At this very moment, weatherpersons all over Chicago are predicting Snowmageddon. Even the lede in the Trib story reads, “The National Weather Service has issued an unusually dire blizzard watch, calling a storm expected to arrive Tuesday afternoon over much of northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana dangerous, multifaceted and potentially life-threatening.”
Dear God.
Do you know what women with only three weeks “left” to go in their pregnancies want to hear? That the worst snow storm since 1999 is slated to hit this week. I will admit to you that I feel rather confident that this baby isn’t going anywhere for the time being, let alone the next 48 hours, but that doesn’t mean I’m not filled with a bit of dread, just the same. Luckily for me, if it comes down to it, I’ll work from home on Wednesday. It’s not so much going into labor that worries me as much as the fact that just about everything about me is severely compromised.
At the moment:
1) I can’t stand up without having to take a few bounces. I don’t know how else to describe it. I can’t actually just stand straight up or I feel like I’ll fall over.
2) Number 1 is a result of, I think, the absolute pain in my hips. And from there?
3) Pain in my bladder. My midwife, Cynthia, figured out that I’m just suffering from ligament pain, which explains the awful, ridiculous stabbing pain I’ve been experiencing. There is nothing I can do about it, other than grab my abdominal region in terror whenever it rears its ugly head. Which is often. Usually when I’m walking. And no one has bought me a rascal yet, assholes.
4) I have carpal tunnel syndrome in both of my hands/wrists. Currently I’m wearing a brace on each wrist, to the tune of a grand total of $50 this weekend that made me wonder if I’m far enough along in this pregnancy to just down a fifth of vodka to ease the pain. Turns out the answer to that was, “No.” I suppose I never really understood carpal tunnel because now it feels like the largest injustice known to man. I can’t walk well, I can barely stand, and now I have limited use of my hands. AND I’m sober.
It’s as though my body is slowly giving me the middle finger and laughing at me the whole time.
Again, I preface all of this by saying that I know how lucky I am, considering just how much can go wrong. We’ve been blessed with a healthy pregnancy. What kills me, of course, is that all of this is “healthy.” And, no, no one made me turn my body into a vessel, but Jesus. CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME? Really?
At some point yesterday, I forget, I shook in anger and frustration over…the whole thing. I can’t walk well, and then when I do, it’s usually for an abbreviated period of time, and I can’t do it without knocking into something/over something. I don’t move with my usual speed and because I didn’t do anything to prepare for the arrival of this child until a month before her arrival, I’m so pressed for time that DEAR LORD I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO FOLD LAUNDRY WITHOUT HEAVING OR SEVERE PAIN IN MY HANDS.
I am told this will go away when the baby gets here, or soon after, but it’s not making getting things done any easier. Even typing this is taking my entire lunch hour because of all of the typos I’m trying to correct.
That said? I’m adjusting to the lack sleep and taking advantage of the extra time. I attribute some of this to having the most amazing bed to sleep in now oh my God. Tempur-Pedic is an Edelman client, in the interest of full disclosure, but I didn’t get a discount or anything, totally bought it on my own accord. And? I would do it again. Holy Moses. If I’m only going to get a couple of hours of sleep, at least they’re quality. It took us a couple of years, but the wait was worth it. Thumbs up on the new bed, and a bigger thumb’s up to my husband who, along with my father in law, built a box spring for it.
I just need my glider to arrive. I have never wanted a chair more than I want this one. And I’m pretty certain that with the coming blizzard, it’s not going to be at our door after 5 p.m. on Wednesday as promised, which makes me weepy.
Ah, first-world problems.
So no, I can’t walk fast, or much at all. I can barely type, barely grasp onto things, but by golly, we’re getting closer. This pregnancy has found me losing a tooth, gaining 31 pounds, without sleep, an entire summer spent horizontal indoors, eschewing booze. I’m sore and cranky and I haven’t been in this bad of shape since I was smoking two packs a day and mainlining cheap beer.
I can handle a damn blizzard.
I had Carpal Tunnel when I was pregnant also. It started around 33 weeks, I believe, and contiued on through. I also had to wear braces at night, and during the day lovely kiniseo tape from Occupational therapy. After the baby, it didn’t magically go away as I had hoped, so I had regular OT appts that included “eloctrode” therapy. The exact term is eluding me. It finally did go away, but my OB/GYN said I could expect to have it after the baby as long as I had it during pregnancy. Superb. Here’s hoping yours makes a hasty retreat!
I found acupuncture to be very helpful with the last few weeks of my pregnancy (and I’m convinced that it helped me avoid an induction when I went five days overdue.) I also found it helpful to work from home as needed (even when my boss called my assistant yelling, “Where is she? She’s not due for a week!”), and to wear a pregnancy belt. I was reluctant to spend the money, thinking, “But I only have four weeks to go!” but it was well worth it.
Pregnancy is such a ride. When else would you go to the doctor and explain a list of symptoms that included insomnia, stabbing ligament pain, carpal tunnel, nausea and vomiting, an inability to walk, and all of the other indignities of prenancy, only to be told that you’re healthy and doing great? I cried several times in the OB’s office because I was so frustrated with how rotten I felt and how little they could do for me.
