Let us make pregnancy an occasion when we appreciate our female bodies – Merete Leonhardt-Lupa
They say that a woman who goes on to have a second+ child does so because she forgets some of the discomfort and pain associated with pregnancy, labor, and delivery. It was quite the opposite for me as I recall each moment of joy, anticipation, fear, discomfort and uncertainty. And yet having experienced the full range of physical symptoms and emotions that accompany pregnancy, I went on to have a second child.
That first pregnancy is the most life-altering, simply because your body goes through such incredible transformations. I spent my first trimester overseas, away from family and friends, often feeling isolated and apprehensive about the changes going on inside my body. At the recommendation of a friend living here in the US, I checked out a copy of the infamous pregnancy guru guide, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. As an RN with nearly 7 years of experience in Obstetrics, I should have breezed through this time. But regardless of how much technical knowledge a woman has, the experience of pregnancy is quite different and I was thankful to have such a comprehensive resource to help me answer those “is this normal” types of questions.
This Friday, May 18th, the anticipated film inspired by THE pregnancy must-have book, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, opens in theaters nationwide. The cast is phenomenal and includes Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks, Matthew Morrison, Chris Rock, and Dennis Quaid. Much like the film New Year’s Eve, there are five intertwining stories, detailing each couple’s unique experience surrounding childbirth. The film touches on the expected and unexpected as well as more complicated circumstances including infertility, unplanned pregnancies, adoption, and miscarriage, as experienced through these couples.
The film opens with star couple Jules (Cameron Diaz) and Evan (Matthew Morrison) performing together on a show that very much resembles Dancing With the Stars. The couple, who meet and begin dating incognito, learn that they’re expecting a baby, something that neither of them planned but each have an opinion about. Jules, who also hosts a reality TV show that almost mirrors The Biggest Loser, ends up on bedrest and must put aside her need to be in control as the couple work out their relationship together as soon-to-be parents.
The most authentic story follows Holly (Jennifer Lopez) and Alex (Rodrigo Santoro), an endearing couple going through the process of adopting a baby from Ethiopia after several unsuccessful attempts at fertility treatments. I connected with Holly’s character, her longing to be a mom, and her passion for photography. Alex is apprehensive nothing short of terrified at the prospect of becoming a father and joins a “dude’s group,” to vent and seek some support. Their relationship is the most relatable, despite the fact that their story is the most unconventional.
Most parents, particularly moms, will identify with Wendy (Elizabeth Banks) and Gary’s (Ben Falcone) story. After two years of “trying” to get pregnant, they conceive, almost at the exact same time as Gary’s father Ramsey (Dennis Quaid) and his second third fourth much younger wife Skyler (Brooklyn Decker), who is expecting twins. Wendy experiences all of the typical physical and emotional symptoms of pregnancy while Skyler breezes through her pregnancy without a single stretch mark. Wendy is laugh-out-loud funny and portrays the “typical” pregnant woman perfectly.
Of all the couples who’s stories are depicted in the film, it is the one of Rosie (Anna Kendrick) and Marco (Chace Crawford) that I wanted to see more of. Both characters are rival food truck chefs with a bit of history that isn’t fully detailed in the film. When they reconnect, their chemistry leads to much more than a first kiss and their unexpected pregnancy and loss force them to examine whether or not they should be together.
The most interesting inclusion in the film is the “dude’s group,” a handful of dads who get together in true fatherly fashion with baby carriers and strollers to dish about the joys, struggles, and mishaps of fatherhood. The idea of such a group is a bit far-fetched (I don’t know any dad in our circle of friends who belongs to such a group), but perhaps it will inspire a generation of fathers who get together to “talk” and offer support/advice. Chris Rock heads up the group and provides comic relief with his unrestrained confessions of accidents and parental shortcuts.
What to Expect When You’re Expecting is lighthearted and funny, with a handful of tender moments sprinkled throughout. I appreciated the fact that a variety of different types of parenting scenarios were explored and that there were real, if only brief, moments where I connected with a few of the characters.
Prior to the film’s premiere this week, I participated in a press conference with many of the talent from the film. Stay tuned for exclusive interviews.
You can buy tickets to the film on Fandango!
No compensation was received for this post. I was invited to a screening and press junket for the film.
Photos Credit: Lionsgate Publicity
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