35-36 Weeks

Hi Everyone!  Sorry my posts seem so sporadic these days.  I've been losing energy and motivation for just about everything.  The Memorial Day weekend was greatly appreciated by this lady for the extra day of lounging and putting my feet up!

How far along? 36 weeks

36 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Up 32 lbs. 




Stretch marks? No stretch marks.

Sleep: I'm sleeping ok.  I'm getting up ALOT to go to the bathroom, I counted 5 times the other night.  It hurts now to get up from a side sleeping position.  The belly just aches to lift myself upright.  I try and nap on the weekends, but weekdays are tough on me with a full work day so by 8:30pm I'm ready for bed and still have a hard time getting up in the morning.



35 Weeks

Movement: Baby C is moving ALOT.  He's moving so much it's making me uncomfortable.  I swear I even feel him in my upper leg pulling on some nerve strings.  He's reaching out above his head I think and shoving his little feet between my ribs.  He's running out of room in there, he needs to come out soon.  Please.  :)

Food cravings: Back on the fruit cravings again the past couple weeks.  I can't get enough blueberries, bananas, strawberries, and fruit juices like cranberry and pineapple.  I've also been craving alcohol.  I think it has to do with all the beautiful weather we're having.  I have had a couple virgin mojitos the past few weeks and they are SO good!  Definitely hit the craving.


Special things I'm focusing on:   We have our "Go Bag" pretty much all packed except for a few other essentials I need to get.  Here is a list of what is in there now:

"GO BAG" LIST:

Depends

Tucks Medicated Pads

Boob-ease nipple balm

Travel size toiletries, wash clothes

Make- Up

Hair ties and head bands

Baby Stuff:  couple onesies - homecoming outfit, receiving blanket, baby wipes, baby socks, & baby hat

My Pretty Pusher delivery gown and Postpartum underwear (which has a place for the ice packs the hospital gives you. SCORE!)  Use Coupon code KKL006 for 10% off if you're shopping for something like that.

Two blankets (one for Eddie, one for me)

Pillow

Empty bag (for goodies the hospital gives you)

Nursing lounge dress (I was told that the nurses come "check" on your lady parts every hour and prefer you to not have any pants/shorts on, so I grabbed one of these soft lounge dresses which makes it easy access for nursing too.

Socks

Boppy

Still to get and pack:  I need a Styrofoam cooler for the placenta for encapsulation, a homecoming outfit for myself and Eddie, snacks, breast pump (to be taught by the lactation consultants how to use and manage), water bottles and I'm sure a few other odds and ends I'll throw in the day I'll go into labor.

I compiled this list based on advice from friends and the Doula.


We have installed the car seat in my car.  YIKES!  Feels so weird driving around with that in the back.  I haven't put up the mirror that will show baby, but man...this is all so surreal.

Car seat is ready for Baby C!

 

On a sad note, I received some bad news this week that I'm still upset about.  Our Doula has backed out on assisting us during birth due to family matters.  I am extremely disappointed with only a month left... give or take before Baby C makes his debut.  She referred another Doula to us, but I'm just not sure at this stage in the game I want to go with someone I haven't even met yet.  Eddie and I are both pretty disappointed about it, however we do feel more comfortable after our few meetings with the Doula we had with all the information she was able to provide us to help us make some tough decisions about birth and after birth procedures. 

Labor Signs: I have been 1cm dilated for the past two weeks!  WOOP!  I have also been having cramping daily and "braxton hicks".  Last night was rough night of braxton hicks...every couple hours or so I would get another one, had one every time I had to get up to pee.

Belly Button in or out? It's an outtie. 

Wedding rings on or off? Still wearing the rings with no real swelling issues.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, but tired and uncomfortable.  Been pretty moody about having to wear flats.  I miss heels!!!  I think the flats make me look swollen and puffy.

I had a wonderful surprise baby shower at work this week.  Such a caring work-family I have.  It was a wonderful lunch and they spoiled us with gifts!

 

 

 

 

 

 Looking forward to: LABOR! 

