Full disclosure: third trimester addendum

I've now officially reached 37 weeks--full term.

Let me tell you something that no one told me: the end can be even worse than the beginning.  I know how lucky I was to not have morning sickness or really significant symptoms early on.  Now I'm kind of wondering how anyone does this more than once.  It seems like if pregnancy doesn't get you in the beginning, it gets you in the end.

About a week ago, I started sleeping in our sofa recliner.  I cannot sleep on my sides anymore.  Getting up from that position causes such extreme pain--it's all in the hips and ligaments.  Plus my hips pop something awful if I turn over.  Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I move from the recliner to the sofa for a couple hours.  But even there, I am sleeping semi-upright.  He says he misses me, but I bet my husband secretly enjoys having the bed to himself.  :)

Swelling is becoming a more significant issue.  Yesterday, for the first time, I was unable to get my wedding rings on.  To this point I had had a few episodes of foot/ankle swelling, but typically only at the end of the day and it would go away by morning.  This morning, my right ankle was already swollen.  Why only the right?  Dunno.  But walking around all day on it did not help.  It's puffy and sore and there's nothing I can really do about it.

All the movements that previously entertained and amused may suddenly become painful.  Oh, it's still fun to see your stomach moving on its own.  But, those little arms and legs are powerful enough now to hurt.  And bladder and cervix kicks are fun too.

The good news is that by now your baby has probably dropped lower into your pelvis.  This makes breathing easier, but sitting may be difficult because your belly is pushing itself onto your lap.  You may find yourself sitting like a guy--knees spread wide.  You also may be hitting your own belly with your knee while going up stairs.  Fun.  Maybe this is just me since I'm measuring so giant, I dunno.  My belly is a network of stretch marks now.  And somewhere along the lines, when I wasn't paying attention, my belly button definitely became an outtie.  I'm also starting to outgrow my maternity pants.  That can't be a good sign.

So, there you have it.  More fun from the third trimester.  I hear it's all worth it though.  :)  I can't wait to meet this little wiggle monster.