3-6 Months of Pregnancy, cont…
Definitely NOT like butterflies…
So my sister and I talked about this and I was so happy she could relate. In every book I read it said that the first kicks your baby gives ‘feel like butterflies’. Uhm, yeah, no. It felt like my bowels were being attacked by an army of gnomes. Still, it was magical. I felt Aya for the fist time around four months. At first I only felt her in the morning and evening, after a while I felt her moving around all day long. If I wanted to be reassured I would lie down, breathe calmly and try to relax. She usually responded my starting a little belly party.
In every book I read it said that the first kicks your baby gives ‘feel like butterflies’. Uhm, yeah, no. It felt like my bowels were being attacked by an army of gnomes.
6-9 Months of Pregnancy
Heartburn the midnight oil
Around six months my nausea subsided for a while. Immediately I got heartburn in return. Honestly, heartburn is worse than nausea. The only thing that worked was walking. After a thirty minute walk it was gone. Another thing that helped was eating grapefruit (I know, weird right?). Some people say vanilla custard helps. It only made me nauseous, but maybe it will work for you! Also kind of weird: lying on my right side or back made it worse, so I slept on my left side.
Hard Belly Baby
Abdominal tightening is very common in your third trimester. I had a lot of hard bellies. Especially whenever I was stressed or busy. After a long day at work my stomach would feel like a rock. Four things helped. 1) Relax, obviously, de-stress. 2) Lie down on your back and put your legs up against a wall. 3) Take a hot shower 4) Massage your belly with pregnancy oil. If the hard bellies are accompanied by pain or surges of pain every few minutes, call your doctor or midwife.
Pelvic pain is insane
When I was around six months pregnant I woke up screaming, from the pain in my lower back. Rolling from one side to the other was pure agony. I went to a physiotherapist who specialized in pregnant women. She was rather eccentric, but the exercises she gave me helped. Like, a lot. The pain completely disappeared. The thing is though that you have to put in the work. You have to do the exercises every day, without missing a beat. It’s dreary, but so important for you and your baby. Turn it into a moment to connect with your baby or put on Friends or get your partner to join in, whatever helps you get through it.
Miss Crazy Legs
This has to be the most annoying pregnancy ailment I endured. I had restless legs and painful leg cramps. So this is what helped with the restless legs: lie down on your back, pull up your legs up, into a ‘birthing position’, hold your knees and breathe. The best advice I can give you about the leg cramps: relax. Your instinct tells you to tighten all of your muscles when you experience pain. But that will only make it worse. Breathe and relax and I promise you, the pain will subside. Great practice for the real deal by the way! Also, drink enough water and take plenty of walks – helps with pretty much every pregnancy ailment.
To those of you who have made it to the end of this loooong list of pregnancy ailments, just remember that at the end of all the discomfort that pregnancy and birth inevitably bring, there is the greatest gift of all.
Kari writes over at Columnsbykari.com – where you can find articles on parenting, style, beauty and health. She writes about breastfeeding, baby wearing, pregnancy, being a working mum, her love for make-up, skincare and fashion and her passion for yoga and eating plant based. You can also follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
