Stretch It Out!... the joys of an ever expanding belly

I've heard it described as cramping, stretching, itching and even stabbing (my own midwife likened it to being knifed - positive thinking, right?) ...

I am of course talking about the rather tedious sensations known as 'round ligament pain'. RLP is that rather odd sharp, jabby sort of feeling you get all around the lower belly, groin area and all up the sides of the belly as you begin to mercilessly expand. No one can say we're not obliging hosts, right ladies?

When it first began for me (around the 13 week mark) I remember quite confidently announcing that it wasn't nearly as bad as people made it out to be. probably should have held off on the comments looking back, but hindsight is 20/20 and it's hard to really comprehend what your body has in store for you until you experience it first hand. As I round the bend of 25 weeks, I can now confirm that the type of discomfort this stretchy little miracle offers changes as quickly as your cravings do. Although it's a totally normal part of pregnancy, I'm not sure than any two pains are actually the same (which can be quite unnerving as a first timer, let me tell you).

http://www.babiesonline.com/articles/health/roundligamentpain.asp

From an unforgiving ache that made me wonder if I'd accidentally acquired a bad case of tummy troubles, to a strange and intense pressure on the lower half of my bump that prompted me to clench my thighs tightly together, should baby try to make an impromptu appearance. It's all been a bit of a 'one day at a time' experience really, and if I'd have succumbed to my panicky streak, my midwife would have been sick of the sound of my voice by now.

Sudden movements definitely weren't my friend during the peak of this particular discomfort (around the 21-24 week time frame for me) and I'm proud to say I've now perfected the 'rock to build momentum and rolllllll' maneuver to get out of bed -  namely to avoid twisting too much and prompting the little buggers to start straining all over again. Enjoy sneezing, coughing and laughing whilst you can folks, you'll be avoiding it like the plague soon enough.

To be honest the best thing that helped me when I was struck with these odd and unpleasant sensations was a warm bath (not too hot now, don't fry baby bear!), a nice lie down and a yummy square or four of dark chocolate (purely medicinal you understand). Most of all just relaxing, accepting the weirdness and allowing it to pass - that may have become my pregnancy mantra now, you know...

Got any more tips or tricks for relieving these niggling pains? Share them in the comments below!

The Delights of the First Trimester... nausea, fatigue and a standing appointment with the toilet!

For me the first few months of pregnancy were, well, typical I suppose. Part of me rather enjoyed living out a walking cliche of morning sickness, food aversions and crippling fatigue-induced 'pregnancy brain' (my work colleagues perhaps didn't appreciate that latter so much). After all, every niggle and discomfort ultimately indicated that the belly monster I was brewing was doing rather well, confidently making it's presence known and quite happily depleting me for it's own benefit (aren't children delightful?)

Yet, I found that more than the symptoms themselves, what became so bothersome for me was the time period that they were strung out across. It's not the hardest thing in the world to 'put up and shut up' with a front-facing visit to the toilet bowl each morning (and lunchtime and evening!)  when you know it's all in the name of a bundle of joy, but 13 weeks into the nonstop cycle of ickiness, staring down at the murky blue water did somewhat lose it's charm, and me my enthusiasm for submitting to the wills of my body for very much longer.

http://visual.ly/pregnancy-symptoms

It's fair to say it wears you down, the constant (and alarming random and urgent!) waves of nausea, the strange tastes and smells, the aches. pains and bizarre sensations that I'm still not sure could be classed as normal (what can in pregnancy?). No amount of steely determination for mama bear joy can overcome the fact that you might actually start to consider selling your first born in return for a full nights sleep, uninterrupted by a screaming bladder, stretching ligaments and heartburn that could floor a buffalo.

The remedies I personally turned to were simply the old faithfuls, the tried and tested of the incubation world: saltine crackers, Sprite, naps wherever I fell, an honest plea for sympathy at work and a husband with unbridled patience (oh yeah, and a decent take out menu or five... just saying, life saver). That being said there are some pretty neat products out there, ready and willing to aide any new mama in the making with getting through that tricky first trimester symptoms. For instance;

Three Lollies, 'Preggy Pops' - fantastic hard candies made from ginger that can help settle those sicky churns right down.

Earth Mama, 'Organic Morning Wellness Tea' - a delicious 'good for you' mama-to-be brew that includes ginger root and spearmint in it's recipe (both well known for helping keep the queezies away).

'Snoogie', Total Body Pillow - this thing is a freakin' dream. As it gets more and more inconvenient to lie on your back, front (or even roll from side to side - yes, seriously), you can pretty much count on a full body pillow to help you remain in dream land for as long as your bladder will allow. (That being said, I've survived a fair amount of time pinning a regular ol' pillow between my knees and under my bump, but this is a whole new level of 'ahhhhh').

http://saymommy.com/pregnancy-symptoms/

Do you have any tips, tricks or product suggestions for increasing comfort and decreasing the suffering of the brave mama bear to be? Please feel free to share them in the comments below...!