Wow. These pictures. I never looked at them closely until I was getting ready to post this. I am officially HUGE. I will no longer pass judgment on those who ask if I’m carrying twins… because MAYBE I AM?!?! Maybe the ultrasounds have been wrong all along and I desperately need an extra car seat on the double. No pun intended… except just a little bit.
These are my 37 week photos and it’s pretty much a miracle they even happened… because after 36 weeks of a magical and amazingly healthy pregnancy, I suddenly lost my ability to walk. I mean, I can still hobble around as I wince in pain, but I definitely cannot walk like a normal person.
Now this walking problem is not the usual “40 Week Waddle.” Oh no. I’d give anything to waddle in slight discomfort right now. It’s also not the whole “feels like there’s a bowling ball in my crotch” sensation as the baby drops down for delivery. Do you see how high that baby is? There are NO signs it’s planning to come out anytime soon. It’s also not “pretty normal” as my doctor, massage therapist, and countless women have tried to tell me it is. Because if it were normal, I would have seen at least a few of the many pregnant women I’ve known throughout my lifetime limp around in their final weeks.
Now I’m not saying that no one has had this condition before. There are a small number of women who have experienced the same thing, and that comforts me in some strange way. From everything I can read on the subject, I have an acute case of Pelvic Girdle Pain or Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction. Sometimes these terms are used synonymously, but they are technically two separate conditions that often coincide. Anyway, long story short, my hips have over-extended as they have stretched for labor and it feels like my left leg is falling out of its hip socket at all times. I can hardly walk, and I cringe in pain every time I have to rotate my hip to get up, sit down, or turn sideways.
So although most women experience discomfort in their final weeks of pregnancy, not many experience what I am describing. But I did make a new friend today who understood my pain. I limped into the gas station and the sweet attendant smiled at me and asked how I was doing. I told her “fine” other than the fact that my hips had decided to stop working. She looked sympathetic and said “That happened to me too.” I am skeptical of these claims by now, but then she said “Your hips kill you and anytime you have to sit up to get out of bed or rotate your hips in any way, you basically want to cry because it hurts so bad.” Yes and yes. Tears have been considered and stifled… thus far. She then informed me that hers got so bad that she literally had to have someone lift her out of the car when she was in labor. THIS is my future people. But, on a good note, I made new best friend at the gas station.
So let’s just assume this will be the last you see of these bump pictures. If ( or when…let’s be honest) I make it to my due date, I will try to limp my way out the back door to snap a few shots, but I can make no guarantees.
Also, my face in these pictures? Not the cutest. This might be because I put on make-up this day for the first time in approximately 3-4 weeks. I’m pretty sure my face was like “What the heck is this stuff? Get it off!” Let’s just call it a pregnancy-related allergic reaction.
P.S. Friendly reminder… there are TWO DAYS LEFT to enter my blogiversary giveaway!
Kudos to you for getting pictures taken, then! Here's to hoping the last handful of days includes very little getting up and down! Breakfast in bed anyone?! :]
stopping by from pleated poppy!
You are so cute!!!! I am so sorry you are in pain, that sounds like no fun at all. Only a few more weeks or fingers crossed sooner before the baby arrives! Yay!
You poor thing! I'm 33 weeks and getting uncomfortable/can't sleep blahness now but I can't imagine not being able to feel like you can walk. It's pretty amazing what our bodies can do to get ready to birth a child, but real- it HURTS! haha
Nice work on still getting out there for one last outfit photos, I find it's hard to make myself want to take them anymore either. PS- that Old Navy maternity dress is one of my favorite dresses, so comfy!
Lindsay
LindsayJEveryday.blogspot.com
I am so sorry… pregnancy is uncomfortable enough as it is at the end! If it helps at least you look pretty fabulous! 😉 Seriously, I love that dress!!
You're almost there!! I didn't have hip pain but my back killed me for the last half of my pregnancy. Here's to baby making an on time debut!!
You look amazing! I was just there and it is not a fun place to be but you look wonderful. Hope your little one is almost here!
I'm sorry you are in pain, but you look gorgeous!! Your dress is so pretty!
xo,
Angela
I hear you lady! I have round ligament pains which are basically a pulled groin during most of my pregnancies…not just at the end. A "happy" exp. on one lovely day with my first pregnancy. At a restaurant I quickly tried to move out of someone's way and pop…excruciating pain. I had to be taken home where I could rest my aching you know what. SHEESH! Motherhood! Anyways I told my OB when pregnant with my 2nd it seemed to hurt earlier and seemed worse…prob the same. She said "Yep it will get worse with each one because your ligaments get weaker and weaker." #awesome #haha Keep your chin up you are almost there and you'll forget all about this pain like we all do. Blessings to you girl!
You look amazing! I love your dress with the pop of yellow color! I'm only 21 weeks and starting to feel some pain in my lower back, not looking forward to this hurting even more! You are so luck that you're so close to the end and you get to meet your little one!