I’d known it was coming, and I’d been dreading it. The Talk. The Talk in which my midwife would tell me that I’d gained too much weight. I got it this morning. The timing particularly stung since yesterday was a particularly gluttonous day ending with me crying in bed about how big I’d allowed myself to get. It stung to hear that I was not exaggerating.
At my first appointment I was told that I should gain 25-35 pounds over the course of the pregnancy. At 33 weeks I have already gained more than 40. I had seen the weight gain edging up ahead of schedule for a while, but it was easy to ignore when nobody official said anything about. Now it is for real. Now it is in my permanent (health) record.
I’ve been doing some good things, but I’ve been doing some bad things as well. Although I’ve done healthy things like ramp up my vegetables, I’ve also ramped up everything else. I do 90 minute Bikram sessions 2-3 times per week, but I don’t do much else in the way of exercise.
The timing of my pregnancy hasn’t helped me. The onset of winter has greatly decreased the frequency and duration of my lunchtime walks. And then there were the holidays. I gained 12 pounds from Thanksgiving to New Year’s.
The good news is that I am not yet showing the negative side effects of excessive weight gain. My blood pressure is good (even a bit to the low side). I don’t have gestational (or any other form of) diabetes. Still, I know that extra weight gain tends to mean extra baby weight gain. Bigger baby often leads to the need for more interventions. I’ve been looking forward to a natural birth. I know that cannot be guaranteed for a number of reasons, but I’s hate to have that the reason that plan changes be that I view every box of donuts brought into work as an invitation to have 3.
So now I need to get serious. I need to be strong and turn away from sweets. I need to get back on the VersaClimber (which will be scary since even the stairs to our apartment are challenging now). I need to keep doing Bikram and try for at least 3 times a week.
I can do this. I was strong when I lost weight for my wedding (which I did through healthier eating and exercise—not starving myself). I know how to treat my body better than I have been. I need to do that again. Growing this critter is the most important thing my body has ever done, and I want to do it right.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Why do we do this to ourselves?
We’re moving.
Almost two years ago we changed jobs, got engaged, and moved halfway across the country within about a month. We somehow survived to joke about how crazy it all was, but now we are doing something similarly insane.
We are moving less than 5 weeks before my due date.
We needed a bigger apartment to house both our stuff and the influx of baby accoutrement, but our lease wasn’t going to be up until May. We figured a couple months of cramped living would be fine, particularly at a time when the baby isn’t crawling. Still, last fall we told our landlord that we wouldn’t be renewing the lease in our current place but that he should let us know if he had anything larger opening up. (We really like our landlord, and we knew he owned several other buildings in the area.)
Well, a couple of weeks ago he invited us to see an apartment that was opening up because the tenants are moving to Seattle. It was pretty much just what we needed. He wasn’t sure when the tenants would be leaving, so he said he’d get back to us on that. It turned out that they would be out by January 31.
Our landlord is willing to be flexible on our move date, but we decided that sooner is better than later. This way we will be fairly settled for when the baby arrives. (He’ll even have a real nursery!) Still, we only have a few weeks to orchestrate the move during a time that is already busy.
The hardest thing about this move is not the tight timeline, it’s accepting my own limits. I am typically prideful and stubborn in my independence. I am learning to ask for help from husband, but I’m still generally uncomfortable asking for help from other people. Under normal circumstances I would pack and move boxes myself; I would carry things up and down the stairs. But I’m not supposed to lift more that 25 lbs. And I can barely carry myself up and down the stairs. Although I will contribute to the packing and unpacking, the actual move will force me to do little else than point to where things should go.
All the baby books emphasize letting people do things for you. I guess this move will be practice for that.
Almost two years ago we changed jobs, got engaged, and moved halfway across the country within about a month. We somehow survived to joke about how crazy it all was, but now we are doing something similarly insane.
We are moving less than 5 weeks before my due date.
We needed a bigger apartment to house both our stuff and the influx of baby accoutrement, but our lease wasn’t going to be up until May. We figured a couple months of cramped living would be fine, particularly at a time when the baby isn’t crawling. Still, last fall we told our landlord that we wouldn’t be renewing the lease in our current place but that he should let us know if he had anything larger opening up. (We really like our landlord, and we knew he owned several other buildings in the area.)
