Thursday, May 15, 2014

Food baby. Nope...real baby

Let me start out by saying that I have no good reason to complain about this pregnancy. I haven't thrown up once; I don't have gestational diabetes; my blood pressure is normal; I have no swelling of hands or feet, or any carpal tunnel; my energy is mostly good and I've been able to remain active; my midwife has given me no reason to believe my baby is anything but perfectly healthy.

That being said...

For about four or five weeks now, I have really started to experience the discomforts of pregnancy. I know it's not, you know, "acceptable" for healthy women to complain about pregnancy, but just... indulge me for a moment. Imagine being the most full of food you've ever been. So full, it's pressing on your lungs and your rib cage. So full, you belly skin is tight like a ball and your abdominal muscle begin to tear a little bit. THAT is how I feel all the time, for over a month now. The fullness is so constant that I (miraculously) don't notice it sometimes anymore. I notice it when I can't breathe properly, or when the constant pain in my ribs peaks--particularly after a meal when I am full of food on top of being full of baby.

And the movement, ohhhh... What started out as adorably, microscopic flicks three months ago have turned into full on kicks, punches and flips. It doesn't hurt, per se, unless one of these kicks or punches makes contact with a rib. And while we're on the subject of ribs (again), I don't seem to be big enough to accomodate this baby, so let's just get rid of the ribs altogether. A rib-ectomy. That would solve so much.

Stats:
Gestation: Approx. 30 weeks, or 6.5 months
Weight gain: 18 lbs. I'm now the heaviest I've ever been!
Baby weight: 2.5 lbs.
Aversions: Still not crazy about chicken, but I can eat it.
Cravings: Nothing out of the ordinary.
Symptoms: RIB PAIN. Leg cramps from hell, but not since taking a potassium supplement. Borderline anemia for which I am taking supplemental iron.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

oh, pear. i love your honest commentary on pregnancy. its so refreshing! photos wouldn't hurt either…just saying.

Amanda, Curtis, Ellis, Hugh, Rhys, Graham, Sylvia said...

Go Pear! I admire how you're doing this all. One step at a time (occasional waddle is fine--go ahead--own it!) and stepping beautifully.

Nancy said...

waddle, sit wide legged and wear mu-mus. Life is wonderful when you are making new life because you can appreciate all the pain - it is the opposition in all things paradox.

Transition

Nobody blogs anymore, and nobody reads blogs anymore, so I suppose here is as good a place as any to empty the contents of my bruised heart....