28 weeks

At 28 weeks, I feel like I'm trying to hide a basketball under my clothes and I'm starting to wonder what I'm going to look like further into this 3rd trimester. I'm having trouble imagining really how big I'll get. This past month has definitely been the growth spurt I'd read about; I'm quite surprised I don't have any stretch marks yet. It's amazing how elastic skin is and how flexible my body has been with these seemingly rapid changes. I'm still so very fascinated observing (and being) this pregnancy science experiment.

This week is more of the same from last week, with gradual increases in discomfort from back pain and ab ligament pain. I think, at most, the baby weighs 3 pounds now and yet it feels like I've got a 20 pound brick in there when I'm laying flat. It definitely gets in the way now and I'm having to modify movements more regularly. My stomach also feels tight at times, like my belly is aching to expand, but can't. And the back pain has officially set in. I may have to give up my TV and laptop time on the couch at the end of the day because my back is just not having it. Even sitting at my desk today in my ergonomically-sound office chair with lumbar support caused some aches. Slouching led to back pain and posture correction led to more back pain (body not used to it...). I may have some awesome posture at the end of all this though - lengthening my torso and sitting almost stiffly upright helps the heartburn and fixes some of the torso cramping I get when I'm practically folded in on my belly. It's slightly ironic that almost as soon as I officially cross the 3rd trimester threshold, my body starts hurting :)

I have figured out how to sleep fairly well supported, but was on Amazon this weekend looking for some supplemental device to ensure I'll get some decent shut eye for as long as this pregnancy will allow. Several friends and colleagues highly recommended a Bobby pregnancy sleep pillow, but most are gigantic question mark shaped things that leave little room for a spouse. I think I'm going to get a small wedge pillow to place under my belly. I just need a little support there. I like a regular pillow at my head, and another regular pillow in between my knees, and will now add a small wedge to support the growing weight of my basketball abdomen. Switching sides during the night may be more complicated than going with a singular question-mark pillow as I'll have to adjust each individually, but that's the route I'm going and it gets me to sleep well for now (using a flatter, decorative pillow in place of the wedge at the moment).

I know I say this every week but I really do still feel generally good. Maybe it's because I know that many other women at 28 weeks have symptoms far, far worse than mine, or because I have a know that my symptoms will be more severe in quickly-approaching weeks and I should appreciate the relative normalcy I've got now. I do need to start yoga. That's a formal goal this week. I imagine it will help a ton in a month or two when my boulder is bigger and heavier and I'll wish I had stronger ligaments to help support it. Oh, and I'm going to start on the nursery set up this weekend. Kenny very graciously relocated to one of the bedrooms down the hall and it seems to be working out fine for him. It was at least a good excuse to clean everything, and now he's got a ceiling fan too. If you're reading this hon, thanks for making the sacrifice for the baby...it will be one of many...

As a side note, I'm really enjoying being pregnant in the summer. I may have different thoughts in late July, but I'm extremely happy for now with the current summer wardrobe I've amassed since being pregnant. I think I'm up to nine new dresses - mostly summery, strappy ones that I can cover with a cardigan and wear at work, and all made of flexible or flowy materials that easily accommodate a baby bump. They're not maternity dresses so I can wear them non-pregnant, but I just hope they'll last through the entire pregnancy and can accommodate however big my 9-month belly will be...

Stay tuned this week: I've got my next ultrasound this Thursday. Will post pics and baby stats then :)