HONEST THOUGHTS ON PREGNANCY FROM AN OBGYN | DR. ALI 

Thank you for being honest and so relatable! 🫶🏼 I’m on baby #3 (32 wks) and hate this pregnancy! I feel so out of body and not myself at all. Doesn’t mean I’m not so excited to meet my baby! I’m 37 yo so my body isn’t the same as my other pregnancies. I’m being soooo hard on myself, so depressed. And social media is a thief of joy because of comparison. Thank you so much for making this video. ❤

I feel the exact same way, and it’s so disheartening to have people tell me that I should just be happy to be pregnant. I’m over the moon with happiness, but it hasn’t been an easy ride, and my body doesn’t feel like my body anymore, and it’s ok. Thank you so much for sharing. It’s nice to know I’m not alone ❤

You’re still doing your makeup and styling your hair and wearing cute outfits (looking gorgeous by the way!), working full time in a demanding career, making RU-vid videos, exercising, etc. You’re doing a lot! I was so exhausted towards the latter half of my pregnancy and rested tons and indulged in all of the yummy foods. I had to really force myself to stay active every day and do my work-outs towards the end. It wasn’t easy. (I did always feel better after exercising though and it helped me sleep.) Anyways, I just wanted to say that you’re amazing! You are doing more than enough! Pregnancy can be very tough on the body. Sending you love ❤️

Thank you so much for the honesty about how guilty you felt being unproductive , unhealthy, & inactive in pregnancy . I’m in the same boat. I’m nervous to hear it lasted throughout 23 weeks for you! Hope that’s not me😭. Totally relatable. It’s easy to say you should be one way in pregnancy and then truly being able to carry it out when you’re in the throws of it! I’m 35 and 11 weeks and honestly so nervous about genetic stuff that I’m holding my breathe until after NT, NIPT, and Anatomy scan😩 wish i would allow myself to just live in the happiness instead .

1:03 *wears orange tree print* "I HATE ORANGE." lollll love your channel Dr Ali 😆😂😍

I am 43 and pregnant with our 4th child (in 3rd trimester) and having been through this a few times I 100% agree with and identify with EVERYTHING you are talking about re: not absolutely loving being pregnant and how difficult it is mentally. Thank you for making this video so that we all feel a little more normal in our pregnancies. These kiddos of ours are a blessing for sure, but not always an easy one! ❤

Thank you for speaking on this because I think most pregnant women don’t feel like themselves to some degree. I’ve been pregnant 3 times now and I feel like a different person every time and definitely have struggled with depression and anxiety. I find myself again after every pregnancy and become a better person each time but in the moment it’s tough!

My husband and I just recently got married and we have decided to wait a bit to have kids. This was so helpful to hear a person be completely honest about their pregnancy. I'm saving this to watch/listen to later💙

God bless you for being so honest and transparent! Finding your channel has been so awesome! Not only informative but validating. I’m not pregnant (YET! Praying for baby #2) but I relate so much from my first pregnancy. It does get better but while you’re in it it’s a rollercoaster ❤️

It's so relatable. I felt the same guilt of being lazy and unproductive. In my last pregnancy, I felt very little nausea and fatigue. But this time, it hit me hard. Just so tired.

Thank you for talking about how your mental health has been. I hope you continue to do more videos on this topic. It's not rainbows and sunshine. You don't want to feel this way and have these dark/negative thoughts then feel shamed and guilt because "your suppose to be happy" it's a struggle.

Thank u sooo much for this honest & so very relatable video. I have gone thru a rollercoaster since falling pregnant & have also been made to feel ungrateful by others. It’s hard! And of course it’s hard! And we shud be allowed the grace to feel wat we need to feel & be honest that it’s hard! Im so glad I found ur channel 💗

Sending you love and hugs babe 😘 I’m 27 weeks pregnant with first baby and I’m 35. This experience has not been fun and it has definitely taken a toll on mental. Honestly, I feel like you outlined my experience. I finally reached out for help and started therapy. Hoping things get better for you. We’re past the halfway mark ❤

