Heh! Heh! I said stool.

WARNING: BEING PREGNANT IS NOT GLAMEROUS. Not even a little bit. I’ve tried to keep this blog positive and focused on all the good things about being pregnant. But there’s a whole other side to the story. I never wrote in detail about the beyond wretched morning sickness. And I haven’t really talked about how it feels to get fatter by the second and watch the scale skyrocket. I only briefly mentioned the nose bleeds and bloody gums. And I passed over the migraines and acne pretty light-heartedly. Until now, I haven’t mentioned the fact that my fingers are too swollen to wear my wedding rings or that I can no longer reach my toes. Mentioning my most recent unpleasant symptom, however, is just too good to pass up.

On Sunday I woke up in the middle of the night with stomach pains. I actually thought I was going to be sick, but wasn't. The pain felt severe enough, too, that the words “Braxton Hicks” crossed my mind. I worked from home on Monday hoping that just taking it easy would make the pains go away. No such luck.

Yesterday I gave in and called my midwife. I don’t know what I expected to hear, but I do know I was shocked when she told me to immediately come in for monitoring. Um, OK. Whatever you say, Doc. So I spent yesterday afternoon hooked up to a fetal monitor. The baby is doing great and I’m not in preterm labor. They weren’t really able to tell me why I was having such bad stomach pains, but they did mention one likely culprit: CONSTIPATION. Yes, you heard it folks. I’m constipated. I am not ashamed. It happens to even the most glamorous of pregnant women, I’m sure. So, on the way home, Andrew and I stopped at CVS. And there I was, practically middle aged, married, and pregnant buying *gulp* stool softener. (Heh! Heh! I said stool.)

Yes, it was a humbling day. I’ve got about 15 weeks left to be pregnant and I get the feeling it’s going to be filled with moments like this. I’ve got to give up a little pride and a lot of control and just focus on doing what’s best for the baby, even if that means buying embarrassing items at CVS...items that I would have teased my parents about relentlessly. Perhaps this is one small part of my initiation into motherhood.

On another note: I don’t really think that constipation is what’s causing my pain. I actually think it might be round ligament pain. Or maybe it’s a combination of both. But who knows. I guess it doesn’t really matter as long as the baby’s OK.

Oh and another thing. Please don't get me wrong. I would go through a million times worse—morning sickness to constipation—for this baby. AND I plan to do it again someday. Like I wrote a few posts back...just one little kick makes it all worth it!