Today I am full term. Looks like my little miss is opting for the "fashionably late" arrival. I've been having lots of braxton hicks contractions all day but it's nothing exciting. Though I will report that the contractions are just a smidge more intense than they were earlier in the day. Hopefully we will be meeting our daughter in a day or two!
After 9 months of answering the same questions or smiling at the same comments, I don't want to listen to it anymore. I would like to grocery shop without hearing how cute my belly is or being told by a complete stranger that they just had to get an epidural because they were in that much pain.
I'm really pregnant. Really tired. Really sore. This means I'm really cranky and can snap at any given moment.
I once thanked the cashier at Arby's for noticing my misery and for not telling me how cute my belly is.
Things I don't want to hear at 9 months pregnant:
1) "oh you're adorable" Glad you think so. Now stfu before I smack you!
2) "when are you do?" When does it effing look like?
3) "do you know what you're having?" Yeah, a human.
4) "is this your first?" Yes, I just like grocery shopping with other people's children.
5) "how are you feeling?" Fan-f***ing-tastic.
6) "are you going to do it naturally or get an epidural?" Like it's any of your freaking business!
7) "oh you're getting close!" Thank you Captain Obvious.
8) "how many more are you going to have?" Really?
9) "have you had that baby yet?" Yes, that's why I look like I stuffed a beach ball under my shirt.
10) Any stories about why you couldn't do it naturally or how long you were in labor for. And any questions, concerns and stories as to my choice in getting permanent birth control.
Tomorrow I will be 40 weeks pregnant! The last nine months have really flown by (with the exception of this last month because as every pregnant woman knows it's the longest month of pregnancy).
Despite our struggles this year, we have managed to be completely prepared for the arrival of our little princess. In fact, so prepared that she's the only thing missing!
Unfortunately, our newest addition seems quite comfortable in her cushiony womb. Mommy is not comfortable. It appears that baby number two is going to come after her due date.
At my last appointment we attempted to strip the membranes of the cervix but I was not dilated far enough for this procedure. So our only option is to wait until my next appointment where we will schedule an induction.
An induction messes up my "natural birth experience" but when you're in pain and can barely get out of bed or even put pants on, you'll take your options.
We've tried all the other methods of do it yourself inductions: sex, walking, raspberry leaf tea, spicy food and pineapple. So far it's only given me heartburn or made me pee a lot or caused more pain. Hell, yesterday I even chose to take the stairs at the county health department instead of the elevator. Not even so much as a braxton hicks.
I'm almost to 39 weeks. We've had one false alarm a couple weeks ago. My latest cervical check revealed that I'm 70% effaced (thinning of the cervix) and barely dilated (opening of the cervix). I had some back pain and cramping after my cervical check but no consistent contractions. I hate the waiting game; I just want to hold my baby girl.
My husband's friend is a photographer and offered us a nice deal on a maternity photo session. If you like, look him up. Sharp Photography.
All images are courtesy of Jeff Sharp (Sharp Photography)
Only 3 weeks left to go. I'm extremely uncomfortable and irritable. I seem to have at least one appointment every week. Sometimes more. I've had extra ultrasounds done to determine location of the placenta (no more worries there) and to confirm baby girl's position. She was in there sideways one week. Head down this last week. Hopefully she is still there this week.
Last night we had our first false alarm. Only dilated to 1cm.
We also had some beautiful maternity photos done by my friend Jeff Sharp (Sharp Photography).
Saturday is our childbirth class.
The diaper bag is packed. My hospital bag is packed. Its also time to register at the hospital.
And, this is the best part, I have everything I need!
Feeling down? This will cheer you up! This woman really can make you feel better about being pregnant when times almost up!
I'M SO PREGNANT - Iggy Azalea - Fancy Parody: http://youtu.be/eVuittFyM34
This is when I finally made it to the third trimester! It was a couple weeks ago but I've been so worn out I haven't felt like typing.
