Bellyshot

Do you think it's ok to post a pic of myself in my underp*nts?  I personally really don’t care but please tell me if you think this could be construed in the wrong way.  I would hate to think of perverts posting my pic else where, but it could be bikini bottoms couldn't it?  What’s the diffs?

Marko would probably have a heart attack. 

Ok, so latest self-portrait.  Inspired by my BF who sent me hers.

A few notes:

Note red mark on thigh from lying down all the time, IT HURTS!!  My hips/thighs and butt hurt like mad from lying down, any tips / advice?  The pain wakes me up at night.

Second, notice attractive label sticking out underpants.  Plus of course horrible T shirt I sleep in, I do look terribly attractive don't I?  Unwashed hair tied up in a bun. Oh and notice bony wrists, I have terribly bony wrists.  A bit of a ‘before’ look I have going at the mo’. Not a good look Muriel.

Plus ever-faithful pussycat checking out the action.

Please tell me if I should rather delete pic.  I am relying on you for my better judgement.  As I clearly have none of my own.

(edited as per clever Moxie's advice, disguising potential perverty-googly words)

Comments

[Moxie]

I think it's hilarious. But you might want to not have the words "underpan*s" and "pus*y" in the same blog entry...

Don you think a massage therapist would come to you to work on your hips?

[Tertia]

SHITE!! You are right. Ok, immediately off to change pus*y.

[Cecelia]

You. Are BEAUTIFUL!

[susan]

don't you even think about taking it down. Those of us who are living vicariously through you really *need* to see what it looks like to be that beautifully preggers! Makes my heart sing, it does. And by the way, did you hear about that woman who just had twins at 56? Blabbering on and on about how she wanted to "manifest" herself. How terribly naff of her, no?

[Julia]

Oh good! I'm not the only one who's seriously considered photographing myself in my undies. Really, it emphasizes the belly like no other garment can. :)

Owie! That mark on your hip looks really painful. You should eat more to pad your hips.

And, is it weird that I noticed and LOVE the mirror?

[Elizabeth]

i got the same red marks/pains things on hips and butt when I was sick in bed for awhile. They suck, but do go away...eventally

[Laura]

One word.
Fabulous.

[Tracey Dixon]

I think you're beautiful. The pic doesn't show enough of anything for the pervs out there to make the effort of distributing. However, in some different poses... I think you could possibly earn back some of your IVF dollars!

[bj]

A puffy bed helped me with hip pain when I was pg. It wasn't exactly like yours -- more joint pain than sore skin, and I wasn't on bedrest, so it's not the same.

But, I had been sleeping on a futon, and I was amazed at how much more comfortable it was to lie on my side on one of those "pillowtop" mattresses. You might be able to get the same affect with a featherbed.

Also, maybe silk sheets? Yeah, I'm sure your husband will believe you if you say you _need_ silk sheets, but I'm thinking less rubbing?

bj

[Boulder]

Don't delete, please. It is inspirational to see where you've come to. Really you do need to do something about that sore spot, though. Perhaps a memory foam pillow? My last hospital bed was air inflated memory foam that would constantly adjust so that you didn't get spots like that. Can I just say it was the BEST part of being in the hospital? Some people apparently get motion sickness from it though, and they had to be unplugged for those poor people. Got a taste of that on morphine, but I'd been there the week before and already fallen in love with said bed.

*worst thing about hospital* = same bed also WEIGHS one while in it and displays it in green LED that anyone could see from ACROSS the room. MORTIFYING....

[Boulder]

ps clearly this is the AFTER picture.

(only we know it is after a petrie dish mating ritual)

[Jennifer]

I think you look great! Your outfit could definitely be a "maternity bikini".

[Lauren]

fantastic! never would have noticed the hair, wrists or tag if you hadn't said.

[sherri]

fabulous pic! We took several side shots of me while pg with our twins, you know, the customary hold-your-shirt-down-over your-belly shots....but none of my bare tummy...now I really wish I would have!

