Weekly re-cap
(Feb. 21 to Feb 27)
Symptoms: Back pain, round ligament pain (or maybe he is just doing something painful in there?), restless leg syndrome, raging out-of-control anxiety/hormones.
Body changes: Best Friend commented that my boobs are huge, but they don’t seem that big to me anymore. I’m used to them, and I think the huge belly has made them seem less huge. This was also the first week I noticed my regular PJ tops riding waaaaay up on the belly, leaving the bottom few inches all bare — weird!
Baby movement: I’m able to tell when Baby Boy is awake and when he’s asleep. Sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night, I don’t even feel pregnant because he is so totally still. And then I will get up to pee (of course), and feel him start twitching a minute later, like I “woke him up.” Adorable.
What’s new? Stuff below the belly is totally disappearing. And yes, shaving is even more of a challenge.
Belly button: Still indented! It’s not popping as quickly as I expected. Maybe it will stay in?
Energy level: Starting to wind down. Luckily I’m almost finished the painting/organizing tasks in the nursery. This is the true irony of pregnancy — you have all of this energy in the second trimester, but you only find out the sex (and therefore plan/paint/decorate the nursery) at the end of the second trimester. What gives, Mother Nature?
Baby preparations: Nursery is painted. Crib is put together. Curtains and cribskirt are sewed. Hand-painted accents on the walls are almost done. Canvases for the walls are almost done.
Cravings: Grapefruit! I haven’t even thought of it in years, but I saw it in the grocery store flier and had to have it. It would have been a great nausea-fix in the first trimester.
High point: Looking forward to my baby shower at the end of next month, which is being planned by Mom and Best Friend. It’s making everything seem much more real!
Low point: The hormones. The crushing, raging hormones that left me sobbing and alone in the parking lot of a discount store (don’t ask).
Paranoid moment of the week: Being excessively worried about money, how we are going to pay for everything Baby Boy needs, how we are going to survive financially while I am on maternity leave, etc.
Helpful hints for spouses of pregnant women
Friday, February 26, 2010
25 weeks, 5 days pregnant
- Our back hurts. It hurts a lot. Think of any moment we’re standing up, cleaning, as a moment that will make us even more miserable — and make you miserable, when we gripe about our sore back for the rest of the day/night.
- It’s really hard for us to bend over and pick things up. So instead of stepping over the doggy toys strewn across the living room, please toss them into the toy basket. You, luckily, have the ability to bend down with ease.
- The baby will not have horns if we drink an occasional Diet Coke or eat nothing but French fries for dinner. It’s very cute that you’re concerned, but please shut up.
- When you are in the grocery store, and you think to yourself: “Do we need toilet paper?” The answer is always, always, always a resounding “Yes!”
- When tidying up for company, “hiding” a basket of clean clothes in the bedroom — leaving them for your pregnant wife to fold when she gets home from work — is not cool.
- Oh, and leaving dirty dishes in the sink — again, for your pregnant wife to do — is also not cool. Especially when you were off all day, and she was working. You will, without a doubt, get your head bitten off.
- Pregnant women have a natural urge to nest (i.e. clean like mad and throw away everything in the house that does not involve the baby). Please do not frustrate this urge by leaving STUFF all over the counter/coffee table/desk/nightstand/kitchen table/every available surface. It will just piss us off royally.
- The kitchen must always be stocked with ice cream (and cones). It eases heartburn, and it is delicious.
- We are always right. No exceptions.
Fare thee well, spouses!
Five things I have learned about pregnancy hormones
Thursday, February 25, 2010
25 weeks, 4 days pregnant
- The are real.
- Like in-your-face real.
- They are way worse than period hormones — being a bit cranky or teary before you get your period is NOTHING compared to the gut-wrenching emotions of preggo hormones.
- They make you cry during every third song your iPod cranks out, because there is a slight reference to love … which makes you think of your baby and your husband and OH GOD, I NEED A KLEENEX! *SOB*
- Oh, and that commercial with the little boy who applies for the job at the restaurant? And the manager’s all, “You’re too young to work here! Shouldn’t you be playing hockey?” and the boy’s all sad and says, “Yeah, that’s what I’m trying to do.” And then the voiceover’s all solemn about how so many families can’t afford for their kids to play sports? I think I’m crying again.
Burning question
I really love these cute baby gowns from ThisMamaMakesStuff. I’ve heard that they’re great for newborns, because they make it really easy to change their diapers, etc. And you can make them from old T-shirts, so they can be totally funky and unique.
My burning question is … will Darling Husband think I’m putting our boy in a dress?
Ohhh, my aching … everything!
Monday, February 22, 2010
25 weeks, 1 day pregnant
Up until now, I’ve been fairly comfortable — no real back or leg pain, except for on the days when I do a lot of walking (like up my monster-hill-of-a-subdivision).
But now, I’m in the last week of the second trimester (woohoo!), and it’s very clear that the honeymoon period is over. This body means business, and the business is hurty. My back hurt — a lot. My legs hurt — like the actual muscles of my thighs hurt. Why???
I blame myself, because I did a lot of sewing this weekend. Sitting at the machine was fine, because I have a nice chair that keeps my back very straight. It was sitting on the damn carpet for hours upon hours — measuring, pinning, cutting, arranging, etc. — that killed me. When I tried to get up, it was like I’d spent a week sleeping on hard-packed dirt. Owwwwww.
Last night, I slept very unevenly. My legs ached like I’d run a marathon, and I couldn’t stop moving them. What’s that, Google? Restless leg syndome is very common from this point onward? Damn — I guess that means I have to stop telling my mom that’s “a load of crap, so stop jiggling your legs, woman!”
So, without further bitching/moaning, here are my resolutions to get me through the aches and pains of the third trimester:
- No more carpet crafting. When I have to cut/pin fabric, I’ll do it on the counter or the table, so I’m not doing awkward sitting/leaning.
- No more sitting on kitchen stools. Our stools don’t have backs on them, so I’m always hunched forward and achy when I sit on them. From now on, it’s chairs only for this chick.
- Go for a walk at least once a day. I’m bad about this — some days I walk to the bus, home from the bus, and then with Little Dog, while other days I’m a slug. I think regular walks will (hopefully) help my legs and my back.
- Get up (and out) regularly when at the office. Sitting in my desk chair all day is not a good idea. I have to start forcing myself out for little jaunts.
- Stretch. I don’t do it now, but maybe it will help. I am intrigued by a prenatal yoga class offered near the office, but they’re only offered on weekends (when I’m car-less) — boo.
- Get up/sit down with more care. Sometimes I forget I’m pregnant and try to do things as quickly/sharply as I did before, but that just isn’t possible. I need to take it slower when I’m getting into/out of bed, when I’m getting up off the couch, etc. I’m sore enough without adding a pulled muscles to the mix.
Are there any other preggos/Moms out there who have been through this achy-ness? I’d love some suggestions!
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