Ok, so it's not really that bad, but it sucks. The glucose tolerance test to check pregnant women for gestational diabetes. Checked at week 28, the expectant mother is given a drink that is much like a flat soda. It's like drinking syrup. Flavors come in lemon-lime, fruit punch and orange. I've only ever been given orange.
The day of the test you can only eat protein rich foods. It's best to schedule your appointment in the morning so you only have to worry about breakfast. 45 minutes before your appointment you have to drink the whole bottle of yuck and after that it's nothing but water till after your appointment.
Exactly an hour after you finish they draw blood. They use this to determine your blood sugar, 130 or higher is bad.
I passed. Yay!
But not yay. They also test you for anemia with this test. And guess who's results came back positive?
Yeah. Now I have to take an iron supplement and eat iron rich foods.
Nothing new as far as the pregnancy goes. We just got back home from our family trip to Oregon. Traveling with a baby belly and a grumpy toddler is hard work!
My husband was excited to be able to feel his little girl's kicks! Her movements can now be felt from the outside.
So what's our little girl's name? We have chosen Elsa. Yes, yes. We've become the parents that will name their children after Disney characters.
As Elsa grows, her movements become more recognizable.
I am now noticeably pregnant everywhere I go.
Is my son understanding what's going on? He knows that there's changes happening. I talk to him frequently about bowing a big brother and having a little sister. He pats my growing belly and says "baby" and if I ask him to give baby sis kisses he will kiss my tummy. When we get closer to the due date I will register him for a sibling preparation class at the hospital.
David and I are registered for an all day childbirth class. Having done this before, I felt it was only necessary to take the "nutshell" class.
At 20 weeks pregnant with my baby girl (Ahhh!) I'm bigger than I was at 25 weeks with my son. Only 20 weeks to go!
In 4 more hours I go in for my midpregnancy ultrasound! A majority of my friends say girl and a majority of the girls in my support group say boy. People continue to ask what I want. All I want is a healthy baby. Another popular question I'm asked is what I think baby is. Personally I think baby is a boy. When I was pregnant with my son I constantly dreamed I was having a girl. It's the same for this baby. Anytime I dream about the baby I always dream baby is a girl. So it must be a boy. Either way I will be happy.
Definitely been feeling some movement. I was body slammed last week while leaning over to give my nephew a kiss goodbye. Oh boy!
I'm starting to feel movements. Sometimes it's a nudge and sometimes it's a flutter. David is getting more excited too. He comes up and rubs my belly. He is being helpful. He does most of the housework for me and rubs my feet every night. William still has no idea what's going on. He uses my tummy as a cushion.
I won't deny that I have problems. I've had panic attacks and days where I just have no motivation for anything. I just lay in bed wondering why life sucks so much. Usually something triggers these depression episodes. Most recently it's because I'm stressed about money and my car isn't working the way it should. I reached a breaking point.
After spending most of Sunday (yesterday) crying, feeling sorry for myself, laying in bed and ignoring the housework that needed to be done and my child who just wanted to play with his mommy and a husband who has no idea how to make me feel better.
Thankfully I had an appointment today with my midwife. I told her about my weekend as she was already aware that I occasionally suffer from depression/anxiety. Starting tomorrow I start taking Zoloft. I'm terrified that I now require medication but I'm even more terrified of the darkness that settles in. I hate feeling so low. So I'm relieved that I'm getting help. In a couple weeks I will be a more brighter person. I'm on the right road to a better me.
Hormones. Or as I like to call them: horror-mones. They can turn even the sweetest and gentlest of women into a raging psychotic bitch. My poor husband can testify to this. Some women cry a lot. Some are just up and down. Some... well... you should just wear a bullet proof everything.
As for me? I tear up a little easier. Emotional events make my emotions more emotional. Like my son turning two in two weeks or when my grandpa passed away. But most of the time I'm calm one moment and then I'm the wife from Hell for about 30 seconds and then I'm completely fine. Again, my poor husband.
