22 Weeks Pregnant: Feels Like Forever

I’m about 22 weeks pregnant and because I found out so early (two weeks), it feels like I’ve been pregnant for exactly 22 years. It doesn’t help that I’ve literally had almost every possible pregnancy symptom ever documented: Sore hips, restless legs, all day indigestion, all day nausea, insomnia, anxiety, RAGE, and my boobs are about the size of my head. I know that I’m supposed to be “glowing” but I’m not. I’m entirely void of glow and on some days void of the will to get out of bed. I think that complaining about pregnancy is supposed to make me feel like I’m somehow less of a woman and a crap mom already but to that, I say bullshit. This kid was on purpose, I’m old af and didn’t take this decision very lightly. My husband and I have thought long and hard about what it means to be parents and I feel like I’m as ready as I can be for that aspect of it. But the pregnancy? The pregnancy is a crap side-effect to motherhood and totally over-rated if you ask me.

I have a belly now and it’s a weird adjustment. I haven’t figured out how to dress without looking like an actual homeless person and I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I feel a little uncomfortable in my own skin. I’m not used to huge boobs or being able to feel my uterus when I move a certain way. Guys, it’s freaky.

The good news is that we just had our 20-week ultrasound and baby is very healthy and a week bigger than the doctor expected (because the baby is sucking the life out of me). This kid also loves to wiggle. Every ultrasound it’s like a party in there, arms flailing, legs kicking, mouth opening and closing. We’re very happy that the baby seems so happy.

The bad news is that I for sure have a septum in my uterus and the baby is transverse and kind of curled around the septum like a donut. This puts me at risk for pre-term labor and a c-section and I absolutely don’t want either and am a little (a lot) freaked out. But we’re just trying to be positive and hope that things go well and that the baby will somehow turn itself sooner or later. Note: I sent the below image to one of my best friends and this was the conversation:

Me: This is what it looks like

Him: Please never send me a pic of your uterus again.

Me: It’s not MY uterus. It’s A uterus.

Then I sent him a picture of just blackness (I took a pic of my notebook cover) and said, “THIS IS MY CERVIX.”

Him: Did you use a headlamp to get that?

Me: I’m sending this to everyone I know.

Him: Please do.

Septum Uterus
FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE

I’ve been trying to up my self-care to keep my anxiety in check while I’m pregnant because I don’t want my kid in there like, “WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HERE?! AAAAAAAAH,” all of the time because I’m freaking out. So, I found a pregnancy pack on Headspace that is super awesome and I’ve been meditating every day. I went to acupuncture last week for my nausea and it definitely helped. And I ordered headphones for my stomach so baby and I can listen to soothing classical music together. I look insane wandering around the neighborhood with my crooked clothes with giant headphones stuck to my belly, talking to my dog, Oliver, who is in training and doing a horrible job. “A” for effort, though.

19 weeks to go, my friends.

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4 responses to “22 Weeks Pregnant: Feels Like Forever”

  1. Heriona Graham Avatar
    Heriona Graham

    I had anxiety too during my pregnancies. I had heart palpitations as well caused by anxiety I guess. Once I ended up in the emrgency room bc I thought there was something wrong with me, well there was, I had panic attacks:) It absolutely sucked going to work every days only to expect another panic attack. I know what you are going through:)

    1. M.E. Evans Avatar

      I’m so sorry to hear that you struggled with all of that! Sounds horrible! I’ve had panic attacks before (lots of them) and they’re the worst! Anxiety is such a bastard.

  2. Katherine Avatar

    I know you said you feel like crap, but I have to say you look kinda happy in that photo. I’m sure it’s tough staying positive through all of this, so I just wanted to wish you well and send you positive vibes thru the internet! Good luck – you’ll get there and I can’t wait to see your little one!

    1. M.E. Evans Avatar

      Thank you so much, Katherine!

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I’m m.e.evans

M.E. Evans is a journalist and the author of the bestselling feminist memoir, Naked In Italy. She is known for her stinging prose and dark humor. When she’s not holed up and writing you can find her talking about books on her podcast You’re Gonna Be Great! (YGBG!) or writing about books for the bookish lifestyle newsletter, The Main Character Society.

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