Pelvis watch: not good. I had to do a fair amount of crutch free walking today and oh, I can't! Swimming lesson for the boys first off, which is every day this week and involves rather a lot of stairs.
I then spent most of the rest of the day lying down, but had to nip out to asda in the evening. I cannot do supermarkets. Trolleys are out as I can't push them, crutches are out as I need my hands. So it's a basket waddle. Not good. And the pain by the time I got back was ridiculous, I could barely put one foot in front of the other.
I am displeased to note that despite the bump now being on the very large side of huge, I still have the flap of skin below. How unfair is that? I guess twins make that flap inevitable, but still.
On a brighter note, we have booked a short break for the last weekend of the holidays. Just to Dumfries, I'm not prepared to travel far, but it will be ace to have that to look forward to.
And I received my Practical Parenting subscription gift: an Avent breast pump with two bottles and a thermal bag. We have an Avent steriliser and we used Avent for the twins, so its familiar. I was drawn to Tommee Tippee but they don't fit well in the steriliser. We were a little underwhelmed by the Avent bottles on account of slight leakage when mixing, but all bottles have some people who have that same complaint! Well nifty for zero cost though, I priced it up in asda and it would cost well over £30 to buy what I got. The subscription is less than that, and I'd buy PP anyway, I like it best of the pregnancy/baby mags.
A breast pump, yes, I did mean to get that as I do fully intend to give breastfeeding a try. Having spoken to a friend about birthing options I found myself pondering a VBAC again, but I think not. Stats are not favourable.
Many thoughts. Many.
Showing posts with label Pelvic Girdle Pain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pelvic Girdle Pain. Show all posts
Monday, 18 July 2011
Sunday, 17 July 2011
Overdone
Ooh, ow. My day of normality and doing stuff yesterday meant today was a write off. Had to get up relatively early due to pelvis hurting however I lay. Found sitting in my usual recovery position of cushion-on-chair with cushion-on-footstool was not working, so took two co codamol and had a warm bath. This helped some, but I have been mostly unable to move much all the rest of the day. Bizarrely, it got bearable, then I whipped some cream using an electric whisk and this set me back again. Not sure what happened there!
So, a most uneventful day. It was nice to be interactive and not lug about the crutches yesterday, but I guess there's a lesson to be learnt there...
The boys are very sweet about their sister. O likes talking to the bump and telling her what's happening, especially if his brother has been naughty. R is less interested, but mid rant he declared that although he hated everyone, he still liked her. He was very interested in the early days, but I think it has been too long (tell me about it!!) and also he is rather frustrated by my limitations. R will resume interest when there is a baby rather than a bump I think, although I still fear that they will be rather disappointed by just how little a newborn actually can do. Still, babies get better and better and more fun, until they reach the terrible twos that is, which seems to be any time between 18 months and 3 years of age.
It is strange to think of my babies as big brothers.
So, a most uneventful day. It was nice to be interactive and not lug about the crutches yesterday, but I guess there's a lesson to be learnt there...
The boys are very sweet about their sister. O likes talking to the bump and telling her what's happening, especially if his brother has been naughty. R is less interested, but mid rant he declared that although he hated everyone, he still liked her. He was very interested in the early days, but I think it has been too long (tell me about it!!) and also he is rather frustrated by my limitations. R will resume interest when there is a baby rather than a bump I think, although I still fear that they will be rather disappointed by just how little a newborn actually can do. Still, babies get better and better and more fun, until they reach the terrible twos that is, which seems to be any time between 18 months and 3 years of age.
It is strange to think of my babies as big brothers.
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Can't sit, won't sit
Tonight on pelvis watch we learn that sitting down isn't so good any more.
Today I stayed in all day and spent a large part of it typing my dissertation, but it transpires sitting for prolonged periods even on a cushion results in a very painful pelvis. I'm not sure if I'm stiff after the weekend's exertions, if I've done some damage, if I've gotten worse or if I just have to get a new sitting arrangement for typing.
It's getting me down a bit now, not least because it's nearly 12 weeks till she's due to be delivered. Back is also very sore today, probably the pelvic connector point. I am now in bed and am unable to get comfortable at all. Currently I am sitting upright contemplating cushions and hot water bottles.
It doesn't help that at 7am this morning when hubby had departed for work and I was making the most of the child free house (they return from Granny's tomorrow), but baby had a kickathon demanding breakfast. She's normally quiet and still of a morning, but no. Not today. Kicky kicky almost all day. Don't get me wrong, I love feeling her kick, but sometimes it's a little disruptive. Having been awake since 7, I could really do with some z's now. Alas, no position is comfortable enough to sleep.
Back: not recommended and extraordinarily uncomfortable.
Front: not possible
Right side: painful and heartburn inducing
Left side: painful
Which leaves levitation or sitting up. The latter creates a problem as to what to do with my legs.
