Swollen Ankles and Squats

With the onslaught of our warm weather here, I'm developing some incredibly attractive feet. I've had some swelling before, but now we're hitting the "does she or doesn't she actually have ankles?" stage.  I have a student who is due in 3 weeks who was put on bed rest because she's blowing up like a balloon.  Her doctor said it's a real problem in the south for women pg during the summer.  Grrreat.  All I need is for my large duck feet to get even bigger.

As for the squats, they don't have anything to do with the feet.  But I keep forgetting to blog about them.  In the books I've been reading on natural childbirth, squats are great preparation.  Now these are not the squats you'd do in the gym.  This is a way of squatting down as if you're going to pet an animal or talk to a child.  You spread your feet out a little further than hip distance apart and with your knees facing out take your booty down to your ankles, which are hopefully not so swollen that your booty bounces off of them.  It's important that feet are flat on the floor.  The good thing about this exercise is that it strengthens the legs and inner thighs for pushing and stretches out, ahem, "parts" so that an episiotomy or tearing is less likely.  The bad part is that it's not the most attractive position in the world.

I've been squatting while I've been doing yard work in the back of the house.  Planting and weeding works fine with this position and I feel like it actually is better for my lower back.  I figure I'm out there in my jog bra and shorts already exposing my nekkid belly so a squating position just adds a small bit of eccentricity for my appalled neighbors to enjoy.  I can tell my strength is improving in my legs from this.  So pretty much, I'm sure that now bun's going to pop right out in a natural labor without any pain or real effort.  Bwaahahahahah.  Ok.  Maybe not.  But if it helps at all and it's better for my back, I'll do it!

Off to another rollicking day at work.  A former prof of mine from Claremont is coming in to give a talk.  That's actually pretty cool!

8:13:39 AM