1) The lack of sleep. I am very grateful for the women I know who have assured me that for as tiring as caring for a newborn baby can be, it’s a joyride compared to what constitutes for sleep during the third trimester. I will stab the next person who snidely tells me to “get sleep now” or that my body is “just preparing itself for mommyhood.” Seriously. Stabby stab stab. I hope you’ll forgive me my attitude problem – I’M EXHAUSTED.
The awful sleep, or lack thereof, was the final straw between me and a new mattress though. For two years we’ve contemplated a Tempur-Pedic and Monday, after about three hours of sleep, I pulled the trigger.
2) Walking. So yesterday I really wanted some Mushroom Tofu Ramen from Noodles by Takashi Yagihashi. A good number of my Chicago friends know this place – it’s in the fancy food court at the Macy’s on State Street, and from my office, it’s a pretty short walk through the pedway. I was half-way through my journey there and I just wanted to sit down. And cry. In the pedway. And if it wasn’t for the insane desire I had for this dish – owing mostly to the fact that if I didn’t start ingesting food that didn’t contain trans fats and sugar I’d lose my marbles - I would have turned right around. I was wiped out by the time I got back to my office and I didn’t leave my chair for two hours. Walking hurts my hips and wrecks havoc on my bladder and is nothing that I enjoy. And it’s meant driving to work every day (again) which I kind of hate because I liked riding the train with Scott and the extra exercise.
3) Storing up vacation days. Oh I am a lucky duck, I know, to even have maternity leave and vacation days and short-term disability, but lo’ this whole year spent storing up vacation days and sick time is taking a toll on my brain. It’s been a year since I’ve had any time off, sans traditional holidays. and while I recognize I’m staring down three months of maternity leave, not having any extended time away from the office is driving me a little batty.
4) Dents in my ankles from my socks. Is there really anything more degrading than noticing that the small amount of elastic in your anklets is causing a grotesque indentation into your skin? I have always been a fan of my legs, and while we’re not nearing cankle territory by any means, my appendages are swelling just enough to remind me that I am running out of positives to accentuate. Clearly I am not the boss of me any longer. Water retention is.
5) Not looking cute. Remember this post? Do you know how much cuter those items looked back in early September? Lots. Now they look like dregs since my wardrobe is pretty limited. Plus? My body has grown quite handsomely since then, which means how it all looked back then is not exactly how it looks now. I find myself staring longingly at other women, in cute jeans, turtlenecks and boots, and sighing.What I wouldn’t give to just feel a little more put together, and I’m quite certain that even buying new maternity clothes at this point is not going to make that happen.
6) The belly being in the way. While riding in the passenger seat of our car the other day, I tried to reach down to grab my purse, which was at my feet, and I couldn’t get at it. I won’t bore you with all of the others I can reach or see or do. You can just go ahead and assume right now that this was not the only time in which this eight-month-sized belly obstructed my way.
Sigh. I’m really cranky and pissy, guys. I wish I wasn’t. I wish I was less tired and irritable and lumbering and armed with a better attitude but at the moment I am not. I am pretty sure that by the time I’m done working tomorrow, I’m going to be spending the next couple of days trying to rest, read and get a few items off of the to-do list crossed off.
And I’m going to try really, really hard not to stab anyone.
Ugh. Thanks for being real about the “joys” of pregnancy. And to add injury to insult, no beer at the end of the day!
I was NOT a happy pregnant woman. Summer. San Diego. Flip flops were too hot. I made a had-a-hard-time-conceiving-just-found-out-we’re-pregnant woman cry in Target one afternoon simply by answering the “how are you doing” question. In my defense, this was at the bitter end and I was NOT doing well, but I realize I should have been a bit more gentle with her new pregnant exuberance. Maybe. But she was just so dang happy…
I slept better *after* having the baby, myself. Sure, there was a tough first week or so, but after that? Baby sleeps for hours at a stretch, and I could sack out without anyone stomping on my bladder or doing a rumba on my liver. Also, people kept telling me to walk, walk, walk! to start labor. I didn’t, it was August, I was 10 1/2 months pregnant in 90 degree heat and my everything was so sore and swollen I could barely move. Guess what…he came out anyway.
Don’t listen to what other people tell you you SHOULD be feeling or doing right now, just do what makes you most comfortable in this very, very uncomfortable time.
I really really hate when people tell pregnant women (and expectant fathers) to “store up on sleep now!” It’s my total pet peeve. I mean, a) it’s not possible (obviously) and b) it’s just mean. Like, ha ha ha — soon you wont’ be sleeping AT ALL. I find it’s usually parents who say that — kind of a “welcome to the misery club” initiation. It’s BS. And while sleep during the first few months with a newborn is obviously not so great, I remember getting into bed when my son was tiny and just being so happy I could turn any way I wanted and actually get comfortable. So, there’s that.
