Pain and Choice

This is my personal story of chronic pain and how it has made me pro choice. If that’s not your speed, you can skip this post.

I’ve talked a little bit about my chronic pain but haven’t gone into detail. In 2023, I was pregnant from March to December. August was when I had to change my sleep position to accommodate the baby. A combination of that, the relaxin, and my lack of muscle strength (SAHM toddler mom didn’t leave a lot of gym time) caused my pelvis to tilt. My left leg started sitting longer than my right leg. The diagnosis was SI joint dysfunction.

I stated seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist. It helped but I had constant discomfort from my glute down my leg stopping at my knee. I’d get up off the couch, walk to the kitchen and the muscles would seize up so I couldn’t move for ~ 30 seconds.

This screwed up my ability to walk normally, stand unsupported, and sleep. It ground me down in mind, body, and spirit.

I was hoping after giving birth, things would go back to normal. I didn’t make any PT appointments and just waited to see. The pain did NOT go away. I could not return to sleeping in my normal position. That PT practice is very in demand so it took a while to be seen or have consistent appointments.

In February, the pain spread down to my ankle. I got my annual physical and asked about pain management. They referred me to a spine specialist. This spring, I got a steroid injection in my SI joint. It helped but not a ton. After 2 weeks, any benefit dropped significantly. I made a follow up appointment and scans were ordered.

While we hunted around for answers, my daily life was hell. At least once with each child, they have needed me to help them and I couldn’t. I was in too much pain to move. I was on the couch with the baby, contorted into the position that hurt the least when I sneezed. Every muscle on the back of my left leg seized. I could not move when my son said “Mommy, I’m hungry.”

Another night, I tried a different sleep position. My hamstring and vastus lateralis hurt so much, I could barely stand and hobble to the living room. I ended up paralyzed on our living room floor. When I could finally start moving, it was bent at a right angle. During those 4 hours, my daughter woke up and needed to eat. I couldn’t help her. Both times, I had to call for my husband. Those were two of the most demoralizing moments of my entire life.

I was chronically sleep deprived. I had several regular and support pillows and would try to arrange them so I could find whatever position hurt the least. My record for uninterrupted sleep was 6 hours. Some nights, I could go 4 hours before the pain woke me up. Some nights, I’d just rotate through various positions until I gave up since they all hurt the same or I’d pass out from sheer exhaustion and wake up in more pain. Once I’m in too much pain to stay in bed, I retreat to the living room.

Sometimes I’d contort myself on the couch to get another hour or two. On really bad nights, I’d rest sitting on the floor, leaning on an ottoman, propped up by pillows. My back hated it but it let my leg reset a bit. As newborn sleep faded, baby girl would need more help staying asleep. Some days, I’d just sit with her on the couch and carefully arranged support pillows. On bad nights, I’d tuck her under my arm and cosleep.

Under normal circumstances, we’d have a space cleared for her to sleep peacefully and train her to sleep on her own. With chronic pain and sleep deprivation sucking the life out of me, it fell by the wayside. You can’t thrive when you can barely survive.

Those scans finally gave me answers. The X-ray showed a disc issue. The MRI showed significant details. Not only can you see the herniated disc but you can see it pushing on my nerve. It has been one of the most validating images I have ever seen.

I also switched to a PT practice that worked directly with the spine specialists and had more availability. There’s an app that gives you detailed and timed directions on the homework. I bought some small equipment (i.e. resistance bands) and make a major effort to do all of my PT homework every day.

I got a steroid injection at the site of the herniated disc. It hurt so much it reminded me of labor. I had a few great days after that. Unfortunately, it’s wearing off faster than expected.

The PA-C said that’s common and suggested trying another one. We scheduled it and insurance said ‘lol, no.’ I needed greater reduction in symptoms over a longer period of time before they’d consider shelling out again. Out of pocket is $400. I have an appointment to discuss other treatment options.