Great to read everything is progressing well with your pg, and that you had a wonderful shower last week too :)

[Terri]

It's a beautiful belly!!! Show it off!

[Brandy]

Love the pic! Keep it on there. You look great. I do not know about the red mark. If I find out anything, I will let you know.

[Adi V.]

My mom's advice for avoiding nasty bed sores:
1. Wrinkles are BAD! BAD, BAD, BAD! Remove ALL wrinkles from bottom sheet before making the bed and smooth out said sheet several times a day.
2. Putting a pillow under your belly will change the way your weight is distributed.

Hope this helps,
-Adi

[tess]

YOU ARE WOMAN.

together now! you and the cat...ROAR.

[Rebekah]

O.k., I laughed SO hard at this pic! Why? Because only you would be ballsy enough to post a picture of yourself in your underwear, T. And I LOVE you for it!! That being said, I think you look spectacular!! Really. I'm not joking. I showed my Mom, b/c she loves pg bellies (sp?) almost as much as I do, and the first thing out of her mouth was how thin your legs are. Believe you me ... mine looked flabby and BIG by 27+ weeks.

And I DID notice the red mark on your leg, and wondered what it was. I'm SO sorry it's from laying down constantly. It looks like it hurts! I don't have anything to say that could help with the pressure pain, but the different pillows people have recommended sound like a good idea to me.

Again, THANK YOU for showing us your beautiful belly. Made my day! =)

[Cherith]

BEAUTIFUL!

Pillows. LOTS of them. Stick them under your butt, your belly, your knees, your back, where ever they feel right and help redistribute your weight. Those bed sores are horrid. Try one under that thigh to move the pressure somewhere else. Can Marko rig up a pully system to suspend you from the ceiling? ;)

[Veronica]

You are gorgeous -- what a nice tan you have everywhere -- and I agree with pps -- you need more pillows, or perhaps different kinds. I spent most of my pregnancy in bed (hyperemesis, not PTL), and what saved my aching hips and back and legs, especially at the very end, was a lovely big u-shaped body pillow that wrapped all the way around me so I could twist and plump it up in all the right spots and stick it under my neck, between my knees, etc. Lemme see if I can find a link -- oh, here it is:

http://www.dreamessentials.com/a_relax_comfort_u.aspx

Maybe Marko or your mom can find something like this for you down there in SA?

[eve]

now you are one pregnant lady!!! congratulations!!!! :) i like the pic, i'd leave it up. it seems like it's what all the stars are doing nowadays. a little more body makeup and it could be on the cover of vogue. and then of course you will have to call anne geddes to take pictures of kate and adam asleep in a flower petal or something. :)

[Simone]

Tertia...I'm such a sucker for the occasional Bellyshot. I love it! Thanks for sharing..you look amazing!

[serena]

Try lying on a piece of sheep skin. I know it sounds weird but it is used to prevent bed sores in people confined to bed.

[Tertia]

Thanks all, I might just try the pillow thing, although its flipping hot here now, almost summer. The red mark is more of a bruise than a sore. When I lie on my other side it goes away but it still hurts inside. I think I need a massage. By a tall, young nubile guy with his shirt off. Preferably foreign. With an accent. Dark hair, olive skin if available.

[jen-earthchild]

Hey T...if you do the homeopathic thing, Arnica ointment will reduce the swelling/bruising on your legs.

I love the pic...I didn't notice the tag or the hair or the kitty and you pointed them out!

[Lioness]

Ab fab, dahling, ab fab! You delete this, I delete YOU.

[Janine]

Jealous now - you look fab, doll. How on earth do you do it, when all you're doing is lying down?? By this time in both my pgs, I was waddling, with flabby legs and arms. Even my fingers were fat.

[Toni]

You look beautiful...I love the fact that you are so comfortable with yourself to shoot this in your underwear!

