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May 02, 2005
The Big Three-Oh
30 weeks that is. So we're officially 75% "done", with (officially) 10 weeks to go, give or take a couple in either direction if nature takes its unpredictable course.
So we've come so far already, yet there's still so far to go when you look at 10 more weeks. Especially considering it's 10 weeks in weather that'll be heating up, and with a body that will be ever expanding.
It has also become time for me to hang up the do-gi for now. As much as I love going to karate class, it's getting to the point where it's just not worth it. I can only go once a week usually, because with all the kihon (basic training) that encompasses the kicking and legwork, I end up with very sore pelvic ligaments for the next couple of days, and usually we'd go on Monday and Wednesday, which is too close together for me to recuperate properly. Sore ligaments in turn mean that I don't sleep as well, and walking around isn't as pleasant during that time. And one class a week is tough enough as it is, because your physical condition deteriorates in the meantime just from exercising less, and then I have to factor in the extra deterioration I face with pregnancy taking more and more of a toll.
This week I'll get PreZ to double check what the re-registration fee is if I end my membership, and then I'll get him to put it on hold. They do have a freeze policy, but that's for a maximum of 3 months at a time (and $10 a month). The re-reg fee used to be (and should still be, seeing as they haven't upped their fees) $55, and I seriously doubt I'll be back in 3 months, being that that's very shortly after my due date. 5 months is a much more realistic goal, and at that point it's not worth asking the dojo to freeze my membership for longer than the official 3 month maximum, because re-registering is pretty much the same cost, assuming I'm back in those 5 months. I do hope to be able to go back a few months after I give birth, and I'm entertaining a tiny hope that maybe I can aim for a promotion test in December. Something to work towards at least, we need dreams and goals, right? even small ones.
Heartburn is making an entry back, or more of a pronounced entry, into my life. So far it's been almost every day for the past week+ where at some point I've had to grab an antacid or so. It's mild so far, so just one or two antacids usually sorts me out okay, but I can tell that this isn't going to be that much fun as space becomes ever more of a premium and my stomach is pushed further and further up. Heartburn is still better, so far, than all day nausea. At least constipation isn't an issue (yet?), so I'm counting my blessings on that one. I also don't have to pee every few minutes yet either, which is another relief.
The most recent development that I'm not too happy with is the lighter sleeping, another documented pregnancy symptom. Especially after karate class, I got to the point where I'd be awake every hour or two, all night. Very very frustrating indeed, if only because I really need my sleep. I generally need a good 8 hours when not pregnant, and over the last months I've easily been sleeping 10 a night, or more. Having it broken up every hour or two really ruins the restful sleep, and I've been getting tired a lot earlier as well (which may or may not be seperate from the more frequent waking up). Buying earplugs is also a consideration at this point, because PreZ is one of those people that falls asleep in under 3 minutes, and sometimes he can be breathing a bit more heavily or the occasional light snore before he gets to deep sleep, which drives me absolutely nuts especially now that it's harder for me to fall and stay asleep. Drowning that out might be something that helps me a bit as well. Hopefully it will also drown out the incessant yelping from the next door neighbours' dogs when they tie them up outside and the dogs end up getting lonely (the second dog they got obviously didn't help the first one's loneliness, now they both yelp and cry).
I did notice that once the karate aches had worn off I was sleeping longer intervals, but still not great. I guess this will all tie into needing to be awake every 2-3 hours in a few months to feed and diaper a newborn, however, it'd be nice not to be sleep deprived before that happens...
Instead of kicking, the baby seems to be doing more bodyrolls and movements. This is most likely due to the increasing lack of space. I'm still not sure if it's head-up or ass-up in there, but I know that it favours my right side with where it's back is, as that's where I can feel most of the boney stuff. It's interesting feeling little knobbly and boney bits poking out at angles, and then feeling them shift, especially when you put a little pressure on. Feeling stuff move and squirm just under your skin is still bizarre, more so than the kicking was.
We'll get more info on which end is up in just under weeks, as we have a midwife's appointment (at home!) on Friday the 13th, the day before we head off to Vegas. And no, we really don't pick these whacky dates for appointments and such on purpose, it just seems to happen. (For those late to the game, we had our first midwife's visit on the Winter solstice, our ultrasound on Valentine's day...).
PreZ still enjoys his before bedtime belly bonding. Hearing the heartbeat is usually very easy if he's got his head remotely in the right area. He still gets kicked in the head by the kidlet when he does it, which amuses us both no end. It's nice to have that kind of quiet time together just before going to sleep, even if the third party isn't particularly concious of it.
The Braxton-Hicks are common at this stage. I think when I woke up Sunday afternoon I had 5 or 6 in the space of about 30 minutes. They don't last long, and are certainly not painful either. Generally you don't really notice they're happening, other than a slight odd feeling, and if you actually touch your belly, it'll be hard because of all the uterine muscle tightening. Sometimes the kidlet is the one that triggers them, by moving or a sudden kick. Whenever that happens PreZ usually comments that the baby activated the shield button, and it does kind of feel as though some shield forcefield went up, with the belly all hard after that.
Other than all this, so far I've no cause to complain. The first 29 weeks have gone without a hitch, and with relatively minor discomfort. Here's hoping the last 10 are just as plain sailing.
Posted on 05:14 PM to: Pregnancy