Well, a couple of weeks ago he invited us to see an apartment that was opening up because the tenants are moving to Seattle. It was pretty much just what we needed. He wasn’t sure when the tenants would be leaving, so he said he’d get back to us on that. It turned out that they would be out by January 31.
Our landlord is willing to be flexible on our move date, but we decided that sooner is better than later. This way we will be fairly settled for when the baby arrives. (He’ll even have a real nursery!) Still, we only have a few weeks to orchestrate the move during a time that is already busy.
The hardest thing about this move is not the tight timeline, it’s accepting my own limits. I am typically prideful and stubborn in my independence. I am learning to ask for help from husband, but I’m still generally uncomfortable asking for help from other people. Under normal circumstances I would pack and move boxes myself; I would carry things up and down the stairs. But I’m not supposed to lift more that 25 lbs. And I can barely carry myself up and down the stairs. Although I will contribute to the packing and unpacking, the actual move will force me to do little else than point to where things should go.
All the baby books emphasize letting people do things for you. I guess this move will be practice for that.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Double Picture Meme
Red Pen Mama and JayCee each tagged me with similar challenges.
RPM's meme had these instructions
1. Go to the fourth picture folder on your computer.
2. Post the fourth picture in that folder.
3. Explain the picture.
4. Tag four more people.
JC's meme was the same thing with the 6th of 6th. So here they both go.
My 4th folder was labeled MSISPM after my degree program at Carnegie Mellon. The 4th picture was
We were the inaugural year of our program. There were 12 of us. Two of us were girls, but the other girl took different classes than the rest of us, didn't use the study lab with the rest of us, and never went out socially with the rest of us. As a result, I was generally thought of as the token girl, so most of the time it was me and a bunch of guys. This picture is one of many nights out. (And, in case you were wondering, the other guys had only recently explained to Pete what the "shocker" is and from that point on he would frequently make the gesture and yell "Shock and Awe!")
My 6th folder was labeled Sale because it was pictures of items I was selling on Craigslist before I left Pittsburgh. The 6th picture was
For my last 6 years in Pittsburgh, I lived in an amazing loft in condominium on the South Side. It was in an old school house. It had high ceilings, huge windows, and tons of character. I loved that space. When I saw this sofa shortly after moving in I knew it was perfect. At the time it cost more than my take home pay in a month, but it was too perfect to pass up. The oversized nature of the sofa (approximately 4' deep and 7' long) made it great for an open-plan loft but meant it did not have a chance of fitting in my one bedroom apartment in Arlington, VA. I had to get rid of it before moving. It didn't sell from my ad, but my friend Steve ended up buying it. Later he used it as a set piece when he directed a play I wrote.
Okay, from both of those I'm supposed to tag 10 people! However, I think that anyone who would do a meme already has done one of these, so I'm going to break the rules and not tag. If anyone wants to join the fun, please do.
RPM's meme had these instructions
1. Go to the fourth picture folder on your computer.
2. Post the fourth picture in that folder.
3. Explain the picture.
4. Tag four more people.
JC's meme was the same thing with the 6th of 6th. So here they both go.
My 4th folder was labeled MSISPM after my degree program at Carnegie Mellon. The 4th picture was
We were the inaugural year of our program. There were 12 of us. Two of us were girls, but the other girl took different classes than the rest of us, didn't use the study lab with the rest of us, and never went out socially with the rest of us. As a result, I was generally thought of as the token girl, so most of the time it was me and a bunch of guys. This picture is one of many nights out. (And, in case you were wondering, the other guys had only recently explained to Pete what the "shocker" is and from that point on he would frequently make the gesture and yell "Shock and Awe!")
My 6th folder was labeled Sale because it was pictures of items I was selling on Craigslist before I left Pittsburgh. The 6th picture was
For my last 6 years in Pittsburgh, I lived in an amazing loft in condominium on the South Side. It was in an old school house. It had high ceilings, huge windows, and tons of character. I loved that space. When I saw this sofa shortly after moving in I knew it was perfect. At the time it cost more than my take home pay in a month, but it was too perfect to pass up. The oversized nature of the sofa (approximately 4' deep and 7' long) made it great for an open-plan loft but meant it did not have a chance of fitting in my one bedroom apartment in Arlington, VA. I had to get rid of it before moving. It didn't sell from my ad, but my friend Steve ended up buying it. Later he used it as a set piece when he directed a play I wrote.
