Marriage Confessions,  Pregnancy

Down for the Count


Remember that time I went to my sister’s wedding and two days before the wedding, I ended up in the hospital? That whole weird episode turned out to be a spasm in my back. Not death trying to attack me, like I thought. To give you some kind of indication what that pain level is like, the week of my sister’s wedding, I passed out and had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital. It is extremely painful. Extremely.

Fortunately, I haven’t had another episode like that since. But Monday morning as I was getting ready for work, I leaned across our washing machine to unplug our iron and – BOOM! Down I went. My back started to spasm. It just freezes you in your tracks. Literally. I can’t move my arms or anything when it happens and so I was stuck there in the laundry room for 10 minutes while this pain shot through my back and down my arms. When I was finally able to move again, I slowly made my way back to Chris in our bedroom and he got me down on my heating pad where I sat for 30 minutes trying to get my back to unfreeze. I was a little late to work and I had to teach from a chair all day, but by that afternoon I was feeling a little looser and a little better.

I must not have been as healed as I thought though because this morning it happened AGAIN! I was lifting Bean up to his changing table and – BOOM! Down I went. Thank goodness Chris was close by to catch Bean or else he would have fallen. Thankfully, I had a 1/2 day at work today because I had a doctor’s appointment this afternoon, but I taught again today from my chair. And if you’ve ever tried to maintain control of a room full of middle schoolers while sitting in a chair, you know how much that sucks. So, I hobbled in to my doctor this afternoon and begged for mercy. And mercy came! She gave me a prescription for a mild muscle relaxer to use the next time my back seizes up like that and she referred me to a physical therapist to help teach me how to untwist my back when it spasms. And she recommended that I get a prenatal massage soon. I’m not a big massage fan, but at this point I’ll try anything.

The one thing that she said that bummed me out was that I needed to stop picking up Bean. I had sort of figured that out on my own already, but it was a downer hearing my doctor tell me how important it was that I not pick him up anymore. This morning I couldn’t pick him up when I dropped him off at daycare and he was so upset that he wouldn’t even tell me goodbye when I left. Then when I picked him up from daycare and I couldn’t pick him up again, he threw himself on the ground and pitched a fit. I know how he feels. I hate not being able to scoop him up for a big hug at the end of the day, but my back just can’t handle it anymore. It will be a big adjustment for me AND for Bean, but it’s just part of growing up, I guess. Big dude is having to learn to stand on his own two feet. Literally. I hate it, but it is what it is, I guess.

It is Wednesday night as I write this and I’ve already put in for substitute for tomorrow. My back just needs a break. I’m going to take Bean to daycare, come home, take a muscle relaxer, and sleep on my heating pad all day. I’m hoping a full day of R&R will help get me back on my feet again.

I really hate this part of pregnancy. I remember it with Bean, too. It’s that point where you physically can’t do the things you want or need to do. You physically HAVE to slow down and change your behaviors. I hate that. I feel so helpless and I feel especially bad for Chris who then has to pick up my slack even more than normal because I physically cannot help with simple tasks anymore. This is the part of the pregnancy where I start crying frantically. Like this morning when I got all the way to school after my back spasm and then burst into tears in the parking lot of my school and had to call Chris. When he asked what was wrong, all I could do was sob, “I hate being p-p-p-pregnant!!!”

Good news! Only 9 weeks left!

Because I’m vertically challenged tonight, I can’t take any pictures to share with you. So instead, I have a video to hold you all over. This is Bean on our drive home from my parent’s house last weekend. At this point in the evening, he’s had approximately 2,046 cookies. Keep that in mind.

*****
Today I am grateful for Chris. And my doctor. And muscle relaxers.

47 Comments

  • Amy @ Serve At Once

    Katie, there are no words for how badly I’m commiserating with you right now. I really wish I could give your pain a roundhouse kick to Timbuktu. But since I can’t do roundhouse kicks, I guess we’ll both have to settle with your muscle relaxers.

    Here’s sending you prayers of warmth, comfort, strength, and peace from a windy Nashville.

  • Rebecca

    Oh Man! I totally feel you! My back did the exact same thing around month 5. I decided I wanted a garden and (with the major help of my husband) tilled up 1/4 of my backyard. And then I couldn’t move for a few days. I thought I was totally better and then a week later bent down for one of the animals and couldn’t get back up! It totally stinks! And I was in tears NUMEROUS times bemoaning the trials of pregnancy. I think my best line was, “when you have a headache you take motrin and it goes away. NOTHING FIXES THIS!!!!” I was crazy. Literally. 9 weeks left!!! You’re in the final stretch! Whoohoo!

  • Abby @ They Lend Me Their Hearts

    Stop! haahaha! that video had me literally laughing out loud, and after a hard day it was apparently exactly what I needed! Thanks! :o)

    Sorry to hear about your back :o( I threw my back out once about 3.5 years ago when I had 2 one-year-olds that were heavy and needing to be picked up a lot… it sucks when you can’t do your normal stuff! Just 9 more weeks (maybe a couple less?!) and you’ll be DONE DONE DONE!

  • Margaret

    Oh no, that’s awful! Get yourself to a chiropractor immediately! They work serious miracles. In the meantime, make Bean come over to you and give you tons and tons of kisses.

  • claire

    Hi Katie, you poor thing!! I am so sorry that you’re struggling with your back. I really hope that the muscle relaxers and massage help!

  • Sumer Taylor

    Seriously, how cute is that kid!!? Makes me smile to think about what my little Zane (10 months old) will be like in a year or so. It made me think about how my little Loralie (4 1/2 years) loved that song. It would always make her stop crying.

