It's been swell, but the swelling's gone down.

It's the 18th of August. My due date. And as of now, I don't have anything to indicate that labor will be starting soon. As much as I desperately wanted this baby to come on the 18th, it's seeming less and less likely that will happen. I suppose there's not much I can do about it. He'll come when he's ready.

I've been reflecting a lot on this pregnancy. As it gets closer to baby's arrival, it becomes even more bittersweet. I've truly enjoyed being pregnant, and there's a large part of me that will really miss it. On the other hand, there's another part of me that will not be sad to say goodbye to pregnant life.

Things I will miss about being pregnant:

1. Feeling him move. It's a constant reminder that he's with me and he's doing okay. I love it.
2. Fetal hiccups. I adore feeling him hiccup. It's been my favorite experience during this whole pregnancy.
3. Feeling important. That sounds really silly and possibly narcissistic, but there's a sense of pride that accompanies waddling around with a big belly. People in public are generally more courteous, and with the exception of the occasional overly-creepy stranger, I enjoy talking with people about my pregnancy. Even if no one acknowledges me, simply knowing I have an entire person growing inside me makes me feel very important.
4. The excitement. There's so much to do and look for to. Registering for baby stuff! Deciding on decor for the nursery! Painting, decorating, assembling, and making the nursery feel like home! Even though it's stressful, it's also very fun.

This I will NOT miss about being pregnant:

1. Being treated like an invalid. Seriously, I am perfectly capable of carrying most things, reaching up, moving around, and doing most every other day-to-day activity. If I can't do something, I'll let you know.
2. Having to pee every 20 minutes. I really miss the feeling of a truly empty bladder. Even after going to the bathroom, I immediately feel like I have to go again. Honestly, I could probably just park it on the toilet and keep a constant stream going all day. I will not miss that, nor will I miss going through an entire roll of toilet paper in 24 hours.
3. The attention. I know I said in the "Will Miss" list that I like talking about my pregnancy, but there are also times I do NOT enjoy it. For example, I will not miss the constant "How are you feeling" questions that are almost always accompanied with a worried, nearly pained look, as if they expect my answer to be some sort of complaint about how miserable I am. It makes me feel almost guilty that I'm feeling good.
4. Nasal congestion. I haven't been able to breathe well practically since conception. I look forward to having less junk up there.
5. Feeling gross. I've gained more weight than I wanted to (totally my fault), and I feel physically repulsive most of the time. I realize losing this baby weight won't come easily, but I look forward to hopefully feeling more like my old self again.

So, I guess whether I'm ready or not, he could be here any day.

Why I don't believe your gluten-free diet cured you.

This whole gluten-free fad is really wearing on my nerves. With the exception of those who have medically diagnosed celiac disease, I really believe peoples' so-called "gluten sensitivities" are a bunch of bull.

"But I cut out all gluten from my diet and I feel 200% better!" people claim. "If I'm not allergic to it, then why do I feel so much better without it?" they ask.

First of all, let's just be clear on what gluten even is. Gluten refers to certain proteins in the certain grains (especially wheat). Glutens are what give bread dough its elastic texture. When people with celiac disease eat foods containing these proteins, in immune response is triggered in the intestines, which can cause inflammation that leads to malabsorption of nutrients. People with celiac disease can suffer from weight loss, diarrhea, and bloating. It can be quite serious and is uncurable. It is diagnosed by blood tests or intestinal biopsy, and can only be managed by a gluten-free diet and treatment of symptoms as needed.

So, why are all these people WITHOUT celiac disease diagnosing themselves with gluten sensitivities? Usually this self-diagnosis comes after eliminating gluten from their diets, and they feel so much better that they just KNOW it was the gluten that was the issue.

But here's my issue... Practically everything delicious (deliciously unhealthy!) in it has gluten. Going gluten-free means no donuts, no cake, no cookies, no pizza dough, no pasta, no crackers. It also means you have to be very selective about things like bouillon cubes, candy, potato chips, French fries, rice mixes, lunch meat, many sauces and gravies, and even soy sauce. So typically a gluten-free lifestyle means the dieter is limited to lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and occasional healthier protein and carb alternatives like gluten-free pasta, nuts, and such.

You'll notice that all those "bad" gluten-filled foods I mentioned are plenty unhealthy, regardless of their gluten content. In cutting those gluten-filled foods, you're almost always cutting lots of saturated and trans fats, sodium, artificial flavors and colorings, preservatives, and so on as well. There is plenty of scientific evidence showing how all of those things can be harmful... They can make you feel tired, gain weight, cause high cholesterol, etc.

In a nutshell, gluten-free eating is simply clean eating. Low carbs, fresh produce, and healthy proteins. Wouldn't you think anyone eating a a low carb, fresh produce, healthy protein diet would notice a difference in their energy level and overall health? Of course they would! Regardless of the gluten, a person eating a healthy, clean diet of minimally-processed foods is without a doubt going to be healthier than a person eating nothing but McDonald's.

So after cutting out all those unhealthy foods, I just beg you to stop and think... Yes, I cut out gluten. Eliminating gluten COULD be what makes me feel better. But it could also just as easily (and probably more likely) be the fact that I've significantly cut down on carbs, bad fats, and other unnecessary ingredients. Am I happy for you that you're feeling better? Absolutely! I have tremendous admiration anyone who has the willpower to avoid delicous fried carbs! If a healthier diet makes you feel better, I am so proud of you. I would just really rather say you're feeling better because you're eating healthier instead of blaming gluten because that's the trendy thing to do.