Today, one of the people I work with asked me if I was pregnant. This is the first person to actually ask. I think other people must suspect (since one of my department chairs said I was showing 6 weeks ago), but this is the first person who actually asked.
The funny thing is that my doctor mentioned the "Dave Barry" rule for asking about pregnancy this morning at our appointment: if you don't see a baby actually emerging, don't ask a woman if she's pregnant. My coworker said I was getting bigger "just in the tummy" so she suspected. It was actually kind of nice to be asked.
Nothing too exciting to report regarding this morning's doctor's appointment. Baby is measuring small and has apparently been measuring small the whole time. That lines up with my view of the situation - I don't feel like I look that pregnant compared to other women who are equally pregnant. I'm sure the tiny squee will catch up on growth later on. Baby's heartbeat seemed sort of variable. Dr Liz said that baby didn't like me laying down. I wonder if it's because it cuts off circulation. Supposedly the weight of the baby can press on the vena cava and inhibit blood flow somewhat. I had found myself sleeping on my back sometimes (mostly to save my hips from hurting), but it's getting pretty uncomfortable to do that.
I've solved the hip pain when sleeping problem (at least for the time being). If I put a pillow between my legs, I can sleep pain-free through most of the night. I usually wake up once (to pee), then flip over to the other side for most of the rest of the night. It's been much better the past few nights that I've done that. I must be sleeping pretty well because when I wake up, I'm still in the same position that I started.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Trouble sleeping again
It seems like the biggest part of being pregnant involves sleep: either too much or too little. Last night was a too little night.
The first part of the night wasn't too bad. I had a dream about being in Japan with Lacey in her weird open-courtyard apartment. It was completely pouring down rain.
Then, I woke up. My hips were really sore, to the point where I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. My left side, where I normally sleep, was really sore from having been slept on all night. When I turned onto my right side, that side started hurting along with my left hip. Laying on my back, which is how I used to escape from the hip pain, has become pretty uncomfortable. When I'd finally find a more-or-less comfortable position, the tiny squee would start flopping about. Apparently baby was disgruntled about me tossing and turning.
I went for a really good walk yesterday with my pregnant lady friend. We walked up and all around Mt Tabor. We walked and chatted for about 2 hours. I didn't feel too sore yesterday, but maybe it hit me in the hips last night.
I headed to prenatal yoga this morning. I was hoping it would help with the hip pain. What with the walk and the yoga, my legs are a little stiff and sore this evening. The yoga was really nice, though. Very relaxing. The tiny squee started bopping about as we were relaxing at the end.
One of my favorite parts of yoga is looking at what all the other pregnant ladies look like. There's a big range between least pregnant and most pregnant. Most people seem to be in week 30+, but one woman was only 14 weeks today. I don't look very pregnant at all compared to the majority. I didn't really look that pregnant compared to the other two ladies who were 24-ish weeks. It will be nice to check in with Dr Liz next week and make sure baby is measuring the appropriate size.
The first part of the night wasn't too bad. I had a dream about being in Japan with Lacey in her weird open-courtyard apartment. It was completely pouring down rain.
Then, I woke up. My hips were really sore, to the point where I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. My left side, where I normally sleep, was really sore from having been slept on all night. When I turned onto my right side, that side started hurting along with my left hip. Laying on my back, which is how I used to escape from the hip pain, has become pretty uncomfortable. When I'd finally find a more-or-less comfortable position, the tiny squee would start flopping about. Apparently baby was disgruntled about me tossing and turning.
I went for a really good walk yesterday with my pregnant lady friend. We walked up and all around Mt Tabor. We walked and chatted for about 2 hours. I didn't feel too sore yesterday, but maybe it hit me in the hips last night.
I headed to prenatal yoga this morning. I was hoping it would help with the hip pain. What with the walk and the yoga, my legs are a little stiff and sore this evening. The yoga was really nice, though. Very relaxing. The tiny squee started bopping about as we were relaxing at the end.
One of my favorite parts of yoga is looking at what all the other pregnant ladies look like. There's a big range between least pregnant and most pregnant. Most people seem to be in week 30+, but one woman was only 14 weeks today. I don't look very pregnant at all compared to the majority. I didn't really look that pregnant compared to the other two ladies who were 24-ish weeks. It will be nice to check in with Dr Liz next week and make sure baby is measuring the appropriate size.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Nothing new and exciting to report.
Things are pretty much progressing on the same trajectory that they were before. I'm tired, I eat more than I used to, and I'm getting bigger. I looked at myself in the mirror at work today and I look a lot more pregnant than I did before. Someday soon I might actually have to start wearing maternity tops. I'm not sure I'm actually fooling my students any more... but maybe they just think I've gained weight because of the holidays.
