Ask the Chick Who's Six Months Pregnant

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Yeah, me again. Since my last update was so very late, I figured I’d do this one a little earlier. And lucky for you, that also means it will be a little shorter.

First, a shout-out to Elysium, the chick who was ever-so-recently nine months pregnant, and now has something awesome to show for it.

Second, one important thing I forgot in my last update: at just after five months, I fell. That was very scary. I was at a friend’s house for a party, and I was standing on wet grass, on a slope, getting a gift out of my car. My feet slipped out from under me, and I landed (fortunately) on my well-padded ass. At the time, I didn’t think too much of it; I just went on into the party. When I got home, however, I started to worry. I found out from the internets that, while very rare, it’s possible for a fall to cause the placenta to detatch. Lumpy seemed to be moving as normal, and I had no other symptoms, but I figured it was better to check. So I called my OB, who had me come in for a checkup the next day. Everything was fine, but of course, I just know I’m going to attribute all of Lumpy’s problems to that fall from now on. Slow to talk? Can’t carry a tune in a bucket? No date for the prom? Votes Republican? Well, I did have that fall…

Beyond that, though, there’s not much new to tell:

  • I’m steadily getting bigger, my weight’s right on target, and I’m very happy that it seems to be all belly (and maybe a little bit of butt). Even my OB commented that I haven’t really gained anywhere else. I’m like a stealth-preggo. From behind, or from the front (chest up) I look normal, and then I turn around or stand up from the table, and BAM! Pregnant! In your face! It’s fun to catch people doing a double-take.

  • I’m getting tired a little more quickly and easily, and the triple-digit temperatures are no help. Fortunately, my job requires a lot of sitting on my ass, and they like to keep the AC cranked up, so I’m doing just fine.

  • I did discover that I can’t cross my legs anymore - I can, but it cuts off circulation, and causes the compressed leg to swell. I usually find myself sitting with one leg crossing over the other, and then that top foot wound back around behind the other ankle, so this has been a really hard habit to break. I have no idea how to sit comfortably like a normal person.

  • My belly button has been getting more and more shallow, and is almost gone! So weird.

So - lay it on me: what do you want to know? What do I eat? What are my plans for work after Lumpy comes? What’s my least favorite comment from strangers? What does it feel like to be kicked in the cervix… from the inside? Ask away - all will be revealed!

2

Do strangers feel like they don’t need permission to walk up to you and touch your stomach?

3

Are you getting hit on more? I’ve known a few women who when pregnant claimed that they got hit on more while pregnant than they ever did before.

4

When did you feel the first kick? Did you realize what it was? Are you having a boy or a girl? Is it known? Do you want to know?

I loved that feeling of being kicked. Sort of sad I’ll never feel it again. I mean, thank God I’ll never feel that again! :wink:

5

Luckily, I haven’t had any unwanted touching yet. I don’t know if I give off a scary vibe, or maybe I just don’t get out enough - I’m more or less always at work or at home. Whatever the reason, I’m psyched, because I was really dreading that. But still two and a half months to go, so we’ll see.

Random comments, however? They’re inescapable. And interestingly, I get far, far more from men than women. Strangers are bad enough, but one of my coworkers - a supervisor, actually - is the worst. I know he’s just trying to be friendly, but damn it, man! I’m trying to be a professional, here! Calling me “mom” all the time and discussing my bodily changes in project meetings is just so not appropriate.

I wouldn’t say more - see above about not getting out much anymore - but I have gotten hit on at all, which is crazy to me. Who tries to pick up a pregnant chick? Maybe they’re thinking, “Well, clearly, she puts out, and I don’t have to worry about getting her pregnant, so…”

I don’t remember exactly when I felt the first kicks, but I think it was early - maybe around 16 weeks? I wasn’t 100% sure at first whether they were kicks or indigestion, but when he started banging against my cervix (no joke, people, it’ll make you sit up and take notice), I knew for certain it was him. And now, he’s moving pretty much constantly. It’s really cool, and I’m sure I’ll miss it a little, too.

And yes, he’s a boy. I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to find out, but after my husband and I played several rounds of “Let’s Veto Each Other’s Name Suggestions,” I decided I just wasn’t up for the hassle of picking two names. Of course, the day we found out, my husband said, “It’s too bad, because I just came up with an awesome girl’s name.” And he told me, and it was indeed the perfect girl’s name. So if we do wind up with a girl, we’re set. Lumpy’s name was much harder to settle on, but we finally found one we both really like.

6

Aw, thanks for the shout out! These next three months will go by very quickly. But if you’re like me once you hit week 37 the last few weeks are going to go SO SLOW!

Those cervix kicks were described by my midwife as feeling “like a knife in your vagina,” which she assured me was totally normal. Fun!

