This week has not started off good for me. Even though I’ve felt light movement since November, it wasn’t until January 10 that I finally had the experience of watching my belly move. That
Since this Sunday, however, I’ve had the unpleasant experience of no longer seeing the movement on my belly skin. Why? It seems as if little Jack has turned around and now his feet are in my intestines.
A teeny fetus kicking his tiny foot into your belly skin, making your tummy move, isn’t so bad. It’s quite cute and fascinating to see and feel.
A 2 lb, 14 inch baby moving like a linebacker, kicking the **** out of your kidneys is NOT!
It got so bad this past hour, I literally felt like fainting…crying…calling for my OWN mommy. It hurts. Not in a “oh gosh, I gotta pee now” cute kinda way you picture a pregnant woman. It HURTS. I’m so glad I’m currently not working. My boss would have found me on the floor! So much for all of the pleasant thoughts I was having during breakfast this morning. For the first time my mind has uttered the thought “Ok, NOW I’m ready for this to be over”. I’ve never tolerated pain very well.
And yet, from here on out, the pain only gets worse.
Here is a list from a CNN article of what I have to look forward to in my 3rd trimester…
Article found at http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/PR/00009.html
- Backaches. As your pregnancy advances, your baby gains weight, while hormones continue to relax the joints between the bones in your pelvic area. These changes can be tough on your back. Hip pain is common, too.If you must stand, place one foot on a box or stool. Sit in chairs with good back support. Apply a heating pad or ice pack to the painful area. Ask your partner for a massage. If the back pain doesn’t go away or is accompanied by other signs and symptoms, contact your health care provider.
- Swelling. Swollen feet and ankles may become an issue at this stage of pregnancy. Your growing uterus puts pressure on the veins that return blood from your feet and legs. Fluid retention and dilated blood vessels may leave your face and eyelids puffy, especially in the morning.If you have problems with swelling, use cold compresses on the affected areas. Lying down or using a footrest may relieve ankle swelling. It may also help to swim or even stand in a pool.
- Shortness of breath. You may get winded easily as your uterus expands beneath your diaphragm, the muscle just below your lungs. This may improve when the baby settles deeper into your pelvis before delivery. In the meantime, practice good posture and sleep on your side. As long as your health care provider says it’s OK, aerobic exercise can help relieve this effect of pregnancy, too.
- Heartburn. Your growing uterus may push your stomach out of its normal position, which can contribute to heartburn. To keep stomach acid where it belongs, eat small meals and drink plenty of fluids throughout your pregnancy.
- Spider veins, varicose veins and hemorrhoids. Increased blood circulation may cause small reddish spots that sprout tiny blood vessels on your face, neck, upper chest or arms — especially if you have fair skin. Varicose veins — blue or reddish lines beneath the surface of the skin — also may appear, particularly in the legs. Hemorrhoids — varicose veins in your rectum — are another possibility.If you have painful varicose veins, elevate your legs and wear support stockings. To prevent hemorrhoids, include plenty of fiber in your diet and drink lots of fluids.
- Stretch marks. You may notice pink, red or purple streaks along your abdomen, breasts, upper arms, buttocks or thighs. Your stretching skin may also be itchy. Moisturizers can help. Although stretch marks can’t be prevented, eventually they fade in intensity.
- Continued breast growth. By now, you may have an additional 1 to 3 pounds of breast tissue. As delivery approaches, your nipples may start leaking colostrum — the yellowish fluid that will nourish your baby during the first few days of life.
- Frequent urination. As your baby moves deeper into your pelvis, you’ll feel more pressure on your bladder. You may find yourself urinating more often, even during the night. This extra pressure may also cause you to leak urine — especially when you laugh, cough or sneeze.Continue to watch for signs of a urinary tract infection, such as urinating even more than usual, burning during urination, fever, abdominal pain or backache. Left untreated, a urinary tract infection may damage your kidneys and trigger preterm labor.
- Braxton Hicks contractions. These contractions are warm-ups for the real thing. They’re painless and come and go unpredictably. True labor contractions get longer, stronger and closer together. If you’re having contractions that concern you, contact your health care provider.
- Weight gain. By your due date, you’ll probably weigh 25 to 35 pounds more than you did before pregnancy. Your baby accounts for some of the weight gain, but you also need to count the placenta, amniotic fluid, larger breasts and uterus, extra fat stores, and increased blood and fluid volume.
Related Posts
Tags: pregnancy, prenatal care
And yet, from here on out, the pain only gets worse