Who’s Complaining? Oh Wait, It’s Me.

My Life

So say you’re about eight months pregnant and things have reached the back-aching, no sleeping, shallow breathing stage.

Now, suppose you come down with a sinus infection that halves your already meager amount of sleep and energy. Then say that the copious nose blowing creates a large cut in one nostril. This cut becomes infected and swells into a nostril cyst. (A visible, dead sexy, nostril cyst.) Huh. Is that a cold sore coming on? It is.

You suffer through through three weeks of swollen feet, stopped-up nose, dry mouth, painful nostril swelling, burgeoning cold sore, and then one morning, you wake up feeling better. You’ve had almost a full night’s sleep, you can imagine a day when you’ll breathe through your nose again, the cut is healing, the cold sore has subsided, you can almost hear Julie Andrews singing through the window.

That night, your long-gone morning sickness returns in full force.

Kiddo, you’d better be pretty effing cute.

Published

70 thoughts on “Who’s Complaining? Oh Wait, It’s Me.”

  1. Oh, oh, oh. This stage of pregnancy is hard under the very best of circumstances. You poor thing! Hang in there, lady. (I guess there’s no other option, huh? But I like to imagine that somehow was encouraging.)

    Like

  3. Oh, hi, I am sory you are feeling awful. I am also really sory i am about to give you advice you did not ask for, but I cannot help it. YOu might wanna make sure the vomiting is not from pre-eclampsia?

    I’m sure the kiddo will be tons cute!!!

    Like

  4. As another commenter said, I also actually slept better during the first 4 weeks of my baby’s life than I did the last 6 weeks of my own pregnancy. I’m not going to lie, the last month or so is the longest adn the hardest on you physically and emmotionally, but the second you see your precious baby, all of it will be forgotten.

    Like

  5. It’s all worth it when the baby looks at you the first time and smiles at you…hopefully not because he/she has gas and tooted. 😉

    Like

  6. Oh no! Sending good thoughts your way! The baby will be here before you know it! Then it’s their nose you’ll be wiping. Happy New Year!

    Like

  8. At least the morning sickness went away for a while, right?!? Just imagine puking your brains out the entire 9 months… I second the notion of looking into the cause of the puking, though…

    Like

  9. Yup, at this point you’re in pregnancy hell. My wife was freakin miserable at this point, and just wanted the kid to come OUT.
    It amazes me that women want to do this thing more than once.

    Like

  10. For the sinus infection and congestion, consider rinsing your sinuses out with saline solution. It’s gross, I know, but it works better than a lot of drugs.

    Like

  11. You’re completely glossing over how coughing while pregnant causes you to pee your pants! (As does barfing, no?)

    I would say something perky, but being pregnant just SUCKS.

    Like

  12. Oh yes, this part stinks. I had miserable swelling of my feet (nothing but flip flops the last 3 months) as well as the rest of me, hands, face, etc. (from pre-eclampsia). All that fluid gave me carpal tunnel as well, so every time I got comfortable, my arm fell asleep. This stage totally sucks. Think I’m only having one! The good news was that my pregnancy was miserable, but my delivery went well. You are on the downhill slide!

    Like

  13. Poor Kiddo. This is another example of why I’m trying desperately to adopt, besides the fact that I have questionable chromosomes.

    Hope you feel better soon. Can you ground a child in utero?

    Like

  14. you. poor. thing. And you forgot to mention how you can’t take hardly anything for all your discomfort during pregnancy.

    Sorry this is so hard on you, but it will all get better very soon. Everybody has a least favorite stage… I loved pregnancy, but hated the first 6 months of parenthood, and now with my daughter at 5, I’m loving it. Maybe, you lucky thing you, you’ve gotten the worst of it behind you up front. 🙂

    Having a kid is the hardest most rewarding thing you will ever do. I am sure you will love it, even if it is not always fun and games.