Aaaaaaargh.
Today I stayed in all day and spent a large part of it typing my dissertation, but it transpires sitting for prolonged periods even on a cushion results in a very painful pelvis. I'm not sure if I'm stiff after the weekend's exertions, if I've done some damage, if I've gotten worse or if I just have to get a new sitting arrangement for typing.
It's getting me down a bit now, not least because it's nearly 12 weeks till she's due to be delivered. Back is also very sore today, probably the pelvic connector point. I am now in bed and am unable to get comfortable at all. Currently I am sitting upright contemplating cushions and hot water bottles.
It doesn't help that at 7am this morning when hubby had departed for work and I was making the most of the child free house (they return from Granny's tomorrow), but baby had a kickathon demanding breakfast. She's normally quiet and still of a morning, but no. Not today. Kicky kicky almost all day. Don't get me wrong, I love feeling her kick, but sometimes it's a little disruptive. Having been awake since 7, I could really do with some z's now. Alas, no position is comfortable enough to sleep.
Back: not recommended and extraordinarily uncomfortable.
Front: not possible
Right side: painful and heartburn inducing
Left side: painful
Which leaves levitation or sitting up. The latter creates a problem as to what to do with my legs.
Aaaaaaargh.
Monday, 4 July 2011
Procrastination
Oops.
I have an MSc Dissertation due in on August 15th.
This is me working on it.
The boys are off to their grandparents for a couple of days, leaving me some peace and quiet to get on with writing. And so I can produce words about the subject - safety of cycling - to the order of none. I can't get my baby addled brain around it. I thought once I got into it, the words would come. But no. Nothing.
Words written: 1000 (exactly). All pasted from a previous version. Needs padded, cannot pad.
Update on pregnancy, which seems to have become Pelvis Watch:
Having gone out and about both weekend days, I am rather broken. Saturday's expedition to the beach was moronic, I cannot walk on sand. So yesterday's trip to the meadows, involving a short flat walk only, should have been ok. Whether due to the soreness from the beach, or just general can't-walk-any-more-even-with-crutches, I don't know, but I could barely make it to the car. In fact, I didn't, I had to stop and send hubby for the car to collect me.
Today I drove the boys to Edinburgh, about a 30 mile round trip, to drop them off. Seriously sore again, it now seems to hurt to drive. Tomorrow I have a full day of no children and no need to leave the house, so I will take it very easy and rest up the pelvis, and see if I can undo the damage from the weekend. Very concerned that, with the exception of the sand, the walking of the last two days has not exceeded what I will have to do in order to do the school run after the holidays.
People are being very kind, I am in full receipt of lots of sympathy and kind offers. I feel humbled and very ungrateful for previous moanage.
Baby is doing fine, I believe. She is very active anyway, kicking away enthusiastically, but not frantically. Current dilemmas consist of a middle name as hubby doesn't like "May", and my futile attempts to talk him into a 3D scan. Which costs £115 or so and isn't really necessary in the slightest. My main concern is to double check the gender, which is stupid. While I know ultrasound gender predictions can be wrong, nobody I have known has ever been told incorrectly, and in our case I could see for myself a lack of dangly bits and the presence of the tell tale three lines. The sonographer was pretty confident as well, even though she - as presumably is the custom - used the word "probably". Frequent movements, steady growth and the lack of any ominous symptoms leave me unconcerned as to the need to check on the baby (any new developments would manifest in some way that would not need a 3D scan to spot, or which a 3D scan would not spot). So it would be a double check gender spot and a slightly freaky image of the baby that's going to be here in 12 weeks. For over £100. Hmmmm.
Activate word production related to cycling not babies, starting NOW...
I have an MSc Dissertation due in on August 15th.
This is me working on it.
The boys are off to their grandparents for a couple of days, leaving me some peace and quiet to get on with writing. And so I can produce words about the subject - safety of cycling - to the order of none. I can't get my baby addled brain around it. I thought once I got into it, the words would come. But no. Nothing.
Words written: 1000 (exactly). All pasted from a previous version. Needs padded, cannot pad.
Update on pregnancy, which seems to have become Pelvis Watch:
Having gone out and about both weekend days, I am rather broken. Saturday's expedition to the beach was moronic, I cannot walk on sand. So yesterday's trip to the meadows, involving a short flat walk only, should have been ok. Whether due to the soreness from the beach, or just general can't-walk-any-more-even-with-crutches, I don't know, but I could barely make it to the car. In fact, I didn't, I had to stop and send hubby for the car to collect me.
Today I drove the boys to Edinburgh, about a 30 mile round trip, to drop them off. Seriously sore again, it now seems to hurt to drive. Tomorrow I have a full day of no children and no need to leave the house, so I will take it very easy and rest up the pelvis, and see if I can undo the damage from the weekend. Very concerned that, with the exception of the sand, the walking of the last two days has not exceeded what I will have to do in order to do the school run after the holidays.