Okay, from both of those I'm supposed to tag 10 people! However, I think that anyone who would do a meme already has done one of these, so I'm going to break the rules and not tag. If anyone wants to join the fun, please do.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Hips Don't Fail Me Now
My hips hurt. I started noticing it on Friday night. I figured it was a momentary strain. But my hips still hurt on Saturday. I decided it might be the fact that I had used the VersaClimber on Thursday for the first time in a while. Or, perhaps, it was the fact that I hadn’t been to Bikram since Tuesday.
I made sure to go to Bikram on Sunday morning in hopes of alleviating the soreness in my hips. I certainly felt good (as always) doing yoga, and I felt good for the rest of the day. But today I woke up with sore hips again.
It probably didn’t help that I spent a lot of time sitting on the floor playing the new Raving Rabbids game for the Wii, and then contorted through a variety of stress positions as I nervously watched the AFC Championship Game. (Go Steelers!)
Perhaps it is a sleep position thing. I do sleep with a Snoogle, which is a C shaped pillow designed for pregnant women. One part tucks under my head, another part wraps around my belly, and another part goes between my legs. I mostly got it because I was often a stomach sleeper, and I figured that this would help prevent me from crushing the critter. Now, I think that perhaps I should add another pillow between my legs to help keep my hips level. I guess I’ll try that tonight.
It wouldn’t surprise me to feel some discomfort. My body is currently hauling around almost 40 more points than it was last summer (although only 20 more pounds than it was a year ago). Still, I had been enjoying being largely discomfort free to date. Despite having a history of back problems, I haven’t had back pain. This hip thing is the first problem that couldn’t be fixed by changing positions. I know I should consider myself lucky since many women have pain and problems throughout pregnancy, but I’m just hoping that I’m not going to feel this way for another 8 weeks.
I will continue to do my Bikram 2-3 times a week in hopes that will help. At minimum, it helps when I’m doing it. Plus, 90 minutes in a 105 degree room is a nice break from the Chicago winter.
(Technically my right knee should be directly over my right ankle. Was this picture a presager to my hip issues?)
I made sure to go to Bikram on Sunday morning in hopes of alleviating the soreness in my hips. I certainly felt good (as always) doing yoga, and I felt good for the rest of the day. But today I woke up with sore hips again.
It probably didn’t help that I spent a lot of time sitting on the floor playing the new Raving Rabbids game for the Wii, and then contorted through a variety of stress positions as I nervously watched the AFC Championship Game. (Go Steelers!)
Perhaps it is a sleep position thing. I do sleep with a Snoogle, which is a C shaped pillow designed for pregnant women. One part tucks under my head, another part wraps around my belly, and another part goes between my legs. I mostly got it because I was often a stomach sleeper, and I figured that this would help prevent me from crushing the critter. Now, I think that perhaps I should add another pillow between my legs to help keep my hips level. I guess I’ll try that tonight.
It wouldn’t surprise me to feel some discomfort. My body is currently hauling around almost 40 more points than it was last summer (although only 20 more pounds than it was a year ago). Still, I had been enjoying being largely discomfort free to date. Despite having a history of back problems, I haven’t had back pain. This hip thing is the first problem that couldn’t be fixed by changing positions. I know I should consider myself lucky since many women have pain and problems throughout pregnancy, but I’m just hoping that I’m not going to feel this way for another 8 weeks.
I will continue to do my Bikram 2-3 times a week in hopes that will help. At minimum, it helps when I’m doing it. Plus, 90 minutes in a 105 degree room is a nice break from the Chicago winter.
(Technically my right knee should be directly over my right ankle. Was this picture a presager to my hip issues?)
Monday, January 12, 2009
Never thought that would happen
I was so impressed with Jerome Bettis when he first came to the Steelers that I bought a #36 jersey by his 3rd regular season game. By the end of his career you could get a Bettis jersey anywhere in Pittsburgh and in many other cities as well. At the time, however, I had to go to at least 5 stores before I found one and even then it was a Wilson rather than an "official" NFL item. I take a lot of pride in my 1996 jersey when I see people in Bettis jerseys from far later in his Steelers tenure. I take pride in knowing he was awesome from the start.