    Like

  15. I HATE PREGNANCY. HATE HATE HATE IT. I’ve only done this thing once. And you know what, getting up several times a night while recovering from a c-section was still much better than pregnancy. And once you make the decision to stop lactating, you start to feel like your old pre-preggers self again, and OH, it’s just *orgasmic*. However, do give yourself up to two years to really really feel and look like your old self. You’ll be back most of the way there by the end of year one, but the pg hormones take up to two years to clear all the way out. So yes, I assure you, better days are coming soon. In the meantime, enjoy the guilt free eating this holiday season, you may never get this kind of free pass again. I had my kid in January, and none of my Christmas indulgences stuck permanently that year. It was AWESOME!

    Like

  17. Well, judging by all of our cousin’s offspring, the chances are good this kid will be damn cute.

    But that doesn’t mean you can’t hold this against him until he’s well into his adult years.

    Hang in there Maggie! You’re on the home stretch!

    Like

  18. What is with all the pregnancy hate, people? Well, wait…my son turns thirteen tomorrow so maybe I don’t remember much. I liked being pregnant, I never had morning suckness but the motion sickness, oh my Holy Lord. Every single time I got into a car I made sure to have a bag handy.

    The last part of the pregnancy I do quite clearly remember hating heartuburn with every fiber of my being. And yes, about the eighth month is when you start to say, “Okay, I’m done! Any day now, child! The world is ready and waiting for you, don’t be shy, come out and meet everyone! Wait…what do you MEAN you won’t come out on my due date?”

    But the first time you hold your baby, and you look at him at say “I know you,” is SO worth it. Hang in there little mama, it’s going to be okay. 🙂

    Like

  20. I’m sorry that you are so unhappy( so was I at this stage). However there is an old proverb the says “G-d could not be everywhere, so G-d created Mothers”.
    You are doing very important work right now, and work is not always fun nor easy.

    I wish you a speedy and painless delivery, as well as a beautiful, intelligent and healthy new addition to your family.

    Like

  21. Maggie,

    I am 32 weeks pregnant. My feet are so swollen I am wearing a pair of crocs (in pink, no less) that are the only shoes I can wear. They are a size and a half bigger than mu non pregnant shoe sixe. My hands are tingling as I type this from the carpal tunnel and apparently I snore so loud that my husband does not like sleeping with me. Last night, my sweet husband asked me, are you sure you want to do this again if you are so uncomfortable? I think I still do, but this month has been rough!

    Like

  22. I’m 19, and I’ve never been pregnant, and I’m not planning on getting pregnant soon. However, reading this post as well as the comments ensures that I’ll be VERY careful NOT to get pregnant in the near future. Wow, that last month of pregnancy really seems to suck.

    Like

  24. at about 18 weeks along my sinuses plugged up. from that point on i couldn’t breathe normal. some days it felt like cotton balls were shoved up my nose. my feet were so swollen, even my 2 sizes too large flip flops left marks. my maternity clothes were no longer fitting. i grew 10 centimeters from weeks 35-36. 10 hours labor then c-section. infection. i swore i’d never have another baby (or sex for that matter), but 18 months later & i’m ready for another.
    it’s a lot of pain & suffering, but in the end it’a all worth it. i wish you a happy, healty baby & a speedy recovery.

    Like

  27. I wound up 240lbs and toxic to boot – you WILL sleep better soon, your hips WILL stop aching and you WILL discover that having that little one on your chest for the first time equates to the most enormous feeling of love that you have ever experienced. The minute they put Georgia on my tummy I realized it was all worth it….even the 24/7 puking. Whoever made up the words ‘morning sickness’ left home in the morning to go to work and never saw her yarping all day!!
    The good news is I was 2 weeks early – maybe the same will be for you. Congratulations – welcome to the best club you will ever be a part of.

