Whoa, Nelly!

As if my body is a step ahead of my brain, on Thursday it knew exactly what time it was: 3rd trimester time! My back started to ache a bit (front goes out and so does the back), my left hand and wrist had some prickly tingling (pregnancy carpal tunnel? Maybe I just sleep on it the wrong way sometimes...), and I thought that I'd pulled a muscle in my bottom (seems almost possible?)... until a sharp pain started to shoot down my left leg. Welcome, 3rd trimester!

I go in for a glucose test tomorrow and will ask Nurse Linda, the midwife, if I'm right, but my diagnosis is pregnancy sciatica. It now hurts to walk, stand, or sit, so I've taken the weekend lying down and we've called Ajay's friends who are physical therapists and I've got some interesting stretches and massages to do (one includes sitting and gyrating on a tennis ball). The best solution is to have the baby because it's unlikely to completely 'resolve' until then. Ah, the delights. Apparently, because ligaments are loose, the muscles get a little out of sorts. For the percentage of the ppopulation that has the sciatic nerve running through this muscle group, this is a common problem. I know--LUCKY ME!

As further evidence of the root of the 'problems' I present the growing belly. A rather odd, box-like shape at present, but I'm not going to complain. The belly button is still facing IN, so all is well!