If there are any men reading this, my husband recommends you follow his example. When I randomly snap at him, for absolutely nothing, he pauses till the mood passes and then continues on with his conversation or whatever he was doing before those pesky horror-mones got the better of me. he chooses to do this instead of getting defensive or telling me to calm down. It's saved us from many unnecessary arguments. Ladies, if your man (or wife if that's fits your family better) is doing this already, keep him forever!
Hip pain. God awful, keep me from sleeping well, aching, just chop my legs off, hip pain.
It all started as I was nearing the end of my hike around Lone Pine State Park. It started off as mild discomfort and stayed like that most of the day. Until I went to bed.
I have a hard enough staying asleep as it is. I always get up at least twice in the night to pee. I awoke every couple hours because the hip pain made it difficult to get comfortable. Make that impossible.
When I woke up yesterday morning there still was no relief. I tried yoga poses. No relief. I tried drinking water. Maybe it was just some bizarre dehydration thing? No. So I waddled about while babysitting for my friend (away from my home). At points, I wanted to cry.
After I finished babysitting I had errands to run. Maybe walking around the store might relieve some pain. No.
Around 6:30 I stopped to visit a friend and her couch has a back massager. The vibrations from the massager did something good. My hips weren't in agony. Oh sweet relief! I picked my husband up from work and I took a hot shower. I washed with a soap for aches and pains. I laid down on my bed and my wonderful husband rubbed a muscle relaxing lotion on my hips and it was soothing enough I was asleep (and comfortable) in no time.
I'm not sure if the hip pain is from hiking itself or if it's just a pregnancy thing. My hips still hurt today but it's not nearly as bad as yesterday.
It's not an easy task when you're exhausted and all you want to do is rest and satisfy your cravings, but staying healthy when expecting is important.
What do I do? I try to stay active. Prenatal yoga is a great way to do so. It's something you can do in the comfort of your own home. The dvd I use its nice and calm. Simple easy stretches that make sure I move at least thirty minutes a day. For me it has a bonus: it helps my restless leg syndrome to ease up.
Walking is a good way to stay active too. As the weather gets nicer I find myself outside more and more. Today I actually went for a hike! Instead of driving to the grocery store for that one thing you need, walk instead. Fide needs to go potty? Take him for a quick walk.
These are just two of the things I do to get myself moving. And I am not very good at a regular schedule but I shoot to do my yoga twice a week and walk whenever I get the opportunity.
Hydration is important too. I have always been bad at drinking plenty of water. I have to really make a conscious effort to even get half of what you should drink when your pregnant.
Eating right. Yeah, I suck at that too. But I try to always have a healthy snack in my fridge or pantry. And when I make a boxed meal (I'm not fantastic at cooking) I try to throw in a healthy side. Incorporating little things like that help me make healthier choices.
Forget the ultrasound. Forget the fact that my clothes are starting to get snug. Forget all of this cravings and other wild symptoms. Forget the positive pregnancy test. Nothing reassures you that you really are pregnant like hearing the baby's heartbeat. I was happy to have my husband and son in the room to hear. My son isn't quite two yet so he didn't really care. But David is more excited.
Here I am a few days into week 11. Only 2 more weeks till my third trimester. What have I had for symptoms?
Well I am happy to say that I made it through with very little morning sickness. I had a few days of nausea and only one day where I actually vomitted. It's been rather nice.
I started off with some breast tenderness. I also started off with a strong craving for pizza. Now my cravings change from day to day.
I'm also starting to show a bit. My clothes are getting snugger and I'm actually putting on maternity pants. They are so much more comfortable.
I've also experienced itchyness, restless leg syndrome and, of course, exhaustion.
I find relief in doing prenatal yoga and going for walks.
Is there any difference between this time and last time? Yes, yes there is. Last time I had awful morning sickness and no breast tenderness.
What's the same? Though my choices in cravings are different I do quite enjoy that symptom. Restless legs syndrome and itchyness are the same.
Here we go again! It almost feels unreal! I've been wanting this but now I'm scared as well as excited. Stay tuned for more!
