I’m just beyond the 21 week mark (just over 5 months) now, which means this is the time for feeling “comfortable” in my pregnancy, according to my weekly BabyCenter email. Baby is about the length of a carrot and weighs about 3/4 of a pound. I’m feeling tiny kicks but nothing so strong that it hurts or hits me in the wrong place (like an arm in the birth canal, which is what I heard one blogger say was happening to her from time to time – yikes!).
I’m “beyond the first-trimester sickness, but not too big” yet to feel all the later discomforts. But then. THEN! The email said this:
“You’re also more prone to varicose veins now. As your pregnancy progresses, there’s increasing pressure on the veins in your legs.” Oh and this: “You may also notice so-called spider veins (a group of tiny blood vessels near the surface of your skin), particularly on your ankles, legs, or face.”
I was already concerned about stretch marks, but now I need to be on the lookout for veins? Ugh. (Side note: stretch marks and varicose veins do indeed run in my family. Both sides. So…that’s great news.)
But I guess the one thing I wasn’t prepared for, and what at this time feels worse than the appearance of veins, is… hmm… how do I say this politely? Well, to be blunt, the thing that bothers me most right now is… the size of my ass.
There. I said it. I mean, I understood the idea that my hips and stomach would grow. And I’ve always been a little thicker on the backside anyway, but I didn’t expect to turn around in the mirror and see my underwear get swallowed by The Great White South. Or have the fabric of my pants so stretched that it looks like my hips are playing tug of war with them.
Fellow pregnant blogger Jonniker recently posted about her underwear cutting the inside of her thighs and while mine haven’t drawn blood, I’ve gone commando more times than I care to admit, simply because I only have a few pair of underwear remaining that actually fit. Sometimes I’ll wear the tight ones to work, out of lack of other options, and find myself stripping down within 30 seconds of getting home. Same goes with bras, actually. I’m down to ONE bra that fits comfortably.
So it seems I’ve only traded my first-trimester food avoidance issues with new body and clothing issues.
And the worst part is, I still have four months to go.
I feel bad for you, but it’s also a little funny. I’m sure it’s very common though! I actually had a conversation with a co-worker today about pregnancy. She told me that I am going to die for multiple reasons 1) I already battle heartburn, 2) I already have a sensitive nose, 3) I’m already pear shaped, etc. EEK! Hang in there girl! :)
haha, thanks! Yeah, carrying a few extra lbs pre-preg didn’t exactly help the situation. But everyone keeps telling me it’ll be “worth it.” I hope so!
Chin up, chest up and hang in there while you can (giggle) where are the preggo pics?
Pics are coming. I thought I’d be one of those pregnant people that took weekly photos and all that jazz but all this added “padding” has me feeling a wee bit camera shy.
I meant, chin up…chest “out”…see, that’s what kids will do to you and, well, you’ll soon figure that out, too ;)
I never had a problem with unders but recommend some comfies for post birth nastiness. But the hips! Oh my yes. My hips are actually hips for the first time ever. And bras? Just wear something that resembles fitting. I think that buying sports bra style nursing bras was the best idea since you don’t really need to know a size.
Can I do nursing bras pre-baby? I’ve seen them, and they look comfy, but wasn’t sure if it would be weird to wear a nursing bra now when there’s no one to nurse.
Pssht. Why not. You are pregnant! In my case I felt disgusting no matter what I was wearing so have at it!
I lived in sports bras and my husband’s Hanes.
They were by far so very comfortable and cozy and NICE leg holes.
Not pretty, but hey…you think of nothing else but comfort.
Getting excited for you!!!
The hubs has offered to let me wear his pants/basketball shorts, but guys don’t have any hips!! Or thunder thighs. I’d rather just go naked.
Umm get used to it. I don’t have the undies issue (just barely still wearing them and plan to buy all new ones soon because I realized they are all at least 5 years old!!).
And looking at your “belly” pics, you haven’t seen anything yet!
Ugh, don’t remind me. I know I still have a long way to go and I’m just going to get bigger. I just hope I can keep the permanent damage under control.
Super impressed that you haven’t really gained much weight the last several weeks! I figured that would be the time for the most weight gain, but not for you. Hopefully I can be as disciplined. Doubtful, but I like to pretend I will.
I think I just gained my weigh earlier. Every body is different. The month I found out I had extra fluid I gained 12lbs…
The challenge will be losing it all!! :)
Well losing weight is something you’re quite good at so I’m sure you’ll be fine. Besides, if most of that is fluid anyway, it won’t take you long at all!