Listening to my body

This pregnancy had been fairly text book.  I wouldn't say I was experiencing anything too different from my pregnancy with Liam.  Until recently.  I started having carpel tunnel.  My dear friend, Allison, recommended sleeping in wrist supports, which has drastically improved my circulation.  Poor Eric.  I am quite attractive these days what with my double wrist supports, retainer, glasses and big belly.  I am so thankful that man loves me for who I am....on the inside I imagine. 

Last week I woke up in the middle of the night with some abdominal cramping.  I thought maybe it was tied into stress and anxiety that I am having at work with several big events coming up, so I decided to ignore it.  But the cramping kept going for a few days.  I consulted my BFF Stephanie to see if she had these similar symptoms during her pregnancy.  We concluded that it was just tied into the round ligament stretching.  It sounds odd to say, but even though it is not my first pregnancy, things start to get fuzzy in my head.  Did I feel these pains the first time around?  Was I as big?  At what month did XY and Z happen? 

After a few days I found that the pain was actually getting worse, paired with small Braxton Hicks contractions that prompted me to finally break down and call my doctor.   Who, by the way, is the most awesome OB in the entire world!  So after it got to the point where it was almost too painful to walk, I called my doctor who had me come in for a looksy.  They did a standard sono to make sure that there was nothing obvious like a tear in the placenta.  Fortunately there was not.  But because my pain was isolated at that time to the right side of my belly, she had me go up to labor and delivery for more tests.  Nothing can freak a gal out more than hearing anything before 37 weeks, "why dontcha go check into L&D for some tests?" 

By this point Eric and met me at the hospital and up we went.  Long story short (and yes, I realize that this story is already long enough) everything was fine with le bebe.  With momma?  The jury is still out.  No appendicitis, cervix is still closed, contractions are still sporadic - which is probably not unusual for a second pregnancy.  Their best guess is probably kidney stones (also super common in pregnancy) or a stretched rectus abdominal muscle.  Unfortunately, there is not much you can do for either thing except take a little Advil and use a muscle relaxer. 

Being pregnant the second time around is a lot harder in so many ways.  During your first pregnancy you can be....well....selfish.  You can nap when you want to, take a nice hot shower, watch your favorite shows with your feet up, etc.  The second time around, you are so busy chasing and bargaining with your first child, working, and trying to keep house that you sometimes notice that your first and last rest of the day doesn't come until that little one is in bed and any minor housework is done.  It helps if you have a great partner like I do.  Eric has really been invaluable during this time.  Technically they don't like you to carry things any heavier than 20 pounds during pregnancy.  But when you have a 30 pound toddler, it is easier said than done. 

So I guess that this was my wake up call to listen to my body a little more.  Even though sometimes I physically feel like I can chase Liam down the street as he wildly drives his bike, or lift him out of his crib and pick up the dog, I need to rely on others for help for the remainder of my pregnancy.  For right now, my belly hurts like I have done a thousand sit ups in a row.  But at least Ansley is still healthy and strong.  And bonus: to add to my already stellar boudoir apparel, a compression band for my belly!