Pregnancy update

Now that I am in my third trimester (a fact which had to be pointed out to me by VolubleK, as I was living in denial, and insisting that I was still in the second!), I thought it would be timely to do a quick preggie update.

Measurements at 27 weeks pregnant:

• Waist: 103 cm (was 87 cm pre-pregnancy)
• Hips: 114 cm (was 104 cm pre-pregnancy)
• Weight gain: 6.5 kg
  

The bump is unmissable now, which is good because it makes getting seat on the tram easier. However bad as I am now big enough to be quite uncomfortable in bed. I have had to sleep on my side for many weeks now, with a squishy pillow tucked in under the bump, and as of last week, a cushion between my knees (to keep my upper leg horizontal from the hip to the knee).

I am big enough that I can't bend forward easily (so trimming toenails is pretty challenging) but I haven't yet reached the stage of frequently knocking my bump into things, as a result of miscalculating my own inflated abdomen's size (something I did quite a bit towards the end of my first pregnancy.)

Current aches and pains:

• Deep soreness in my right gluteal muscle, particularly aches at night and often the pain extends down into my hamstring and calf muscles.
• A stabbing muscle pain, like a stitch on the lower right side of my belly if I walk for more than about 5 minutes at a reasonable pace.
• Ribs are sore, especially lowest ribs on right side - feels like they are being pushed outwards (they probably are!)
• Sacroiliac joint feels 'stuck' and is often achy.
  
• Occasional heartburn, but as with my first pregnancy, this was worst around 20 - 22 weeks, and has subsided since. If I keep following the same pattern as when I was pregnant the first time, I anticipate that it will return with avengance towards the end of the pregnancy.
  

Nocturnal interruptions

• Toilet breaks at 1.30 am and 3.30 am on a typical night.
• Early breakfast at 5.30 am (occasional not regularly required, thankfully!)
• On the plus side, BallFiend has been very consistent in his overnight sleeping patterns, in bed at 7.30 pm and waking sometime between 6.45 am to 7.30 am. (This morning he slept in till 8.15 am... Bliss!!)

The tenant

• kicks a lot and very vigourously, however there are long periods of quiet in between these periods of activity. This gives me cause for hope that, once on the outside, the baby might fall into a regular pattern of sleeping fairly quickly.
• could be a big one! According to the 20 week morphology ultrasound scan, the baby was measuring a little large for gestation age. At my most recent check-up, the midwife also said that the baby is measuring large. This could mean nothing, other than the baby is a bit bigger than average, or it could mean that the baby is actually a week older than I originally thought (ie. I got my dates wrong), or it could mean that I have gestational diabetes! Argh!
  

Fitness regime

• Yoga class each Saturday, usually accompanied by The Librarian, who is about 9 weeks more pregnant than me. Finally found a new class that is suitable, after being excluded from my usual yoga class due to being pregnant (my teacher's insurance no longer covers her to teach pregnant women, even though she was insured to teach my last time I was pregnant... stupid insurer, changing the rules!)
• Tried the pre-natal/post-natal class at the local fitness centre. It was OK, but a little too gentle, not really what I was looking for (though I think this will be excellent for post-natal fitness and intend to go after Baby #2 is born).
  
• Walking. Not in a dedicated, once-a-week type of way, like I used to do when BallFiend was 6 months old, but I do try take every opportunity to walk, aches and pains permitting.
• Thinking of either going swimming or water aerobics (but heading into Winter makes this less appealing) or going to the general fitness class at the physio around the corner from my house.
  

General Health

• Diet is not great I have to admit. I am just not as motivated to maintain an 'excellent' diet, in the same way that I was the first time I was pregnant. Could be a result of having to prepare meals that a fussy toddler will eat. Could just be that chocolate tastes better than silver beet. Still I am eating a reasonably balanced diet so not doing too badly.
  
• I have been taking Vitamin C in a (pathetic) attempt to try and strengthen my immune system against the impending threat of Swine Flu. (Given BallFiend is at crèche twice a week, mixing with kids whose older siblings are probably attending flu-infected primary schools, I have a horrible feeling that it is only a matter of time until someone in our household gets it.)
• Sore throat persists. It first developed after CutLuce's Hens Night and lingered around for weeks, finally flaring up again just in time for her wedding. It remains a low-grade sore throat, mainly affecting my right tonsil, not bad enough to see a doctor or take sick leave but sore enough to be annoying. Stupid suppressed-due-to-pregnancy immune system.

Birth/Baby preparation

• Having been trying to do some reading of birthing techniques, etc., but not motivated enough yet... guess I need to be closer to delivery-date.
  
• I am remembering to do my pelvic floor exercises most days.
  
• Nesting instinct - hasn't really kicked in yet but I did get really motivated to tidy up and declutter the house over the past week or so.
• Bought a mattress for the baby-basket that will serve as bassinette for Baby #2. This was the basket that I slept in as an infant. I had intended to use it with BallFiend, but never got around to buying a new mattress for it. So this time I am being more organised: $20 at Clarke Rubber got me a 50mm foam mattress. Hooray!
• Have ordered a sofabed so that either DeepSpice or I have an alternative place to go and sleep when Baby #2 is keeping us up all night. Plus, if I go into labour in the middle of the night, we can have a family member (probably CutLuce) come and stay with BallFiend overnight, while DeepSpice carts me off to the birth centre.
  
• Trying to interest BallFiend in using the potty, moving out of his cot into a big bed and numerous other 'big boy' things. He occasionally shows interest in toileting, has adamantly stated how much he loves his cot and doesn't want a big bed like all his playgroup friends, frequently asks to be spoon-fed (which we hadn't been doing for some months previously) and has even started to play-act being a baby (crawling, cuddling, etc.). Still, I have no intention of telling him that he has to grow up and be a big brother... afterall, I wouldn't be doing that if there wasn't a sibling on the way. As an eldest child myself, I often disliked being made to be the grown-up, responsible one, just because I was the eldest.
• Organising maternity leave arrangements. I am very lucky as I qualify for 6 months maternity leave (or 12 months maternity leave at half-pay) and on top of this I am also due for long service leave. So if I want to, I can take up to 18 months off work in total. But it is a really hard deciding exactly how long to take - what is best for my children vs my career, etc.

PS. So much for a quick update!
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