Thank you for being so honest. Being pregnant is so hard and uncomfortable. No one tells you the mental toll it takes on everything. I failed my 1hr Gestational Diabetes test too, my glucose was 156 and I ended up passing my 3 hour test. I felt so awful too that I failed my 1hr because I also do not have good genetic cards (both of my parents are type 2 diabetics). The hormones just escalate everything to be 1000x worse. I’ll be 32 weeks with my first tomorrow! Sending you all the hugs and positive vibes!! ❤️

Hi Dr.Ali, new subscriber here. I’m currently 21 weeks pregnant and it’s been rough the whole way though with the symptoms and working full time also having a history of anxiety and depression along with a miscarriage that happened a little 10 months before this pregnancy so I completely understand all the emotions and anxieties that pregnancy can come with. Thank you for speaking on it.

This is such an important perspective for women out there! I had a really hard time being pregnant. I was high risk and didn’t enjoy it. I always felt so guilty about it because so many others have it “way worse” than I did. The world says you should be bubbly and glowing while pregnant and I most definitely was not. I appreciate your honesty. ❤

Thank you for being so real and transparent about this Ali! ❤️ I wish you the absolute best during the rest of your pregnancy. I’m glad that God has answered prayers and I’m happy that he has placed supportive people around you during this pregnancy.

Thank you for being so raw and open about how you're feeling about your actual pregnancy I think that's super interesting and I I think I wish some people would be a little bit more open but I think that's great and I think you're very pretty woman being pregnant and you know I look forward to continuing to watch and see you through this pregnancy

Thank you for sharing your honest thoughts, it’s great to hear from a professional who is also going through it! The anxiety has been real for me too, as is the guilt from comparing yourself to others. Also funny coincidence, we are the same age and found out I was pregnant the exact same day as you!

My sister is an obgyn and I called her and CRIED when i got my gestational diabetes diagnosis. She really talked me off the ledge. Haha. I was able to manage my blood sugar levels with diet only. But it does really affect women mentally. Pregnancy is hard on the body and the mind. No doubt. You are doing great! You got this!

I so needed this today. I'm 21 weeks. I have been struggling with fatigue, ligament pain and I'd had nausea until early 2nd trimester. The fact I have struggled with my usual fit lifestyle and feeling like I'm failing compared to social media to be mum's. To hear that someone else has gone through this is do reassuring!

I appreciate this video so much. I’m in my 9th week and have been following your updates and it’s been helping gain clarity. ❤ And we’re the same age! Please do a video on gestational diabetes when you can. Thank you thank you thank you!

I’m currently 14 weeks pregnant and I’m so glad to know I’m not alone. I’m so excited and happy about the baby but I haven’t not been feeling myself at all. I have felt so guilty for not exercising like I use to. The fatigue is extremely hard. Thankfully I did not have any nausea/vomiting so I can imagine that makes it even harder. My father has diabetes which my OB recommended to take the GTT early. I also failed my 1 hour GTT by 7 points. I felt horrible after the results and felt I am failing my baby. She had me take a 2 hour GTT and thankfully I had passed. But I’m trying to get over the fatigue and all to be healthier for myself and the baby. Thank you so much for sharing. You have been the best and I’m very grateful that you share about your pregnancy as I’m right behind you in gestation!

Thank you for keeping it real, as always. I'm 30w pregnant with my first and I was diagnosed with GD very early. I felt so mad at myself for being heavier when I got pregnant, or being 38 when I got pregnant...the list goes on. This negative thinking is real- but I'm trying not to let it define my pregnancy, and neither should you.

What you are describing is so hard! I didn’t have anxiety during my pregnancy, but I did have a lot of back pain and joint pain due to a lot of the relaxin hormone in my body. I agree with you, that pregnancy is not my favorite. The prize at the end is so worthwhile, but I was definitely not one of those women who was glowing like you see in the movies. it’s a lot of work to be tired all the time and feel like you can’t get things done🥺

