Last night, I was getting up from the table after a particularly filling dinner when I yelped in pain. M, who had been distracted by the two dogs (one is not ours; we’re dog-sitting while my friend is in the hospital after having a C-section), said, “Was that noise you?”
Yes, it was me. I was suddenly experiencing severe cramping that was agitated any time I stretched, moved, coughed or did anything but lie on the couch. In fact, even lying on the couch was starting to bother me after a while.
The logical part of me said, well, this must be what late-third-trimester ligament pain is like. The deadbaby mama in me, however, wondered if this was cause for alarm. So I decided to call our birthing center just to talk to a nurse to gain some perspective. While she was hesitant to tell me everything was OK, she did reassure me that ligament pain can, indeed, feel like “someone is shoving a stick up your v.a.g.ina.” She suggested a warm bath.
And so I took my first bath in years (I do, of course, shower—I just find it time-consuming to fill up a bathtub). While I was horrified with how dirty our bathtub/shower actually is, I was amazed by how quickly I felt better. A hot bath is the miracle drug! I’ll have to remember that when I’m in labor…
I’m 27 weeks today. This morning I discovered I had gained a whopping 4 pounds in the past week. I now weigh in 26 pounds heavier than I did pre-pregnancy. Whoa. My current fear is preeclempsia, but so far the weight gain and slight swelling are my only symptoms, so I’m just going to hang on tight and try not to think about it.
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12 comments:
Baths are miracle workers! They are good for even head problems, physically or emotionally. :) Glad it did the trick!
I had major swelling, and would often gain 3 or 4 pounds overnight if I didn't closely watch my sodium intake. I took my BP at home to reassure myself, and it never went over the low 130s. I never developed preeclampsia.
I had a 7lb gain in two weeks with my first pg, and it coincided exactly with when I started noticing swelling in my ankles. Keep an eye on the swelling in case it gets excessive, but I think that starting to retain water at this stage is pretty normal. Sucky, but normal.
A warm bath sounds wonderful - maybe I'll put that on my to-do's for this weekend!
My weight fluctuates a ton too...I can go up several lbs a week and other weeks gain nada.
I've had bad pains like that before - the kind that make you double over for a short time while it passes. Yup, I definitely think that's the stretching ligaments talking!
Good to know the bath is helping. I avoided warm anything so far because of the advice to avoid saunas etc.
I'm guessing you have the temperature low and its not very warm?
Welcome to 27 weeks! Wait and see what happens with the weight next week. If it keeps jumping up then I'd be worried, but I've had a lot of weeks where it jumped up a few pounds then leveled off for a couple weeks.
Personally, I'd love a warm bath, but I can't get in or out of ours without help these days and it's disgustingly mucky. The perils of having a husband on housecleaning duties!
J
I've read that you should only take a bath when your husband is home, in case you can't get out afterward. But that would involve keeping him within earshot the whole time. They are relaxing, though.
Weight gain and swelling are both part of a normal pregnancy, too, so I wouldn't worry too much about preeclampsia.
I say "hurrah" for baths!
I agree-- I would gain 4 pounds overnight... its ok if it doesn't keep going on. I gained 25 pounds total, and I swear all 25 was water. My BP never went over 130, but I was one damn puffy looking pg lady.
So, watch the calories, sodium, and BP. If they are all ok, just be glad it is flop-flop weather! :-)
ps, I thought I would have to give up baths when I got *too* pg and couldn't get out any more. I was bemoaning this fact to my dad and he said, "your mom used to just turn over in the tub and her hands and knees and get up that way." Genius. I was still taking baths at 41 weeks!
Of course, that was the last one I got for about the next 6 months, so enjoy them while you can!
Oh, I love warm baths!
I wish we had a bathtub of decent size - your hot bath sounds wonderful!
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