  • Jen c @ cavedin

    Boo! That sucks so much!! My chiropractor was my saving grace during pregnancy due to crippling sciatica. I can’t sat I know how back spasms feel but I do know horrible back pain in general so I really feel for ya. I truly hope your muscle relaxers work. Count those nine weeks down 🙂

  • Whitney

    Oh Katie, I love Bean so much. He reminds me so much of Weebie (in the things he’s doing), I can’t even believe it!! Oh how they would love each other. So so sweet!!

  • Ashley

    Oh my goodness…that is the cutest video of all time! I was just cooing over here when he was doing the hand motions to all the songs…and basically with everything he did. So cute!!!

    I hope you feel better very very soon…that sounds so painful!

  • Lindsay

    Massage Envy! I don’t like massages either, but my husband MADE me get a membership and now I go every 3 weeks for my lower back. The one in SODO is where I like.

  • Nikki

    I hope you feel better Katie! Beans looks so old in his pictures that I was expecting him to be talking in complete sentences with a nice accent (I’m imaginative that way). It was a great reminder that he’s still a pretty young dude! Can’t wait for the next one!

  • Southern With A Twist

    I had the same thing happen to me, but in my neck. I had already been really sick when it happened and I completely freaked out-it’s so scary! My neck just went completely slack and my vision blurred- I didn’t know what was happening. I don’t know if you can use them while your pregnant, but Salon Paus patches are the absolute best- you can get them at the drugstore. They smell, but work really well.

  • Courtney

    I don’t have back spasms but I do have horrific back pain. Guess what? It’s from packing my three year old on my hip. He only weighs 28 lbs and frankly it”s the one last thing that helps me hold on to him being a baby. Pathetic huh? I’m only 4ft10in. and not real big myself so it’s really bad on my back. My doctor has ordered me to stop, but I haven’t. It’s not just that I like carrying him, it’s also easier sometimes. And other times I have to lift him. Good luck and I hope you feel better.

  • Liz

    I second those who say you should go to a Chiropractor. They’ll fix what’s causing the problem, instead of masking it with medications. It’s kind of their philosophy.

  • Lindsay (Young Married Mom)

    TOO CUTE. That Bean is officially too cute for words. I love watching him communicate with you. Our little one is just starting to seem like he understands certain things we say. I love watching adorable Bean to see what comes next! Hope you’re feeling better today, and enjoy this special day of being alone with Gracie girl!

  • Nate's Mom @ nateisgreat

    That video is precious and amazing! It also demonstrates to me how much catching up Nate’s got to do!!! (He’s working on it….) My heart breaks for you and Bean with the no-picking-up-the-boy rule. At least snuggles haven’t been ruled out….I don’t think those really ever get ruled out, unless Mama’s recovering from a c-section…..

  • Donna

    I know how you feel. I had an appendectomy two weeks ago and my two year old is too heavy to pick up. She has had a few weeks to get used to it, so she is not as upset but there are so many times I want to pick her up, like giving her a hug at bedtime, holding her when she is upset and I just can’t. But on the positive side, I can’t put her on the changing table to clean her poopy butt, so no poopy diapers! This is probably good thing, b/c you won’t be able to lift up Bean if you have another c-section with Gracie. It gets him used to the situation now instead of having a newborn and an upset 2 year old on your hands.

  • Marie @ It's a Kind of Normal

    Katie, I feel for you not being able to lift Bean up – that must be so hard for you as his mom to deal with. But at least this way, he’ll have gotten used to it by the time Gracie comes along because you won’t be able to pick him up much for a few weeks after, so he won’t be linking the fact that you’re not picking him up to the arrival of Gracie in your lives.

  • Jenna

    He is SO sweet! And I hate that you are having to go through this … back pain is the WORST, and unless someone has experienced it, it is hard to explain how debilitating it can be. I hope you feel better soon!!

  • Tan @ tan/green

    With 11 weeks left to go in this pregnancy I hear you loud and clear! I have to say in my last pregnancy I had a strong core going in (Pilates) and did yoga 4-5 times a week…not so much this time around with a toddler…and didn’t have near the discomfort and back pain. No telling if that made all the difference but I think it has a lot to do with it. Glad the countdown in on now though – for both of us!

  • Morgan G

    What a cute video of Bean! I love that both of you were belly laughing 🙂
    You definitely should try out the PT first. You may benefit from treatment that doesn’t include manipulations. They can help you with ways to properly lift and move and also help with strength/stabilization of your spine. PTs have tips and tools that will help long after one manipulation will. (I’m a PT student…have to represent! Haha)

  • Lisa

    Awwwwwwww he’s getting so big! Very very cute. I’m studying to be a massage therapist and the first thing I thought of was that you should get a massage for your back spasms, even if you’re not a fan, hopefully it helps! Feel better soon!

  • tressa

    My heart hurts for you! Not being able to pick Bean man up has got to be torture, for you both. Will one of his teachers sit him on your lap when you first get to him after all day? That way you two can still cuddle and kiss! That video, OMG MELT MY HEART!

  • Laura

    Katie, that totally stinks! I hope the massage helps you. Maybe post-pregnancy when things calm down the physio can show you some back exercises that will strengthen your back so it doesn’t happen again. I’m sure it’s much, much worse because of pregnancy. Gracie will be worth it 😉

  • Lindsay

    Oh man, I hope you feel better!! To Morgan G – that’s awesome that you’re in PT school. PT is great. I’d encourage you to learn more about chiropractic… they do a heck of a lot more than just spinal manipulation!

  • Julie

    I remember the point in my second pregnancy when I couldn’t pick Connor up anymore – it was when I started labor early and was put on bedrest…it sucked so hard! But now I can hold both of my boys at once, so it is all better…

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