Well, I guess it’s about time that I finished up this pregnancy “journal”. I left off writing about a few weeks into my second trimester. I gained my energy back, lost the heartburn (momentarily) and sickness. I was feeling great and moving around well. I still procrastinated painting and setting up the nursery, of course, that’s just me. I played music for the baby and anticipated the first movements I would feel and see. Ultrasounds showed the baby clearly – and boy was that an active baby! I was frightened to have that peanut grow and kick the crap out of my insides.
Since I’m beyond this trimester, it’s all a bit vague. I do remember it was my “golden trimester” and for the most part things were great and I was happy.
My third trimester, well, that’s another story. A turd it was. It was difficult to get around, my feet and fingers swelled, my knees hurt, I was cranky and moody and irritable (not to mention impatient). My rings went around my neck instead of around my fingers. The small workouts I was attempting to keep up with faltered. And the worst, I got carpel tunnel in just about all my joints (every knuckle of every finger, my knees, my elbows), except my wrists, where I thought it only occurred.
I should have taken stock in Tums and pillows – they went everywhere with me.
I loved feeling the baby – that was the best part. I didn’t love the toes in my ribs or what felt like a broken sternum at the end. And as my pregnancy progressed, I was bumped all over the place – moved from a comfortable position or startled out of my seat from a large kick. Man, that baby was strong inside of me!
So that about wraps up the remainder of my pregnancy – in a nutshell.
If you are pregnant, these readings/guides came in handy for me, (not so much the multiple, hefty books I purchased or received from friends):
- Similac: A week-by-week reading of your baby’s growth and tips for your pregnancy. Also, sign up for Strong Moms, you get free samples, coupons and gifts.
- “Pregnancy Magazine“
- “Pregnancy & Newborn” (magazine)
- Pregnancy Do’s and Dont’s: The Smart Woman’s A-Z Pocket Companion for a Safe and Sound Pregnancy
- And numerous websites.
Please keep an open mind when reading and surfing the web. Just about everything I looked up had an ambiguous result – some said “yes, it’s ok” and others said “no, stay away”. Talk to your doctor – s/he is the expert, not the internet. Don’t drive yourself crazy trying to follow all the rules, you’ll only succeed in adding unnecessary stress to your pregnancy. Remember, just in dieting and about everything else in life, moderation is key. 🙂