More pillows. Kick Marko out of bed and get more pillows!

[JenL]

Hubba Hubba, that's one purrrdy belly ya got there! I love it.

Pillow under belly and between knees helps my hip/back issues. Otherwise I vote for that massage.

HBIJ!

[Anne]

De-lurking to that suggest an egg-carton mattress pad might help. You can see one at http://www.laurenslinens.com/chirpadeggcr.html. It goes under the sheet.

An alternating pressure pad might be even better, but I'd think that the sound of the motor would drive you mad. See one at http://www.amerifamily.com/aeralprespum.html.

And here's a handy-dandy guide to choosing a mattress pad: http://www.drugs.com/CG/HOW_TO_CHOOSE_AND_USE_MATTRESS_PADS.html.

At long last the knowledge gained during the several years I cared for my elderly MIL has come in handy. And you'll look much better lying on one of those things than she did, the poor thing. We're ugly when we're old. Very ugly. Particularly so when naked. Ugh!

Too bad the years spent caring for her were the last few years my FSH would be normal. Now all I have is fried eggs.

[Sarah]

That is one gorgeous belly!!!

Makes me soooo happy to see those twins making themselves known.

Still rooting for you,
Sarah

[cheryl b.]

Now I feel like a total pervert because my first thought was how fucking hot you are instead of being sorry about your poor beautiful leg. Seriously though? Your legs don't look like they could even hold you up they're so skinny, I'm so jealous.

[Bridgette]

You look fantastic T! Really. That belly is beautiful...

[chris]

I'm sure every pregnancy fetish guy on the planet has already been here and done his business, so why bother deleting it? Besides, you look amazing.

[Brooklyn Girl]

You're gorgeous and so is your belly!

[barren old crone (vicki)]

Good god! The photo is dark on my screen and at first I thought "well where's her other leg?" Oh. That stick-like figger is BOTH her legs! Bitch.

yer almost 28 wks girlie!
smooches,
vicki

[eM]

I know if sounds revolting but you get those sheepskin things at the pharmacy - I hated the feel so I'd slip it over my matress but under the sheet

[Kristin in VA]

WOW! You look amazing! Be proud, show it off!

A few things I did while on 11w of bedrest were:
wedge-shaped pillow (I don't think you have Babies R Us, but you can probably find one online.) -- I used this to support my belly which was truly a lifesaver. Otherwise, it felt like it was always falling to one side and causing more pain.

Snoozer body pillow (J-shaped pillow) -- instead of using the J at my head, I ran the pillow down my back and sorta tucked it under my back and the J between my legs for more support.

Flipped sides OFTEN, though when Baby A's head was in my butt on some days I had to stay only on one side for fear that he was going to pop right out of the wrong place (OK, I know that's impossible, but it sure felt like that)

Massage -- Hubby often massaged my hips to get the kinks out

I saw that red bruise and it reminded me of the red bruises/broken capillaries on the tops of my thighs from where my belly rested when I went to the bathroom. I thought I had some weird disease and then we determined that no, it was just "belly rub"!

Have you asked your doc about having a physical therapist come out? I had some exercises I could do for my arms/legs that definitely helped stretch things out and were approved so I didn't have to worry about causing more contractions.

Long answer...sorry!
Kristin

[Jess]

You look amazing!!!
Shallow alert - v. v. jealous of your gorgeous skinny legs while almost 7 months pg. I haven't looked that skinny since oh, I don't know, ever! Ok done with the shallowness now:)

Babies in Jan:)

[Julie]

I am totally perving out on you, you, YOU.

[Jennifer]

I WISH I looked so good. I am 25w with ONE baby and I have spread out in the butt, thighs, hips, etc. as well as the belly. I'm envious, you look mahvelous dahling.

[Barbara]

Don't delete the picture! It's beautiful!

