The Nose of Pregnancy

So, my sense of smell has kicked up in high gear, and I'm not sure it is a good thing. Here are a couple instances.

This week I went to the gym and went on the elliptical machines. Two machines down from me was a very overweight man. I'm glad he was at the gym, but he was wearing a long sleeve sweatshirt AND long sweatpants. May I remind you that these last few weeks in Kansas City have been horrible. They have been in the 90's and 100's all the time and it has been miserable. I'm not sure why that man was wearing this outfit, maybe he was modest or maybe he wanted the extra weight loss from sweating (not really a good idea anyway). Still, it caused a problem for me. As soon as I started going on my elliptical machine I smelled him, and it was not good. Not good at all. If I would have had an appetite, I would have lost it. Since I had already started exercising, I felt I had 2 choices: one, get off my machine and change to a different one further away from him , and 2, keep on going. Let me say that I am very happy that this overweight man has come to the gym and is obviously pushing himself hard. This might be the beginning of a great thing for him. If he were to notice that I was moving away from him, that could make him feel bad and even more self conscious. I don't want to do that to him. As a doctor, I also know that your nose habituates to the situation, so I felt that even though things were bad now, maybe I could get used to it.

In the end I chose the second option. After a couple minutes I didn't notice the smell, but every 5 minutes or so the smell would waft my way again and make me rethink my decision. I stuck on that elliptical machine for the full 30 minutes and to my knowledge, that guy never knew it was a problem.

That's probably the most painful smelling consequence of my pregnancy, but there are more. One night I was having dinner at my in-laws house. Aaron was drinking a glass of red wine next to me and that smell, mmmm. That smell was so enticing and perfect and........ I couldn't have it. The whole dinner that glass of red wine was mocking me. I think I might have to bring in some wine to the hospital with me, so as soon as that baby is out....

All and all, I think this heightened sense of smell is not a good thing. I am ready for my normal nose to come back. Although, I must tell everyone that the Tom's of Maine Lavender deodorant is divine.