    Like

  29. Oh Maggie, you brought back painful memories for me! I was 8 months pregnant last December, but instead of a sinus infection, I got a respiratory infection. Did you ever have croup as a kid? Remember that feeling where you thought you might die because you couldn’t get any air into your lungs because of the congestion? Well, that’s what I had last year. I just remember sitting on the edge of my bed sobbing, because I was two weeks away from my due date, and I was panicked that I would go into labor and be trying to have a baby while not even able to breathe. Icouldn’t get any air into my lungs while sitting calmly on my bed, so how was I going to push a baby out?

    Luckily, my little one didn’t come early, so I was over my sickness by the time all that happened.

    All of that is to say: I feel for you! Best of luck to you.

    Kara

    Like

  31. so, what you’re saying is, there’s no end in sight for me? i’m at seven-and-a-half months. instead of a cut, i had a teensy-tiny pimple below one nostril. after two weeks of nose-blowing and vomiting, my mom pointed it out from THIRTY FEET AWAY! and asked what it was. ugh.

    did i mention we (unwillingly) hosted christmas for 13 in our 658 square foot home? or that i have a three year old? and a two year old whose birthday went unnoticed yesterday? or that my husband works ridiculous hours, leaving me to fend for myself most days? can i curl up and cry now??? calgon, take me far, far the hell away.

    Like

  32. Makes me look back fondly (because it is in the past) on the stomach bug that had me doubled over (as much as one can double over at 38 weeks pregnant) at work and violently wretching on the floor.Of the lobby. The carpeted and highly travelled lobby. God bless you, it’ll be a fond memory one day.

    Like

  33. Okay, I do not envy you. This wasn’t that long ago for me, my daughter is six-weeks old and is currently screaming her head off because Mommy has the balls to put her down and surf the Net. Let me just say that it does get better, but it gets a little worse first. I know, not what you wanted to hear, but have a Happy New Year all the same!

    Like

  34. I believe we are having the same end-of-pregnancy experience. The sewlling extremities, the shortness of breath, not being able to close your legs b/c the baby has dropped so far but WONT COME OUT, the sinus infection, the morning sickness, the spreading hip pain, the constant peeing. I have no comfort to offer other than knowing that someone else is going through it right now. The next person who makes a smart ass comment about how big I look or asks if I’m about to pop is going to get my foot up his or her cheery holiday ass. Right, like I could get my foot up that high if I wanted to.
    Here’s wishing you a healthy baby, a smooth labor, and someone to make you a damn good drink when it’s over. Good luck!

    Like

  35. I call the third trimester the Dennis Leary Trimester: F-You! And you know what else? F-You! Nothing felt good. Contractions were a welcome relief.
    My kids sure are cute, though!
    LUCK!

    Like

  36. Oh, sugar. I have nothing to add except to reiterate that this end-game stuff is hard and then it’s gone! And you’ll have a baby with an underwater 50’s themed nursery! Yay!

    Like

  37. I’m at this same place. And I want you to know that you have my permission to feel justified at any anger you may feel for the world at large because not even hot showers, laziness or chocolate can bring relief right now. And if you feel compelled to reach over to your husband in the middle of the night, slip your hand between his legs and deftly pinch the tendon on his inner thigh with the force of a Clydesdale’s teeth, well, that would be alright, too. Some things can only be communicated by example. *three weeks to go*

    Like

  38. I’m 34 weeks pregnant with my second (and my first is only 16 months old – what was I thinking?? Oh right, I wasn’t) and I too have a sinus infection – since october.

    I know EXACTLY where you’re coming from! I do have one small bit of consolation – after the first oh, 5 days at home, the baby starts sleeping like 85% of the day, and eating the rest, so suddenly you’ll be thinking “hey, this isn’t so bad!” Well, until the kid starts being awake more, then it sucks, lol.

