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I'm very thankful to be feeling better, honestly, but I still have one major complaint...my ribs. They hurt so bad, I sometimes can't stand it. Last night, my husband lifted my arms over my head and held them, in an attempt to lift my poor, squashed rib cage off my uterus, and it felt so good. Until he let go.
Kathy came to check me out yesterday, and she said that I'm measuring at 36 weeks - I start the 35th week tomorrow - and I have a slight excess of amniotic fluid, which could be contributing to that. Nothing to be alarmed about at this point, but DJ is still in a weird position, laying on his side like a C, with his feet in my ribs. Both of these things are contributing to the pain, and I feel like a huge baby, because sometimes it hurts so bad that I feel tears come to my eyes. Sitting at the computer is excruciating, because when I sit, my huge belly pushes up even more on my ribs. There's just no way to describe it, but if you've had this problem, you know what I mean!
Which brings me to my question. Have you had this problem? If so, how did you find relief?
I'm desperate.
In much happier news, I was so charmed by this handmade card that Bee left on my nightstand yesterday. The front cover:
Inside....very creative use of hyphenation, and her trademark "winking" heart, which she loves to draw.
The back cover. It's good to know that I "rock," at least for now. I'm going to save this card for the teenage years when she thinks I'm a nerd, as a reminder of my former coolness.
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24 comments:
That is so cute that Bee thinks you rock!
I remember the only place I could get any relief during my last month was in the bathtub. Just make sure there's someone around to help you get back out, just in case!
Lying on my left side helped everything for me. That may not help you though. Bee is a darling angel!
that winking heart is precious!
I can't say that I experienced that kind of pain and discomfort in my ribs like you're experiencing, so I don't have much advice. But I'm praying for you!
So glad you're feeling better! Do you have the swine flu or is that how colds usually affect your asthma?
When I get the respiratory flu it can cause trouble with my asthma too, and yeah the prednisone really helps big time.
I also find great relief from cough medicine. This last time the doc had to give me some with codeine in it because the regular stuff wasn't working though.
I have no help about the ribs. I carried pretty low and had the opposite painful problem, if you know what I mean.
I'm happy to hear you are at least feeling better, although I can't provide any advice because I didn't make it past my 32nd week (emergency C-Section at 32.5 weeks). :( But, I hope that you find some relief. The whole idea of being in water seems like a good one - if you could find a swimming pool, it would probably be even better (one you could walk in).
And I love the card!
Good luck and hope DJ starts to get a move on so his feet get out of your ribs!
Aw that card makes my heart wink. So sweet.
I had this problem with our first. I ate VERY small meals to conserve space and really only got relief when I kneeled on all fours and just let my belly hang. It looked goofy, but I didn't really care by that point. The tub did help a little too. Hope you don't have much longer. Our little one came this week and it is great to be able to move around a bit again.
I had to work right up to 3 days before my due date. In order to sit at my desk, I had a box I put my feet up on and I leaned back a bit. I too had trouble breathing towards the end.
1. Elevate your feet.
2. When sleeping, lay on your side and raise your arm above your head.
3. Use pillows to support all your...ahem...enlarged parts :-)
Ah yes, the old ribs. I'm very shortwaisted as I'm quite short, and yes my babies always push up into my ribs during the final month. Kicking my ribs, poking them,and just generally pushing them up out of the way, squashing them etc. I think stretching out on the bed was a relief, and floating in a pool on my back. Of course it's currently winter for you so swimming is probably out of the question! :(
I LOVE Bee's card- so cute. xo
This website has some great ideas about changing baby positions.
http://www.spinningbabies.com/
This one looks like it feel so good! I want to get pregnant again just so I can try it. (Actually I just want to be pregnant again.... :P)
http://www.spinningbabies.com/techniques/in-pregnancy/rebozo
This page may give you some ideas specific to your problem.
http://www.spinningbabies.com/baby-positions.
I am so very happy that you feel better. Coughing with a baby in your ribs is no fun at all! And how great to know that your still cool.
Quick question. Have you decided what you will do with the girls during your birth?
Hi Heather! that's no good about the baby kicking your ribs. I too used spinning babies website. I used to ly on my left hand side to sleep with my right leg bent up and on a pillow to encourage the baby into the correct position AND sit leaning forwards on a stool for the final 5 weeks instead of lounging back on a sofa. This always got the babies in the head down correct position to facilitate an easier birth. Also being on all 4's can help too! Hope your cold continues to get better so you have lots of energy for the weeks ahead. Love and prayers, Christy xo
So sorry to hear you are in pain. I will be keeping you in my prayers. The card oh it is so great. So wonderful when they are little and think you are so great. Have a great day Rebekah.
