7/22/07 - Grow, Baby, Grow!

Well, the job in Encinitas fell through, unfortunately. Still, there are a few leads David’s been given from a former marketer of his that he plans to pursue. In the meantime, we wait to find out if Dave has been approved for unemployment, and prepare the house for the arrival of my family and the new baby.

My belly is so heavy now that it's really straining my lower back. It sticks out so far, it probably enters a room a full 10 seconds before I do. We got together with Dave's family for a group birthday party for the guys yesterday, and the overall reaction (especially from those who haven't seen me in awhile) was pretty much "OMG! You're HUGE! That doesn't even look real!" Frankly, I'd have to agree. Most people, however, are still sweet enough to claim that I'm carrying it all out front, and "from the back, you can't even tell you're pregnant". It's hard to drive because I have to sit further back from the steering wheel and pedals. Simple chores like loading and unloading the dishwasher leave my back muscles aching and exhausted, forcing me to lie down and recover before trying the next task. Picking Eva up takes a huge effort, as does hauling myself up the stairs. I know I'm supposed to be walking, but just getting around the house all day or on the occasional errand takes a lot out of me.

It's so frustrating to feel like I'm carrying a 40lb sack of potatoes strapped to my front, 24 hours a day. I see things around the house that I want to clean up, like mopping the kitchen floor, but I know it would end up being not only draining, but painful. I have to limit myself to quick tasks like throwing in a load of laundry, and then take a break. The way all my insides have been cramped up leaves me with constant, sharp gas pains. I avoid gassy foods like the plague, but it hasn't helped. Often I'll feel a stabbing pain after sitting up or changing positions. When the baby stretches, I can feel pressure on my cervix while her feet push up against my breastbone. I've also been noticing uncomfortable pressure on my front pelvic bone, especially when I first stand up. Sometimes I wonder if it's her bony head grinding up against my pelvis. I can't really tell which way she's positioned now. She moves around so much, I don't know if she's still posterior or not. But I'm doing everything in my power to help gravity move her into the anterior position, if at all possible. I really don't want to deal with back labor!