    Good luck, it’ll be great and kinda sucky all at the same time… but it’s completely worth it. 😀

    Like

  39. Maggie,

    It would be wrong of me to tell you what you will feel. I can tell you that I could not imagine feeling more miserable than I did that last month of pregnancy. Yes, my son is cuter than I ever could have imagined. But NOT cute enough for me to EVER go through 285 days of vomiting and a dead spot on my stomach were he KICKED THE SAME SPOT ON THE INSIDE for five torturous months. Follow that with four months after his birth filled with more screaming and crying than I ever imagined a baby could be capable of (including waking up every 30 minutes ALL NIGHT EVERY NIGHT–NO EXAGGERATION!) Two words: Similac Alimentum. Don’t waste the months without sleep trying to deal with the colic. My son is the absolute best thing that ever happened to me. Thank pretend God that he finally sleeps in two five hour chunks at night. Practice mental fortitude however you can, and don’t be afraid to have a drink if the doc says it’s ok. Most mommys have.

    Love you!

    Like

  40. No one’s mentioned the PUPPPS rash yet and hopefully you’ll only have to look it up on the internet out of curiosity. I would not wish it on my worst enemy. After two weeks of it, I was very seriously ready to tell the doctor to “take the twins out at 36 weeks” (even knowing the risks that came with that). That’s how bad it can be… Very luckily it subsided and I was able to keep them in for two more weeks.

    You’re almost to the finish line! The little one WILL be worth it.

    Like

  41. Mothers are amazing. We men (us men?) will never understand, nor earn, the same deep lifebond. All we can do is our damnedest to work hard to stay in second place. [father of 3]

    Like

  42. I so know how you feel… I’ve just finished… and have a beautiful two week old daughter to show for it. hang in there it’s so worth it!

    Like

  43. At least this isn’t happening during the holidays… oh, waitaminute. I’m sure your child will be very effing cute, as well as Wicked Effing Smart.

    Like

  44. Good lord, I can barely breathe just reading about it. You poor thing. I would be smeared head to toe in Vicks Vapor Rub. Or buy those Shower Soothers and just stay in the steamy shower all day.

    Like

  47. Wow, everyone has a pregnancy horror story. Or fond memory. Really it’s all the same once it’s over. I agree with everyone who said you’ll actually sleep better once the baby is born. People always think I’m crazy for saying it, but it was true. Even getting up every few hours to feed her was better than not being able to find a comfortable sleep position at all, and feeling like my hips were going to permanently dislocate.

    I hope you feel better soon. Just hang in there. Eat some things that are really decadent and you’d never consume if you weren’t already the size of a manatee. If you don’t have such things in your house, send your husband to a bakery and Baskin Robbins to get them!

    Like

  48. When are you do, if you don’t mind me asking?
    I, too, am 8 months pregnant – only about 4 weeks left to go (give or take a couple)!
    Hang in there.

    Like

  50. Get a wedge pillow, the retro kind with the arms on it or the “as seen on tv” kind that is a triangle wedge of foam, wit a nice soft cover on it, with a smaller triangle attached to it, like a hinge, that you can flip into different shapes, if you don’t already have one. Not the ones sold at Sears with the zippered corduroy cover, that looks like a bolster pillow, that’ll leave marks.

    Search for pillows called Jobri Spine Reliever, Cequal, Back Max, etc.

    Sleep sitting up, reclining back onto this pillow or, better yet, move to the leather recliner in the living room nearest the bathroom, put the tempur pedic foam pillow in your lumbar area, turn on the digital cable and stay up all nite. You’ll be so exhausted that in the wee hours of the early morning, you’ll fall asleep by default.

    Oh, wait. That’s what I did.

    For morning sickness, use (unblessed) communion wafers. You can get them online, pre-blessed, in large quantities. I am not a believer (I think) but it worked for me. I think it was the non-taste of the wafer and the act of just letting it dissolve on my tongue. You’re concentrating so hard on not throwing up and inadvertently defiling what to some is so sacred, that you just don’t have time to yak.

    You can do this, Maggie.

    You’re Mighty Girl. You can do anything.

    Like

Comments are closed.