Anne is right about the "egg carton" mattress pad. Placed between the sheet and the mattress, it will be very comfortable. It will relieve the pressure on the soft tissue of your leg that is compressed between your hip bone and the mattress.

[Kay]

I have to agree with the legs commenter above. Your legs are AMAZING! Of course, YOU are amazing, why shouldn't your legs be? Gorgeous! Keep the pic.

[Shelley]

I'm sure you've heard to put a pillow between your knees--this was a real help to me for hip pain.

You look great!

-S

[Scully]

Do not delete.

You are B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!

[ManhattanAnne]

Red Badge of Courage! You go girl. Babies in Jan!

[Julia S]

You look absolutely amazing!

[tracy]

Do not delete; you look fantastic. But you have got to do something about the pressure - that red spot is the beginning of a pressure sore, and they are Bad News. Call a nurse. Seriously.

[Kristine]

Would it be too weird if I told you I find that picture sexy?! I'm not sure why other pregnant belly ladies look cute to me, while my own just looks....not cute! Perhaps it's time to see a therapist. At any rate, you are adorable!

[Mandy]

Please don't delete. What a gorgeous pregnant belly. We won't go into how jealous I am that the rest of your body appears to be quite svelte...you certainly deserve that, but still...*looks down at chubby thighs*....I'm jealous. *GRIN*

[victoria]

don't delete.

[Lioness]

You want a "tall, young nubile guy with his shirt off. Preferably foreign. With an accent. Dark hair, olive skin if available. ", is that what you want? Keep ordering Nando's take-out chicken and you'll eventually score yourself a betters section in the person of a Portie, I'm told. Look for the christ-on-cross necklace, that breed often takes off their shirts at every opportunity. Or maybe I could interest you in a vest? They often wear them too - and the netted type at that so you can see nipples and hairy chests. Not sure abt accent thoguh as they're bound to be 2nd or 3rd generation. BIG blaps but hey, you want 'em you get 'em.

[Carrie Jo]

Tertia, what you need is a nice Brazilian Boy to give you a massage. They've got the right criteria. You loo avsolutlely beautiful. I am soo jealous of your skin but I have pale skin with red spots all over it from psoriasis. Definitely keep your pic up.

[Heather Ann]

Try a couple inches (2-3) on top of your mattress, or a feather bed on top of your mattress. Should help relieve some of the pressure.

You are beautiful. I am holding my breath for you and the babies every day. Hope you are overdue!

[Heather Ann]

I meant a couple inches of FOAM. Should always preview the post.

[Jody]

Beautiful! And so smart to take the photos--wish I had some.

Oh, and that red mark? The beginning of a pressure sore. VERY BAD NEWS. Get the pillows, get the physical therapist, get help now. Do not let that thing fester. It can get infected--and you want no infections anywhere near you right now. Get help now!

[Julie]

Is it just me that the picture is so dark for? Everyone is talking kitties, and mirrors, and I can barely see Tertia! (And you look AMAZING, by the way!)

Now I'm all stressed out that my moniter is going bad, and all the pictures on my site (that I've lightened) are now too light for anyone else to enjoy! LOL!

Tertia, I've only commented once before, but I visit here a few times a day. I'm so happy for you, and know you'll be the best mother ever for those sweet little babies. Can't wait to meet them in January!

Hugs
Julie

[ginger]

Echoing Jody and tracy to say - that's a pressure sore. V. bad. Needs to be addressed, summer in SA or not. Not to be gratuituously scary, but ultimately, that's what gave poor Christopher Reeve the blood infection that ended his life. It won't ever get that far with you, because you're young and active and only temporarily on bed rest, but you mustn't take this lightly, because you can't afford a bacterial infection. You have to stop it before the skin breaks.
But the good news is if you're even reasonably able to shift yourself, and you get some skin sparing bedding (eggcrate, sheepskin, etc), you can take care of it. But call your nurse, pronto.
On a lighter note - from the US perspective you and Marko both have exotic furrin accents, and I note he's tall, olive-skinned and dark-haired....