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Memorial Weekend.  We did!  Even Buddy got in the spirit!  Eddie and I participated in our Crossfit Box's annual "Murph" workout.  The workout is:
1 Mile Run
100 Pull Ups
200 Push ups
300 Air Squats
1 Mile Run

I, of course did a modified, barely a quarter of Murph.  I did a 1 mile walk, with 150 air squats, 50 dips, and about 40 ring rows.  Better than nothing, I say!

34 Weeks

34 Weeks

Hello everyone!  I can't believe it's been 4 weeks since my last post!   Oops!!  But so much has happened, so much has changed and so much to tell.

By 32 weeks and having very little energy after work to drag myself to the gym for crossfit, I decided to save the money and put my membership on hold. I was very, very sad about this decision. I felt I had given up. I always told myself I would be one of those people who worked out til the day I went into labor. Well I'm not. The stairs at work, the stairs in the new house, cleaning, and lots of walking is about all the activity my body can seem to handle these days. I get winded very quickly... Baby C is clearly sitting on my lungs.

Everything hurts!  Ok, I may be slightly exaggerating... a little.  My back gets sore for any length of time on my feet, while my calves and my feet also seem to ache.  My DIY foot rest at work has been a lifesaver! ;)  

Footrest at work! ha ha



Eddie and I spent this past Sunday morning doing some yard work at the old house.  While he mowed, I weeded the back garden and dug up some plants to transfer to the new house.  We then went back to the new house, and I then planted all those plants.  By 2pm, I was literally crawling to get to the bathroom.  I thought my back was going to snap in half.  I definitely over did it.  It was a sad realization that my body isn't where my head is.


We successfully completed the birthing class!  Ha ha, which led us to realize we didn't want to deliver at St. Agnes Hospital due to some of their birthing protocols.  I know I don't want to be laboring in a bed, or at least as little as possible.  I want to be mobile, let gravity help the process.  In the birthing class the biggest thing we learned were all different kinds of positions to try during labor... and the worst one to be in was laying in a bed.  I enjoyed the experience with Eddie of the birthing class.  It taught me an important step... to tour some facilities or birthing centers PRIOR to choosing a doctor.  We now have an appointment with a new doctor strictly because we found another birthing hospital we prefer.  Kind of a scary transfer at this stage of the game, but I had some great referrals from the birthing class instructor and spoke to some people on the tour of Mercy Hospital that went to our newly chosen doctor's practice that said some comforting and reassuring things.

We hired a Doula!!!  We had our first prenatal visit with her this week, and she gave us a TON of information!  I'll update you all on that in my next post.  Lots of good info!!

How far along? 34 weeks


Total weight gain/loss: Up 31 lbs.  


32 Weeks

Maternity clothes? everything is getting tighter!  My one pair of black maternity pants for work may be just about done with.  They are uncomfortable to wear.  I just ordered two Liz Lange cotton dresses from Target to take me through the home stretch, one size larger than the previous dresses I bought in that brand.  With 6 weeks left, I'm hoping this is it for maternity purchases.

Stretch marks? Still no stretch marks!  WOO HOO

Sleep: Sleeping pretty well...but when I have to get up to go to the bathroom (3-4 times per night) my belly aches.  I'm no longer using just my ab muscles to lift myself up, I'm using my arms and swinging my legs for momentum to get myself up. 

Movement: The kid must have my elbows...paybacks a bitch.

Food cravings: Sweets!  I've been having lots of sweets cravings.  I need to start curbing this new addiction back some, but it's been very easy to indulge since Easter with all the goodies. I've also been snacking on blueberries.

 

Special things I'm focusing on:   Reminding myself to rest.  I'm also compiling a list to put in our "Go Bag" for the hospital.  Eddie had the "Go Bag" all picked out.  So far the only things I have in there is some after birth underroos as I'm calling them, from my friend Kristin, some tucks pad she gave me also, the baby's homecoming outfit, hat and blanket and some make up.  Ha ha...yes I packed some make up.

Labor Signs: No, other than just being uncomfortable, cause I hear labor is pretty uncomfortable.

Belly Button in or out? It's an outtie.  Eddie told me at 31 weeks that I wasn't allowed to call it a half innie-half outtie anymore.  It's an outtie.  Period.

Wedding rings on or off? Still wearing the rings with no real swelling issues.

