A Girlfriend's Guide to Getting Out of Bed During Your Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Being that I am in the third trimester of my third pregnancy (in 3.5 years), I consider myself somewhat experienced in the matters of pregnancy. :) So I thought I would share with all of my friends a step-by-step guide to the plethora of middle-of-the-night trips that pregnancy (well, at least my pregnancies...) are famous for.

Step 1. Wake up. This is the easiest step of all, especially with the aid of a bladder the size of a pea and a preschooler who enjoys being tucked back into bed several times each night.

Step 2. Dislodge all of the pillows your oddly-shaped pregnant body requires in order to sleep comfortably, and place them next to the head of the bed.

Step 3. Using any muscle strength you can muster up, roll carefully so that you are laying on your side, belly protruding over the edge of the bed. At this point, if the previously mentioned preschooler is present, you may have to inform them that Mommy IS, in fact, attempting to get up, and ask them to please hold on a few more minutes, as the process is not quick.

Step 4. Since you have no ab muscles to aid you at this point, use your hands to help you slowly sit up on the bed. If there is no preschooler present, you may want to take a minute at this point to recover from the exertion the previous steps have taken.

Step 5. Carefully stand up and waddle to your destination. After meeting the needs of the child or bladder in question (or both), waddle back to your bed.

Step 6. Lay back down.

Step 7. Locate each of the necessary pillows and replace them in the areas they are needed.

Step 8. Sleep for an hour or two, then repeat.

**I hope you've enjoyed this lighthearted look at some of late pregnancy's 'trials' and know that I am beyond thankful for this blessing (all three little blessings) that God has given me. I really do LOVE being pregnant & I smile and thank God for my sweet son each and every time I feel him violently kick me. :)