People are being very kind, I am in full receipt of lots of sympathy and kind offers. I feel humbled and very ungrateful for previous moanage.
Baby is doing fine, I believe. She is very active anyway, kicking away enthusiastically, but not frantically. Current dilemmas consist of a middle name as hubby doesn't like "May", and my futile attempts to talk him into a 3D scan. Which costs £115 or so and isn't really necessary in the slightest. My main concern is to double check the gender, which is stupid. While I know ultrasound gender predictions can be wrong, nobody I have known has ever been told incorrectly, and in our case I could see for myself a lack of dangly bits and the presence of the tell tale three lines. The sonographer was pretty confident as well, even though she - as presumably is the custom - used the word "probably". Frequent movements, steady growth and the lack of any ominous symptoms leave me unconcerned as to the need to check on the baby (any new developments would manifest in some way that would not need a 3D scan to spot, or which a 3D scan would not spot). So it would be a double check gender spot and a slightly freaky image of the baby that's going to be here in 12 weeks. For over £100. Hmmmm.
Activate word production related to cycling not babies, starting NOW...
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Bedrest or something approximating this
I am now signed off work for the duration. My signed off period ends the day that I am due to come off on leave. So no work till next summer.
Physio called me today, I am advised to try not moving where possible, and I've to go on Monday and collect crutches.
I feel a bit useless. No, I feel a lot useless. The whole thought of the summer holidays, followed by the school run in my latter weeks of pregnancy, followed by a new baby to care for is making me feel completely overwhelmed. And so I'm being psychotic, natch. I cried at the doctor today mostly because I was so relieved to see it was my own doctor.
I am measuring 3 weeks ahead of what I should be. A part of my brain knows that this is irrelevant and is due to overstretching by twins and general lack of shapeliness, but another part is thinking maybe, just maybe, she is further on and will arrive earlier, fully cooked and healthy. 37 weeks would be nice, assuming she's all done and well. That's 10 September or so. That's less time to hobble about.
I am placing great faith in the crutches and their ability to aid me to walk. I am envisaging happy summer managing-to-make-it-across-park outings. I am however a little apprehensive about the fact that I'll need to learn how to walk with crutches. I collect them at 12 on Monday; at 3 on Monday I have to collect the kids from school. If anyone laughs I'll probably cry at them.
Baby has been more restful today, lack of caffeine perhaps. Still enough movement to alleviate concerns (plus inevitable heartbeat checks) so it's ok.
So tired. So sore. So inactive.
Physio called me today, I am advised to try not moving where possible, and I've to go on Monday and collect crutches.
I feel a bit useless. No, I feel a lot useless. The whole thought of the summer holidays, followed by the school run in my latter weeks of pregnancy, followed by a new baby to care for is making me feel completely overwhelmed. And so I'm being psychotic, natch. I cried at the doctor today mostly because I was so relieved to see it was my own doctor.
I am measuring 3 weeks ahead of what I should be. A part of my brain knows that this is irrelevant and is due to overstretching by twins and general lack of shapeliness, but another part is thinking maybe, just maybe, she is further on and will arrive earlier, fully cooked and healthy. 37 weeks would be nice, assuming she's all done and well. That's 10 September or so. That's less time to hobble about.
I am placing great faith in the crutches and their ability to aid me to walk. I am envisaging happy summer managing-to-make-it-across-park outings. I am however a little apprehensive about the fact that I'll need to learn how to walk with crutches. I collect them at 12 on Monday; at 3 on Monday I have to collect the kids from school. If anyone laughs I'll probably cry at them.
Baby has been more restful today, lack of caffeine perhaps. Still enough movement to alleviate concerns (plus inevitable heartbeat checks) so it's ok.
So tired. So sore. So inactive.
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Immobility and getting maudlin
Oh dear. Moving is becoming more and more difficult. I couldn't face walking to work today after another more or less sleepless night, so I didn't go. Pain in my pelvis - front and back - made even sitting sore today.
I had a visit to the midwife today, all is well with baby and mother aside from the pelvis. BP is fine, urine is clear, heartbeat of baby is present and normal. Next visit they check my blood for haemoglobin and glucose and what not, as I'll be into trimester 3 and all set for gestational diabetes, anaemia and elevated BP.
The midwife (my own assigned midwife, who I like) was very sympathetic about my pelvis and gave me the contact number for the obstetric physio and a reflexologist. On the latter, I am sceptical about such things but it won't do any harm, isn't taking any herby tinctures and to be honest I'm prepared to give anything a shot it if helps. I am also advised to try aqua natal or generally being in a pool. Walking not swimming though, so the boys and I may spend some time at the pool during the summer holidays.
