"Nursery", 6/25

In an effort to motivate me to get my office packed transformed into a nursery, I decided I would take photos of the room every Monday at noon to document my progress (or lack thereof).

Permission To Be Panic-Free

I just saw an awesome midwife at the new midwife clinic, and told her about spinningbabies.com, the one source of anxiety for me in the last few months. "That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of!" she said. So I have been sanctioned to ignore it, and I will continue to enjoy my time slumping on soft couches.

Almost 2/3 of the way... Missing the Old Me Part II

A few different people who are slightly ahead of me, pregnancy-wise, have commented that thing seemed to get more difficult very suddenly at the beginning of third trimester. I have been traveling last week, and my new uncomfortable symptoms developing during that time are shortness of breath, and muscle soreness across my ribs. When I get a good night's sleep, I start feeling limited by it in early afternoon. It has sapped my energy quite a bit.

I was checking in with my husband and our therapist about mood lately, saying that while I was away I was feeling sort of unsettled and empty, but it was a very fleeting feeling. Therapist commented that it sounded more like anxiety, and started asking what I was anxious about. Really nothing, though - not nervous about the baby coming, not nervous about what remained to do to get ready, a little bummed missing my old body, my old clothes, my old energy, but nothing outstanding. Therapist then reminded me that shortness of breath *causes* anxiety. Of course!

Avoid the Spinning Babies website if you are the anxious type. I found it overwhelming and contrary to my panic-free pregnancy lifestyle... I have decided to go against my doula's advice and ignore it completely, spending most evenings lounging on the couch trying to breath. We'll see if I regret this during the extra twelve hours of labor she promised me if I don't sit up straight.

The Goodmester

My friend calls the second trimester the "goodmester" and honestly, I can't complain. I've felt so normal most of the time that I forget I'm pregnant, until I walk past a mirror or feel the baby kick. I think I'm finally at peace with the new morphed body, which is a good thing because there ain't no hiding the fact that I am carrying a stowaway on board - I can dress incognito if I choose, but with the weather finally getting warm it's been more fun to wear all the cute little maternity tank tops that I got last month.

Ok, the lowdown on maternitywear:

Old Navy - good cheap basic stuff. Their jeans are hip. Their maternity selection is varied, so go to more than one store if you have the option

Gap - I only went to one location which apparently wasn't the "good" location in our area, but the clothes didn't really do it for me and they were much more expensive

Motherhood - what an experience, to go into a store and be able to try on anything you see! Something I used to take for granted. I scored big in their clearance rack, got some stuff that was a little fancier, "go out to dinner" kind of clothes. Also they have swimsuits.

Babystyle.com - they also have a good clearance selection, which is especially helpful if you are looking for stuff that is off-season (ie has long sleeves and is warm)

I found I have to take it slow with maternity clothes shopping - seeing my thick body from all angles was a little overwhelming and twice I left with lots of cute clothes but feeling like a fat cow. So I guess I'm not quite at peace with the new figure, after all.

Physical activity is still the best cure for this funk, for me. After a slight dip in month five, I am climbing at my pre-pregnancy levels and I went swing dancing last night for the first time since I started showing. Loads of fun!

(Months four and five, my blood pressure was low as my body was trying to make enough blood to fill up the new dilated circulatory system. Also lost some muscle during this time. Blood pressure is back to normal and the muscle I still have seems to be working right, although blood still has a lower concentration of red blood cells than normal, so oxygenation of the muscles is still not what it will be later!)