Backbends and baby-to-be

Pregnancy is not an illness

Published on October 24, 2004 By lifehappens In Blogging

So, I am not superwoman by any means, but I find it wonderful that I have only about 3 weeks to go and I am feeling so capable.

My last pregnancy was miserable. I believed everything I heard about what pregnant women could do. I bought into the sterotypical idea that to be pregnant was to be incapable of touching your toes or lifting more than 5 lbs. I followed the Army profile and didn't lay on my back or do any ab exersizes. The result? I was fat (60+ lbs) from going from two workouts a day to not exercising anymore. I couldn't touch my toes. I needed an enormous mound of pillows to support my aching body at night. I had carpal tunnel in my wrists because of the swelling in my hands and feet. I couldn't even wear normal shoes the last 2 weeks. I struggled with labor and struggled as I recovered. I wore maternity clothes for weeks after my son was born.

This time....As of now. ..I still teach several Yoga classes and I can still smoke a room full of college guys on situps/abs. I can do handstands and headstands. I can do cartwheels and backbends. I can do the splits. I can carry 2-30 lb children through Wal-mart, one on each hip while pushing a cart full of food. I can lay 5 pallets of sod in one afternoon and not be sore the next day.(that was last Saturday!) I can wrestle with my son and touch my toes. I am still wearing my wedding ring because my hands have not swollen. I dont' need a bazzilion pillows to be comfortable. I don't waddle.(at least I hope not) I don't dread labor (much) I don't fear that it will take 2 years to get back into shape again....

I am not broken. I am just pregnant. Realizing that I have to adjust some aspects of my life, I can still be me. Without the stigma of thinking I am less than I was, I can accomplish almost anything. Maybe that is why I am so content this time.

Even though I have had people comment on this to me before, I wrote it off to "I'm not THAT pregnant yet, it will hit any day now. Any day now, I will be disabled again." But here I am, almost finished and still able to function. And not just scrape by, either, but I can do almost as much as I can without being pregnant.

I wonder if this is a result of not having anyone to lean on. My husband is in Iraq. I can't stop because then nobody will be here to pick up the slack. I keep moving so I won't notice the loneliness. So I have essentially forced myself to live up to higher standards than others expected of me......

Comments

dharmagrl

on Oct 24, 2004

You're awesome.

I wish that more pregnant chicks were like you. When I was 'Key Spouse' I got so tired of women treating their pregancies like terminal illnesses. I don't mind helping people out when they really need it, but I'm big on personal accountability and helping yourself as best you can before asking someone else. There was one chick who had a sign-up sheet for people to volunteer to cook for her, shop for her, walk her dog...it was unreal. the she had the nerve to tell the person who volunteered to mow her yard that they'd have to bring their own mower and use their own gas.

I think that all we military spouses hold ourselves to higher standards than others expect of us...those of us who are worth a shit do, anyway. We know we are 'it' when our husbands are gone. We, as you said, cannot stop, we cannot quit because there isn't anyone waiting to step in and take over.

Bless your little heart, I wish I was closer!

By the way, are you having a girl?

lifehappens

on Oct 24, 2004

Yeas, this is a girl.....Madeline.

Like I mentioned though, I was one of the females that thought pregancy was a terminal illness. I wish the Army and the world in general would remind women that they are not broken! The Army gives out a profile the day you get knocked up and every pregnancy book/exercise video treats you like you are a cripple who should be praised if you can stretch for 5 min twice a week......

I'm big on personal accountability and helping yourself as best you can before asking someone else.

I agree, I hate to ask for help. I pay a kid to mow my lawn not because I can't do it, but because TX summers are too hot! The dumbest thing I have asked help for is bringing a 50lb bag of dog food into my house....I got it from the cart to the car, but decided that there was NO WAY I could bring it into the backyard from there!

I felt pretty silly telling my neighbor what I needed help with, but sometimes you have to ask for help. (I bought smaller bags after that!)

Texas Wahine

on Oct 24, 2004

Good for you, lifehappens! I am so impressed and inspired by your positive philosophy and the way that you put it into action. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to care for your home and your little one while dealing with pregnancy and missing your husband. You're an amazing woman!

lifehappens

on Oct 24, 2004

gosh, now I feel like you guys are making too big a deal about me. You haven't seen me on an off day.....I am a HUGE slob and very lazy when the mood strikes.....but thank you for your vote of confidence

Texas Wahine

on Oct 24, 2004

gosh, now I feel like you guys are making too big a deal about me.

You're a big deal to me.

I'm a big sadsack, and I don't have it half as rough as you do. I have great admiration for you.

lifehappens

on Oct 24, 2004

Thanks. I think the fact I was on the other end of things has helped. At least here, I have running water, a/c, phones, privacy (although it feels like sometimes too much)....I remember my deployments, they sucked in every way possible and on top of all the misery, you were away from anything/anyone that would make life happy. I think that's why I deal so well, I feel bad for my husband.....it really is worse on the other side.

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