I still have sleep problems which means I don’t have the energy to optimize the baby’s sleep situation. I’ve been trying to get in our pool size it’s exercise that’s easy on my body. It’s down due to an electrical problem at the breaker that powers the pump.

The doctor I was seeing left the practice to switch to a different focus of medicine. My care will be split between an MD and a PA-C. The plan was to manage my symptoms while the body heals itself. If the steroid injections continue to be a suboptimal solution, “We’ll explore more invasive methods.” We’re not considering surgery yet since disc is not regenerative tissue. What are those invasive methods? I don’t know but I’m sure we’ll find out.

A dark thought I had was that I could always dip into the dog’s steroid medication in an emergency. Yes, I know this is a horrible idea. Chronic pain and lack of sleep does not always lead to the best brain function.

The worst thought I had was “I understand why people with chronic pain kill the selves.” I’m not suicidal. At all. My kids need me. I’m nap trapped under the baby as I write this. But I get it. My pain is treatable and, in theory, can be fixed. If this was going to be the rest of my life? I can see the temptation to Irish exit your future.

I would do all of this again to get my daughter. She is worth it to me. I adore her, her squishy legs, and her gummy grin. I chose her and would choose her again.

Imagine if this pain and misery was forced on me. Not only are you robbed of bodily autonomy for a pregnancy you didn’t want but it robs you of your life afterward. I think ‘I want my life back’ at least once a day.

The specialist, the physical therapy, the cane I just bought because I have trouble walking without the stroller to leave on, the support pillows, heat packs, and lacrosse balls. It’s expensive. The state forcing you to have the baby certainly won’t be paying to fix you.

If this had been my right leg instead of left, I would have lost my ability to drive a car. I can’t stand unsupported or sit for long periods without pain. What jobs could I do?

My god is fine if I need to empty my uterus. No one should be forced to sacrifice their body and their life because men want to control women. Because some men made a stupid choice, a woman out there will be robbed of her time, money, sleep, and joy.

This has made me more pro choice than ever and anyone who made it through this rambling post should be too.

Like It’s Hard

I forget where I saw the clip of a regressive talking head befuddled about what’s so hard about pregnancy.

Symptoms can include but are not limited to:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Indigestion
• Heartburn (yes, all of those are different)
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Urinary incontinence
• Bowel incontinence
• Food allergies
• Food intolerances
• Absence of prior food allergies or intolerances
• Headaches
• Migraines
• Congestion
• Muscle cramps
• Insomnia
• Sprains
• Swelling
• Hernia
• Joint dysfunction
• Sciatica
• Broken tailbone
• Anemia
• Larger ring size
• Larger shoe size
• Gestational diabetes
• Permanent diabetes
• Sleep disorders
• Fatigue
• Trouble breathing
• Irritability
• Broken ribs
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Heightened sense of smell
• Heightened hearing
• Sensitive skin
• Back pain (mild, moderate, or severe)
• Pelvic pain (mild, moderate, or severe)
• Lightning crotch
• Increased libido
• Decreased libido
• Acne
• Bleeding gums
• Nosebleeds
• Blurred vision
• Hypertension
• Nerve damage
• Carpal tunnel

All of these symptoms can stick around for 2 years or more after giving birth. Some can stick around forever. This list is in no way comprehensive but just what I remember from my pregnancy and what I’ve heard from others.

I’m still dealing with chronic pain and resulting sleep problems. I gave birth in December and she’s sleeping better than I am. Let’s make draconian anti-choice laws the subject of dystopian fiction again.

A Baby for Christmas and Postpartum Perdition

I had my baby girl on 12/22. I made an impression on multiple medical professionals. Again. Get snacks and a drink. It’s a long story.

I was scheduled to be induced since they suspected my girl would be 8.5-9 pounds. I’d also needed physical therapy to get through the pregnancy. Lots of people had a good March because L&D was hopping. I had to wait for rooms to be ready and had someone who was ahead of me in the triage order.

