Sunday, April 17, 2011

Pain and Questions

The one girl i know was talking to me the other day about her pregnacy. She said that through her entire pregnacy, she was a waitress on her feet all day, and then she didn't have a car so she walked to and from work every day. All i could say was wow. I don't know how anyone could do that, and i really wish i did know because really the only thing I've got up on her is that i have a car. I'm usually working 5 or 6 days a week for 8 hours each day. In a fast food place, there is no sitting down on the job. In fact, the store owner doesn't even allow us to have chairs behind the "employees only" door at all. Tomorrow i'm scheduled to work a 9 hour shift.... and i really don't know how i'm going to do it. I'm not sure if it's just the way everyone's body feels through pregnacy, or maybe mine hurts so much because i fucked it up with Ana, or maybe i'm just a whiny little bitch, but i came home yesterday from an 8 hour shift and ended up doing my damndest not to cry because i hurt so much. My feet and ankles were swollen and throbbing, and when the throbbing calmed down, it felt like i'd just twisted both of my ankles quite badly. Both of my hips are acting up too. My right hip i blame on the car accident that happened last april and really screwed it up (sliced the muscle all the way to the bone; i had to take physical therapy to even walk again.), but i don't know what the hell is up with the left one. Jesse tried to make it better and massage them, and he said that the muscles are extremely tight. I guess it's just from the extra weight i'm holding right now, and putting that stress onto my legs all day? Then how do fat people do it?! I'm so ready for this baby to come out and to get this painful baby weight off! But the whole point of this whiny post was to ask you all, do you have any suggestions on how to help my feet and legs not hurt so much? I know a few of you have been through pregnacy yourselves, so what did you all do to make them not hurt? Should they be bothering me this much already or is something wrong that it's this bad already? I'm really worried that i'm gonna have to go on maternity leave much, much earlier than i had planned on, which is gonna hurt my pay a whole bunch. Any suggestions or ideas will be awesome. Love you all.

6 comments:

  1. I'm not even pregnant and I have leg and ankle pain like that after an 8 hour shift. I'm in retail which has similar no-sitting.
    Standing for 8 hours is just hard on the legs, especially standing fairrly still like in a food prep line or on a cash register.
    Aren't ther laws about a minimum number of breaks or something? Can they legally force you to stand for 8 hours straight? And as a manager don't you get a small office to do paperwork or something?
    Cuz this just doesn't seem fair.

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  2. The law says every worker have to have 45 minutes break ever 8 hours. And if you're pregnant your management has to do a risk assessment and inform you that pregnant women have to have a five minute break every 20 minutes. This is because if you hurt yourself and something happens to the baby you can sue them so it is in their best interest to follow the law.

    You should check it, what your rights are.

    Mia

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  3. Have you tried support stockings?? They're designed to be used for ppl wit varicose veins, but they work by aiding circulation in the legs, which would help you prevent swelling in your legs and ankles... also shoes are super important, I used to teach and you have to stand all day for that too... good shoes which provide proper support will help prevent aching feet.
    If all else fails, radox bath salts in warm water will help soothe sore and tired muscles :)

    Much love sweetie xxx

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  4. Hey, Jo! I've never been pregnant but I do have a circulation problem AND I was a waitress for almost 10 years so I know about hurting legs and feet... You should put a rolled up blanket beneath the foot of your mattress so your feet and legs are elevated all night long. ;) That should work for that pain...
    As far as the hip goes... Maybe it is the accident, maybe is the baby you have inside??? lol Your hips are opening so the baby will go through, hun! It happens from the beginning... Didn't your hips hurt as well when you went through puberty?? Mine did!
    Best of luck with EVERYTHING!!
    Kisses & hugs from Buenos Aires!
    J.

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  5. Compression pants or stockings. My sister used them during her pregnancy and even though they made her hot in the summer they did keep her legs from feeling so bad. They were expensive though, like $20 for a pair I think. She bought them at the drug store.

    Good luck!
    xox,
    A

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  6. Everyone's body reacts differently to things like pregnancy. The other girls are right--your employer legally has to give you more/longer breaks if you're pregnant. Or you could sue. :D I can definitely help you with that!

    xoxo

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