The cure for feeling pregnant

When I walked into my second appointment with my new doctor (who I love) and the first question she asked was, "So how are you feeling?" I kind of balked because I don't want to complain about stuff that I can't change and is normal, and ended up giggling and saying, "Eh?" And she laughed along and said, "Just very pregnant, right?"

Yes. These days, I am feeling very pregnant. (At 34 weeks and 1 day I can safely say that I am huge. I've had well-meaning women walk up to me and ask me when I'm due. When they find out that it's about 6 weeks away, they have said, "Really? Wow! I never got that huge during my pregnancies!" Instead of immediately getting offended, I laughed and nodded. What can I say? My belly is big! And who can blame it as Jude is at 6 lbs already.) What does feeling pregnant mean? Feeling pregnant means that every part of my body is affected by the weight. My hips, back, thighs, knees, calves, ankles, neck, pelvic muscles, and stomach muscles ache pretty consistently. Some more than others.

Sometimes, the tendons in my lower stomach freak out and cramp like a charlie horse. My hips have been pushed to their limit so much that they pop in and out of place. My knees calves and ankles are all swollen from the water retention and feel bruised. My back? I don't think my back will ever forgive me. I have so many back problems that it seems silly to complain. Unlike normal injuries, the worst thing a pregnant woman can do for the pain is become sedentary. As women on bed rest can attest to, not moving these aching body parts doesn't make them ache less.

I turned to pregnant-friendly exercise. First thing doctors, books, and seasoned moms always recommend? Walking. So I walked. One thing you may not realize until you are carrying much more weight then you are used to is walking is jarring. After a walk, my feet went from tender and puffy to painful and swollen. My back went from tight and achy to spazzy and solid. Walking was out. I went back to an old familiar and started doing ballet barre exercises. I was extremely disappointed to remember just how much balance, core control, and hip strength this took. Although fully stretched and not feeling as awful after a long walk, my stomach hurt more than usual and my hips were so tender that I had to either lay down or stand; sitting was impossible. Ballet was out. I tried a slightly less orthodox approach and went biking. Even during a lazy ride, I would have a contraction. Biking was out.

I was starting to feel pretty pathetic, and hating the weight I put on. My doctor even expressed that I needed to gain more weight then I currently was. I was discouraged. I wished to be weightless.

Then something in my mind clicked. I could be weightless. I am lucky enough to live in a house with a pool in the back yard. No, the belly doesn't make me more buoyant, but as I stepped into the pool, I felt distinctly not pregnant. My hips, back, thighs, knees, calves, ankles, neck, pelvic muscles, and stomach muscles all gave a sigh of relief as the pressure my belly creates was taken off of them. I swam a lap. Easy as pie. I swam underwater. Exactly as I remembered. I walked to the steps and did a ballet barre exercise with the water to cushion. I felt strong, flexible, and light. The pool felt like a miracle.

Since this first discovery, you can find me in the pool almost every day. With my new, smoke free lungs, I am an even better swimmer then I was before I got pregnant. I stretch, swim laps above and under water, and work out my legs. I am even able to semi-effectively stretch my back. (A task found to be impossible before.) I've even begun to play and slightly roughhouse with the family.

In the water, I am as close to being able to do everything I used to before I was pregnant. (I even take a book with me to read because sitting on a step in the water feels better than sitting on the couch.) With my bikini getting more wear then my super comfortable maternity dresses, I have found my happy place.