I feel like you and I are exactly the same. I’m 34 weeks today. I was super active prior to pregnant and my first trimester was extremely hard up until mid second trimester. I still gag on a daily basis but I’m so used to it now that it doesn’t phase me. I cried histerically when I failed my 1 hour test. I just changed my eating habits and my husband takes me on a walk every day for 20-30 mins. I still endulge but I don’t stress about it anymore because my doctor told me it’s okay in moderation and to stop overthinking everything and to try to remain calm for not just myself but my baby girl. All that said I did pass my 3 hour test and I’m so glad you posted this because now I’ve been enjoying pregnancy even with the growing pains. 💕

Thank you so much for the honesty about the anxiety and nervousness in the first trimester. I'm about five weeks and I have a history of general anxiety disorder and my anxiety has been very high. It's been hard to feel excited, and it's nice to know that I'm not abnormal for feeling this way

Thank you for sharing. I definitely can relate to this. Unfortunately I will say motherhood also is similar in the way that you build it up in your head and imagine who you will be and reality is a shock. But I will say pregnancy and motherhood/parenthood are hard! Of course it's worth it but we have to give ourselves grace. Sending you all the love and prayers. ❤️

I feel the complete opposite. For a long time I’ve been depressed because I’m far from friends, family and my husband. I got pregnant right before my husband deployed and we now have plans to live together right after the baby is born. Since the baby has been here I’ve felt more peace and less worried about work things. I’ve calmed down a lot and I’ve enjoyed it. I think my depression has reduced immensely. Hope you feel better ♥️ you’ve been of great help

Thank you for making this video ❤ Wishing uou the best!

THANK YOU. thank you thank you. I’m 30 weeks today for a wanted and planned for baby. I was in a pretty severe mental health downward spiral for the first 12-14 weeks, to the point where my partner (who really wants this baby and was the one who suggested we start trying) sat me down and asked me if I wanted to terminate it because he was worried it wasn’t worth me feeling like that/losing me. It got better thankfully, and I’m in a much better mental place now. I showed him this video as well, because although he’s been incredibly supportive the entire time, it was hard for him to understand that what I was going through was “normal” because he’d never heard of a woman feeling so depressed during pregnancy. So GRACIAS de nuevo.

Wow this is so so relatable i had to leave social media alone for a while and actually had to meditate because the negative self talk was getting to me to the point where i just had to cry one time. I am normally full of energy and now I don’t. i felt worthless. i got confronted with my own thoughts about the way I viewed myself. Almost 33 wks now and more aware of and conscious of my mental wellbeing i feel that i have grown so much of this experience!! I didn’t expect to feel this way when just resting and doing nothing. Maybe it’s also the societal norm that working/being busy all the time is associated with being valued more… so if you’re not busy then people judge you by calling you lazy and somehow i believed this to be my own while it was just external things i picked up on. Those thoughts really messed with my pregnancy experience. But i’m good now i focus on me being healthy overall and hopefully in December delivering a healthy babygirl

Thank you for being REAL! ❤I’m feeling similar

I’m 5 weeks and my only symptom so far is just light cramping. I’m enjoying watching your honesty in these videos as I get ready for what’s to come!

Thank you for being so honest! This is my first pregnancy and I literally feel and relate to everything you said! Thank you ❤

You've got this mama❤

Yes please I would love a video on gestational diabetes! I failed my 1 hour test and just took the 3 hr one so I’m hoping for good results 🤞🏻🤞🏻

I have struggled with infertility for 2 half years. I got a new obgyn and did letrozole. I got pregnant and now 6 weeks. Of course the worries never leaves me. I was spotting but very light. It has stopped now but talked to the nurse at my OB office and made me feel better. I got my scan done today and saw the sac. I still worry but I cannot wait till 12 weeks is over. I will admit that I hate pregnancy. The nausea and fatigue is killing me. I feel so bad for feeling this way because I been trying for a long time and now I'm like blahhh. I'm hoping that everything turns out okay. First appointment next Monday!! Thank you for sharing!!