Induction starts with pills you have to cheek and basic IV drips. I had several monitors strapped to me. Baby girl was notorious for kicking anything that invaded her space in utero. She did this to at least 3 L&D nurses while they tried to place different monitors.

The doctor who delivered my son was on call when I came in. She remembered me 4 years later. Apparently, a vacuum assisted, unmedicated delivery straight out of triage during a shift change is a rarity.

I got spoiled with my son’s speedy labor and departure. My daughter took long enough that I got bored. I got a balloon and became my own party favor. If you don’t know what that means, great! Remain ignorant. That plus pitocin ramped up my discomfort. Hubs knew when I was contracting because I’d get still and quiet.

Eventually, they get the crochet hook of doom to break my water. That tends to speed up the uterine evacuation. I was fully dilated when it broke the first time so this labor was very educational.

Had I known how quickly my labor would progress after this, I would not have gotten an epidural. The unforeseen consequences were NOT worth it. It also did very little for my pain when push came to push. Unfortunately, I’m not psychic. My labor could have been 2 more hours or 12. I opt for the pain meds since baby girl was taking her sweet time prior to this.

I get my epidural and I’m doing a great job of staying still. Nothing like waves of pain to keep you still. I’ve got the needle in my spine, holding on to the L&D nurse, when it feels like all the nerves in my head catch FIRE! My pain was a 9/10 only because I could say it was 9/10. I was clearly distracted but Hubs heard the anesthesiologist say something to the effective of “That doesn’t usually happen.”

It’s over and that headache never totally goes away. I get 20-30 minutes of diminished pain before baby girl is over our nonsense. She was fighting the eviction but finally decided to take the hint and leave.

Hubs tries to boost the epidural doses but I felt EVERYTHING. Again. The worst pain was right before baby girl hit the birth canal. Once she was on her way out, it was more bearable. They get her out, plop her on my chest, and my first words after a day of labor was “OMG, finally.”

We bond, I’m sitting at an incline, all is well. Later, in the moment and baby ward, I get up to pee and my head starts pounding. I go back to my reclined position, get a visit from anesthesiology and they don’t think my symptoms sound like a spinal headache. My symptoms were pretty mild and could possibly have been something else. Sinuses, hormones, etc.

The next morning at dark o’clock, I hit the bathroom, get the pounding and tinnitus. I flop back in bed thinking it will go away after I sleep. It did not. I report my symptoms to the OB and she thinks it’s probably my (chronically problematic) sinuses. Baby girl and I doze off waiting for discharge paperwork. I wake up and my neck hurts. Weird but I’m over 35 and sleeping in a hospital bed at a funny angle.

Some of you in the know may suspect what went wrong.

The car ride home was *rough*. I was dizzy, nauseous, and in one of this ‘sick sweats.’ I flop out on a chair in our building lobby while Hubs feeds our fussy baby. We’re a mess but IDGAF. We get upstairs and I collapse in bed. A hour later, I felt so much better. I get up, better got gone, the pounding resumes, and the ringing in my ears upgraded to roaring.

Every time I tried to sit up or stand over the next few days, my head starts pounding, my neck hurts, my back hurts, my ringing ears start roaring. I could only lay on the couch for a couple of hours before it hurt too much. I couldn’t change diapers. I could barely prop myself up enough to feed my baby. Hubs was amazing since he had to take care of both of us. Baby girl still knew her mama. If Hubs brought her to me in bed, she’d be out for 2-3 hours.

I looked up the symptoms for a CSF leak. I had half of them. I was gradually getting better but I needed to get better much faster if I wanted my oldest back home. Basically, my epidural went wrong and caused me to leak spinal fluid. It’s why I was OK lying in bed and nowhere else.

I talk to the OB on call and she agreed my symptoms sounded like a CSF leak. We bundle up baby girl and head to the ER. Hubs went in to get a wheelchair for me since I couldn’t walk. After the drive, I was barely lucid.

Baby girl never left the car. I refused to have her in the ER. I’m barely holding it together while I’m evaluated, begging to lay down. Pounding headache, nausea, dizziness, sick sweats, ringing ears. I almost fainted.

Unable to walk on my own, recently had a baby, spinal leak? Triage ‘win.’ I got a bed in under 10 minutes. I launch myself out of the wheelchair and into the bed. Amazing what lying down can do for you.

The admission lady comes in and I just lose it. I missed Christmas with my son, I can’t care for my baby, and I’m in the ER alone on 12/26. The saddest part? Still not my worst Christmas ever. As soon as I said I didn’t have a mom, the admission lady was my mom for a minute. It truly helped.

I get seen and evaluated pretty quickly by the nurse and ER doctor. The on-call anesthesiologist comes in to get started. It’s the same doctor from my delivery!

I lose it again and start crying while he explains the procedure. Doc tries to be understanding and then I explain all of the things going in to these tears. Once I said ‘still not my worst Christmas,’ he felt BAD. ‘As he should’ has been the collective sentiment.

The procedure I got is called a blood patch. Basically, it’s another epidural but they inject my own blood to clot/scab over the leak in my spinal fluid. I was right that it would have healed on its own…after 2 weeks. This procedure was necessary to get my body and my life back.

They prep me and once the needle goes in, I start sweating and shaking. I can feel the pressure but they need to get the blood during the procedure. I was dehydrated so this proved difficult. At one point, they had to let the vein refill to keep going without sticking me a third time.

The whole time, I’m keeping as still as humanly possible. 1 in 30,000 get nerve damage and the odds were not in my favor once already. They finally get enough blood and I get to lay back for 2 hours to ensure proper clotting.

I got stiffness and pressure in my hips which is normal. The doctor propped my legs up with pillows and got me some water with a straw. I appreciated the TLC. The ER was not slow so even though the procedure was successful, it took a while to get me discharged.

I felt so much better, one of the first things I did was wash and sterilize bottles. I was so happy to finally be able to do things to take care of my baby. I was stiff and achey but functional. I’m still stiff and sore but only dome of it is from the postpartum perdition. Healing from pregnancy is also pretty tough too.

Looking back on the speed of my ER admission, the anesthesiologist giving me his unit’s phone number and extra TLC, and the ER doctor calling me to see how I was doing, made me wonder. Either I had the most epic sob story of the holidays or the grounds for a malpractice suit. Maybe both.

I could use more sleep but I’ve got both my kids and mostly have my body back. That’s all I wanted. I’m more than happy to close that chapter and move on.

Open the Black Box

I won the ebook of Blackbox: A Pregnancy Discrimination Memoir by Chelsey Glasson in a GoodReads giveaway.

I really wanted to like this but I just couldn’t. Glasson thought she found a work family at Google and, as a child of trauma, was desperate to hang on to it.

I think her childhood of abuse set her up to ignore red flags although it was naive to think one of the biggest companies on the planet GAF. Her fully buying in to the ‘make work your life, we’re a family’ crap was frustrating to read. Hustle, grind, devote yourself to a job that will never love you back. Most of us know it’s a lie so hearing from someone who fully bought in was frustrating.

I didn’t think Chelsey fully acknowledged how privileged she was to not only work for these tech giants but have the financial ability to sue them. Yes, she came from nothing and worked hard but plenty of pregnant are discriminated against and powerless to act.

Considering how dangerous it can be, I think she should have defined ‘placenta previa.’ I only remember what it is because Tori Spelling talked about having it in one of her memoirs. Plenty of pregnant people never have to know what that is.

I think this story is important. Few people would have had the tenacity to go after Google, however deserved. But the simplistic writing plus the other things I mentioned left me meh on the execution. 3/5

Dressing Down

I was scrolling IG when I saw this post by Courtney Carver. She is a semi-famous minimalist who came up with the project 333 Challenge: having only 33 items of clothing for 3 months. There was some wiggle room for occasion wear (gym, formal wear, skiing, etc.) but your key wardrobe was meant to be simple.

Having dabbled (unsuccessfully) in minimalism, I like the idea of a capsule wardrobe. Now that I’m 34 weeks pregnant, I like it less. The idea is that your 33 pieces are things you love and have even had tailored to your body. Not an option for me.

Plus size maternity clothing options are comically limited. They’re often crap quality, crap material, and/or cost prohibitive. Since you wear them for such a short season of life, it’s hard to justify splurging. This leaves me with very few pieces I actually like and many more I’m just stuck with wearing.

I’ve become very beholden to laundry. I have to stay on top of washing and putting away my laundry just so I can get dressed in clothes I don’t hate.

This all ties back into Carver’s Instagram post from today. Her 3 big tips were to get rid of clothes that don’t suit your lifestyle, clothes that make you sad, and clothes that don’t fit your body right now. The first two I can get behind but not the third.

If you’re in a transitional season of life, there’s no good reason to get rid of clothes you love. Declutter? Absolutely but not wholly eliminate. My rule is to get 1 to 2 medium storage bins for clothes that don’t fit me right now so I don’t have to start a wardrobe from scratch.

My body probably won’t find an equilibrium until next summer. I had my son in 2020 and so much was in flux in my life that I didn’t hit a physical equilibrium for a couple of years. Before my daughter decided to exist, I had finally found a uniform I was comfortable in and happy with. I like know that is available for me to come back to once my body is mine again.

I could definitely stand to dabble in minimalism again. I’m already fantasizing about shipping off my maternity clothes to textile recycling next year.

My Birth Story

On Saturday January 11 at 8:46 AM, my son was born. He was a whopping 8 pounds 11 ounces and 21 inches long with a big melon head. It took me a while to fully write this out because little man can be very distracting and time consuming.

My birth plan has been to labor naturally for as long as I could but I was open to an epidural. I’m not known for my pain tolerance and I wanted to be with it once little man got here. As plans are won’t to do, it went completely sideways.

Many people, including medical professionals, told me “You’ll know when you’re in labor.” Bull. Shit.

Labor Myth: Labor and contractions won’t look how you think they will

The way labor pain was sold to me as crippling pain you couldn’t think through. I’d also heard that it’s higher in your belly, your back, and your abdomen. My pain was entirely in my pelvis and lower abdomen. It started slow and consistent before coming in waves.

I could still think and talk while contractions were happening so it took me waaaaaaay too long to realize those were, indeed, contractions. They started around midnight to so by the time it got to be 6 AM, I was exhausted, dehydrated, nauseous (dinner did not stay down) and just wanted rest.

I was discouraged from coming into the hospital until they were 5 minutes apart. I was too out of it to time them but I woke up my husband and told him we were going. He emptied the dog, loaded the car, and got me a wheelchair from our front desk because I wasn’t walking anywhere. One of our front desk clerks got to watch me go through a contraction because I refused to be moved while they were happening.

It was strange what I was capable of focusing on while in massive pain. I noticed my husband needed to turn and my brain knew to make a right. Unfortunately I was mid contraction so my mouth said “Just pick one!” He chose poorly.

We make it to the hospital and he goes to get me a wheelchair. I start to get checked in and the nice lady talks me through my contractions which are now 2 minutes apart. I make it to triage to be told I was fully dilated.

Internally I transform into the ‘fuuuuuuuuuuuu’ meme because that means no epidural and it’s go time.

Labor myth: Your water rarely breaks at the beginning of labor. Less than 25% of the time IIRC.

I have another one of those weird moments where I tell the nurses to not put the IV in my arm. The veins are buried and you’re not getting squat. Use my hand. I even told them I had to get my blood draws for prenatal testing from my hands. The brain is a weird thing sometimes.

My water didn’t break until I was in the delivery room. “I sprang a leak” were my exact words.

I watched an episode of My Crazy Birth Story and one woman said, “When it hits you, you have to push.” I’d been refraining from pushing for so long, I had to brace myself to actually push.

That may have been why Babbins was having some trouble. His heart rate wasn’t great and there was meconium (first poop) which is a sign of distress. I was also have trouble getting his massive head out (97% IIRC) so they had to bust out the vacuum. They tried to use their hands but HOLY FUCK that hurt. Unmedicated meant I felt everything. Once the vacuum was in there, it didn’t hurt anymore so definitely the better option.

Dads get the job of holding a leg and it doesn’t sound like a BFD but it was absolutely helpful. I refused to let him put it down because it hurt less. As I was pushing, the doctor told me we had to get him out or I’d need a C-section. I’m exhausted and in the worst pain of my life but the threat of major surgery was incredibly motivating.

You push through the contraction then stop so 2 more rounds plus one post-contraction extra I threw in and he was out. I pushed for about 20 minutes so Babbins was very ready to be born.

Perk of only pushing for a short time? He was a doll baby. The longer you push, the more likely your baby will look like a Yoda raisin. He’s beautiful, perfect, and (so far) very agreeable. I like him. I think I’ll keep him.

Pregnancy: Fact or Fiction

I’m on week 26 so I’m 6 months deep. This has been my experience as a first time pregnant lady. Every person and pregnancy are different. A second pregnancy could yield completely different results than this one. All this means is whatever your told is no guarantee of the reality.

Your boobs get huge

FICTION

Lies. So many lies. Mine are exactly the same size as they’ve always been. I hope they get bigger by the end or finding nursing bras is gonna be awkward.

You’re more sensitive to smells

FACT

All of my senses feel a little heightened, especially peripheral vision, smell, and hearing.

You’re nauseous all the time

FICTION

I’ve puked one time this entire pregnancy and my nausea has been minimal. I’m on GERD medication so that may be a contributing factor but wouldn’t completely cure this. I got lucky.

You have to sleep in certain positions

FACT

As you get bigger, sleeping on your stomach isn’t feasible and the pressure of sleeping on your back can cause problems. Sleeping on your right increases the pressure on your bladder (on the right side) and increase reflux. No sleeping position will cause permanent damage but the left side is optimal.

You get weird food cravings or aversions

FICTION

While I want more chicken tenders, it’s rarely irrational or distracting. My preferences have stayed the same although my tolerance for sweet occasionally caps out a little earlier. Some women say this definitely impacted their wine tastes but I don’t drink so I can’t say.

You have to pee all the time

FACT

In the beginning, it was ~10% more. As I near the third trimester, it’s more often. I’m not sure exactly why but it’s annoying.

You get a beautiful glow

FICTION

The glow would have been nice to offset my early pregnancy zits. Hormones are fun.

Your hair comes in thicker and more luxurious

FACT, SORT OF

My hair isn’t coming in thicker so much as coming out less. The hair thing is a double-edged sword because the hormone that gives you thicker hair does it everywhere. You also get lost-party hair loss but this is my first so I can’t speak to that too much.

Life Update

There’s a lot going on right now.

Pregnancy

Five months deep and little man is going strong. He’s moving and I’m noticing. I’m starting to get the bump belly but since I was fat to begin with, it looks different than your typical bump.

We attended a wedding over the weekend and a few family members talked to my belly. I didn’t have the heart to tell them everything above my belly button is my chubby belly + guts baby boy is shoving out of his way. My bra bands are getting snug so yay for extenders. I did a clothing triage recently to see what still fit. A lot of things got packed up or set aside to sell on Poshmark.

We need to figure out a hospital tour, parenting classes, a pediatrician, and a bunch of other stuff. My glucose test is at the end of the month so we’ll see how my sugar is doing. A big part of the test is sitting around afterward so I hope I snap out of my book slump by then.

Home

The hunt was an ordeal and a half but we found a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo. We close mid-September. Because management at our current place sucks, breaking your lease costs 2 months rent. We can run around like decapitated poultry or straddle both places and take our time moving.

The new place has carpet that needs to go and boring gray walls that can join the carpet. Hubs and I agree we’ll hire professionals but we still need to find those professionals, decide on colors, decide on bamboo versus laminate, etc.

I’m looking into the insurance and Hubs is looking into title stuff. We also need to schedule a handyman to fix some things that were caught in the home inspection.

Family

My poor FIL can’t catch a break. He had a massive stroke before I met Hubs (don’t smoke kids) and left him in not-great health. Around a month ago, he had an infection he couldn’t kick. He goes into the hospital and they find 3 aneurisms (both legs and abdomen). He has surgery to take care of 2 out of 3. The procedure results in a loss of blood flow to one of his kidneys.

FIL is a big guy and still cannot stand on his own so getting him from bed to wheelchair requires a lift. His bad leg gets injured during one of these. While checking it out, they find a blood clot despite him being on blood thinners since the stroke many years ago.

The antibiotics he was on also messed with his digestive system. He now has a highly contagious digestive infection. Hubs and I are banned from visiting to protect baby boy until we get the all clear. Every other visitor must be gowned and gloved.

FIL is at an age and general health where he can only get so much better. I’m worried for how this is going to play out. Occasionally my MIL would say he’s doing better but I never really saw it.

With all of this chaos, I expect my reading life to take a hit. That’s OK. Any one of these things would be a lot but all of them? I’m hoping once things are slightly more settled, I’ll be more motivated to read.

Fast Food

One fun symptom I was not expecting from pregnancy was going from 0 to Cookie Monster levels of hungry. This has resulted in more than a few trips the nearest fast food place because if the fetus wants chicken, he’s getting chicken.

Wendy’s

My fast food ride or die. I have the free Frosty keychain, good prices, decent variety, and the fries regularly taste like potato. I’m here for it!

Burger King

I haven’t eaten in ages but a pregnancy craving for food resulted in my trying chicken fries, regular fries, and a milkshake. Good variety, standard prices, tasty. One of my fries tasted like potato! Will be more open to them in the future.

Homophobic Chicken

AKA Chic-Fil-A. The food is tasty and the milkshakes are amazing however it’s pricey and the corporate overlords are conservative twats IIRC.

KFC

Affordable and most combos come with a bonus biscuit. Very filling. Last time I even got a cookie. It’s got a wider variety of sides but a more limited menu for main courses. Still hard to beat some of the prices.

Taco Bell

Affordable and tasty. I’ve never had the butt-splosions but I know it happens. If it can’t be reliably eaten on a road trip, it can’t get a good spot.

McDonald’s

I tried them in the last few years. Do not want.

Subway

I have not had a meal there in years that was better than meh.

Not featured

Arby’s – There isn’t one near me

Five Guys – No drive-thru

In-N-Out Burger – I’m on the east coast but I wouldn’t mind those milkshakes coming east.

Hardees/Carl’s Jr. – None near by

Expecting Better

This book was not only full of important information but the reasons behind it.

So many women wonder why certain foods are off limits and Oster explains why. Irony, sushi grade tuna is actually safer for your fetus than the canned stuff. The fear of cat litter only matters if your exposure to toxoplasmosis from it is high. If you have a completely indoor cat, you’re fine. You can also be immune from a previous exposure. Unfortunately, I am not and neither my job nor I want to risk it.

Oster explains the concerns with hot tubs and hot yoga. IDGAF about either of those so I skimmed but I’m sure many women out there care. Another important point was the benefit of exercise and how useless bed rest actually is. Don’t run a marathon but remaining immobile basically does sweet FA.

I got the first run hardcover so some of the information was a bit dated already. I skimmed the chapter on testing for certain medical conditions in your baby. They took my blood, which has fetal DNA, and verified my baby has the correct number of chromosomes including a Y. Several of the tests she listed weren’t even relevant to me because of this.

I plan on revisiting some of the later chapters closer to my due date. I’m still open to an epidural but am less hyped for it now that I know it can impact birth position. I now know I can insist on no cutting unless absolutely necessary because some places routinely do it.