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Swollen.



My feet, ankles and calves have started playing tricks on me. I think they all got together while I was sleeping and said, “Hey, let’s get REALLY big and tight and make Whitney absolutely miserable!”

They are absolutely gigantic and it is official. I am sportin' the cankles. Well, most of the time anyway.

What is a cankle, you may ask? See Exhibit.



Yes. This crazy thing called pregnancy is disorting and deforming my slim ankles as blood and water and who-knows-what-other kinds of fluid flow up and down my poor legs.

In the morning, my ankles look like they belong to me. In the afternoon, my ankles look like they belong in the Guiness Book of World Records.

Or a Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum.

After noon on any given day, if you looked at me from calves down, I swear you would think I was Gilbert Grapes mom. It’s absurd. Comical, really. But what is NOT so humorous is the pain shooting through my calves. I feel like with each step they are going to explode.

My hands aren’t swelling; it’s just my legs and feet. And it hurts! And I hate it! And I want to punch a syringe in my leg and drain out all this foreign fluid that makes me look like I have tree stumps attached to my waist.

Along with the swelling, is the ever lovely Charlie. Do you know who I am talking about? Ya know, Charlie with the horse?

Oh. My. Gracious!!

I wake up at least 4 times a week with the most intense charlie horse leg cramps in my calves ever known in human existence. It is crippling! I scream and cry and stand up to try to straighten my leg out as fast as possible.

I’m thinking of chopping these legs off and getting them sewn back on after Levi comes. What’cha think?

I am a modern day homemaker with a passion for family, cooking, celebrating, decorating, travel, and memory making! The Lord has blessed me with the desires of my heart in my husband and our two sons. We recently built our dream home and cultivating a loving and happy haven for my family is where I find so much joy.

Comments

  1. Oh, no! I'm sorry you're in pain :( Those cramps sound awful. I have to say, though, that your "Gilbert Grape's mom" comment was the most hilarious statement ever. Hahaha! But I'm only laughing at your humor, not your pain. Promise.

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  2. My friend had the SAME thing happen to her! When I touched her ankles it almost felt like they would pop because the skin was so tight. It quickly went away after the pregnancy, though. So excited for you to have Mr.Levi!

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  3. Aww you poor thing - I am so sorry to hear you are in pain - that really does stink! I guess there isn't anything that can be done...???

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  4. OH, I feel ya. I swelled so bad with my first, even my nose got bigger. But my second pregnancy wasn't as awful.

    Put your feet up as much as you can, drink tons of water, cut back on the salt and keep an eye on it.

    Don't fret. Your petite ankles will be back as soon as Levi makes his grand entrance.

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  5. I'm sorry to hear about the swelling! My friend from work just had a baby, and she said that her swollen feet and ankles were the absolute WORSE PART about pregnancy!

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  6. poor thing :( sorry for the misery. but at least you get a super cute baby out of it in the end and everything will deflate :)

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  7. sorry you're suffering, whit. all for good reason, though!
    my midwives told me that leg cramps are usually caused by lack of calcium. i know you hate milk, so are you still drinking that calcium enriched OJ? taking your prenatals? you may talk to them about a calcium supplement as well...
    my two cents. have hubster rub those feet for you- well, maybe not, since that can send you into early labor. just put them up and relax as much as possible!

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  8. Oh man! What an unfortunate turn of events...

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  9. No fun! We may need to get you a recliner for your desk instead of your rolling chair. That way you can prop your feet up and still do your work. hehe! Only a couple more months...

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  10. I am so sorry girl!! I am not looking forward to this part!! I hope the swelling goes down and those cramps leave you alone!!

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  11. :( oh no fun! Like many have said watch your salt intake, prop your feet up whenever you get a chance and get some calcium.

    Try flexing your calf muscles often by simply tapping for feet as if you were counting time. It increases blood flow in your legs. The heart pumps it down there but your muscles have to pump it back!

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  12. Don't worry...it all goes away - and very quickly. Love you blog :)

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  13. aww you poor thing. well your face is beeeeautiful so you can wear pants if you feel the need....no chopping though!!! hope your aches go away!! xoxo

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  14. I hated the Charlie's Horses. Ugh. All I wanted to do was jump up and stretch them out, but unfortunately "jumping" out of bed wasn't an option. I had to slowly hoist myself out of bed and stretch. Ugh. Just wait until the weather stays warm! Nothing like retaining even MORE water. Ugh ... :)

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  15. Hahahaha, I read your post and was cracking up!!! I remember feeling that way with my pregnancy, LOL. It's no laughing matter it's just amazing how pregnancy "factors" affect most women.
    Being pregnant IS an amazing part of life, "Cankles" aren't fun but in the end you'll have a funny post and wonderful memories :)

    By the way, I got the updated version of your post. I never got to make it that night because my hubby made some fish :) Awwww. I'll let you know hoe it turns out.... maybe tonight :)

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  16. ahh i'm so sorry you're in pain! you crack me up with the comics and your writing! i hope the pain goes away girl!

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  17. Oh honey...it will go away I promise. But that doesn't help you now. I had the same thing with the Charlie horse cramps...eat lots of bananas...it helps...really!