I'm not entirely sure my spouse, friends, other relatives and especially my colleagues are all that impressed - or sympathetic - about how feeble I'm being. I shall not dwell on this as I'm teetering on the brink of feeling very sorry for myself. Again.
So I'll watch my jiggling tummy for a while and remind myself what it's all about. If that fails I'll look at pink baby clothes and Disney princess films.
I had a visit to the midwife today, all is well with baby and mother aside from the pelvis. BP is fine, urine is clear, heartbeat of baby is present and normal. Next visit they check my blood for haemoglobin and glucose and what not, as I'll be into trimester 3 and all set for gestational diabetes, anaemia and elevated BP.
The midwife (my own assigned midwife, who I like) was very sympathetic about my pelvis and gave me the contact number for the obstetric physio and a reflexologist. On the latter, I am sceptical about such things but it won't do any harm, isn't taking any herby tinctures and to be honest I'm prepared to give anything a shot it if helps. I am also advised to try aqua natal or generally being in a pool. Walking not swimming though, so the boys and I may spend some time at the pool during the summer holidays.
I'm not entirely sure my spouse, friends, other relatives and especially my colleagues are all that impressed - or sympathetic - about how feeble I'm being. I shall not dwell on this as I'm teetering on the brink of feeling very sorry for myself. Again.
So I'll watch my jiggling tummy for a while and remind myself what it's all about. If that fails I'll look at pink baby clothes and Disney princess films.
Monday, 20 June 2011
Miracle baby
I'm not entirely sure pregnancy is ever touted as a cure for maladies but this baby has so far cured my various ailments. It does remain to be seen whether the recovery persists when the baby has been born, but to date the baby, or the hormones connected to her existence, have "fixed" the following:
1) my whiplash. In April 2009 I was in a minor car accident that resulted in persistent severe pain in my neck. As little as two weeks prior to knowing I was pregnant, I was unable to reduce my maximum dose of tramadol at all. Movement in my neck was limited through pain. On discovering I was pregnant, I tried to wean myself off the drugs. I didn't take one until I needed one, until I noticed I hadn't taken one all day. Or the next. Or the next. And still my neck is like it was before. Normal. It gets a little achey on occasion but no more than that. I can assume it was ligament related and the relaxin has loosened the tautness caused by the accident and allowed the ligaments to return to normal.
2) vegetarianism. In the last three years I started off a fully signed up carnivore, then a complete non-meat eater (I am loathe to say vegetarian for fear of being lynched as I did eat jelly babies). I then returned to eating poultry and so that remained until I was pregnant. I don't eat fish partially for ethical reasons (I have to remind myself that smoked salmon and scallops are fish) but now I am enjoying red meat again.
3) I had some sort of skanky nail thing which resulted in a couple of my fingernails almost entirely falling off. I had a paint on solution that I was to apply for the nine months it takes to regrow an entire nail. Or, apply for a couple of months then stop applying in case of detrimental effect on baby and lo and behold, full nails a month later.
I am trusting fully that none of the above will return post partum in light of departing hormones. I am also trusting that the pelvis will return to normal fairly swiftly and that such things as bending will be possible again. And I should be, like, normal. Woo.
Once I've recovered from the birth and my pelvis returns to form that is. 2012 will be the year of good health and no debilitating conditions. It will.
While still dealing with the pregnancy induced pain, my parents brought me a "helpful hand" grabber which is ace. I think I'd be utterly depressed if I needed one permanently, but for convenience and just a couple of months, it's kinda useful.
Baby still v active, I amused myself for a while earlier by placing a small stuffed lizard on my bump and watching it twitch in time with kicks. I love that, I could interact with a kicky bump all day.
Return to work dependent on sleep. No napping all day should at least provide tiredness. Indigestion could provide wakefulness. We'll see. If I can't make it to work I think I'll have to get signed off properly. I don't really want to do that, but if I can't cope, I can't cope.
1) my whiplash. In April 2009 I was in a minor car accident that resulted in persistent severe pain in my neck. As little as two weeks prior to knowing I was pregnant, I was unable to reduce my maximum dose of tramadol at all. Movement in my neck was limited through pain. On discovering I was pregnant, I tried to wean myself off the drugs. I didn't take one until I needed one, until I noticed I hadn't taken one all day. Or the next. Or the next. And still my neck is like it was before. Normal. It gets a little achey on occasion but no more than that. I can assume it was ligament related and the relaxin has loosened the tautness caused by the accident and allowed the ligaments to return to normal.
2) vegetarianism. In the last three years I started off a fully signed up carnivore, then a complete non-meat eater (I am loathe to say vegetarian for fear of being lynched as I did eat jelly babies). I then returned to eating poultry and so that remained until I was pregnant. I don't eat fish partially for ethical reasons (I have to remind myself that smoked salmon and scallops are fish) but now I am enjoying red meat again.
