Three
weeks to go – In my little bubble
Hannah’s slowly coming to the end
of her marathon. Her baby girl could start knocking to come into the world any
day now. Here are the typical late pregnancy symptoms she’s experiencing:
False labour
Feeling like a
lazy cat on the couch – with intermittent spurts of energy
Tight shoes –
even though they’re a size bigger
Swollen ankles
by the end of the day
Fingers that
feel like a bunch of bananas
Porridge brain
(type porridge brain into the subject block on the gadgets panel to
learn more about this syndrome)
Symptoms
nobody warned Hannah about:
Having to depend on her partner for
just about everything – from opening a jar to getting off the couch. I
remind Hannah that this is not a sign of weakness, but rather admitting that
there are times when we need help. Something women find difficult to do because
we’re so fiercely independent. Partners often feel left out and want to know
what they can do to help.
Hannah finds that she may be hearing
her partner, but she’s not listening to him. When he asks a question, she has
no idea what he’s talking about!
She feels like a sloth. If anything
falls on the floor, Hannah couldn’t be bothered to pick it up when she doesn’t
manage to do this with her toes!
Everything is an effort – even the
things Hannah once enjoyed
All her good intentions (yoga,
regular exercising, eating only healthy) have gone out the window while
Hannah fantasises about the things she’s going to do when her pregnancy is
over.
There’s
a light at the end of the tunnel – and it’s not a train coming towards her:
Hannah is realistic and knows that
this difficult stage of her pregnancy WILL PASS. She sympathises with
overweight people who have to deal with a bulky body for life.
Hannah has a new appreciation for
her mom and respects her for what she did for herself and her sisters. “I don’t
know how she did it – being a single-mom,” Hannah told me. “I don’t know how I
would have managed without my partner.”
“I am looking forward to the day
when I can go back to work and pick up my career where I left off. Already we
are making plans to move into a bigger space where my partner can work from
home. I would prefer going to an office – but we will have to wait and see what
2022 brings.”
“I am learning to trust my
instincts and listen to my body.”
“Knowing the date for my c-section
means I don’t have to worry about when I will go into labour.”
“I know that I must enjoy living in
my ‘perfect little bubble’ for now. I don’t think I will ever have this
time again.”
Must
do tips:
Have your
finances in order
Share chores
with your partner
Ask for help
Talk to your
partner about how you feel about being intimate
Discuss parenting
values.