I feel the same way. I think I also didn’t expect pregnancy to be so hard because of how it is portrayed on social media. I was diagnosed with incompetent cervix and was able to get a cerclage but got gestational diabetes later on. It was just very emotionally turbulent. But definitely still excited to meet my baby. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for your honesty

We are thinking about having a baby and RU-vid will have u so nervous about everything but I’m not even pregnant and keep thinking of the what ifs. I will keep u in my prayers ❤

Hey girl..thanks for sharing ur experience with us...when I was pregnant wit my 2nd child 13 yrs ago after only bring pregnant for about maybe 8 weeks my Dr had me take insulin after she told me to try changing my diet & go for walks & I never got to try before they put me on it...when I heard the news I balled my eyes out...I threw my bag of insulin & test strips on the floor & slept all day..I didn't wanna talk to anybody or be bothered & I felt like i didn't want the baby if I had to take insulin for 8 months..so I can relate to how u felt about being pregnant. Sorry u going thru this & things will get better❤

Such a pure soul

Thank you do much Ali! Sharing your journey is helpful for me. I am 36yrs old and pregnant with my 3rd baby. Pregnancy is hard.

I agree with you pregnancy is hard I am currently pregnant with my 4 the child and I feel that this pregnancy hit me harder I don't know if is because I am older now but yeah the tiredness and the morning sickness hit me so hard that I needed to go in to the hospital and I fluids because of how bad it was but I believe that our bodies are amazing and at the end we will be able to hold our babies once they come to this world and especially when you already have other children it is not easy because you got other kids to take care of and I have 15 month old mama so it's hard but we got this and I have suffer depression for year and I understand what your feeling because I have been thier to

I didn't like being pregnant, either. The nausea, the heartburn, the round ligament pain, the fatigue, the constipation, the stuffy nose, the swollen ankles, the feeling that my body didn't really belong to me anymore but was a vessel to grow the baby in. All the restrictions - no alcohol, no bean sprouts, I couldn't eat Mexican food because it no longer agreed with me, I couldn't bear the smell of the hazelnut coffee that I used to love. I felt weepy, vulnerable and ridiculous. I loved the baby growing inside of me and feeling all of his kicks and movements. I was excited to become his mom. But some of those kicks - especially the rib kicks were uncomfortable. I remember being in the conference room giving a presentation when little boy kicked and took my breath away. Add in the ultrasound tech who pressed down so hard on the inside of my hip bone with no explanation as to why - that hurt so bad. I had that baby at 34 and then got pregnant again at 35. For some reason my second pregnancy was like a breeze by comparison, it was like my body had learned what to do with the first one.

I feel you completely, I had GD for both my kids. Once diet controlled and other with Insulin and had natural birth. So, just take care of yourself. I used to feel overwhelmed too. Try to do some meditation in the morning and at night, it helped me to relax my mind ❤ take care. Much love

Thank you for sharing and just being so honest........I really appreciate when people are real. Honestly I skipped the glucose test with my 1st, just navigating the health care system here in the US was stressful. Coming from a "developing country" I felt like I actually had a relationship with my doctors.......it was so much more personable whereas here I felt like a statistic. And what's the point of a capitalist society if you are a private paying patient but treated like everyone else. Back home when I saw my OBGYN privately she's the actual doctor that would come to my delivery at the private hospital that I pay for 🤷🏽‍♀️. Pricing was upfront so you could decide how to budget for delivery, here people get upset with me when I ask about prices etc. I'm currently pregnant with #2 and the lesson I have learned is that women have been having babies for centuries in most cases at home😂. The best thing I can do is eliminating anything that increases my stress level during this pregnancy. P.S I have a healthy 1 year old daughter & I'm 39😉

This is wildly relatable. From this being my FOURTH pregnancy, dealing with PPD with my last baby, this pregnancy being unexpected, the INSANE nausea and vomiting, everything. I had finally started feeling like myself, and then I got pregnant. The depression came back with a VENGEANCE. I’m at 17 weeks now & the nausea is still here but I feel like it’s slowly getting better. Either that or I’m truly forcing myself bc I don’t have a choice. 😅 cannot wait to see my baby & forget this horrible pregnancy 🤮

Thank you for sharing because ive felt that way with both my pregnancies and everyone thinks im not grateful 😢 i felt so uncomfortable being pregnant. I also hated people touching my belly

I'm not pregnant and don't want to be, but you seem like you're doing great! I wonder if it would help you to think about what you would tell ypur patients if they were saying these things to themselves. I bet you would show them the compassion you deserve.

