What to expect when you're expecting (105 page)

Keeping track of your baby’s kicks isn’t necessary until week 28 (see
page 289
).

“Sometimes the baby kicks so hard it hurts.”

As your baby matures in the uterus, he or she becomes stronger and stronger, and those once butterfly-like fetal movements pack more and more punch. Which is why you shouldn’t be surprised if you get kicked in the ribs or poked in the abdomen or cervix with such force it hurts. When you seem to be under a particularly fierce attack, try changing your position. It may knock your little linebacker off balance and temporarily stem the assault.

“The baby seems to be kicking all over. Could I be carrying twins?”

At some point in her pregnancy, just about every woman begins to think that she’s carrying either twins or a human octopus. That’s because until a fetus grows out of room to move (usually at about 34 weeks), it’s able to perform numerous acrobatics. So, while it may sometimes feel as if you’re being pummeled by a dozen fists (or a litter), it’s more likely to be two fists that really get around—along with tiny knees, elbows, and feet. (And if you did have a second passenger on board, you would have likely made that discovery during one of your ultrasounds.)

“My belly itches constantly. It’s driving me crazy.”

Join the club. Pregnant bellies are itchy bellies, and they can become progressively itchier as the months pass. That’s because as your belly grows, the skin stretches rapidly, becoming increasingly moisture-deprived—leaving it itchy and uncomfortable. Try not to scratch, which will only make you itchier and could cause irritation. Moisturizer can temporarily curb the itching. apply a gentle one frequently and liberally. An anti-itching lotion (such as calamine) may provide more relief, as can an oatmeal bath. If you have an all-over itch that’s not related to dry or sensitive skin, however, or develop a rash on your abdomen, check with your practitioner.

“Lately I’ve been dropping everything I pick up. Why am I suddenly so clumsy?”

Like the extra inches on your belly, the extra thumbs on your hands and those two left feet you suddenly feel you’re sporting are part of the pregnancy package. This real (and, unfortunately, plain for everyone to see) pregnancy-induced clumsiness is caused by the loosening of joints and ligaments and the retention of water, both of which can make your grasp on objects less firm and sure. Other factors include a lack of concentration as a result of pregnancy forgetfulness (see
page 214
) or a lack of dexterity as a result of carpal tunnel syndrome (see next question). And it certainly doesn’t help matters that your growing belly has shifted your center of gravity, throwing your balance off-kilter. This uneasiness in balance—whether conscious or not—is most apparent when you’re climbing a flight of stairs, walking on a slippery surface (something you really shouldn’t be doing anyway), or carrying something heavy (ditto). Not being able to see past your belly to your
feet (which, if it hasn’t happened yet, definitely will) can also make tripping—over curbs, on steps, on the sneakers your spouse left in front of the bathroom door—a lot easier to do. Finally, pregnancy fatigue can keep you off your game (or knock you off your feet), making it easier to both trip and drop.

Most pregnancy clumsiness is just annoying. Repeatedly retrieving the car keys from the floor, for instance, is merely an ongoing pain in the neck (as well as a pain in the back if you don’t remember to bend from the knees). Falls, however, can be a more serious matter, which is why “caution” should be your middle name when you’re expecting.

If you’re feeling like a bull in a china shop these days, you’ll have to make some modifications to your daily activities. Definitely stay out of china shops (and keep your clumsy paws off the good china at home). Leave your favorite crystal on the shelf for the duration and let someone else load and unload the dishwasher, especially when the good stuff’s involved. It’ll also help to slow down, walk more deliberately and carefully (especially when there’s ice or snow underfoot), use extra caution in the tub or shower, keep hallways and stairs clear of objects that might trip you up, refrain from standing on any chairs (no matter what you need to reach), and avoid pushing yourself (the more tired you are, the more clumsy you’ll be). Most important, recognize your current limitations and your lack of coordination, and try to have a sense of humor about it.

“I keep waking up in the middle of the night because some of the fingers on my right hand are numb. Is that related to pregnancy?”

Feeling all atingle these days? Chances are it isn’t romance or even excitement about the baby—it’s the normal numbness and tingling in the fingers and toes that many women experience during pregnancy, probably the result of swelling tissues pressing on nerves. If the numbness and pain are confined to your thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of your ring finger, you probably have carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Though this condition is most common in people who regularly perform tasks that require repetitive motions of the hand (such as piano playing or typing), it is also extremely common in pregnant women—even in those who don’t do repetitive hand motions. That’s because the carpal tunnel in the wrist, through which the nerve to the affected fingers runs, becomes swollen during pregnancy (as do so many other tissues in the body), with the resultant pressure causing numbness, tingling, burning, and pain. The symptoms can also affect the hand and wrist, and they can radiate up the arm.

Though the pain of CTS can strike at any time of day, you might feel yourself wrestling with wrist pain more at night. That’s because fluids that accumulate in your lower extremities during the day are redistributed to the rest of your body (including your hands) when you’re lying down. Sleeping on your hands can make the problem worse, so try elevating them on a separate pillow at bedtime. When numbness occurs, shaking your hands may relieve it. If that doesn’t do the trick, and the numbness is interfering with your sleep, discuss the problem with your practitioner. Often wearing a wrist splint is helpful. Acupuncture can also bring relief.

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids usually prescribed for
CTS may not be recommended during pregnancy. Check with your practitioner. Luckily, when the regular swelling of pregnancy resolves once you’ve delivered, the carpal tunnel symptoms will diminish, too.

If you think the CTS is related to your work habits (or at-home computer use) as well as your pregnancy, see
page 191
.

“I have leg cramps at night that keep me awake.”

Between your overloaded mind and your bulging belly, you probably have enough trouble catching those z’s without leg cramps cramping your sleeping style. Unfortunately, these painful spasms that radiate up and down your calves and occur most often at night are very common among the expectant set in the second and third trimesters.

No one’s quite sure what causes leg cramps. Various theories blame fatigue from carrying pregnancy weight, compression of the blood vessels in the legs, and possibly diet (an excess of phosphorus and a shortage of calcium or magnesium). You might as well blame hormones, too, since they seem to cause so many pregnancy aches and pains.

Whatever the cause, there are ways of both preventing and alleviating them:

When a leg cramp strikes, be sure to straighten your leg and flex your ankle and toes slowly up toward your nose (don’t point your toes). This should soon lessen the pain. Doing this several times with each leg before turning in at night may even help ward off the cramps.

Stretching exercises can also help stop cramps before they strike. Before you head to bed, stand about 2 feet away from a wall and put your palms flat against it. Lean forward, keeping your heels on the floor. Hold the stretch for 10 seconds, then relax for 5. Try this three times. (See the illustration.)

To ease the daily load on your legs, put your feet up as often as you can, alternate periods of activity with periods of rest, and wear support hose during the day. Flex your feet periodically.

Try standing on a cold surface, which can sometimes stop a spasm.

Stretching Away Leg Cramps

When Something Just Doesn’t Feel Right

Maybe it’s a twinge of abdominal pain that feels too much like a cramp to ignore, a sudden change in your vaginal discharge, an aching in your lower back or in your pelvic floor—or maybe it’s something so vague you can’t even put your finger on it. Chances are it’s just par for the pregnancy course, but to play it safe, check
page 138
to see if a call to your practitioner is in order. If you can’t find your symptoms on the list, it’s probably a good idea to call anyway. Reporting odd symptoms could help identify early signs of premature labor or other pregnancy complications, which could make a big difference in your pregnancy. Remember, you know your body better than anyone. Listen up when it’s trying to tell you something.