Third Trimester Lifesaver!!!

  I am happy to report that I am feeling soooooo much better today!  Pregnancy is weird like that.  I do have a cold now, and if I talk too much, my voice stops working, BUT no uterine/cervical pain + not too much contraction activity + no hip pain = much happier, easier to be with April!!!!

  I called my doctor’s office about my aching belly yesterday because I was hurting all over, plus having Braxton Hicks contractions constantly.  They had me come in and be evaluated.  Then the doc I saw, Dr. Friday, suggested something so simple it’s almost embarrassing I hadn’t already tried it:  a pregnancy support belt.  I made a face at him when he suggested it.  I’ve never used one for any of my other giant bellies, why should I go there now?  Besides, the one I own is almost too small for me.
  But pain is pain.  When you’re in pain, you will try ANYTHING.

  Now this maternity support belt is my new best friend.  : )  It just feels good!  Only problem is I could use a bigger one.  I’m pretty sure by the last few weeks I won’t be able to get the two ends to meet….
It looks like this:

1.  Exercise.
     This is the first baby that I have regularly exercised with, and I have SO much more energy……as long as I’m taking my iron and prenatal vitamins faithfully!
   Plus, believe it or not, I have actually gained 10 less pounds this time than I ever have before at this point.  I am at 33 weeks, 30 pounds up.  Granted, that’s still above average.  BUT I looked in my old journals to check my facts, and I’ve actually usually gained 40-43 pounds by this point.  Yowzers.
   Also, it’s been helpful just being stronger!  I can do things 8 months pregnant that I couldn’t do as a non pregnant woman just a couple of years ago.
   I exercised off and on with the other pregnancies, or did light walking, but exercising regularly has made a huge difference.  Highly recommend!

2.  Chiropractor
    I think going to the chiropractor regularly, as well as the aforementioned exercise have made the right combination to steer away the sciatica problem I’ve always had with my pregnancies.  I had it HORRIBLY with Joshua, and only slightly with the others.  I’ll never forget the way I tossed and turned at night in bed with those pregnancies.  I thought it was so hard to sleep at night pregnant.
   I never have trouble sleeping with this pregnancy, unless my nose is clogged from my most recent sinus infection.  I haven’t found the perfect cure for pregnancy sinus issues yet!  I wish!
   So here I am at 33 weeks pregnant (and according to the general commenting public I have a humongous belly) with no back pain.  I think that’s awesome.

3.  Healthy eating
   I don’t just like food.  I LOVE food.  I like to read about it, cook it, serve it to other people, and of course, eat it myself.  I have made a concentrated effort to eat a balanced diet of healthy food with this pregnancy, and I think it’s paid off.  After all,  I have gained 10 less pounds than I usually do.

4.  Iron and Prenatal Vitamins
   Obviously, I’ve talked about this before.  With pregnancy anemia, this is of the utmost importance.  I still have three kids, a house, and a husband to take care of.  I can’t afford to be a lifeless lump in the recliner!

5.  Friends
  Sometimes I can be a homebody, but at the same time I have a serious need for social interaction.  Having friends doesn’t just make pregnancy happier and easier, it makes all of life happier and easier.

6.  And last but not least………ALAN.  Having Alan here has been huge.  Pregnancy isn’t something you want to do solo.  I love that Alan is an involved daddy.  There was one pregnancy where Alan had to do professional development three hours away, so we only saw him on weekends the entire third trimester.  That was so hard and made me appreciate him even more.
   Also, I love that Alan still loves me, even when I look like this: