I haven't commented much, but I have learned much about acupuncture (and acutonics, the tuning fork version) and I would not suggest getting acupuncture during a pregenancy. It is so powerful that sometimes it can cause a miscarriage. I'm not sure what the details are, so be sure to talk to a professional in acupuncture first before you go for it.

I just voted and I hope and pray for both your baby & your sake that she decides to vacate early.

For her sake you ask? Yes! Because I was born 10 days late... and I thoroughly enjoy sharing August 17th with you... I have also spent the rest of my life trying to catch up on those 10 days.

I wouldn't wish that fate on any baby girl.

I'm sure the voters were just thinking of statistics - most first babies are "late." (I use quotes because due dates are so fluid.) That said, my son was due on May 25th last year and his birthday is the 19th. And I was SURE he'd be late. Statistics don't really mean much.

If I may rudely make this comment even more about me, it is amazing how different bodies and different pregnancies grow differently. I looked like you do now at about 15 weeks. But then, I was huge the whole time. By 24 weeks people thought I was seven months.

(Thanks for indulging my self-centered nature.)

I'm so sorry your back is hurting you. Is it something a chiropractor could help with? I don't know anything about ruptured discs. I hope you find something that helps, whatever it may be. I can think of few things worse than back pain.

Complain all you want darlin. :)

my SIL was supposed to have her baby in 2nd week of june but he came during the memorial day weekend :)...we were so surprised ....u never know !!!
I hope u feel better :)

I didn't realize you had a new poll, but when I was browsing your flickr stream earlier today I got the feeling you'll go a little early. Let's hope!

Poor thing. I was unable to walk (at all) for the last 5 weeks of my pregnancy due to this horrible nerve issue.

I really feel for you, therefore I shall keep my mouth shut on the due date issue.

But cant your husband at least bring you some morphine to drip into your back? Tylenol, no but MORPHINE! YES!

Oh dear, how awful. I had a herniated disc during my last pregnancy, and I am NOT a hippy and was begging for pain meds but my OB wouldn't give me any. It was horrible. Miserable. So, so, so very awful. I am so sorry you are going through it.

Yeah it doesn't sound very fundus for you, huh?

Okay, I never saw the poll, and if I had, I definitely would NOT have voted that you'll have the baby late, because I would not wish that on anyone.

You go ahead and complain all you want to, hon. It's your prerogative, dammit.

Sorry about your fundus. If you need a donor, you're welcome to mine. I'm not using it anymore.

I just voted for early with the hope that your baby will take pity on her poor mommy and do that one thing for you before she is born, and it is all about her! I was due on April fools day...luckily I was a week early! I have been following here for a while...but am just now de-lurking. I hope you find something that alleviates your back pain soon!

Hope something out there can help ease the pain for you. I'm due May 27th so here's to early or mid May births for both of us! :)

I voted 'early' because a few friends of mine have had first babies recently and all were at least 2 weeks early.

I'm sorry your back hurts so bad. If it makes you feel any better (and I'm sure it doesn't), vicodin and most other pain medications make me violently ill, so if I someday need them I will be in the same boat! Cookies on the other hand... I'm all about cookies.

Hi Torrie, I don't know you, but have found your posts hilarious over the past several months. I stumbled across your blog while looking at celebritybabies.com.

I was in a similar situation 6 years ago with my back (pain from scoliosis) while pregnant with my son.

My advice: Girl, take the vicodin! Or Tylenol with codeine, or whatever! Don't sit there and suffer just for the principal of it all.

I took very mild to moderate levels of these medications while pregnant with my son, which allowed me to work, have a life, and best of all: I had a natural/no drugs delivery in which my son turned out just FINE. He is 6 now and has no ill effects from anything.

I'd take the pain meds now and try to do the natural delivery thing if you can. I think it is during delivery that drugs/epidurals have more potential to mess things up for the baby.

Just my 2 cents from someone you don't know from Atlanta. Yell at me if you want. I can take it.

I'm all for complaining. I didn't vote, but know that most first pregnancies go over.

However, this is why the almighty gave us medical school and pharmacists.

Take. The. Drugs. Hotdammit, you have a spouse who is an anaestheiologist; in this country that means pain specialist as well as the dude who puts you off to sleep (and hands out epidurals :) I know what I'd recommend for your pain on this side of the world, but a quick glance at the Wikipedia tells me you can't get codeine OTC there (the only opiate with a pregnancy category 'A' rating). Get him to do some research, dammit.

And complain complain complain!! My tip: complain to the little old ladies in the street- hell knows they are the only ones likely to give you any sympathy.

hey torrie

glad things are Generally going well

sucks about the back pain
i'm not pregnant, but have had WICKED back pain the last 2 days (think i pulled something doing crunches - so much for my new fitness regime!)
just wanted to advise you to NOT bother with the Icy Hot Patches - had one on all evening, didn't help a damn bit. just felt cold and wet most of the time.
i did take 3 Naproxen this morning though - that seemed to help - can you take that? and use a heating pad?
my mom swears by "moist" heating pads.

feel better - but complain away in the meantime! ;)

Bitch away. That is what we of the internet are here for.

Maybe your physical therapist is good at massage? They often are.

I hope the next 4 months go quickly and that the baby comes a little smidge early.

I feel for you, Torrie. My best friend had excruciating back pain throughout her pregnancy and the not being able to get comfortable for more than 5 minutes thing really wore her down so I do sympathise.

I try hard never to give advice to pregnant women since they get so darn much of it but on this occasion I'll make an exception - knowing you're too far away to come and kick my ass if you don't like it!!

You being in constant pain presumably can't be doing your general health levels any good? I imagine it will mean you have elevated levels of stress hormones and that you run the risk of getting 'run down' through lack of sleep etc and could therefore get sick which would make things even worse. I admire your desire not to take pain meds but might it be the lesser of two evils on this occasion? I'm not saying live on them, just that every now and again you could get some respite which would give you the strength to carry on for a bit longer. You are doing so well in this pregnancy and it breaks my heart that for various reasons you're not enjoying it the way you should be able to.

Anyway, that's my two pennies-worth! I really hope you find something to ease things a bit anyway, even if you know it won't go away completely.

Ouch, girl. I have no idea what pregnancy is like, but you have my ear in which to bitch iffen you need to.

And if there are some pain killers that are safe for you and baby girl, I give you hippie permission to let Dr. Torrie give you some to ease your constant suffering. I can't think your being in never-ending pain can be any better for the little one than a little dose of something would be.

I'm not a doctor, but I do play doctor occasionally.

my husband had a ruptured disk and was NOT pregnant, and was in horrible pain. I feel for you!! I wish the baby on time-edness. But I am a testimony that all those 'tricks' don't work, because I tried EVERYTHING to get baby here on time and she was still 3 days late and I was induced! Good luck, but if you are in as much pain as my husband was, bite the bullet and take some Vicodin!

I'm not sure if you would do this or not, but i had some cortisone (epidural) injections in my low back--a series of 3 --2 weeks apart. That was 2 years ago. I got great relief. A recent MRI shows my bulging disc had repaired itself. The cortisone is injected under flouroscopy (sp?) I don't know if they'll allow you to do it or not---just a suggestion.

I know exactly how you feel however as I also have a 2 year old and I really am not able to take any of the doctor's advice about sitting still and not lifting. i feel like a complete failure at the moment - I'm 26 and move worse than my 80 year old grandma. plus and I'm sure this is making matters worse - i'm british living in britain where "one is not aloud to complain" well I wish to complain being pregnant stinks this time around. all I want May 18th to arrive!!!!