Pregnancy has made me feel like many things.

At first, I felt like a zombie – what with the caffeine withdrawal and the constant nausea that was par for the course for me during the first trimester.

Then, I felt like a sausage – slowly expanding, trying to stuff myself into clothes growing tighter and tighter by the day.

Not long ago, in the middle of the night, I started to feel like the infamous French Bulldog who couldn’t roll over. Trying to switch from sleeping on my left side to sleeping on my right side has become the biggest challenge during the night, second only to actually sitting up in bed (can’t happen anymore, I’ve got to push myself up now).

Lately, I’ve felt a little bit like the bear at the zoo who people sneak food to, despite the giant warning sign above the cage.

Like the urge to touch a woman’s growing belly, it seems like pregnancy compels people to feed pregnant women at random intervals. I think it also gives people an excuse to indulge in their cravings as well along with the pregnant lady.

An extra snack (or two or three) is nothing to the person offering it to a pregnant woman – but these little indulgences can quickly add up for a mama-to-be if she’s not careful. I’ve been pretty careful with my weight gain so far, staying well within the limits of what my doctor wants me to gain, but I know how easily I can pack on the pounds, especially when it comes to treats – which just taste so darn good!

And you know what, I like the care and love that the people who bring and share food with me give me in those moments of shared enjoyment. We won’t get to indulge (relatively) guilt-free forever so I’ll enjoy it while it lasts.

Mamas: How’d you handle the increase in people offering you treats while you were expecting?

Photo via: Sam Howzit, Flickr.com