G – Acupuncture! I should give that a swing again.
This post is such a great snapshot of the suckiness of pregnancy.
Oh, man, it just feels like you are getting stomped on with all of these pregnancy symptoms. I’d say you totally get to complain, even if you are having a healthy baby. Any one of those would be frustrating and annoying, but together? Not cool. I hope it all clears up quickly and you get back to normal shortly after Baby Girl Smith makes her appearance.
Chiropractic work really helped me with my ligament pain. Just be sure to find a chiro that is specifically trained/certified to work with pregnant women.
I’m sorry, but I really need this blizzard. Another note, thought you’d be proud to know that my work’s filter catergories your blog as “Tasteless & Offensive.”
UGH! I had CT through BOTH of my pregancies, in fact when it reared it’s ugly head the second time I knew I was pregnant again!
I remember how sucky those last few weeks are – so uncomfortable, even when you are lucky enough to have a healthy pregnancy – I have no advice, just sympathy..
I was also going to suggest accupuncture! I had horrible stabbing mystery pains in my middle and the midwife suggested I give it a try since she couldn’t find anything to help me (although my French dr said that a bath and a half glass of red wine was the best remedy
I also saw an osteopath linked to my maternity clinic and he said that the ligaments across my pelvis were twisted- but nothing he did seemed to help so I pass along that suggestion with hesitation.
I will tell you one positive thing that results from all this- as soon as you have that baby, you will feel so AMAZING that you will leap out of the hospital bed and go straight to work at the house tackling all those little jobs that have become so difficult. Honestly, there is nothing that feels as good as ‘not pregnant’ after a long, painful 9th month of pregnancy.
I so rememeber your pain! I had CT and sciatica. The great thing is that they magically go away once the baby comes.
As for blizzards, there are fine unless you have your over bearing mother-in-law staying with you. Two weeks after I gave birth, my MIL flew in from MA and a two part blizzard hit. I was trapped for a week in my house with her while my husband was called out to work. Torture!!!
On a sunnier side, I only had carpal tunnel with my 3rd and it went away almost quicker than the baby came out. I will pray that for you!
Also, I know it isn’t what you want to hear, but I bet Scott is thinking, just a little bit (just a little bit mind you), what a great story you having the baby during the blizzard would make!
Prenatal Yoga helped me so much during my pregnancies. Also, I felt the same way and was thinking I’ll never do this again. Then miraciously after the baby is born you seem to forget everything and it doesn’t seem so bad. But, then again you have the most amazing baby so it is all worth it.
I also had carpal tunnel during my last month — doesn’t sound like it was as bad as yours, but it sucked nonetheless. It made no sense to me — I’ve been a writer/editor for 20 years and fine (knock wood), but pregnancy gives me carpal tunnel? Bizarre and unfair. It went away immediately after I gave birth, but I ended up with trigger finger in both thumbs (which also went away, but only after months and many OT visits). (I will not even discuss what trigger finger is, with the hopes it bypasses you entirely.) You will feel so good when you are no longer pregnant — it is just hard on the body. Hang in.
I remember when I was pregnant with my son that I was kind of shocked at how uncomfortable a totally normal and healthy pregnancy was. I had no complications but everything hurt toward the end. I feel like nobody tells you that before you get pregnant.
I am thinking of you ALL THE TIME. LOVE!
omg. the carpal tunnel. I completly forgot about that till I just read it. would wake up every night with it. OMG. it sucked- but it went away once the amazon was out!
hang in there !!
check out “An idiot Abroad” next time you need to add something to the DVR. good distractions.
No advice here either, just sympathy. The carpal tunnel, the swollen ankles, the lack of sleep, the 24/7 discomfort, the near-constant urination issues (when you think a catheter would be a blessed relief, you know things ain’t right)–it’s all really horrible. I have never been so miserable in all my life as with my two pregnancies–from beginning to end. Loved the outcome, but I detested pregnancy with a passion.
Caring for a newborn was an absolute piece of cake compared to pregnancy. I quickly learned to do all my nursing in bed so I could nap as much as possible. And an infant spends SO MUCH TIME NURSING that you may as well get some sleep, you know? I’d doze off and wake up periodically to switch sides.
I swear my daughter and I spent 50% of her first two months in bed. I’d get up to changer her and forage for food, shower, etc., but that was about it. And it was glorious. I look back on that time so fondly. My husband would get up and go to work, leaving me and our daughter in bed. And we’d be in bed when he got home, too–me and our apple-cheeked babe.
Another plus of staying in bed is that you don’t see the wrack and ruin of the rest of the house, so you don’t have to care about it.
;^)
I feel for you. And with you. I started having ligament problems last week (I’m 18 weeks at the moment) but I’m hypermobile, so at least I was prepared for it. All my ligaments are super-stretchy anyway.
Right now I can move fine, but twenty minutes of gentle exercise and I feel as though I spent the whole day digging clay soil or moving heavy boxes. C’est la vie.