Novel ways to avoid feeling even more like a pressed grape?

[Snowgirl83]

Right, I'm only 5'2 and generally petite (well, until the sickness disappeared at 32 weeks and the desire to eat toast laced with butter kicked in, but I digress) and I am suffering from severe lack of available body space, inability to breathe and am begging for interim-till-birth solutions.

My bump has ballooned outwards in the past 4 weeks as there is no more space to go up; merely out is probably a toast baby. Am 36 weeks pregnant now. I cannot for the life of me breathe properly due to internal organ crushing (have been checked for anaemia) or for that matter even sit down now without feeling baby limbs digging into me everywhere objecting to being crushed and having to leap read wait to be pulled up. I find only a supine on the settee position helps yet this isn't particularly practical. Neither is the all fours position I have been encouraged to try, not only to increase space in torso but to turn my little breech baby.

It probably doesn't help either that my boobs are now epic at 34HH and somewhat weighing me down/ crushing my tummy from the outside (damn that my bra straps are too long to give me that tits up round the neck look). Anyone give me any zen tips to be able to breathe/ sit down without being crushed? Much appreciated in advance

Leaning over a birthing ball? I spend lots of time like that.

If it's an incentive, it'll also help with the baby's position, and once mine was engaged I could breathe so much better.

I'm 5' 2" as well and had a few issues since according to my midwife, I have a short torso I'm also 36 weeks and practically have a centred cone shaped bump so pretty much the same as you!

Breathing is hard but I just sort of accepted nothing would be comfortable and shift around a lot. Leaning on all fours over a yoga ball - not particularly comfortable but do it for fear of being breech! On all fours leaning onto the seat of the sofa - marginally comfortable. Crawling around on all fours - not very comfortable but I get on with it!

I do find the baby seems to move down after being in water, and is more comfortable for a while. Swimming helps so maybe there's something about being in water that encourages them to move down, if only for a while?

Meant to say - have a bath regularly and swimming!

Aha; Thank you! I could certainly try that. I believe my dh has a gym ball stowed away somewhere which I could drape myself across. It doesn't appear that this stubborn little mule adorable little one wishes to change his position but I shall live in hope that he turns & engages/ leaves me with some space to breathe for the last few weeks.

I wonder if I could get away with taking the ball out and about with me have some dinner parties coming up and wonder whether it might be acceptable to spend time between courses draped. Am already having to look uber cool in car when I'm driving by leaning the seat right back for torso space despite unfortunately leading to secondary issues of seeing over the windscreen, so I suppose I should just resign my dignity now & make sure the ball is packed away in handbag for just those occasions!

Of course once leaving the lungs, you get the extra pressure on the pelvis and bladder

I went to a wedding a few weeks back, and commandeered an additional chair, so I would sit on one then lean on the back of the other. That might be doable if you're out.

Btw the ball might hurt your boobs, so I just move between different positions

Re getting the baby to turn, do you know about the spinning babies website?

Orenishii- yes, yes, the cone shaped bump! I can just about see my painted little toenails screaming out to manicure them shamefully. Hunching over to satisfy my vanity just aint gonna happen all the more reason for a pedicure rahahahaa Unfortunately when I attempt the crawling on all fours, my sausage dog thinks it's a really great game & tries to jump on me. I shall persevere though with both the all fours and the ball as i suspect it's only going to get more uncomfortable until full term. And it gets me out of cooking

Alicehurled.. the pregnancy waddle! I have to admit that I did always idly wonder why almost end of pregnancy ladies walked like John Wayne. I think it was a little more racy in my imagination than the engaging of said baby. Yes, I have come across that so I shall investigate more thoroughly. I'm having an elective c section anyway, so the breech isn't too much of an issue from a birth perspective, but having a head wedged in my diaphragm/lungs/ribs is! Oh for the days when I "complained" (read was insufferably smug) about not having a bump that got in the way or caused any discomfort. Serves me right..

Being in water definitely helps, even if it's only temporary!

My cat loves to lie on my back when I lean on the ball

Cats and Sausage dogs are like goats, really.

In that they'd be good in a curry? Mmmm. Curry. Except a goat might pierce the ball with horns though Don't think dh would take well to having his pink gym ball massacred; can just imagine his disbelief when I start draping myself over it "darling, are you sure that's wise. I'm not sure what weight limit it has.."

I shall try the water thing. Sadly I'm terrible at swimming and it turns my hair green, but I'm all for floating for hours in a bubble bath. In fact, I may attempt that now as otherwise I may be roped into sausage dog walking / removing myself from the box set of Greys.

I remember that squashed breathless feeling (short with big bump too).

I got a v shaped cushion from John Lewis, added a few others and made a pile of cushions that when I leaned back on them, pushed my back 'outwards' (bit hard to describe) - basically supported me so that me ribcage was open. Back slightly arched, but totally supported so I didn't have to make any effort.

That and stretching - sitting on a ball and slowly raising
my arms up, like someone crossing a finish line and celebrating - breahing slowly in as arms go up and out as they go down.

Again, opens the ribcage. Def made me comfier.