We had a hard time settling on a boy’s name as well, and of course we had the perfect girl’s name picked out way ahead of time. I guess if number 2 (eventually) is a girl we are all set on the name. Boys are hard to name!

Have you had people give you the eye yet? I found that mostly older ladies would give me a loooong up and down look once I hit 6 months, like they are assessing how pregnant you are and when you might be due. It’s kinda funny.

Hang in there and try to be active as much as you can now. I found that in the last 2 months simply moving around was exhausting, so enjoy your freedom of movement before you too big.

7

How old are you?

Are you having more children?

Did you get the nursery set up?

Will you co-sleep with the baby or will you let him/her sleep in their crib?

Will you nurse? or do formula?

8

How did you get this way?

9

Same as everyone else, like this.

10

Do you need a foot massage?

11

Got any names picked out yet?

12

Another new symptom I forgot to mention: the constant feeling of having too much to do and not enough time to do it in. This is basically SOP for me, but it seems exponentially worse now. Just this morning, I realized that I completely forgot about our appointment to tour the maternity ward yesterday.

This is going to be my life as a parent, isn’t it? Shit just isn’t gonna get done.

They’re not quite “knifey” for me - but definitely a sharp pain that radiates through my vajajay. The pains in my rectum a few months ago? Now that’s a knife! [/Crocodile Dundee]

I totally have. It’s really creepy. I think they’re also trying to figure out if it’s a boy or a girl. They’ll often give me the once-over, ask the sex, and then, when we tell them, say, “I knew it.”

Thanks - I’m trying. I got a little worn out just cleaning up the kitchen yesterday. I’m so lucky to be employed as a code monkey and not have to actually exert myself ever.

I just turned 35.

We’d like to have more, but if we do, we should probably get started ASAP, due to my age. I don’t know that it will be feasible, though; we’ll have to see where everything stands in six months or so.

We’re getting there with the nursery. We’ve got the crib and changing area squared away, and a few decorations (which aren’t actually hung yet). It’s one of the many things that are on the “to-do” list, but not on the “have-time-for” list.

The plan is to have him sleep in his crib. We’ll see how it goes, but since the nursery is just a few steps from our bedroom, I’m hopeful it’ll work out.

I will try to nurse, but my mom was unable to, so again (as with everything else in my life, it seems): we’ll see how it goes.

Asked and answered, thanks.

Desperately. Are you nearby, and what are your rates?

Yep. We’ve (finally!) settled on one. And I’m not going to say what it is until it’s firmly affixed to the kid.

13

Have you heard this song? – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJRzBpFjJS8

14

What brand of condom do you use? Need answer fast.

15

Can’t watch it at work - I’ll have to get back to you. Catchy title, though.

16

*This is going to be my life as a parent, isn’t it? Shit just isn’t gonna get done. *

Oh, holy crap, yes. It’s weird, after our first became mobile, we wondered how we could possibly have found it so difficult to get anything done when he just lay still all the time. Then we had our second when the first was 18 months old and we wondered how we could possibly have found it so difficult to get anything done when we only had one. The second is now mobile himself- guess what we find ourselves wondering?

Diabetes test went OK, then? (Guessing since you didn’t say anything about being diabetic.) Hope so- being diabetic was a real PITA for my wife.

Do you have a car seat yet? And at least as important, if you do, do you and Mr. Dorkness know how it works? Most stressful time for me of the entire hospital stay with our first one was at discharge, trying to get the car seat bucket separated from the base to bring back into the hospital to collect the new one. BIL had installed it for us. Not at all obvious how the bucket was detached.

17

I’m not the father, am I?

18

Yep, I’m all clear for diabetes. I can’t say often enough that I’m well aware how incredibly lucky I’ve been throughout this pregnancy. Not only has every single test so far been A-OK (including nice low blood pressure, every time), I’ve had only a little nausea, very little back pain, no puking, no swelling, no irritability (beyond the usual :dubious:), not even any bizarre cravings to speak of. Yesterday and today, I’ve had what I assume is round ligament pain (a stabbiness to the right of my bellybutton), which is no fun, but it’s a walk in the park compared to what many women go through.

We do have the car seat. We haven’t done the installation yet, but we’ll definitely be attending to that before the kid gets here. Thanks for the reminder!

I don’t think so. You should ask Maury, though. I think he’d know better than I.

Oh, and AClockworkMelon: you were joking, but I’ve had bad luck with Trojans, for reals. I recommend Lifestyles, which we were not using when I got knocked up. I’m sure you’ll find plenty of people who’ll tell you the opposite, of course.

19

Sorry, I was kidding. I suspect my wife would object. (See Pulp Fiction).