I bought the jersey oversized because that's what I liked at the time. Had I bought it a few years later I would have chosen a size that fit me more appropriately, but I wasn't going to replace it (see note on pride above). When I became pregnant in the summer, knowing I would be growing throughout football season, the large nature of the jersey became a benefit.
I joked that my Bettis jersey would be one of the few articles of my "regular" clothes that I'd still be able to wear. Even before I knew I was pregnant I had written a play in which a pregnant woman goes into labor during Super Bowl XL and is admitted to the hospital in her Bettis jersey. But yesterday, when dressing to go to a friend's house for a doube-feature of Pennsylvania football, the unthinkable happened...
My Bettis jersey was snug around my belly!
Since it was chilly out I was a wearing a black thermal under the jersey, but it wasn't that bulky. I'm just too big for my too big jersey.
Luckily, a couple of years ago a friend gave me a Polamalu jersey that I rarely wear because it was even more ridiculously huge on me than the Bettis jersey. Until now.
The Polamalu jersey did well for me yesterday, and it will be what I wear for what is guaranteed to be an incredibly tense AFC championship against our hated, division-rivals the Baltimore "Birdies." Hears hoping that I need it for the Super Bowl as well.
And yes, I do say the "Here we go, Steelers. Here we go!" chant and then tap on my belly twice. The boy has to learn.
I bought the jersey oversized because that's what I liked at the time. Had I bought it a few years later I would have chosen a size that fit me more appropriately, but I wasn't going to replace it (see note on pride above). When I became pregnant in the summer, knowing I would be growing throughout football season, the large nature of the jersey became a benefit.
I joked that my Bettis jersey would be one of the few articles of my "regular" clothes that I'd still be able to wear. Even before I knew I was pregnant I had written a play in which a pregnant woman goes into labor during Super Bowl XL and is admitted to the hospital in her Bettis jersey. But yesterday, when dressing to go to a friend's house for a doube-feature of Pennsylvania football, the unthinkable happened...
My Bettis jersey was snug around my belly!
Since it was chilly out I was a wearing a black thermal under the jersey, but it wasn't that bulky. I'm just too big for my too big jersey.
Luckily, a couple of years ago a friend gave me a Polamalu jersey that I rarely wear because it was even more ridiculously huge on me than the Bettis jersey. Until now.
The Polamalu jersey did well for me yesterday, and it will be what I wear for what is guaranteed to be an incredibly tense AFC championship against our hated, division-rivals the Baltimore "Birdies." Hears hoping that I need it for the Super Bowl as well.
And yes, I do say the "Here we go, Steelers. Here we go!" chant and then tap on my belly twice. The boy has to learn.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Well-Rounded
In the last week or so I have started to feel big. Before that I had an increasingly round belly, but I mostly felt the same. Now, there is a definite waddling-aspect to my walk, and I can feel gravity tugging down on my belly. Climbing the stairs to our 3rd floor walk-up has become an endurance challenge. This morning I looked at my belly as I got out of the shower and couldn’t help but think of Rodin’s Naked Balzac. (Luckily, the resemblance is in belly only.)
I have gained 35 pounds since getting pregnant. I was told to gain 25-35 pounds, so since I have another 10 weeks to go, so I am definitely going to end up an overachiever. Woo-hoo! (It didn't help being pregnant over the holidays when opportunities to work out were few yet opportunities to eat sugary and high-fat foods were many.)
We had another ultrasound this morning. The tech said the critter is measuring big. I’ve read that 3rd trimester ultrasounds aren’t the most accurate measures, but I’ll be anxious to hear what my midwife says about the results. On the one hand, it would be nice to meet the critter sooner as well as to have a couple fewer weeks of discomfort. On the other hand…Ack, less time to get ready! Of course, there is always the possibility that he'll wait until closer to the original date but be HUGE. Thank goodness for yoga!
I guess only time will tell for sure when this little (big?) guy decides to come out and meet us and how big I’ll get before that happens.
I have gained 35 pounds since getting pregnant. I was told to gain 25-35 pounds, so since I have another 10 weeks to go, so I am definitely going to end up an overachiever. Woo-hoo! (It didn't help being pregnant over the holidays when opportunities to work out were few yet opportunities to eat sugary and high-fat foods were many.)