I can't imagine being pregnant and already having one kid. I spend so much of my day tired that it would be like hell to have to stay active and chasing after a little person. I totally think only having one is the way to go.
I can't imagine being pregnant and already having one kid. I spend so much of my day tired that it would be like hell to have to stay active and chasing after a little person. I totally think only having one is the way to go.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Hunger and flip-flopping
The tiny squee continues to make me hungry five (or 10) times a day. I'm trying to ration its supply of sweets and convince it that squash and apples are just as tasty. I'm not sure that it's working. I just really want sweet things. Or salty with lots of fat (Cheetos, anyone?).
There's tons of activity going on in my midsection, too. Baby seems to be testing out a variety of different positions. For several days there was a lot of banging on the bottom parts. I think baby was jumping up and down on my cervix to see if it was closed securely (it was). Then, the poking and prodding shifted over to my left side. This morning, baby seems to be laying on its back and poking its toes upwards. It's totally unpredictable and still a slightly disconcerting sensation.
I'm trying to make it through the end of this term with my regular clothing before switching into maternity tops full-time. Maybe I'd feel differently if it was summer and I was wearing thinner tops, but most of my sweaters are stretchy enough to still fit. I think I may have overestimated the amount of maternity clothes I would actually need. I should have held off on buying stuff until I actually didn't fit into my other clothes. I don't feel like I'm really big enough to wear most of what I've gotten without looking kind of silly. I need to sort through what I have and see what I'll actually wear. During winter break, I may end up trying to sell (or take to Goodwill) some of the stuff I really won't ever wear.
There's tons of activity going on in my midsection, too. Baby seems to be testing out a variety of different positions. For several days there was a lot of banging on the bottom parts. I think baby was jumping up and down on my cervix to see if it was closed securely (it was). Then, the poking and prodding shifted over to my left side. This morning, baby seems to be laying on its back and poking its toes upwards. It's totally unpredictable and still a slightly disconcerting sensation.
I'm trying to make it through the end of this term with my regular clothing before switching into maternity tops full-time. Maybe I'd feel differently if it was summer and I was wearing thinner tops, but most of my sweaters are stretchy enough to still fit. I think I may have overestimated the amount of maternity clothes I would actually need. I should have held off on buying stuff until I actually didn't fit into my other clothes. I don't feel like I'm really big enough to wear most of what I've gotten without looking kind of silly. I need to sort through what I have and see what I'll actually wear. During winter break, I may end up trying to sell (or take to Goodwill) some of the stuff I really won't ever wear.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Starrrrrving.
This tiny squee refuses to be satisfied by apple slices, a string cheese, and tea this morning. And this after I already gave it oatmeal with raisins, canned plums, and banana for breakfast!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Yoga class!
I went to my first yoga class today at Yoga Shala. It starts at 10:30, which is a fabulous time. It means I can sleep in and still make it to the class. It ends at noon, so there's enough time left in the day to get stuff done afterwards (if I were tempted to actually do things).
One of the things that the lady who taught the class talked about was community. It was really neat to see all the other pregnant ladies there. There were probably 20 women in various stages of pregnancy. I was a little worried walking in that I was going to be the only person who wasn't in my third trimester... maybe most pregnant ladies go to regular yoga classes until they get really big? But that wasn't true. At the start of the class, we all introduced ourselves and said how pregnant we were and then anything else we wanted to say. The woman who was the least pregnant was 13 weeks and the woman who was the most pregnant was 39.5 weeks. I was right across from her. She looked really tired. I'm hoping to make a few pregnant-lady friends through the class.
It was a good class. There's a lot of stretching of the legs and hips, which is good because mine are always really tight. We talked about pushing through and holding a difficult position, but staying relaxed. It's like labor.
I got an introductory package, so I get to go to unlimited classes for the next two weeks. Unfortunately, I'm going to be at home for Thanksgiving, so I'll miss the next Saturday class. I'm also probably going to miss the Wednesday evening class because we're headed down to Corvallis that night. It's the only Wednesday class I can make until the end of the term because I teach. If Mike works late, I'm going to go to the yoga class and then we'll drive down afterwards.
I didn't feel any tiny squee motion during the yoga class, but got some good bumps earlier this evening. Sometimes, it feels like baby is jumping up and down on my cervix. Or at least it feels like I imagine it might feel to have something jumping up and down on my cervix. I'm not sure how it feels to have ones cervix bumped from the inside. Pregnancy is really weird.
One of the things that the lady who taught the class talked about was community. It was really neat to see all the other pregnant ladies there. There were probably 20 women in various stages of pregnancy. I was a little worried walking in that I was going to be the only person who wasn't in my third trimester... maybe most pregnant ladies go to regular yoga classes until they get really big? But that wasn't true. At the start of the class, we all introduced ourselves and said how pregnant we were and then anything else we wanted to say. The woman who was the least pregnant was 13 weeks and the woman who was the most pregnant was 39.5 weeks. I was right across from her. She looked really tired. I'm hoping to make a few pregnant-lady friends through the class.
