Pregnancy Update: Week 34

Here I am at the end of week 34 (I will actually be 36 weeks tomorrow, because it took me so long to write a new post) and week 34 has come with a slew of horrible new symptoms.  I feel like I've been complaining a lot about pregnancy related symptoms, but somethings that are happening are crazy. I seem to keep being in the slim percentage of things that happen to pregnancy women. I don't think I've mentioned this before, but since becoming pregnant, I have suffered from Perioral Dermitis which is basically a fancy way of saying inflammation around the mouth. However, this inflammation is very red, itchy, and it peels a lot. Doctors are not sure exactly what cause it and it is not only pregnant women affected with it. They think it may be a fungal infection. Mine was likely caused because I have been experiencing extremely dry lips and started using Vaseline. I'd put it on at night and by morning my lips were as soft as a baby's bottom. Little did I know that petrolatum jelly acts as a barrier and can actually trap fungus and bacteria. Overusing it can cause infection. It is not something that can just go away on it's own either, it is a chronic condition. I was told by my doctor that there is an anti-fungal pill that can clear it up in 3 days, but pregnant and nursing mothers shouldn't take it. I've checked out forums and a lot of people say using maximum strength Lomotrin (the athletes foot stuff) cures it, unfortunately, the main ingredient in maximum strength is...you guessed it, unsafe for pregnancy. It just sucks that I have this ring of itchy fire around my mouth at all times :(.

My next recent ailment is something calls PUPPPs (Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy). It's basically a rash that develops (usually in the 3rd trimester) that starts out on the abdomen, but then spreads to the rest of the body. Only 1% of women develop PUPPPS in pregnancy. The only cure for this bad boy, giving birth. Usually symptoms clear up within a week of getting birth. So in short, I am one crank ball of itchy burning mess. The itching is so bad, it actually wakes me up in the middle of the night. I honestly wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy!

Besides skin conditions, I do believe Baybay Day has started to make her descent down the pelvis. Things are a lot more uncomfortable down there. I have had a lot of trouble sleeping at night not only because of the PUPPPS, but also I will wake up with extreme cramping in my hips. It's also really hard to get comfortable enough because of my large belly, so I end up staying up once I've woken up. Needless to say. I am looking forward to giving birth. I wonder if that's the plan. Make you miserable in your final month that you actually look forward to labor (even though once labor comes, I'm sure I'll be singing a different tune!).

Ok, complaining and symptoms aside, here's how my workouts went this week:

Sunday, 3/19 - 40 minute walk
Monday, 3/20 - 30 minute walk
Tuesday, 3/21 - 35 minute run/walk
Wednesday, 3/22 - Rest
Thursday, 3/23 - 40 minute walk durning lunch, 40 minute walk in the evening
Friday, 3/24 - Rest
Saturday, 3/25 - 40 minute swim

As you can see a lot of walking has been going on and I've only been doing the bare minimum of 30 minutes per day. Definitely some room for improvement.