Thank you for the honesty. It needs to be talked about more. I hated being pregnant. Love my child and would move mountains for him and would love to add to my family but the thought of being pregnant again. No thank you. Lol

I had severe nausea/vomiting and food aversions and the first half was soooo hard. I felt so depressed. Just going outside, the smell of the air made me vomit. The only foods I ate for 3 months were plain potatoes and one specific brand of protein shakes. I was on a high dose of zofran and still lost about 20 pounds. The second half I felt a bit better and didn’t feel super uncomfortable in late pregnancy because I had lost so much weight I really wasn’t that big, despite having a 9 pound baby.

Thanks for sharing!

Please make a video on gestacional diabetes I did the 2 hour glucose test and failed it but I’m in another country and I ended up having ketones in my urine and that freaked me out because I read that’s bad and my baby had tachycardia, but honestly I think my doctor wasn’t the best at handling my gestacional diabetes, but my baby and I are fine I just wished I had known more about it. I’m a medical interpreter and I know some things about gestacional diabetes but when I was pregnant and I got diagnosed I felt that I wasn’t getting the right treatment.

Happy that you all are experiencing pregnancy for me I have failed IVF cycle problem is I have blocked tube , ovarian cyst, adenomyosis don't know what I'll do ....but good wishes to you 🙂

Can you do a full episode of GDM? I had my baby at age 24 and diagnosed with GDM. No risk factors except family history of T2DM. Now at 25, I’m prediabetic. Healthy weight, active, eat balanced, and currently nursing 6 months PP. I know there’s a 50% increase of T2DM down the road, but I wasn’t expecting it at 6 months PP. so can you go into detail of why GDM happens and why in my case it crapped out my pancreas 🙃

I failed my 1 hour and went into a shame spiral as well. Luckily I passed the 3 hour. Thanks for talking about this!

Yes, please make a video on gestational diabetes and what are the treatments for it if you fail the glucose.(:

I felt the same way and sadly it does not end with pregnancy. Being a mother and with this perfect society is hard as well. I felt like a failing mother all the time and my daughter is now 15 months old. I never know if I am doing the right things and I know it’s always going to be that way and I just have to take it easy on myself. Good luck 🍀

I really wish I had found you last year when I was pregnant because the pregnancy and postpartum depression took me out

Wait… you can eat before the test?!? They made me fast overnight 🤯

28 weeks and I have gestational diabetes. This is the second time so I was tested much earlier on in the pregnancy. Last baby it was not so bad honestly I was able to just diet and be on some metformin at the end. It was only for at most a few months so I was ok. This time it has been really hard on me dieting and sometimes still not hitting the numbers I needed and I had to start insulin about a month ago. I am not good with shots and blood so other people have to check my sugar 4 times a day for me and give me a shot once a day. It just feels like you’re not doing the right things and it feels extremely unfair when most of the time pregnancy is when people get a social pass on eating whatever they are craving and when they feel like it. For me i stick to a strict diet and can’t snack much because I also really don’t like vegetables so it’s a struggle for sure. It sounds so silly to be depressed over the food you are eating but man i have days where I just get so sad and irritable over it. My first pregnancy I did not mind so much and loved it towards the end and this time I am happy me and my husband do not want anymore kids because I could not do it again. Just so excited and happy to meet our little boy. When I’m really upset I just tell myself 11 more weeks and I’ll be holding my little baby and being able to enjoy all the snuggles❤. Thanks for sharing your feelings it is always nice to know you are not alone😊.

I’m excited to be pregnant but I hate it 😂 the nausea and dizziness is making me unable to do regular tasks. Over it. I keep saying if I need a c section I’m asking for my tubes tied. My baby was planned but I don’t want to do this again.

