32 weeks and what i didn't expect about expecting

Ian actually snapped this pic of my belly at 31 weeks, and I swear I have grown since then! At this week's checkup I learned that the baby is currrently in breech position, but that there's still plenty of time for her to move into a head-down position. At least now I know what body parts are what when she's on the move -- the latest is pressing feet/knees or head up against my uterus like she's stretching or doing yoga.

There are plenty of physical things I never knew about pregnancy. Here are just a few of the things I've experienced:

1. If you hate to shave your legs, get pregnant. Beginning at about the 5 month mark, the hair on my legs virtually stopped growing. I only shave about once a month!

2. Breathlessness. I get out of breath very easily, with everything pushing up against my diaphragm and lungs, which has increased until the baby drops some more. Some days I sound like that Stevie kid from Malcolm in the Middle when I talk, taking deep breaths in between words!

3. Perpetual sniffles. There is now a Kleenex box in almost every room of the house.

4. Clumsiness. I drop things constantly, which is a cruel irony when you're pregnant... it's very difficult (and frustrating) to try and pick things up off the floor! I need some long handled tongs or a pick!

5. Underwire bras are evil. With organs shifted and a baby pressing up against my ribs, sometimes it's all I can do to keep from going crazy when wearing an underwire bra. Ian has found them on the bannister, draped over tables, wherever I happen to be when I finally have had enough and rip it off.

6. Insulation and itchiness. A benefit of being pregnant during the winter is having a built-in heater. I get overheated really easily in places like malls, the office, etc. And what else happens when I get hot? My belly itches! (BTW - the Body Shop's Body Butter in Cocoa Butter is heavenly for this)

7. Naps are wonderful. I'm getting tired again now, particularly in the evening like I was in my first trimester. I'm off to take a nap now!

Snoogle pillow update... so far so good! I definitely recommend it. It's no miracle worker, but I've had some significant improvement in my hip pain from sleeping with it. It's giant, shaped like a 'C', and takes up a lot of the bed! The best position I've found is the back to belly -- the long part curves down my back, between my thighs/knees, and is then just wedged under my belly for added support. I've gone from waking up at least every hour to a 3-4 stretch of sleep at first, then every 1-2 hours after that.