Little Jack's CornerThe Life & Times of Jack-Evan and Family

I turned 32 today!  Well, 32 weeks that is.   

This past week I’ve noticed a remarkable shift in my body.  A few days ago (last Thursday I believe), I woke up and realized the strange sensation I was feeling was Braxton Hicks (fake contractions).  It scared me a little at first, but having read up on them I was able to put my mind at ease at the time and just concentrate on the weird sensations – kinda akin to the feeling of tightening your stomach muscles but without conciously trying!  Before that, I had no idea what a contraction felt like! They didn’t last more than 30 minutes or so and weren’t painful (otherwise I would have went ahead and called the doctor).  I haven’t felt them since then though.

I’ve also noticed an increase in tiredness, breathing is getting harder, my rib (yes, just one special rib…the lower right one) is getting kicked quite a lot more now, and doing anything is pretty uncomfortable anymore.  Walking is terrible…sitting is uncomfortable…and laying is uncomfortable.  Curling up in a ball with a pillow between my legs feels the best.

Sleeping feels even better!

The exhaustion is coming more and more frequently – even when I haven’t done anything.  Once in a while, especially after eating, all of my energy will drain so fast that the only hope I have in recovering is laying down immediately and falling asleep.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I have never just “fallen asleep” in my life – but within the past 3 weeks, I’ve fallen asleep in the midst of strangers in a hospital waiting room (my uncle had surgery) and even fallen asleep while sitting up reading a book.  This is the first period in my life where I’ve ever fallen asleep without conciously thinking about it. 

In the beginning of the pregnancy, everyone told me the exhaustion and tiredness would dissappear in the 2nd trimester. 

Nope.  Not for me. 

I guess it’s better than being nauseated for 9 months like my cousin Carrie was during all 4 of her pregnancies though!

My cousin, Christina (she’s 15), also made the cute observation the other day of “Hey Lisa!  You’re waddling like a duck!”    She’s right too….I’ve definately noticed a huge change in my walking ability over the past few weeks.

I’ve also noticed a few lower backaches this past week - one that felt akin to very, very slight cramping.  My latest backache was last night and radiated all over my lower back.  I’ve been thinking that it was normal since I’m getting on up there in my pregnancy – but this morning I read that you should call your doctor if you’re experiencing backaches. 

I didn’t know that and now today I’m fine.  I do have my next doctor’s appointment tomorrow so I’ll be able to ask them about the backaches.  Knowing my office though, I know very well what they’ll say!  They’ll tell me it’s “completely normal, don’t worry, and if it gets too severe just give them a call if I feel I need to.”

Why should I ask the doctor something when I know what they’re going to say in advance?  It’s frustrating.  But I will be asking anyway. 

So.  That’s my pregnant-body feelings lately!

Here’s what my email from Lucy contained concerning being pregnant at 32 weeks….

Your pregnancy: 32 weeks

How your baby’s growing:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You’re gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she’ll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby’s development.

How your life’s changing:
To accommodate you and your baby’s growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn . To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.

You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven’t had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor .

Assuming it’s not preterm labor that’s ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

Get support from your partner “Sleeping is getting difficult. The only way I can get any rest is to lie with my back to my husband as he cradles my body. The support from him and a pillow between my legs is the best help.” —Anonymous