3) I had some sort of skanky nail thing which resulted in a couple of my fingernails almost entirely falling off. I had a paint on solution that I was to apply for the nine months it takes to regrow an entire nail. Or, apply for a couple of months then stop applying in case of detrimental effect on baby and lo and behold, full nails a month later.
I am trusting fully that none of the above will return post partum in light of departing hormones. I am also trusting that the pelvis will return to normal fairly swiftly and that such things as bending will be possible again. And I should be, like, normal. Woo.
Once I've recovered from the birth and my pelvis returns to form that is. 2012 will be the year of good health and no debilitating conditions. It will.
While still dealing with the pregnancy induced pain, my parents brought me a "helpful hand" grabber which is ace. I think I'd be utterly depressed if I needed one permanently, but for convenience and just a couple of months, it's kinda useful.
Baby still v active, I amused myself for a while earlier by placing a small stuffed lizard on my bump and watching it twitch in time with kicks. I love that, I could interact with a kicky bump all day.
Return to work dependent on sleep. No napping all day should at least provide tiredness. Indigestion could provide wakefulness. We'll see. If I can't make it to work I think I'll have to get signed off properly. I don't really want to do that, but if I can't cope, I can't cope.
Thursday, 16 June 2011
All hail bananas!
No more mad leg!! Bananas save the day!
Well, one banana, but I fully intend to keep up the banana intake, I hadn't had so many after the nausea faded.
Pelvis is poor to failing, walking is extraordinarily sore. Today I had lunch with a friend and apparently sitting still for that amount of time is detrimental to pained pelvises. Ouchie central when we left the restaurant and the pain has only been alleviated by sitting very still on my cushioned seat with a cushioned footstool. And a co-codamol which I understand is ok to take sparingly until trimester 3. So here's hoping the pain has gone by next week! Err...
Movement from within the uterus is good today. My comfy cushioned chair can rock a bit and if I rock, I get super enthusiastic kicks. Whether they are kicks of enjoyment or "hey mama, quit with the turbulence" I'm not sure. It's kinda cool though.
So tired. Sleep is proving elusive and there's a new element of waking up far too early.
If I can blame baby for the wakefulness, she's on schedule to be wide awake at 10pm, 2am and 6am, which does at least miss out 3am or 4am - the hours at which it is most difficult to be awake.
4pm isn't proving so easy today, I'm going to have to sign off now...
Well, one banana, but I fully intend to keep up the banana intake, I hadn't had so many after the nausea faded.
Pelvis is poor to failing, walking is extraordinarily sore. Today I had lunch with a friend and apparently sitting still for that amount of time is detrimental to pained pelvises. Ouchie central when we left the restaurant and the pain has only been alleviated by sitting very still on my cushioned seat with a cushioned footstool. And a co-codamol which I understand is ok to take sparingly until trimester 3. So here's hoping the pain has gone by next week! Err...
Movement from within the uterus is good today. My comfy cushioned chair can rock a bit and if I rock, I get super enthusiastic kicks. Whether they are kicks of enjoyment or "hey mama, quit with the turbulence" I'm not sure. It's kinda cool though.
So tired. Sleep is proving elusive and there's a new element of waking up far too early.
If I can blame baby for the wakefulness, she's on schedule to be wide awake at 10pm, 2am and 6am, which does at least miss out 3am or 4am - the hours at which it is most difficult to be awake.
4pm isn't proving so easy today, I'm going to have to sign off now...
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Leg of dissent
My leg has gone mad. One of the muscles just above my left knee has been twitching madly all day. I'm not unduly alarmed (slightly too aware of my own mortality at present to be completely calm about anything) as it isn't sore/swollen/veiny but it is rather disturbing. Googlage reveals that muscle twitching is relatively common in pregnancy. Many (loony) hits suggest it's an electrolyte deficiency and so recommend a variety of untested dubious tinctures that haven't been accepted by the medical profession. Sorry, I think the accepted term there is "alternative medicine". Herbal maybe, or homeopathic if you don't really care for correct nomenclature. Or as I said, untested. (I'm not a fan).
What I am prepare to do is eat a banana in an attempt to boost potassium.
*pause for banana getting*
I do like bananas, and they are proving to be a pregnancy wonderfood. I previously found them to be wondrous in their anti nausea ability. Now they provide an simple non-healthfood-shop source of potassium. And they're yummy.
Leg is still twitching. It would seem it takes more than a minute to reach my muscles. Pah!
I have now finished the breastfeeding book by Clare Byam-Cook. I liked it, I am convinced that I want to go for a little bit of breastfeeding, I am also convinced I am not exclusively breastfeeding until 12 months. Nuh uh. I did subscribe to Practical Parenting, my pregnancy magazine du choix, and elected to get a free breast pump. So the intention is there.
