help me wash the dishes! « Back to Group Discussions

[Bena]

Surely I'm not the only one who is no longer able to get close enough to the sink to wash the dishes!!!  And I'm not even 22 weeks yet! It seems so soon!  It seems that with my DD, this didn't happen until much later, and DP was more keen on taking over for a short while...but I don't think I can push my luck to completely delegate dishwashing over to him for 4 months!  Though that would be nice!!!

Any tricks I don't know about? 

oh...and on the same topic, bending down to unload the dishwasher is starting to be an issue also!!!!

[spughy]

LOL!  I was just thinking this morning that I don't have MUCH further to go until this becomes an issue.  My bigger problem is reaching the back of the upper cupboards - I'm short, and if I can't squish myself against the counter I can't reach the cups and glasses at the back.  Fortunately, with a 6-year-old in the kitchen there's always the stool around.

Actually a stepstool might help with the dishwashing, too - get your belly above the sink.  It won't be hugely fun for your back so don't wait until there's a big pile to do.  Screw the hot water conservation - wash 2-3 dishes at a time!

[LightForest]

The stepstool idea is a great one, spughy! I can't stand how my belly hits the kitchen counter, especially when I'm washing dishes. So uncomfortable! I think I might try using a little stepstool next time just to raise my protrusion a few inches above that granite ledge!

[cabbitdancer]

I haven't had an issue with the belly on the kitchen counter yet, but I do have an issue with reaching the top shelves in our kitchen. I used to be able to just barely reach, but I can't anymore.

I joked to my husband a couple of weeks ago that a day is going to come when I can't tie my own shoes! I didn't have that problem with my daughter (first daughter. Wow, I'm going to have to get used to that idea, still!) so I can revel and grumble at the same time. ;)

[Linnaea]

I haven't reached this point yet but I remember reaching it with DD. I wasn't sure what to di at first but then I realized that turning my feet to the side a little put my belly at an angle which enabled me to dishes. This wasn't the most comfortable thing but at least I could get the dishes done! At the end of the pregnancy I had to turn my belly all the way to the right or left in order to do them. Now THAT was a pain!!

[spughy]

I had to buy new slip-on shoes. :(

[nearlyelated]

Originally Posted by spughy 

I had to buy new slip-on shoes. :(

Haha, I'm happy to have the ones I bought last time around!  Best idea ever.

When I do the dishes I put a towel in front so that I don't get a water stripe across my belly.  Seems to be working for now.  

"Personal grooming" is starting to become an issue.  

[Chapsie]

Originally Posted by spughy 

I had to buy new slip-on shoes. :(

My other two kids were summer babies, so I always wore sandals/ flip-flops/crocs.  Now, with a winter pregnancy, I don't know how I am ever going to put on my boots!!!

[jodieanneanton]

My winter pregnancy saved me from all the pregnancy swelling I had with my summer pregnancy.  I am hoping that holds true again!!!

[Melany]

"Personal grooming" is starting to become an issue.  

If you don't see it, it isn't a problem.... Right? Or at least I'm going with that. :)

Also having issues washing dishes. 

[writermama12]

This evening, I leaned over the stove to snag a paper towel for my toddler and my belly turned on the stove burner to high right under my breasts and sweater!! I laughed about it but it was kind of creepy because we have a gas pilot. 

[Linnaea]

Originally Posted by writermama12 

This evening, I leaned over the stove to snag a paper towel for my toddler and my belly turned on the stove burner to high right under my breasts and sweater!! I laughed about it but it was kind of creepy because we have a gas pilot. 

LOL!!! I have to admit that is really funny although scary as well.  I remember almost closing my belly in the refrigerator door a few times when pregnant with DD, that always made me laugh   These days, my belly is starting to act as a crumb collector and since I often have my keyboard on my lap when I'm doing stuff on the computer, if I bend over for something I end up switching the page or deleting what I wrote or something else that's obnoxious 

[LightForest]

You're all reminding me that I pulled out my ukulele the other night to play DD a few songs and I realized that it must have been a couple of months since I'd really played it because I was unable to hold the uke parallel with my stomach! My arms aren't long enough to reach that far out! Tricky!

[Melany]

I remember accidently losing my son under my belly in a parking lot when I was 8 months pregnant with my daughter. He was almost 2, so much shorter than he is now. He was right next to me, doing exactly as he was supposed to do, when I could not see him. I turned around in a circle in a crazed panic and wacked him in the head with the diaper bag on my shoulder, poor guy. He's looking at me like I'm crazy because he was following directions and the other people in the parking lot are looking at me like I'm crazy because I'm in a panic yelling for my son who is standing a few inches from me. Oops!

[spughy]

Okay that's an unexpected bonus to having a big age gap between kids that I hadn't previously considered....

[chocolatechip]

Oh, some good giggles in this thread! Melany, that was hilarious! Your poor son!

I can still wash dishes, though I notice my back gets more tired, because I have to hold my arms out farther in front of me. Fortunately, my husband is the main dish-doer in our household. I cook, he cleans! 

Shoes are decidedly getting more complicated already. I have some clogs that slip on and off, but don't like wearing them much, because they're Danskos, and have enough of a platform that I sometimes get clumsy walking on them even when not pregnant. And with Seattle winter having set in, sidewalks are more slippery and I want shoes with a good tread. But they're definitely getting harder to tie, and I think I'm going to need to find slip-ons after not too long. Or at least something that's just a zipper, so I only have to reach the shoes briefly? Does that work?

[Linnaea]

Originally Posted by Melany 

I remember accidently losing my son under my belly in a parking lot when I was 8 months pregnant with my daughter. He was almost 2, so much shorter than he is now. He was right next to me, doing exactly as he was supposed to do, when I could not see him. I turned around in a circle in a crazed panic and wacked him in the head with the diaper bag on my shoulder, poor guy. He's looking at me like I'm crazy because he was following directions and the other people in the parking lot are looking at me like I'm crazy because I'm in a panic yelling for my son who is standing a few inches from me. Oops!

Oh my gosh, Melany, this story is beyond hysterical!!  I had a mental image of a mama ostrich clucking uncontrollably, hopping around like mad with a baby ostrich sitting under her the entire time!  So unbelievably cute and I can also see why this could happen.  Thank you for sharing!

[cabbitdancer]

Oh, Melany, that story is just so precious. :D

[GranolaMama09]

Melany that is hilarious!!!

I can still do the dishes but it's starting to get challenging. Bending over to shave my legs is another matter. The way
I'm carrying makes it painful to bend over long enough to do it but personal grooming is still okay. Honestly, picking up my DD or DSD is difficult anymore. I tease DP that he's going to have to start tying my shoes for me soon!!!

[scruffy too]

I've never been a big fan of doing dishes because it's always hurt my back (I blame it on being top heavy).  Unfortunately, I'm the main dish-doer around here - DP is a chef, I really shouldn't complain, but holy-crow - has anyone cleaned up after a chef before?!?  They get the whole kitchen dirty just making a grilled cheese!!! 

Anyway, my belly's not in the way yet, but I don't like it touching the counter - kinda sensitive.  I don't really like anything touching it.

Fetching a box of wood from outside is getting down right uncomfortable - the box is always touching my belly and I don't like it.  And I swear it's heavier.  I'm trying to get DP to take over all wood duties.  I know that 2 winters ago he did all the wood, but I can't remember how I convinced him - lol.  I'll just have to tell him it's not something my pregnant belly is ok with anymore.