It was a good class. There's a lot of stretching of the legs and hips, which is good because mine are always really tight. We talked about pushing through and holding a difficult position, but staying relaxed. It's like labor.
I got an introductory package, so I get to go to unlimited classes for the next two weeks. Unfortunately, I'm going to be at home for Thanksgiving, so I'll miss the next Saturday class. I'm also probably going to miss the Wednesday evening class because we're headed down to Corvallis that night. It's the only Wednesday class I can make until the end of the term because I teach. If Mike works late, I'm going to go to the yoga class and then we'll drive down afterwards.
I didn't feel any tiny squee motion during the yoga class, but got some good bumps earlier this evening. Sometimes, it feels like baby is jumping up and down on my cervix. Or at least it feels like I imagine it might feel to have something jumping up and down on my cervix. I'm not sure how it feels to have ones cervix bumped from the inside. Pregnancy is really weird.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Hip pain and yoga
When you're pregnant, you're supposed to sleep on your side. Specifically the left side, because they the weight of the baby doesn't obstruct the vena cava and your intestines. This isn't really a problem for me because I've always preferred to sleep on my left side. However, I've started getting pains in my hips from sleeping that way.
The pains started probably 6 weeks ago, maybe longer. I started waking up early in the morning because my hip hurt too much to continue laying on it. I could switch temporarily to the other side, but then that side would start to hurt. We bought a memory foam mattress topper (at Costco) and it solved the problem for a while, but it's back again.
Turns out this is a very common problem among pregnant women. The relaxin hormone is produced during pregnancy to relax the joints and ligments in the hips and pelvis so the baby can pop out more easily. However, it starts its work early on in the pregnancy process and leads to hip and thigh pain in some women. Me, for instance.
People online have suggested various pillow configurations (between the knees, between the ankles, behind the back so you can lean slightly backwards, in front of the belly to support the weight of the baby). It sounds like the only solution is pillow trial and error. I may start giving that a try in the next few nights.
My other solution was to try a little yoga. I'd planned on doing prenatal yoga, in fact as Mike would be happy to tell you, I bought three prenatal yoga DVDs from Amazon. However, as Mike would relish telling you even more, I haven't actually opened any of them. I'm using the "I've been busy" excuse. That, combined with the "when I'm not busy, I'm lazy" excuse, means that I hadn't gotten around to yoga.
This morning, my hips were *really* sore. I slept a long time last night (I was exhausted yesterday), which contributed in part. I also took a long walk on Tuesday, so my hips and parts of my thighs were sore Tuesday night and Wednesday. This morning, I decided to bite the bullet and actually break out the yoga DVDs. One of them is only 30 minutes long, so I decided to start with that one and get into this whole process gradually. It was very low intensity, but I feel somewhat better stretched than when I started. My hips and legs are very tight, so I'm sure continuing with the yoga is an excellent idea. We'll see if this does anything to alleviate hip pain tonight.
The pains started probably 6 weeks ago, maybe longer. I started waking up early in the morning because my hip hurt too much to continue laying on it. I could switch temporarily to the other side, but then that side would start to hurt. We bought a memory foam mattress topper (at Costco) and it solved the problem for a while, but it's back again.
Turns out this is a very common problem among pregnant women. The relaxin hormone is produced during pregnancy to relax the joints and ligments in the hips and pelvis so the baby can pop out more easily. However, it starts its work early on in the pregnancy process and leads to hip and thigh pain in some women. Me, for instance.
People online have suggested various pillow configurations (between the knees, between the ankles, behind the back so you can lean slightly backwards, in front of the belly to support the weight of the baby). It sounds like the only solution is pillow trial and error. I may start giving that a try in the next few nights.
My other solution was to try a little yoga. I'd planned on doing prenatal yoga, in fact as Mike would be happy to tell you, I bought three prenatal yoga DVDs from Amazon. However, as Mike would relish telling you even more, I haven't actually opened any of them. I'm using the "I've been busy" excuse. That, combined with the "when I'm not busy, I'm lazy" excuse, means that I hadn't gotten around to yoga.
This morning, my hips were *really* sore. I slept a long time last night (I was exhausted yesterday), which contributed in part. I also took a long walk on Tuesday, so my hips and parts of my thighs were sore Tuesday night and Wednesday. This morning, I decided to bite the bullet and actually break out the yoga DVDs. One of them is only 30 minutes long, so I decided to start with that one and get into this whole process gradually. It was very low intensity, but I feel somewhat better stretched than when I started. My hips and legs are very tight, so I'm sure continuing with the yoga is an excellent idea. We'll see if this does anything to alleviate hip pain tonight.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)