The book was good, but I have to agree with the reviews that say its old fashioned. While I agree with some of her views, they aren't quite the party line with regard to weaning and formula preparation, amongst other things. On some things I applaud her sense however, but it is not the most up to date tome. For tips on breastfeeding it is a goldmine, so I recommend it for that alone.
Kaz Cooke's Rough Guide to Babies and Toddlers is both no nonsense and full of up to date advice.
Today I was delighted to receive Christine Hill's "A perfect start". So far, so excellent. "The not-so-perfect parents survival guide" it claims. That's me!
My leg is starting to be sore. I may phone someone in the morning just to check it's normal with regard to blood pressure and being very very old.
Pelvis not good today, walking was particularly difficult and pain was definitely increased. This may have contributed to the mad leg. Don't know.
What I am prepare to do is eat a banana in an attempt to boost potassium.
*pause for banana getting*
I do like bananas, and they are proving to be a pregnancy wonderfood. I previously found them to be wondrous in their anti nausea ability. Now they provide an simple non-healthfood-shop source of potassium. And they're yummy.
Leg is still twitching. It would seem it takes more than a minute to reach my muscles. Pah!
I have now finished the breastfeeding book by Clare Byam-Cook. I liked it, I am convinced that I want to go for a little bit of breastfeeding, I am also convinced I am not exclusively breastfeeding until 12 months. Nuh uh. I did subscribe to Practical Parenting, my pregnancy magazine du choix, and elected to get a free breast pump. So the intention is there.
The book was good, but I have to agree with the reviews that say its old fashioned. While I agree with some of her views, they aren't quite the party line with regard to weaning and formula preparation, amongst other things. On some things I applaud her sense however, but it is not the most up to date tome. For tips on breastfeeding it is a goldmine, so I recommend it for that alone.
Kaz Cooke's Rough Guide to Babies and Toddlers is both no nonsense and full of up to date advice.
Today I was delighted to receive Christine Hill's "A perfect start". So far, so excellent. "The not-so-perfect parents survival guide" it claims. That's me!
My leg is starting to be sore. I may phone someone in the morning just to check it's normal with regard to blood pressure and being very very old.
Pelvis not good today, walking was particularly difficult and pain was definitely increased. This may have contributed to the mad leg. Don't know.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Footwork
Well, as was always likely, after a concerning lack of movement, baby has been a go-go pretty much all day. No worries there!
Pain excessive today, I think it may be connected to footwear. Not that I was wearing silly shoes, they were summer low wedges and normally very comfortable, but I wore a similar heel (different shoes) a couple of weeks ago and found I was worse that day also. So I appear to be set to spend the rest of my pregnancy in my everyday shoes, which are essentially leather crocs. Great with trousers, not so great with skirts. So it's them or my faithful sandals which are two strips of leather on a comfy flat base: only used for proper hot days. Flat seems to be the clue, so I might go mad and spend £10 or so on a pair of little flat canvas shoes.
This sorta thing:
That particular pair are £12. I might go the extra £2.
This made me laugh a lot today:
crazy baby shower cakes
Pain excessive today, I think it may be connected to footwear. Not that I was wearing silly shoes, they were summer low wedges and normally very comfortable, but I wore a similar heel (different shoes) a couple of weeks ago and found I was worse that day also. So I appear to be set to spend the rest of my pregnancy in my everyday shoes, which are essentially leather crocs. Great with trousers, not so great with skirts. So it's them or my faithful sandals which are two strips of leather on a comfy flat base: only used for proper hot days. Flat seems to be the clue, so I might go mad and spend £10 or so on a pair of little flat canvas shoes.
This sorta thing:
That particular pair are £12. I might go the extra £2.
This made me laugh a lot today:
crazy baby shower cakes
Monday, 13 June 2011
Fear and loathing in the bath
Aaaaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhh!!
I'm very cross today. With everything. Nothing has happened to annoy me, more that I am annoyed at things. Most of them.
People mostly.
Baby moved a lot less than usual today which naturally caused a mild panic. And a mild psychotic moment when I expressed concern and was told if I was actually concerned I wouldn't say "I'm concerned".
Heartbeat is normal. Movement in response to prods and music is normal. There's just less tummy jiggling than normal. So I worry. A little. Not enough to do anything. Just a little.
And then I get cross again.
I've had a day of nasty heartburn and an unnecessary number of occasions where I have had to bend down to the floor. I can't do this, or I shouldn't. If I drop something on the floor, which happens often due to being sleep deprived and dozy, I instinctively stoop to pick it up. And it hurts a lot. If I want to get something off the floor I have to do elaborate moves to get there, because if I just duck down the way I have done forever, it hurts. So if I want my shoes from the floor beside the bed, I have to lie on the bed and lean off. But if I drop something, I'm down there and cursing before I remember. Squatting is absolutely not going to happen, I'd be stuck in a permasquat for the rest of time.