[B. Mare]

I think that is an amazing picture! You look terrific.

[barren old crone (vicki)]

Note to Julie: I think your monitor is fine...the photo is also extremely dark on my computer, too. All I can see is a beautiful belly, a leg (oh, right, that's BOTH legs!) and a FLASH. I can't even see the red mark on leg, but I'm v v worried about it now, hearing all this talk about pressure sores.

[maricar]

You look beautiful Tertia. Making me cry girl. I'm so happy for you.

Forgot to mention reddish marks you'd get from being on bedrest, sorry.

I looked like you when I was on bedrest. Except I wasn't tall and amazonian and breathtaking. Just short and pudgy and resembling an oompa loompa but no green hair or orange skin. But I had the unwashed hair in a bun action, t-shirt and underwear thing going on. Because it was ALWAYS TOO HOT. And I was only allowed to take a shower once every 4 days. My poor poor husband.

LOL @ your lurking pussy.

[Brandy]

You are one gorgeous pregnant woman and I would not delete that picture. You look awesome!

[Tammy]

Get a doughnut shaped pillow (with a hole in the middle that they use for people with 'roids) to take the pressure completely off the sore.

You look fabulous dah'ling.

[blackbird]

No -
the thing is, if you have skinny legs and a smallish arse, you can get away with any pics. I think you look peachy.

Also
many thanks for the font size - can now read you again across the ocean.

[Liz]

My husband walked by when I clicked on your pic. His reaction:

"Nice legs." (Followed by continued staring)

You got it goin' on!

Liz

[Stacie]

Hey tertia
I read your blog loads and totally LOVE you!
I just wanted to say Re: sore leg that you may want to consider getting a foam matress you know the cool nasa space matresses specially developed for astronauts! only the v best for tertia! :-D I would get the quack to check it out too as it might go minging.... i am versed in this subject due to a fracture in my spine!
lots of prayers for you and your beautiful babies coming from blighty
Love Stacie

[Shelba]

You are gorgeous, with your pregnant belly and in your undies, still gorgeous. Love that belly!!!

[sara]

You're beautiful! Keep the picture up, it's..whatever word you guys use to mean "not naff". :) Great legs. I'm v. v. jealous. Definitely go with eggcrate mattress pad, and maybe sheepskin, as suggested. It's the even pressure of the mattress that causes the pain. That, and wrinkles. Pillows, too, can help redistribute weight. Try alternating methods, as I think that any one method starts becoming ineffective after a bit. Massaging the area lightly (if not too painful) also may help. Gets the blood moving to areas that otherwise end up compressed. Probably more helpful for the areas pre-sore, though.

[Jaine]

I'd say your pussy is hairy but it's pretty much all covered up!

I hope to God, if ever, I'll look like you albeit the 5'3" frame. You're simply stunning.

[Sherry]

No advice about the pain, sorry!

Just fiercely jealous of that big belly and thoroughly enjoying the updates on your bebes!

[patricia]

Huge "twin" belly set atop a pair of long, lean legs. A lovely sight.

[Abby]

Don't you dare delete it-it's a great picture! But I'm going to go against the majority and say don't massage that area. I actually still remember that from nursing school-you can damage the tissue underneath more. Basically by the time that there's redness on the top there's already damage underneath. Do everything that you can to keep pressure off that area-pillows, shifting weight, sheepskins. Maybe an air mattress? Another option would be a bed trapeze, the kinds that are used in hospitals so that patients can move around using their arms. Here's a link:
http://www.edmond-wheelchair.com/trapeze_bars.htm
Maybe you could rent one from a medical supply company? (I know you don't want to BUY one!
And this is probably a dumb question, but do you have air conditioning?
Here's some general stuff about pressure ulcers:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007071.htm

[ginger]