Please make a video on GDM. Thanks

This is my third pregnancy and I HATE being pregnant. I do have HG while pregnant so that makes it so so much worse

I’m currently 38 weeks pregnant and Ive said it from the get that pregnancy is not for me. I’ve become more open about saying that ive been over it since I was 4/5 months but I still feel bad saying it. I think pregnancy is glorified by the media and other moms to the point that it feels sinful to not feel that “glory”. I’ve had very anxious thoughts/feelings about the well being of my baby from the minute I found out and I don’t have any medical reason to feel so worried. Every test, lab, and ultrasound has come back fine but you just never know and that’s where my mind has lived. That anxiety has in great part impacted my ability to form an attachment to my bump. I love my baby I know that for sure. I get excited to see him during our ultra sounds but I just don’t feel so connected in the way other moms do. I don’t know how I could until I know for 10000000% he’s okay and I don’t think I’ll know that until he’s out and in my arms. This all makes me worried that I might have pp depression or that I won’t be able to bond with my baby. Motherhood is hard and pregnancy is even harder. This definitely wasn’t what I thought it would be like.

Yeah the whole feeling guilty because you feel lazy thing... that's real. I am a very physically active person. I'm an avid Mountain biker and swimmer. It's not unlike myself to wake up at 4:20 to go for a swim an 1.5 hour swim and then after I got off work go for an hour mountain bike ride with my spouse. There was 5 weeks during the first trimester where I worked out once just because I was just puking. Considering I usually workout a minimum of 6 times per week I felt like a complete slug. Even on my rest days I typically try to get a small workout in. During the first trimester this was just not possible. Finally have started lap swimming a small amount again and I'm starting to feel a little better about things that way.

Please note that instead of doing this disgusting test (if the less bad Fresh Test is not an option for you), you can also ask your OB/GYN or the nutritionist on staff to instead do the blood glucose test where you prick your finger throughout the day and test the blood. Given my AMA status and my near HG levels of nausea and vomiting (plus my aversion to sugar in general), I declined to do the usual test altogether. Instead, I tested my blood for a week during my first trimester then the 2nd trimester (at wk 27). I will test for another week around week 31/32 (3rd trimester). If all clear, then no need to test anymore! It may be a bit cumbersome for some (versus a drink on one day). But for me, it has been useful to use a more reliable method (because testing over several days and periodically is a more reliable indicator of blood glucose). And, it's important to me to not put things in my body that are completely alien to it (like copious amounts of sugar).

Lol I’m on my 3rd pregnancy and it’s exhausting, I don’t like love being pregnant but I love the lil babies haha. I JUST started feeling normal 12 months pp with my first and now I’m pregnant again.

My OB just asked if I had pancakes for breakfast after he look at my blood work. I responded "I raided the vending machine." He would say, "Don't do that." 😂

I'm on baby 3, and was NEVER told you didn't have to fast for the 1 hr test!

I cannot believe we are pregnant around the same time, I’m 30 weeks I believe you’re around there as well. I feel so much better hearing that I’m not the only one who doesn’t enjoy the pregnancy ….. I had hypermesis the first 3 months and a half and I wouldn’t made it without Zofran. I’m terrified of giving birth on top of feeling depressed lately …. I cannot wait to have the baby out and feel myself again .

❤

Lmao because you said you don’t like the flavor orange but your shirt has oranges 😂❤️

Maybe getting a therapist? just for good measure? Either way whatever works for you (:

🫶🏽

You found out you were pregnant the day I gave birth 🥹 Honestly everything you felt I felt too, I got emotional watching you talk about it. I failed my 1hr by 6pts and beat myself up about it so much. Then even though I passed my 3hr they still had me do it again which I passed again. I’ve learned since now giving birth and going through it all that we really have to give our bodies and our minds grace through pregnancy and motherhood. ❤

I’m 27 week pregnant today and i have felt everything you said in this video. Which is so hard to believe. you’re a literal doctor who also runs a whole youtube channel. And you’ve felt unproductive too? I just cannot fathom. But i guess it’s all relative… l guess someone else could have seen me and thought i was productive when i felt so useless. I also went to that dark place when i failed my 1hr glucose test. (Passed the 3hr one) I felt terrible when i failed, and i felt bad about feeling bad about it. Anyway, let’s be kinder to ourselves, we’re doing so much already. We’re growing a whole ass human!!! Thank you for everything you said in this video, i feel like we’re in this together somehow 🥲

♥️