Oh, how the mighty have fallen. I felt almost invincible during my second trimester—working out, full of energy, and moving around with ease. Now? It can take me 20 minutes just to sit up in bed. The third trimester has hit me like a freight train, and let me tell you… the pain is real.
The Back Pain Struggle
The biggest difference? The sheer amount of back pain I’m in. It got so bad that my doctor prescribed me lidocaine patches. Because of this, I’ve experienced firsthand the difference between military and non-military doctors when it comes to pregnancy care.
My OBGYN (not military) has been incredibly supportive—she gave me a belly support band, referred me to pelvic floor physical therapy (shoutout to my rheumatologist for that suggestion!), told me to take Tylenol on a schedule, and even encouraged me to see a chiropractor or acupuncturist. She made sure I knew to reach out if nothing was helping so we could explore new options.
Now, on the military side of things… it’s a different story. I knew we had an acupuncturist on base, so I called to make an appointment. I made sure to mention I was pregnant, and they scheduled me. Then, two days before my appointment, I got a call: Sorry, we can’t treat you. Acupuncture could send you into preterm labor.
I explained that I had already informed them of my pregnancy and that my own OBGYN had recommended acupuncture. Still, they wouldn’t budge. Their solution? Lidocaine patches. Classic military healthcare—just slap a band-aid on the problem instead of actually fixing it.
When I tried to get a referral off base, I learned that insurance will only cover military chiropractors and acupuncturists, who won’t treat me while I’m pregnant. So, I’m just out of luck. Now, my options are Tylenol, lidocaine patches (which do absolutely nothing), my belly belt, and pelvic floor therapy (thankfully, my therapist works on my back, too, because she sees how much pain I’m in).
The Physical Changes Keep Coming
Every morning, I wake up feeling bigger than the day before. My bump is growing, my boobs are somehow still getting bigger (not thrilled about constantly buying new bras), and my face is starting to fill out a little—not my favorite change, but here we are.
On the bright side, my feet haven’t grown (yet), and I’m not experiencing a lot of swelling. However, tying my combat boots for work was becoming impossible, so I finally switched to a pair of Kizik slip-on sneakers. Game changer. No bending, no effort, and they’re ridiculously comfy.
Slowing Down… But Nesting Mode is in Full Force
My energy level has dipped a tiny bit, but I still have way more stamina than I did in the first trimester—I’m just moving a little slower now. What has kicked in full force, though? Nesting.
In the last two weeks alone, I’ve gotten the nursery about 75% done. I painted the room, put together the crib and dresser, built a tree for her room, made her name sign, and started hanging things up. My stepson has actually been helping out a lot—he seems really excited to have a little sister!
Baby Girl is Making Her Presence Known
She’s still as active as ever, mostly at night. And she’s not just letting me know she’s there—she makes sure everyone else feels her, too. She’ll kick her dad’s hand when he rests it on my stomach, and she’s even kicked my dog when she’s laying on my belly.
Third trimester, you are something else. But we’re getting there, one (slow and painful) day at a time!
More Than Mom 
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