Re: socks. Try some compression hose, maybe. I know, not cute. Really adding to the not-cuteness. But they help with the dents and with the swelling and generally just made me feel kind of livelier. You can get them at a drugstore, particularly one near a hospital that sells post-surgical supplies. They’re worth it.
I remember how awful that last month or so is! I think biology was very clever to make pregnancy so miserable that you actually start looking forward to labor. My own personal theory is that the reason that I totally skipped the baby blues was because everything seemed SO fantastic once I wasn’t crippled by pregnancy. I actually would second the suggestion for compression tights, only they are a bitch to get on when you aren’t so flexible.
There was a point in July when I was actually searching online for pedal extenders because I couldn’t reach the pedals without my belly mashing into the steering wheel. The 3rd trimester is the worst part of reproducing, and once it’s done you never have to do it again. (Unless you decide to.) (Or oops.) (Not that I would know anything about either of those.)
Sorry to hear of your shitty night sleeps… I too hated hearing how it was natures way of preparing you for baby.
When pregnant with my girls I was up most of the night and could only really sleep afternoons for some reason. When the babies came it was a piece of cake, twins and all. Being up all night second nature. Of course provided I had help in the afternoons which I did, thanks to my parents, sister and hubby when he was home.
You will find your groove and you will be fine
Oh, the sticking your fingers in your ankles and leaving a huge indent is a great party trick at the end.. You know, when everyone is sucking back the drinkies and you are abstaining
No worries Buddahh girl, you can do this.. The rewards so freaking great. Really.
I’ve been thinking about the sleep thing and remembering being pg and with a newborn. No you can’t store sleep, although there were so many times I wish I could’ve. After you have the baby, yes you will not sleep and you will feel you’re in an alternate universe, but you will have that beauiful little girl making the cutest baby noises ever and you will be mobile! LOL The last month sucks.
I’m sorry I had to laugh at the sock indentations. I don’t know how i would’ve survived in cold weather as I couldn’t even wear shoes at the end. I had to wear flip flops to a wedding reception. Not that it mattered because I never left the table seeing as I could barely move LOL!
Its hard, you don’t have to enjoy it to be appreciative of being pg. Its a very uncomfortable means to an end. Hang in there!
I have to admit that all of the things you mention are things I’m already experiencing at just a couple days shy of 6 1/2 months. Sleeping isn’t so bad yet as long as I use my Bopy Wedge. (Thank goodness my husband thought to buy it for me on a whim months ago.) The wedge under my belly when I sleep on my side seems to support and line things up a little better and make my hips hurt less as I sleep. I am also not a fan of walking. I’m a Disneyland addict and I can’t do it now. Not without it being a short day and lots of stopping to sit. I question if we’ll see Disneyland again before the baby comes. Its great exercise but short spurts and only when the sun, moon and stars align and I have a moment of some things don’t ache right this moment. I imagine in another month there will not be such alignment in the galaxy.
Vacation days? You bet. I have yet to talk to HR about our company policies and I’m worried that I may not qualify for FMLA to tag onto my short term disability. I temped for my company for a full year before I was hired and at baby time, I will have been a full timer for only 10 months. So its save save save for me too. Of course my doctor’s appointments are also coming out of my sick/vacation time so I’m not saving as much as I’d like.
Socks. OMG. I have to say, I’ve had this a while. My last pregnancy my ankles were an early give-away that I was pregnant. Someone at work when I was wearing capris early on in the 4 month range made it sound all cute, “Oooo someone’s getting fluffy ankles!” I was mortified. I wear ankle socks now to avoid a more obvious indentation. But I already have days its hard to tie my sneakers. I need more comfy shoes.
You’re not alone in all these things. I swallow hard and get anxious when I sit and wonder how I’ll be at 8 months.
Let us know your review of the new mattress when you’ve had a chance to try it out.
If you’re desperate, they do make socks for diabetic people that somehow stay up without those elastic bands, so you could look for those – voila, no indentations.
I also found that just rolling/folding over the top part (with the elastic band) on my regular socks made the indentations much less worse… they didn’t go away completely though.
Oh wait, I just noticed that you specifically mentioned anklets… that probably wouldn’t work since there’s not much sock to fold over.
Oh Erin, darling, yes. That all sounds just about right.
Now then, has anyone disabused you of the “babymoon” yet?