Growing a Rainbow: Week 22

Pregnancy is not pretty is it?

Here I am about to be 22 weeks pregnant

21 weeks

And my least favourite pregnancy side effect has arrived

Piles

There is no way to put it other than plainly

I have them

They are not awful or painful

But they are there

And I need to take action to ease the symptoms

And to try and ensure that they do not get any worse

I realise that this is not a particularly nice topic to read about

But it is a reality of growing a baby

Any baby not specifically a rainbow

So what is a mummy to be to do?

Piles, haemorrhoids are swollen veins

They are common in pregnancy because of all the extra blood pumping around the body

Together with progesterone causing muscles to relax

They can be made worse by constipation so you should avoid this as best you can

I have been told to avoid getting constipated because of my funneling cervix

So I have two very good reasons now

I need to keep well hydrated

Eat a high fibre diet including lots of fruits and vegetables

And do some gentle exercise every day

All this without standing too long

And taking enough iron not to become more anaemic than I already am

I am really quite worried about it all

Pregnancy is not pretty

Nor does it seem it is going to be very straightforward for me

You can read more about haemorrhoids in pregnancy here

I am counting down the days now until my next scan

It is on Friday

To measure my cervix again

Hopefully everything will be the same

The worst case is that the cervix has shortened

And / or the funneling has gotten worse

I am assuming that then I would be monitored again in another two weeks

Hopefully everything will be the same

I am feeling the baby move much more now

She still feels very low down to me

I am wondering if this is because my muscles are just not strong enough to hold her up?

So here we are

Growing a rainbow

Feeling more and more pregnant by the day

There are chinks of light in the dark days now

But they are often clouded over with these worries

These fears

That my body is going to let this beautiful baby down

I am trying really hard to relax

But taking it easy is just not easy

When you are growing a rainbow and have three year old twins

And as well as taking it easy

And growing this baby

I also want to be making the most of this precious time with Esther and William

It will all become so busy once the new baby is here

It is funny to think that I will have three children here again

It will be so different from when Tilda was with us

I had three children under two when Tilda was born

This time two of them will be four

Four!

Such a great big space in our life

Our hearts

Our family

The space where Tilda should be

It is not easy to take it easy

growing rainbow

7 thoughts on “Growing a Rainbow: Week 22

  1. Natures Choice Bilberry supplements were the only thing that got rid of my piles from my first pregnancy; they persisted for 9 months afterwards until I discovered those! Hopefully, you manage to keep them under control. Our forget me nots from last year’s walk have started blooming by my front door, so I always think of you all and Matilda when I leave the house or come home again.

  2. Thinking of you Jennie and hoping you find some time to rest and relax. I know it’s not easy to do, but please do take care of yourself. Lots and lots of love xxxxx

  3. You are looking gorgeous.

    Worries are normal for all pregnant mums.

    If you are taking iron supplements then you will be more prone to constipation, so drink lots. I loved fruit teas with just a tiny spoon of sugar to bring out the fruit flavour more. Chamomile tea is also lovely to sip. All these teas Esther and William can enjoy with you. You can have a little tea party.

    Take care lovey Lady! xxxo

  4. Hi Jennie,

    I’m a mum of twins too (a boy and a girl who will be 4 in October, born at 35 wks). When I was pregnant with them I had the irrational feeling that they would fall out of me. The nexcare maternity support band really helped – http://www.3mdirect.co.uk/maternity-relief.html?gclid=COjR2-OOv70CFViVvQodWj8ACw

    It’s not pretty but goes under your clothes and really feels like it gives your muscles a helping hand. It might just be psychological but then that’s ok too :o)

    Wishing a very safe journey for your Rainbow baby xx

  5. Oh you poor thing – piles in pregnancy are the worst! Fresh orange juice – drink lots of it!! I have a 4 year age gap between Archie and Isobel. We hoped for a small age gap but mother nature had other plans… I’ve found its actually a lovely gap. By the time Isobel came along Archie was old enough and independent enough to understand that here was a new baby whom Mummy needed to look after. We didn’t have jealousy issues and he was old enough to ‘help’ take care of his sister. I also thought it would be too big an age gap for them to enjoying playing together – but I was absolutely wrong there – they are great friends. This rainbow baby will be a ray of sunshine in all your lives. Will be thinking of you on Friday and hope this next scan goes well. xxx

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