I have wanted to Square Dance a various stages of pregnancy to feel the difference between each stage of pregnancy. I know from previous pregnancies that the later the stage of pregnancy the more difficult life is. I have never tried 5 month or 7 months before so with the chance to Square Dance 4 times pregnant I decided to dance each time at a different stage of pregnancy. First at 5 months which is the last pregnancy stage that my regular clothes would fit then next at each of the last 3 months of pregnancy to experience the changing degrees of difficulty. My pregnancy for this Halloween (which will be the longest time I have simulated a pregnancy) began as planned on 22 October 1998. I arrived home from work at 3:30 P.M. weighing in at a mere 203 pounds and by 3:45 P.M. I had put on the 5 month pregnancy form. With the 5 pound form and 2 pound breasts my weight increased to 210 pounds. I then got in to my Square Dancing outfit that consisted of pink Pettipants and 2 Square Dance petticoats and with some stretching my Raspberry Square Dancing dress just barely fit. I then put on my make-up and painted my fingernails pink and with the addition of some jewelry and a quick hair brushing I was ready to go out Square Dancing.
I decided to sit down and relax a little before going out but my wife suggested that we go out to dinner first so we went to a Chinese restaurant and had dinner. At the restaurant I got a few looks because of my dress, but I didn't mind the stare because after all you don't see someone going out to dinner in a Square Dance dress everyday. Once we finished dinner I left for my weekly Square Dance practice directly from the restaurant as my wife headed home. I arrived at the practice, helped them set up everything, and then set about dancing the night away. No one even noticed I was pregnant because the fullness of the dress hid the enlarged stomach very well. I looked like I just had a thicker waist line. Dancing at 5 months was no more difficult than when I danced non pregnant and I had no problem at all except the mental reminder that the dress didn't look or fit right any more. Having a pregnant belly even at 5 months definitely destroys the cut of the clothes. Square Dance practice got over at 9:30 and after helping the other members clean up I drove back home. During cleanup it dawned on me that the next few times I would either have to let other do the clean up or just do the light work. Once home I removed the 5 month form, said good by to my feet, and placed on the 7 month form I also put on my maternity breasts that are size E cup and weigh 2 1/2 pounds each. My normal breast size is a C cup and the forms weigh 1 pound each.. By 10:35 P.M. I was fully 7 month pregnant weighing in at 222 pounds mostly from the 14 pounds form. I immediately noticed how much more difficult moving around was. I then sat down to update this journal while waiting for my nightgown to dry and once again noticed that my belly was on the verge of making my typing more difficult by getting in the way of my arm movements. When the dryer rang out announcing my nightgown was dry I got my pink floor length night gown and put it on. I then grabbed my little pillow that I put under my stomach to sleep on and went to bed. The pillow helps support the stomach when I lay on my side so I don't get a severe back ache.
When it was time for my nephew to get out of school I put on my
make-up and went out to pick him up. After picking him up we went to a store to look
at some maternity tops and to get some film. The store didn't have anything I liked
so we left and went to another store for the film and some padding supplies for my
maternity form. When we got home I took a nap and watched some television. I
had just woken up when the telephone repair man rang the door bell and I answered it and
told him what needed fixing. Later on I called to confirm the Square Dance workshop
and was told that the people's who's house it was at had new neighbors and they wanted to
keep a low profile. I thanked them and informed them that I wouldn't be attending
the workshop. I have decided to end the 7 month pregnancy early and become 8 months
pregnant tonight. At 8:00 I removed the form and took a shower. I then placed
on the 8 month form which weighs 17 pounds. By 8:50 P.M. I was fully 8 months pregnant
weighing in at 225 pounds.