    And I had cankles too...when you get home elevate your feet for the rest of the night. Husby can wait on you...ha, I like that idea!

    Hugz,
    Michele

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  18. It sounds awful. I had one cankle once, when my ankle swelled to epic proportions due to an insect bite. It was so big I couldn't fit into any of my shoes. It was so uncomfortable so I can only imagine how miserable it must be to have both legs like that :(

    Try and sit with your legs up as much as you can.

    x

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  19. It's just part of the process.

    My grandmother has those cramps even now(she's not pregnant). She says she HAS to get out of the bed and walk around.

    She also puts a bar of soap under her leg. She says it works, but I don't know. She says many people recommend it, but I know FOR SURE that walking around helps.

    Propping your feet helps a lot.

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  20. I can't help you with the cankles, but I got Charley horses too. Once I started having a Carnation Instant Breakfast with a banana blended into it every day, they stopped. I don't know if it was the potassium or the calcium or the combo of the two, all I know is that it WORKED.

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  21. I made the horrible mistake of wearing CUTE shoes to do our registry at Babies 'r Us and my feet blew up to the size of hamburgers...booo! Totally feel your pain!!

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  22. I had the same problems with my first.
    Put your feet up as much as you can it helps the swelling and yes less salt in your diet helps.
    For the night leg cramps put a bar of soap in your bed. Yes it sounds funny but it really works. My mother in law has always suffered from leg cramps and she started putting a bar of soap in her bed and the leg cramps have decreased. Its worth the try.
    Hang in there it will be over soon and you will forget about all the discomfort when you hold sweet Levi.
    Im praying for you. If I can help let me know.

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  23. Yuck! So sorry you are in pain, thats no fun!!

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  24. haha, i laughed out loud! not at the fact that you hurt. i hate that for you. i really do. bless your heart. but the cankles business...that's stinking funny. girl, i'm sure you look adorable. don't even worry. i just realized nobody else is laughing at your cankles adventure. well, people, i'm not laughing AT whitney, because she's gorgeous. i'm just l laughing at the exhibit B drawing. i don't know if this is true or not, it may be an old wives' tale, but i read somewhere that if you sing to your ankles, the swelling goes down. you should try that. and please have the hubs video it for us, k?

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  25. That's stinky that you have cankles. But only 10 more weeks, rememeber!? And, i HATE charlie horse cramps. They hurt so bad. I havent had one in soooo long. I wish I could help you in some way!!

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  26. that sucks... I will admit.. the last few night I have been waking up with horrible charlie horses... and they are the most painful thing and I am still sore the next day from them.. wonder what causes that?? ugh! Hope the swellen goes down.. elevate your feet some during the day if you can.. that is what My mom had to due during all her pregnancies

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  27. At least you don't have those natural cankles right?

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  28. ohhhh, yes I'll never forget the middle of the night charlie horse!! Hang in there, you're almost done!!

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  29. Do leg stetches like you're about to go running every night before bed to protect from the cramps. Keep your feet elevated as much as possible and sleep with your feet on a pillow at night to help with the swelling. Also drink plenty of water and avoid salt. Been there, done that!

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  30. HAAA, oh man, I am laughing so much right now (not at the fact that you have cankles, poor thing), but that I am ALWAYS saying that word around Russell, and he HATES it when I say it!!! Just a little funny way I can get him to roll his eyes while giggling....hehe!

    Hope the swelling goes down soon!

    Oh, and I saw your pops today at the drug store--what a nice guy! :)

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  31. I have such an ongoing problem with bad leg cramps but found what works great for me..just take a spoonful of yellow mustard and swallow it down fast (follow with water if you want) and within just a minute or two the cramp goes away. In January my great- granddaughter was being born and I got a horrible cramp in one leg..son-in-law ran and got some packets of mustard from the cafeteria and I just squirted some in my mouth..the people in the waiting room must have thought I was crazy but it worked. I keep packets in my purse at all times because you never know when one will hit you and if you're in public it's tough!!

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  32. Oh Whitney: I feel for you right now. In Feb. while I was in Doropo I too had cankles. It was They burned and stung and got bigger and bigger. I feared the would never go down but once I got back to the states they finally went down.
    Yours will disappear once little precious Levi enters this world. You will feel like and think and your ankles will seem so small just after delivery. Take it easy and prop your feet up. Husby can wait on you and I know your mom would love to take you in and pamper you. I'd take her up on it. Take photos so you can remember these kinds of moments. luv ya

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  33. Oh my goodness!!!! The charlie horse's are the WORST! Ouch! I NEVER heard about this side of pregnancy until is started to plague mine!

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  34. try taking a potassium supplement (may want to double check with the dr. first.) It will help with circulation, and really helps those charlie horses! (bananas work well too!)

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  35. I'm sorry you are dealing with all of that! Not sure if I can suggest anything for the cankles, but for the charlie horse, you should eat a banana a day. I'm not sure if it's an old-wives tale, but the potassium is supposed to help with that. Good luck!

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  36. I am sorry for all the painful things that are happening to you. I used to get calf cramps so bad in the middle of the night, and I was told to take Calcium supplements and I rarely have them anymore. Just a suggestion, anything to try and make so you don't have to go throught that pain anymore. Legs Cramps are a killer!

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