Yeah, Abby's 100% right, I just sort of assumed the putative masseur would be for the sore muscles from lying about supporting a twin belly and having your pubic symphysis going all soft and such, and wouldn't touch the pressure sore. Never rub skin over a potential pressure sore - not only does it damage the tissue beneath but it can break the skin and then we're back to the potential for infection.
And it might not even hurt much to rub it, because sometimes there's a bit of shock to the nerves, but just don't.
Likewise, I'd recommend a hot pad for the sore **muscles** of the back and legs, not the pressure points of course (maybe a fan on the rest of you since it's hot out?). Keep heat and ice absolutely away from the pressure-stressed spots, because the tissue's just more fragile there.
And I forgot to say - you always look fabulous, it's damn unfair. Hair may be dirty, but isn't visible past flash, and rest of bod looking vv healthy, good muscle tone despite bedrest, no stretch marks evident. Lovely glowy pregnant lady. Not fair at all.

[Trish]

You look wonderful, hon!!! Absolutely cute as can be- your tummy just says, rub me!!! (Hahahaha- do you have to fight off strangers who want to rub your tummy or are you okay with it? Me- I HATE being touched by strangers- heck, even some family members!)

[Mollie]

Oh yeah. Now I want the full monty. Stop teasing.

[Expat]

Not fair, I want sexy toned thighs!!!!!

And a big round belly - luuurvely!

[Deanna]

You've inspired me to go grab my camera, strip down to skivs and go for it....
Love that belly!

[j]

Wow! You look beautiful, that is truly a sight to see. Your legs are so skinny, how do they hold you up?

One thing I'm really sad about is that I never got a belly shot from my twin pregnancy. Not that I looked anything like you. In fact, I looked like a beached whale. But still, it would be nice to have. I kept putting off taking a picture, and then ended up in the hospital, and then they were born before we had a chance to, or thought to, get a belly shot. I'm not sure I even have a single shot of me pregnant with my girls.

You should take a picture every week, so you can compare this almost-28 week belly to the 38-week belly you will be sure to have.

Oh, and when I was in the hospital on the awful terrible beds they had in labor and delivery, they put an egg crate over the mattress for me. It really helped a lot. I was in agony before that, and I was only in the hospital for about a week. I also might try moving around a bit at home -- la on the couch for a while, then on your bed, with a pillow under your leg, without, etc. so you don't put so much pressure on that one spot all the time.

[Abby]

Oh yeah, also no doughnuts (the cushion ones-the edible ones you can have). They just put pressure around the sore and cut off the circulation further.
Gee, isn't it nice to know that all of those years (more than I care to remember) of nursing education weren't wasted! :-) Hope things are OK in the cave.

[Stacey]

Holy goddamn crap shit you look good. (did I add enough swear words in there?)

You look better than I did pregnant, and you have two!

I'm now jealous. ;)

[reenie]

Where the hell did your ass go?
The pic is too dark to see much else, but you're lovely.
The hip pain goes away...all you have to do is give birth! ;o)

[Sierra]

You look awesome! Love the pic.

[Maria]

Uh...I wish I had your thights, pregnant or not!!!

[Christine]

Great picture! You'll be glad to have pics like that once the babies are here. I look at my pics of myself during my pg and am just in awe that my body could do that!

Not to be nit-picky, but you still have another reference to underp@nts during the discussion of the tag sticking out of them. Would hate to do anything to encourage pervs.

Keep us posted on the red spot.

Christine

[AyEnDeeAreEeAyAitch]

You are like a perfectly ripe melon. Just need your belly button thumped. And when i say ripe I mean "babies keep gestating!"

You also have lovely long swimmers legs....I am jealous for I have tree trunk legs made for wading, not swimming. wah

[Baby Sister]

You big nerd! Am loving all the gorgeous, divine and sexy comments. Wait until they see mini you in the form of mini me. Getting V V V excited for you guys. Just moaned at pop's today that he must tell you to mail me a photo.