This Is What F.R.I.E.N.D.S Taught Us About Pregnancy !

 TV sitcoms may come and go but FRIENDS is forever. Even after 20 years, it’s still the most popular series ever made. Even when you are reading this, it is getting aired in at least some part of the world. Why was it such an insanely hit TV show? Maybe because it’s so much more than a TV show. It’s a therapy, a stress buster and a balm for all our worries. Its utmost simplicity has won our hearts over and over again.

One of the important lessons it gave us was how unconventional ways of pregnancy (surrogacy, adoption and single mother) is normal. 

Episodes with Phoebe’s and Rachel’s pregnancy portrayed real struggles of the knocked-up lady in the most hilarious yet heart-touching way ever.

Few of them are summarised below:-

1. Morning sickness does not necessarily come in the morning.
2. Remember, Phoebe says that she gets her morning sickness in the evening when Rachel asks us her to go with Emily, so she can go to her date with Joshua. It’s actually true.
3. Despite the name, we can get it anytime of the day and it will happen at the same part of the day for the rest of your first trimester. Morning sickness is healthy and it actually reduces the chances of miscarriages and stillbirth. However, there are some pacifiers which can help you deal with this troublesome situation like eating small meals 6-8 times a day, drinking more fluids, smelling scents which soothe you, getting plenty of rest and finding foods that work for you.
4.  Your erratic behaviour due to hormones does not make you a bad person.
5. When Rachel and Phoebe get their mood swings, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Ross supports them and helps them get through it. They don’t mind their random verbal attacks because they realise it’s the hormones talking.
6. .
7. Your body is going through a whole lot of changes whether it’s physical or mental. You are bound to feel a little off the emotional edge during your pregnancy, especially in your last trimester. Those raging hormones are completely normal. Start pampering yourself, talk to other mums and let your partner help you. If you are feeling down consistently do something which gets you back into the good mood. It’s never healthy to feel distressed for a long time while you are pregnant. 
8. Unusual sex drive
9. Rachel’s erotically charged mood during the start of the second trimester makes her attracted to a guy with hairy fingers and bald haircut.
10. Yes, sometimes your hormones are going to make you feel like your brain has left the station without you. Especially after your first trimester when they can get completely fussy and push your sexual urges to extremes. It’s completely natural. Having sex during your pregnancy can actually help easing your labour and uplifting your mood. Your baby will not get harmed as the amniotic sac starts way ahead of your vagina.
11. Cravings for food which you have always despised
12. All of us know Phoebe is a vegetarian and how much she hates murdering innocent animals for eating. However, when she is pregnant she gets a sudden urge to eat meat. She can’t control it and finally, she gives up.
13. Similarly all to-be mums have certain cravings and aversions. In fact, some cravings can actually indicate lack of certain nutrients in your body e.g. cravings for eggs, milk can indicate lack of protein in your diet, cravings for chocolate especially dark chocolate can indicate the problem of gestational anaemia. Not all cravings necessarily have a meaning but some intense ones do. You should consult your gynaecologist before gorging a lot on any certain type of food.
14. When you are late.
15. The episode in which Rachel is late than her due date perfectly describes a full effect of pregnancy rage and a place where you are so miserable that all you want to do is punch everyone in the face.
16. Only a mum-to-be can realise the tragic suffering they face during those extra innings. A due date can lie anything between 39-42 weeks and might take even lesser time if it’s twins or triplets. In fact, only 10% of the babies are born on their due date. No home remedies actually work when it comes to inducing labour. It will happen when it has to. Patience is going to play a rather tricky role here. The recommendation is to visit your gynaecologist regularly she will know the best to do right now.

This T.V. show has taught us so much about friendship, love, motherhood, life that it’s very difficult to summarise all of it in any piece of writing. It will forever remain our fuel for happiness. Comment below on the part of the show which has tou