Aint so Relaxin

I'm not complaining. Really. I have had the most perfect pregnancy and have loved every minute of it, no matter how uncomfortable it has been. But if I were to complain, I know exactly what it would be about. Relaxin!

It's amazing how quickly I went from being completely comfortable in my body to aching everywhere all the time. Apparently the hormone Relaxin is causing my achy woes. During pregnancy this hormone is produced at 10 times the normal concentration in a woman's body. You might guess what it does based on it's name...it relaxes the joints and ligaments in the body, mainly the pelvic joints so that the baby can pass through during delivery. Not only does it relax the pelvic area it also relaxes the joints in your feet, hands, back, etc causing some very uncomfortable pain.

Considering how lucky I've been thus far, I thought I might be one of those woman that could avoid all of these crazy aches and pains, but sadly I could not. The discomfort set in about 2 weeks ago and has progressed to a mildly miserable level. My hands are probably the worst so far. They are most sore when I flex my hands. I have a hard time opening jars and using a can opening. My knuckles actually hurt!! My hips are starting to hurt pretty bad now too, especially when I walk and sit on a hard chair. I'm told to "just wait until 36-38 weeks!" and "Oh, this is only the beginning of the pain". I'm trying to remain optimistic, but these comments certainly don't help!

Luckily, I have an incredible husband that keep me well massaged. He openly admits he does not give good back rubs so he send me off to a professional who magically performs the fine art of pregnancy massage. However, Brian is quite good at foot rubs, running hot baths, making yummy tea, fetching my pillows and plugging in my heating pad when I need it most!

Again, I'm not complaining. I truly am blessed to have come this far problem free. Considering how amazing it has been to feel Sam growing and kicking, I can handle a few aches and pains!