You've had a rough week, huh?! My Bug was in my ribs the whole time too (and I'm very short waisted also). My midwife had me alternating between laying on one side and leaning against an exercise ball in the hands and knees position. If you don't have a "birth ball" yet, I would totally rec. it! I got mine off amazon.
During my Lamaze training, I learned that the heaviest part of the baby is the back, so the hands and knees position encourages it to turn facing your backbone instead of your bellybutton, which is correct. I think it also helped mine turn out of my ribs... although she frequently wanted to return. Good luck! Glad you're feeling a little better!
Oh the ribs! I thought mine were broken and they stayed painful for TWO years. No advice. They didn't do anything to help me.
Love the card!
So glad you're doing better!! I remember my ribs hurting some when I was pregnant but not to the extent you're suffering! My friend had a baby a few months ago and I remember her saying it hurt too much to sit at the computer very long. Hang in there!!!
LOVE the card Bee made for you!! She is so precious!:)
Yes, I had that problem with my first. He went sideways for the last week or so before he turned head-down for good. His feet were up in my left ribs and it hurt SO bad. I'd cry too. I walked in circles in my yard, taking shuddering breaths for hours. When he finally turned head-down, I felt better, although still had the rib pain. I was so full of baby that I started to vomit again, just like the beginning of the pregnancy. Ugh.
The only way to get relief is delivery. It's unlikely they'll deliver you so early, though. I ended up going two weeks overdue and then had a 6 pound baby. At the hospital, they were saying he's got to be 10 pounds. haha
Anyway, I know what you're going through. It'll all be over soon and you'll have that beautiful babe in your arms instead of up under your ribs. Hang in there! I'll pray for your comfort.
Oh my ribs were soooo sore! I tend to carry extra amniotic fluid too, which made me feel extra huge. I always try to remember not to sleep in fetal position. It would always make me wake up with severe rib pain!
I slept in a modified sideways position. I would prop a huge pillow under the length of one side of my butt and back that would tilt me so I wasn't laying directly on my back, but also so I wouldn't tend to curl up in the fetal position while I was sleeping.
Also eating small meals, leaning back while sitting up, and trying to keep proper posture (not easy those last few weeks!) with my shoulders pulled back helped.
I hope you feel all better soon!
My side hurt so much in both of my pregnancies that I thought I had gall stones (u/s showed no...) I'm short waisted and driving brought me to tears. I thought I was going to have to be driven to work for my last month because I was in tears everytime.
The going on all fours helped and wearing a belly band helped. I found the days I didn't have as much support from pants or the belly band it hurt more.
Hope you get relief soon! I enjoy reading your blog, even though I'm usually a lurker!
Oh no. I'm sorry you are going through this...ugh
I had that REALLY bad when i was pregnant with my twins. The only way I ever got relief was to sit semi-inclined ALL.DAY/LONG (I was on bedrest anyway though)
It's awful and feels horrible.
You have my sympathies.
However, congrats on making it to 35 weeks! Not too much longer to go :)
I had that exact problem with Russ. Check with your midwife about pre-natal yoga. I know it sounds pretty bark-munchy, but honestly, I felt SO much better after a couple of poses. Different poses worked on different days, but it never failed to releive that horrible pain.
What a lovely card from Bee!
I hope you find a solution. I remember my best friend had a similair problem with her first, but can't remember how she found any relief (sorry).
I had that problem! Water is your friend, get as much as yourself floating as possible. Find the YMCA and park yourself in the pool.
My baby even kicked my bottom rib out of place in my 30th week. It hurt like crazy.
I had very little comfort during the last weeks of my pregnancy. I felt like I couldn't eat or breathe. As many of the other comments noted, being on all fours or in the tub worked briefly. Sitting for any length of time was normally out of the question. Nothing but having my surprisingly big (13 lbs 8.6 ounces) bundle of joy helped.
I wish you much comfort over the coming weeks until your baby is born.
I haven't gotten to get on and read you're blog for about 2 weeks now, so I've been sitting here this morning reading furiously from where I left off. And to answer your question, I worked 12 hour shifts as a dispatcher for a police dept. when I was pregnant with my son. In the last month, sitting in that chair was so excrutiatingly painful. His feet were in my ribs, his head was in my pelvis, and I was in tears constantly. I'm only 5'2 with a very short torso, so he didn't have that much room to begin with, lol.
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