I'm not sure how the clutter is going to clear itself off the floor, although I did manage to declutter the boys' room by sitting down on the floor and shuffling around.
So the list of things I can't really do are:
Stay awake, unless it's bedtime
Walk more than 100 yards
Bend over
Lie on my back, front or right side
Lift anything
I've got 15 weeks to go. Aieeeee.
I'm very cross today. With everything. Nothing has happened to annoy me, more that I am annoyed at things. Most of them.
People mostly.
Baby moved a lot less than usual today which naturally caused a mild panic. And a mild psychotic moment when I expressed concern and was told if I was actually concerned I wouldn't say "I'm concerned".
Heartbeat is normal. Movement in response to prods and music is normal. There's just less tummy jiggling than normal. So I worry. A little. Not enough to do anything. Just a little.
And then I get cross again.
I've had a day of nasty heartburn and an unnecessary number of occasions where I have had to bend down to the floor. I can't do this, or I shouldn't. If I drop something on the floor, which happens often due to being sleep deprived and dozy, I instinctively stoop to pick it up. And it hurts a lot. If I want to get something off the floor I have to do elaborate moves to get there, because if I just duck down the way I have done forever, it hurts. So if I want my shoes from the floor beside the bed, I have to lie on the bed and lean off. But if I drop something, I'm down there and cursing before I remember. Squatting is absolutely not going to happen, I'd be stuck in a permasquat for the rest of time.
I'm not sure how the clutter is going to clear itself off the floor, although I did manage to declutter the boys' room by sitting down on the floor and shuffling around.
So the list of things I can't really do are:
Stay awake, unless it's bedtime
Walk more than 100 yards
Bend over
Lie on my back, front or right side
Lift anything
I've got 15 weeks to go. Aieeeee.
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Difficulties
Oh dear. Activities would seem to be limited. Walking is now very painful. I can still walk, but it hurts. Bending is impossible, it doesn't happen. I can't bend down or lean forward when sitting. This is not good. Standing still hurts now.
What doesn't hurt: lying in the bath, assuming I have a neck pillow so I don't put weight on my back or lying in a similar propped up position in bed. Left side with pillow allows for sleep but isn't comfortable, and sitting with my feet up and lots of cushions helps a bit, but then my legs start to hurt.
I feel very feeble. As doing the minimum required seems to be beyond me, I somehow need to do less than is required.
I'm only 23 weeks. I've got another 16 weeks and 3 days to cook. As I most definitely want to fully cook my baby, I don't want to send out mistaken wishes, but boy do I wish we could fast forward to 26 September!!
Sigh. It takes a long time to make a human being.
What doesn't hurt: lying in the bath, assuming I have a neck pillow so I don't put weight on my back or lying in a similar propped up position in bed. Left side with pillow allows for sleep but isn't comfortable, and sitting with my feet up and lots of cushions helps a bit, but then my legs start to hurt.
I feel very feeble. As doing the minimum required seems to be beyond me, I somehow need to do less than is required.
I'm only 23 weeks. I've got another 16 weeks and 3 days to cook. As I most definitely want to fully cook my baby, I don't want to send out mistaken wishes, but boy do I wish we could fast forward to 26 September!!
Sigh. It takes a long time to make a human being.
Thursday, 26 May 2011
A waddle in the life
Ouch.
It is very most difficult to do anything without involving ones pelvis. Which hurts if used.
Advice for dealing with PGP is to combine doing as little as possible with as many pelvic tilts as is humanly achievable. When tilted into the core position the pelvis is locked and doesn't float around on the ineffective ligaments. So, less pain.
Unlike pelvic floor exercises you can't surreptitiously do a few pelvic tilts while you're waiting for the green man; they are indeed most noticeable and difficult to differentiate from pelvic thrusts. You would look and feel most conspicuous thrusting away in the street. So, best kept for the privacy of home, and when your pelvis floats off into some twisted alignment, just waddle home as best you can and sort it out away from judging eyes.
It's a funny sort of pain, it doesn't hurt while you do something, it hurts after, or once you've been doing it a while. I noticed that when I left work today I was walking normally. Fifteen minutes or so later, as I approached home, I was doing some combination of a waddle and a shuffle. The pain built up as the ability failed. Sudden movements, such as that required when you realise the strudel has been in the oven too long, are ok until you take a few steps and then the pain hits.
It also accumulates. The more done by day makes for the more uncomfortable of an evening.
Things that help (rather than just a moan):
Sleeping with a support pillow under the bump and between the knees.
Wearing a tummy tubigrip. I'd guess a support belt also works. Maternity bands are a good, but not as effective, substitute.
Sitting on a cushion.
