opinions. You may or may not agree, as this is a highly sensitive topic, and that's ok. Please give this post a miss if you find pregnancy, abortion, and infertility to be triggering. If you disagree with anything that I have to say, I welcome questions and open discussion. The Choice to Remain Childles

Guys and ghouls. Ladies and ladles. Gentlemen and germs. Peoples and steeples. I'm more than halfway through this pregnancy with my second kiddo and it's time we had a frank chat about the reality of being a sacred vessel. Let me spill the beans to you about how this pregnancy has been different from the previous one, what's been easier, what's been harder, what's shocked me, and what's old news. Will I hold back delicious, lurid details? Absolutely not. You know me better than that. First of all, pregnancy is normal and pregnant folks should not be treated like untouchables leaking primordial ooze (whether or not we are...leaking primordial ooze...) Secondly, we still don't talk about this stuff as openly as we should because female bodies and sexuality are both still taboo, unfortunately. Lastly, I'll discuss why Phil and I are done having kids. Are our reasons what you think? You might be surprised. Truth (sort of): Every Pregnancy is Different