We had another ultrasound this morning. The tech said the critter is measuring big. I’ve read that 3rd trimester ultrasounds aren’t the most accurate measures, but I’ll be anxious to hear what my midwife says about the results. On the one hand, it would be nice to meet the critter sooner as well as to have a couple fewer weeks of discomfort. On the other hand…Ack, less time to get ready! Of course, there is always the possibility that he'll wait until closer to the original date but be HUGE. Thank goodness for yoga!
I guess only time will tell for sure when this little (big?) guy decides to come out and meet us and how big I’ll get before that happens.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Hello from the critter
It can be very comforting at the end of a hectic day to feel someone kicking around in your belly.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Let the nesting begin!
So a couple of the predicted elements of the third trimester have already become facts of life: nesting instincts and heartburn. The former is excessively more fun than the later, so let's focus on that.
On Saturday, hubby (aka big, strong man) moved our VersaClimber to the living room. I am not a fan of exercise equipment in the main areas of the home, but we need to make space somewhere until we move to a 3 bedroom apartment in May. It was either the VersaClimber in the living room or stacks of diapers in the living room. Of those options, the VersaClimber is more aesthetically pleasing, and I can watch TV while I work out.
On Sunday, I bought 2 4-drawer plastic organizers (on sale at Target!) and placed them in the VersaClimber's previous space in the den/office. I placed all the 0-3 clothes into drawers by type (hats & socks, tops & onesies, bottoms, and pajamas). We are well stocked on those sizes, so the drawers are satisfyingly full. I left the larger sizes of clothes boxed up, ready to be rotated in whenever the critter grows out of the little stuff (which, as I understand it, could be almost immediately or after multiple months).
I also started drawers for light and heavy blankets. There are two more drawers with uses that are currently TBD contingent on what I want stored there versus elsewhere.
Commence the label making! I got out the label maker and labeled each of the assigned drawers based on its contents. I stare at my little tower of achievement with great pride and anticipation.
What I'd really like to do now is start acquiring our essential gear items, so that I can stare at them obsessively rather than just staring at pictures on my registries obsessively. But I hold back. It seems smart to wait until after the baby shower to see what I might receive as gifts. Plus, there are other preparations I should do first: donate stuff I don't need, pack up stuff I won't need until after the move. Those preparations will make more room for gear!
So I guess I'll be focused on packing and sorting for the next few weeks. It's not as fun as shopping, but it must be done.
It's 10 weeks and 2 days before my due date. For anything else 10 weeks would seem like a long time, but for critter preparations it seems quite soon.
On Saturday, hubby (aka big, strong man) moved our VersaClimber to the living room. I am not a fan of exercise equipment in the main areas of the home, but we need to make space somewhere until we move to a 3 bedroom apartment in May. It was either the VersaClimber in the living room or stacks of diapers in the living room. Of those options, the VersaClimber is more aesthetically pleasing, and I can watch TV while I work out.
On Sunday, I bought 2 4-drawer plastic organizers (on sale at Target!) and placed them in the VersaClimber's previous space in the den/office. I placed all the 0-3 clothes into drawers by type (hats & socks, tops & onesies, bottoms, and pajamas). We are well stocked on those sizes, so the drawers are satisfyingly full. I left the larger sizes of clothes boxed up, ready to be rotated in whenever the critter grows out of the little stuff (which, as I understand it, could be almost immediately or after multiple months).
I also started drawers for light and heavy blankets. There are two more drawers with uses that are currently TBD contingent on what I want stored there versus elsewhere.
Commence the label making! I got out the label maker and labeled each of the assigned drawers based on its contents. I stare at my little tower of achievement with great pride and anticipation.
What I'd really like to do now is start acquiring our essential gear items, so that I can stare at them obsessively rather than just staring at pictures on my registries obsessively. But I hold back. It seems smart to wait until after the baby shower to see what I might receive as gifts. Plus, there are other preparations I should do first: donate stuff I don't need, pack up stuff I won't need until after the move. Those preparations will make more room for gear!
So I guess I'll be focused on packing and sorting for the next few weeks. It's not as fun as shopping, but it must be done.
It's 10 weeks and 2 days before my due date. For anything else 10 weeks would seem like a long time, but for critter preparations it seems quite soon.
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