Learning my limits
This weekend marks the start of the third trimester of this pregnancy. I don’t know what I expected really, I certainly wasn’t going to be a wimpy pregnant lady. I didn’t understand all these women who would take off work in the last trimester, cry at the drop of a hat, or seemingly loose their ability to function normally. I’ve always been one to keep my emotions in check pretty well, I believe in logic and reason above all else. That was until I started crying for no damn reason. And when I say no reason, I mean no reason. Today at work, of all places, sitting at my desk I just started crying and couldn’t stop. I wasn’t sad, I wasn’t angry, I wasn’t in pain. There was absolutely no reason I could come up with for it, and it took a while to stop. Then when I called Matthew to tell him that maybe going to lunch with his coworkers might not be such a great idea for me, I started crying again when I told him about the pointless crying. This isn’t the very first incident, but the first time that there was absolutely nothing to cause such an outburst. Am I going to have to hide for the next thirteen weeks for fear of embarrassing myself among my co-workers? Though I think ultimately they’d understand, having to explain something like this to people is about as bad as the embarrassment.
I’m also begining to be slowed down by the changes to my body. My exercise routine has definitely had to be curtailed significantly, and I’m going to need to switch to swimming as of now due to gravity and pressure. My normal walking rate is getting slower and slower, bending over at the waist is a thing of the past. Is it bad that I’m ready to be done being pregnant already? I know rationally that carrying the baby as long as possible is essential, but that doesn’t take the aches away. I don’t want to be a complainer, and I also know that I’ve actually been pretty lucky in terms of the discomforts of pregnancy. I made this choice and knew that it wouldn’t be easy. Still I’m surprised by how I’m affected, perhaps it’s my pride that’s hurt the most because I may not be as strong, physically or emotionally, as I’d always imagined I was. So maybe I am a wimp, or maybe it’s harder than I was previously able to imagine. If the baby would stop punching me in the bladder maybe I’d feel better, or maybe I just need some ice cream.
Hi April….you probably don’t know me, but I went to SIU-E with your husband and just connected via face book! Congrats on the pregnancy. As I read your post I felt like I was reading myself. I have an 18 month old boy and am expecting #2 in March. I am too felt what you’re feeling when I had Andrew. Pregnancy can be joyful and painful all at the same time! It’s amazing how our bodies accommodate such a change isn’t it?
Once I hit about 36 weeks and the braxton hicks started in the night, I was done! Just when I thought I couldn’t get any more uncomfortable, I DID! Yuck! I will say, keep as active as you can though…even if it’s just walking or swimming….keep moving, it will help. You also have a great hubby who I know is an encouragement to you. Once you hold your little girl in your arms you’ll forget about all that and you’ll get to sleep on your stomach and back again…..whoo! 
ha! I’m finding with #2 I’m not a tolerant with pregnancy as I was the last time……just praying through it! Now….go get that ice cream! 
Don’t be so hard on yourself! Pregnancy is a huge strain, physically and emotionally. Let yourself rest, and don’t feel bad when you cry. Also, the raging pregnancy hormones don’t go away as soon as the baby’s born. I was still crying over sappy commercials 3 months after Graham was born. I don’t say this to scare or discourage you, just so it won’t catch you off guard.
Sinead’s conveniently forgotten this phase of the pregnancy. So, the good news is - happens to the best of ‘em and then you’ll forget that you ever felt this way 11 months after the babe’s born!
Hang in there! It turns out to be so worth it!
I think the comments above have basically said everything I was about to say.. congrats, enjoy the ride ( even the rough bits!) such a wonderful, scary, exhilarating, terrifying, exciting, breathtaking ( in many different ways) journey… I have two – and it just gets better and better – and there is no ‘favourite’ age – just when you think – oh this is great – the next step is even better…
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and I came here to comment on your WW - but got distracted.. ha ha.