I’ve been reading Barbara Luke’s book on pregnancy with multiples and trying to find ways to eat well and also gain weight. I decided to finally buy a bathroom scale so I can make sure I’m on the right track. Got the thing home and there is a large sticker saying use of this scale is not intended for pregnant women. What? Is that like a gentle reminder that pregnant ladies shouldn’t be trying to lose weight, or is there something specific about this scale that isn’t compatible with pregnancy? I don’t know. I’ve gained maybe five pounds, though, so there’s that.
I’m feeling really useless lately. I do my best to keep up with my toddler through the work week, but as soon as my husband gets home, I’m desperate to lie down. On weekends and in the evening, he does everything. I mean everything. He basically takes on full parenting, all the meals, dishes, housework. He refills my water and gets me snacks. I said today that it’s hard being pregnant. I added, “It’s hard being married to someone who’s pregnant.” He sort of jokingly added, “Yeah, but you can’t complain about it.”
I have pretty much put myself on partial bed rest. When he’s home, I get up to pee but not much else. I can handle about an hour on my feet before either side of my groin gives out. I’ve been limping around for three days. This is at 16 weeks. I don’t yet really have a doctor after leaving my midwives (still sad about that), so I don’t have a person I trust to tell me what level of activity is appropriate or what my weight gain goals should be or how to best balance mom work with gestating. I have the Internet and one book and how my body feels. Which is, mainly, exhausted, achy, and so much more physically stressed than I was with my first baby. I want to be optimistic and active and healthy, but sometimes I feel like the best I can do is rest. That puts a lot of responsibility on my husband, and it’s hard for my toddler to understand. I don’t want to treat this like it is a bigger hardship than it is, but I did not expect to struggle physically this early on, and I want to be careful about not pushing myself too hard. Where is the line? I don’t really know.
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