Happy or Moody most of the time:   Happy, but tired.

Looking forward to: LABOR!  I know, I'm crazy, but this whole pregnancy thing has been fun and all, and I've been blessed with a great, no issues pregnancy,  but I'm over it.  Let's do this!



34 Weeks



 

30 Weeks

Hi everyone!  Everyone gearing up for the Easter weekend?  It should be relatively busy for us.  We have our first half of a birthing class at the hospital Saturday and on Sunday a small get together for Brunch!  It should be a fun weekend.

The meeting with the first Doula went wonderfully.  She is also a Labor and Delivery nurse at a local hospital so her experience with that I think is wonderful.  She is very balanced and flexible in her practice.  By that I mean, she works with all types of deliveries medicated or not.  Which I'd like to go unmedicated as long as possible with the hopes of not using any, but I'm not completely opposed to using it if medically necessary or I just wimp out from the pain.  We have another Doula we'll be meeting next week as well and between the two, we hope to make a decision on one or the other or see how we feel about having one at all after the first half of the birthing class this weekend.

How far along? 30 weeks



Total weight gain/loss: Up 28 lbs



Maternity clothes? I'm not sure if it's the maternity dresses and tops I'm wearing, but everyone at work has been commenting this week on how much I've 'popped' this week.  Baby C is popping out to say hello everybody!!

Stretch marks? No stretch marks.

Sleep: Sleeping beautifully still. 

Movement: Baby C is moving around all the time, in fact right now I'm looking down at my belly and I can see him moving across my belly from side to side.  He seems to favor kicking my right side.  I told the doctor how active he has been lately, she told me an active baby in the womb typically means a very happy baby out of the womb.  :)

 

Food cravings: This week I craved Nachos, yogurt and beer.  I have finally endulged in the N-A beers, and I have to admit, they taste amazing.

The past week I was pretty much off the Whole30.  I'm not really torn up about this time because after talking to the doctor, my tests came back all normal.  I'm not anemic or diabetic and she said I was at a perfect weight and one of the healthiest pregnant women she has seen in awhile.  YEAH!!  Although she did say try not lose weight but also try not to gain....  I find that maybe the gaining part might be difficult, but I have done really well in the past 6 weeks only gaining 3 lbs!  Especially since I've 'popped' out so much.

30 Weeks Vs. 24 Weeks

 

Special things I'm focusing on: Staying active, eating well and getting plenty of rest.

Labor Signs: Few nights of Braxton Hicks this week that lasted about a half hour each

Belly Button in or out? half innie, half outtie

Wedding rings on or off? Still on, and swelling from previous week must be down, because they are not tight anymore.

Happy or Moody most of the time:   Happy and emotional about silly stuff.  I was listening to the Jesus Christ Superstar album this week and got all weepy listening to some of those songs.  HA HA! 

Looking forward to: The birthing class and Brunch on Sunday....the menu we've put together has me hungry.  :)

 

Happy Easter!!

 

29 Weeks

It's a busy week for me, so this post will be short and sweet! 

How far along? 29 weeks



Total weight gain/loss: Up 26 lbs



Maternity clothes? I'm ready for it to get nice and warm so I can wear dresses without pantyhose which I have not bought ANY maternity pantyhose.  I've just cut the top a little to have some extra room and have been wearing them below the bump.

Stretch marks? No stretch marks, but the belly has been very itchy lately.

Sleep: Sleeping beautifully 

Movement: Baby C I'm beginning to think sleeps when I sleep, and plays while I work or watch tv.

Food cravings: I'm craving donuts ALL. THE. TIME.  Eddie caved on the Whle30 and then bought us donuts over the weekend.  I caved too.  Don't put donuts in a house with a pregnant woman....

However, I'm back on routine with the Whole30 for the week.  Lots of veggies in store this week, cucumber tomato salads, a cabbage and kielbasa stew, and I went a little nuts on the fruit and have pineapple, strawberries, bananas and melon.  I could eat pineapples all day long.


Special things I'm focusing on:   Staying active, eating as well as I can for the Whole30 and getting plenty of rest.

Labor Signs: No labor signs.

Belly Button in or out? half innie, half outtie

Wedding rings on or off? Still on, but have started getting a little tighter.