Doing everything slowly.
Avoiding standing on one leg, lifting, pushing, bending down or crossing legs.
Generally avoiding most housework.
Tilting the pelvis in before turning over in bed or standing up.
Kneeling on all fours and rocking the pelvis gently.
Copious amounts of Tramadol. No, wait, that's not allowed. If the pain persists past the birth at least there's that to look forward to...
It is very most difficult to do anything without involving ones pelvis. Which hurts if used.
Advice for dealing with PGP is to combine doing as little as possible with as many pelvic tilts as is humanly achievable. When tilted into the core position the pelvis is locked and doesn't float around on the ineffective ligaments. So, less pain.
Unlike pelvic floor exercises you can't surreptitiously do a few pelvic tilts while you're waiting for the green man; they are indeed most noticeable and difficult to differentiate from pelvic thrusts. You would look and feel most conspicuous thrusting away in the street. So, best kept for the privacy of home, and when your pelvis floats off into some twisted alignment, just waddle home as best you can and sort it out away from judging eyes.
It's a funny sort of pain, it doesn't hurt while you do something, it hurts after, or once you've been doing it a while. I noticed that when I left work today I was walking normally. Fifteen minutes or so later, as I approached home, I was doing some combination of a waddle and a shuffle. The pain built up as the ability failed. Sudden movements, such as that required when you realise the strudel has been in the oven too long, are ok until you take a few steps and then the pain hits.
It also accumulates. The more done by day makes for the more uncomfortable of an evening.
Things that help (rather than just a moan):
Sleeping with a support pillow under the bump and between the knees.
Wearing a tummy tubigrip. I'd guess a support belt also works. Maternity bands are a good, but not as effective, substitute.
Sitting on a cushion.
Doing everything slowly.
Avoiding standing on one leg, lifting, pushing, bending down or crossing legs.
Generally avoiding most housework.
Tilting the pelvis in before turning over in bed or standing up.
Kneeling on all fours and rocking the pelvis gently.
Copious amounts of Tramadol. No, wait, that's not allowed. If the pain persists past the birth at least there's that to look forward to...
Monday, 23 May 2011
Pelvic fail
Today my pelvis actually went on strike. It was mightily painful/uncomfortable through the night and today simply wasn't playing the being-a-pelvis game. Specifically, we have now added sitting to the things I can't do. My pelvis feels bruised, as if I spent the whole weekend on the back of a horse or riding a bike on particularly rough terrain.
I may add, as I needed to when talking to the physio, no, I didn't actually do anything like that over the weekend. Or it wouldn't be notable.
Sitting: most painful
Crossing legs: unbearable sore
Sitting down and not crossing legs: impossible
Walking: painful on the lower back and thighs.
Lying down: lower back does not tolerate.
Standing still: ok.
Luckily today's extra ouchiness coincided with my physio appointment. I now officially have pelvic girdle pain, or PGP. It seems having somewhat lax stomach muscles and less than perfect posture can be blamed, although I am mystified as to why my equally untoned stomach and slumped posture didn't cause my pelvis to give up when I was carrying TWO BABIES.
I have been given the least attractive item ever for support. It is a tubigrip. Really. Exactly the same as you get for your ankle, but bigger. It goes from my braline to my hips and it positively delightful. It does help a lot, but it is very warm and itchy and not that nice to wear.
Other things I am to do:
Attempt to use my stomach muscles and correct my posture.
Sit on cushions and what not
Try and "rock" my pelvis. Ha. That's wayyyyy too sore.
Limit movement. This is kind of instinctive in the face of pain. But still, it's nice to have it told to you. Do less. Ok!!
I may add, as I needed to when talking to the physio, no, I didn't actually do anything like that over the weekend. Or it wouldn't be notable.
Sitting: most painful
Crossing legs: unbearable sore
Sitting down and not crossing legs: impossible
Walking: painful on the lower back and thighs.
Lying down: lower back does not tolerate.
Standing still: ok.
Luckily today's extra ouchiness coincided with my physio appointment. I now officially have pelvic girdle pain, or PGP. It seems having somewhat lax stomach muscles and less than perfect posture can be blamed, although I am mystified as to why my equally untoned stomach and slumped posture didn't cause my pelvis to give up when I was carrying TWO BABIES.
I have been given the least attractive item ever for support. It is a tubigrip. Really. Exactly the same as you get for your ankle, but bigger. It goes from my braline to my hips and it positively delightful. It does help a lot, but it is very warm and itchy and not that nice to wear.
Other things I am to do:
Attempt to use my stomach muscles and correct my posture.
Sit on cushions and what not
Try and "rock" my pelvis. Ha. That's wayyyyy too sore.
Limit movement. This is kind of instinctive in the face of pain. But still, it's nice to have it told to you. Do less. Ok!!
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