Two months ago (maybe more… memory is fuzzy these days…) I started to get a little achiness in my lower back. In my very lower back. Okay, technically, the aching was in my sacrum. Make that is, because, although I hoped it would go away, it’s been steadily growing worse. Right now it’s just on the left side, but I fear how much worse it could get as my belly continues to grow.
Doing a Google search on “pregnancy pain sacrum” actually proved to be reassuring; I found out this type of pain is a very common pregnancy symptom. It’s all because of that lovely hormone relaxin, which loosens up the joints so that the pelvis has more give, making more room for baby to grow and easier for baby to be delivered.
It’s reassuring, yes, but it doesn’t make life any easier. Actually, the truth is that it’s just a minor bother for most of the day, once things have loosened up. But in the wee hours of the morning, when I try to roll over in bed, I yelp in pain. When I try to get out of bed and I wince in pain with every step of my left foot… well, it’s a pain, yanno? And my co-workers have definitely noticed that I’ve started that charming “pregnancy waddle”, at least in the mornings.
I now have to send Michael to get Jade out of her crib and I try to avoid picking her up, which is sad because she loves to be picked up and held. She’s gotten so familiar with my saying my back is sore that all I have to do is wince and she’ll say, “Mama – back – ‘urts?” (She also tells me at random intervals that her back is sore and needs kisses.)
I went to the doctor’s office for a prenatal checkup today — yes, I am using a midwife, but technically I’m still under the doctor’s care, too — and got a prescription for a maternity support belt, which may or may not help. She also referred me for physio to see if there are any exercises I can do to help. And I’m finally prepared to see a chiropractor. I’ve always been rather afraid of chiropractors. You know how your mom always told you not to crack your knuckles because you’ll end up with arthritis when you’re old? I figured if cracking your knuckles is bad, how much worse is it to have your back cracked? However, I have quite a few friends who swear by their chiros. The doctor says it’s safe, and Heather (my midwife) has sent patients to one of the chiropractors in town. So I’m pretty convinced it could be a good thing. I think.
In other prenatal checkup news, I now weigh in at 169 lbs and my fundal height is 25 cm; it’s supposed to be 1 cm per week of pregnancy (I’ll be 27 weeks tomorrow) but Jade was also always a centimetre or two behind, probably because I’m so short-waisted and part of my uterus is hiding behind my pelvic bone. Nugget’s heart rate was a happy 146 bpm. And loud! When I had my first visit with Heather a few weeks ago, she had a hard time hearing Nugget’s heartbeat with her fetoscope. I’m willing to bet she won’t have any problems at our next appointment!