Happy or Moody most of the time:   Mostly happy, but easily irritated again.  Feeling slightly stressed too.  Lots of thoughts are directed into the labor subject, so I feel the need to research and prepare Eddie and I for what's to come.  But that doesn't always go over so well.

Looking forward to: We are interviewing a  Doula this week!!  We'll see how it goes.  Also, going to be finishing up painting the nursery and hopefully getting the rest of the furniture put together!

28 Weeks

This has happened more than once in the past week.

Hi everyone!  Hope everyone is having a great week!  Seems like now that the weather is changing to feel more like spring, everyone is happier!  :)

Well it's official, I'm officially in my third trimester...the homestretch!  I really cannot complain.  I've been very blessed with a smooth pregnancy.

An update on how my doctor appointment went this past week.  Now I've told you I'm scared of needles, well I knew I would be having blood drawn, and the rhogam shot, well they decided throw in the Tdap vaccine too.  So I was stuck with needles three times.  The worst was the blood draw.  The phlebotomist this time was not patient at all with me then because I was so tense she barked at me to relax because I wasn't even bleeding.  I wanted to punch her.  Needless to say, how do you relax when a witch is taking your blood?  I now have a big bruise on my arm which did not happen the last time with the other phlebotomist.

The nurse who administered the shots was an angel...and the vaccine was nothing, however the rhogam shot was administered in my butt, and that was a suprise no matter what!  ;)


How far along? 28 weeks



Total weight gain/loss: I'm now up 26 lbs, which means I only gained 2 lbs last month.  Eating more veggies last month and less crap, seems to have paid off and doctor said everything was perfect and baby is measuring right on target.



Maternity clothes? I had to invest in a new pair of prego pants and a few new tops.  Hopefully this will be all that I will need to carry out the remaining few months.

Stretch marks? still have no stretch marks.
 

Sleep: I'm still sleeping great.  I really do think that starting to sleep train myself early on to sleep on my side with my pregnancy pillow I got from Eddie for Christmas has helped tremendously. 

Best moment this week: How cute are these Tiny Toms ??  Baby C helping those in need already with this purchase.


Miss Anything? Beer.  Cocktails.  There are such pretty cocktails out for spring that I've seen in restaurants and bars that look like fruity juices that just make my mouth water.  YUM

Movement: Baby C  is doing in his thing in there.  He's pretty active while I'm at work and I can look down at my belly while I sit at my desk and see him moving around.

Food cravings: Eddie and I have started the Whole 30 as of April 1st, so I'm mostly craving sugary things and desserts and I can't believe I'm saying this...but chocolate.  I have never liked chocolate, and now that I'm pregnant, I have been having on occasions chocolate cake and candy.  So to crave it....very strange. 

I'm very excited to do the Whole 30 which is basically removing all processed food out of our diets and focusing on real food as the cavemen would have eaten.  Meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts and berries.  So although it's a lot of work with cooking every meal or preparing on weekends for meals for the week, I'd rather be giving Baby C a good start on nutrition now that all those queasy side effects are gone and I feel that I can pretty much eat the way I had hoped to the whole pregnancy. 


Special things I'm focusing on:   The Whole30.  In addition, unpacking and setting up the house still.  It's been a slow process, but I feel we've come a long way already.  A few pieces of the baby's nursery furniture are now put together.  Hooray!!

I've also been getting to the gym once a week.  Not as much as I would like, but I'm keeping my goal to staying active as much as possible, but I just lose all energy by the end of the work day.  I'm sure the move hasn't helped, because I've been doing alot of up and down stairs putting things away as well.  But, hey....still active!  :)

I forgot to share this pic last post.  This was the dogs on their way to the new house!  Who was the most excited to move???  ha ha!

 

Labor Signs: No labor signs this week. 

Belly Button in or out? half innie, half outtie

Wedding rings on or off? Still on, but have started getting a little tighter.

Happy or Moody most of the time:   Been very happy and in a great mood again.

Looking forward to: We're in the process of seeking out a Doula and hope to interview some within the next week or so.  We also have scheduled ourselves for a birthing class at the hosptial we'll be delivering at in addition to a tour of the birthing center.