35 weeks and I think I can whine

I'm actually really surprised I made it this far without any serious discomforts, but for some reason I was hoping this last month would be a little easier. Maybe it's because I thought I would actually be going into labor pretty soon and I wouldn't have the chance to get all big and uncomfortable like most women. I was born 5 1/2 weeks early. Why not my son?

What was I thinking? With my luck he'll be stubborn like his father and refuse to come out at all.

But the amount of time in utero is not what I'm concerned about (at least right now).

These last few days have become increasingly more uncomfortable. Heartburn started a few weeks ago and has been off and on in terms of intensity. One day it will be mild and slightly uncomfortable, and the next it will be so bad I'll be praying that I vomit in the hopes that I can empty my stomach and use baking soda to kill the burn. Seriously, I would rather spend half an hour puking than half an hour with this heartburn. Still, as annoying and uncomfortable as it is, I've somehow been managing to deal with it.

Sleep is another matter. I can barely sleep at night - partly probably because my husband is at training, but mostly because I just can't get comfortable. Period. If it's not the heartburn keeping me from laying flat, it's the pain in my hips, or the pressure on my stomach, or the uterine contractions that will wake me in the middle of the night. And don't forget the trips to the bathroom.

And for whatever reason I can never stay in bed past around 7:30 - no matter what time I finally fall asleep or how much I toss and turn all night. I'm left tired almost all day, constantly keeping myself from downing coffee or forcing myself into a nap - the coffee upsets my digestion and contributes to heartburn, and I can never get a productive nap anyway.

Just to add to my discomfort I had my first episode of swollen ankles the other day. It's only happened twice so far, and the swelling only lasts for a little bit, but I never realized how uncomfortable it truly is. Again, one of those symptoms I thought other women get, but surely not me. After all, I'd made it this far without it..... With the swelling of the ankles comes the general swelling of the hands and face. Nothing painful, just annoying and slightly unattractive. My face feels pudgy and my rings, which were once too big, barely come off my fingers. I've removed them so they don't get stuck or cut off my circulation, but I feel naked without my wedding band. It makes it harder psychologically that my husband is training and I feel almost like it's cheating, or that other marines may misinterpret my reason for not wearing it. It's something that's hard to explain and I feel like perhaps only another military wife would understand. I know my husband won't think anything of it - he takes his ring off during certain exercises so it doesn't get lost/ruined - but it still feels weird.

But now it's time for me to start cleaning in preparation for the doula that will be here later today. We made the decision to switch to standard so I can deliver at a civilian hospital closer to home and I'm finally feeling better about everything. At least mentally.