33 Weeks on the Dot

[ 32w6d ]

My due date is seven weeks from today. My last day of work before "maternity leave" is five weeks from tomorrow. The weeks are flyin' by!

Friday, I had a doctor's appointment. He said I was measuring right on target, and we had a long talk about natural childbirth and epidurals. His perspective is, why go through all that pain if you don't have to, but he's okay with me trying the natural childbirth route. Honestly, it left me a little uneasy.

Then Adam and I went to the childbirth class on Saturday afternoon, and I was reassured. I found out all sorts of things I can put in my birth plan to help me labor, like a rocking chair or a birth ball. As long as my doctor and I agree on the birth plan (which he said he would as long as it wasn't too off the wall), Labor and Delivery will accommodate.

The woman who taught the class was great, and I was the annoying student with all the questions. But I left feeling like this hospital is a good choice for us to have our child. Adam and I also signed up for a natural childbirth class with the same teacher, which starts on Sunday.

Saturday, we also set up all the baby stuff in the baby's room (it's not perfect, but the "nursery" is still going to be a bit of a catch-all room). I was happy to see everything put together and to play with the jogging stroller. Now, we just need to get a sling/wrap and install the carseat, and we're pretty much set.

Next Friday is my next appointment. We'll also be meeting with a pediatrician that day -- and hoping he agrees with our philosophies, particularly on breastfeeding and vaccinations.

Sweep the Leg, Baby

[31w4d]

This week, I definitely hit a new phase in the pregnancy. In combination with the baby's punch/jab/ninja routine, it has started pushing out against my stomach, sometime sweeping its body along my insides. It usually catches me off guard and often it tickles. It's strange that putting my hand where the baby is moving, I can feel whatever is pushing out. Then, I usually start feeling around -- where it's hard, it's baby and where it's not, it's just fluid. I like touching it, though, since it's about as close as I can get to actually touching it before it comes out.

I also have been really tired, which I expected since everything I've been told or read has said the third trimester can be as tiring as the first. Sleeping is just flat out annoying with all the flipping back and forth all night and pillow readjusting. Thankfully, it's only for another couple of weeks.

I went back to the gym this week for the first time in a month. My body felt so good afterward, so I'm planning on returning as frequently as I can.

Back to the doc on Friday and birthing class on Saturday. I'm really looking forward to both.

30 Weeks

[30w2d]

Okay. Don't look directly at the double chin in this picture. I swear my face doesn't really look like that -- it's just that I'm turned and looking down. This is what happens when I take a self-portrait instead of waiting for a time Adam is around. But look at that belly! It's funny to me that in the day to day it doesn't seem to change a whole lot, but some weeks it grows a bunch.

Today was another doctor's appointment. Adam went with me, though we didn't have too many questions. It's good for both of us to hear the heartbeat (my favorite part) and chat with the doctor. Dr. Ives said I'm healthy and everything looks good. My fundal height is right on track and my weight gain is a little high, but he's not worried. So far, I've gained 28 pounds, but he said since I was thin to begin with, I can stand a bit of extra cushioning. Also, he reminded us that we need to find a pediatrician soon.

While I was eating lunch today, the baby was quite literally partying in my belly and Adam could see it moving from across the room. I guess it still has a decent amount of wiggle room in there, even though it now weighs about three pounds. Still, there's two and a half months to go and a lot of growing left to do. Also, it's head down right now, and we're hoping it stays that way.

I often find myself wondering if it's a boy or a girl. Honestly, I have no clue and haven't had any feelings one way or the other. I had a dream two nights ago that it was a girl, but that could just be my subconscious playing tricks on me. I also wonder a lot about who this kid is, what his/her personality will be like. It's strange to be so close to someone, know virtually nothing about them, and still care so much for them. Then again, this whole process is weird. But we'll meet this little goober soon enough.

29 Weeks

[29w]

Between being out of town for a week and then being exhaustingly sick for the past five days, I haven't had a chance to update here. But here it is -- sickly me and my belly at 29 weeks. If you look closely at the closeup, you can see my belly button poking out. It hasn't turned inside out yet, but a lot of what used to be the inside has become part of my belly or a small protrusion. I guess it's cute.

Sleeping has become somewhat of a challenge. My hips hurt a lot during the night, requiring a lot of flipping from one side to the other and a ton of pillows. Thankfully, none of my bedmates seem to mind much, but I can't wait to be able to sleep on my back and stomach again.

I had a nice trip to Rochester and was blessed with many a baby gift -- outfits, board books, bath stuff, and (especially) blankets. We have most of the essentials, I think, and some spending money to buy what we still need (like a breast pump and a diaper bag). And we have our cloth diapers, which I am still so excited about.

My next doctor's appointment is next Friday, then I start seeing him every other week. Also, Adam and I are signed up to take a birthing class at the end of the month, and I'll be going to a breastfeeding class and infant CPR in early April.

Only 11 short weeks to go!

The Last Days of the Second Trimester

[26w5d]

Depending on who you ask, today is my last day in the second trimester. Some say I have another week. At this point, it really doesn't matter. We're in the home stretch. I have three months and two days until my due date.

Three months still feels like a long way off. I know it isn't, but when I consider how much hip pain I have (especially on my left side) and how hard the baby kicks, I can't imagine what the third trimester will bring. Also, last night was the first time I'd slept well in a week, due mostly to our kitten who spends her nights either sleeping directly on me (the other night I woke up and she was on my neck -- what the?) or is running around the house, playing with the blinds, or batting around the antenna on my clock radio. She doesn't understand that pregnant ladies need their sleep.

I had another appointment this past Friday and took the glucose test. My blood test had to be less than 135 and I'm proud to say it was a measly 97. Thankfully, sugar and me can remain friends. I also now have gained 22 pounds, teetering just under 170. Yikes. Pregnancy is beautiful but, frankly, the scale sucks. I don't understand, though, how the standard weight gain can be the same for some petite little 100 pounder and me, who is pretty solid and has always looked like I weigh less than I do. I keep telling Adam that I think I'll end up gaining somewhere around 40 pounds (5ish pounds more than recommended), and I'm okay with that. I eat when I'm hungry, I exercise a lot, and I like chocolate.

Lucky me, I will see many of my favorite people this coming week. Living so far away makes going home such a treat. Rochester, here I come.

Less Than 100 Days

[25w5d]

This past Sunday marked 100 days to go before Baby C's estimated arrival! And while I'm in New York next week, I'll make the switch to the third trimester!

It's been an uneventful week, babywise. My mom sent down a few gifts from our registry, so we have a few things for the baby, though still not much. It feels like we still have lots of time to get things together. I hope that's true.

Adam started classes again this week, and I have my evenings to myself. That should give me lots of time to get organized, if I'm ever not tired at the end of the day or what I want to do doesn't involve moving things. I'm not too worried. What more could a newborn need than a place to sleep, a dry diaper, and a pair of boobs?

I have a doctor's appointment on Friday and have to take the one-hour glucose test to find out if it's possible I have gestational diabetes. I desperately hope I don't. Chocolate has become a staple in my pregnancy diet.

Then, I'm bundling up and heading north on Wednesday. Thank goodness I'm not too big yet, or I might need a new wardrobe to handle the below freezing temperatures. Cold or not, I'm definitely looking forward to it!

25 Weeks

[24w5d]

In this picture, I'm fighting a cold. We fought all weekend, mostly on the couch with my eyes closed. Today, I feel better.

Adam said he though my belly grew this week, and it looks like he's right. It's hard to believe how big my belly might (and probably will get) in the next few months. Right now, it's a great size -- just big enough to be noticeable but not getting in the way of things. And I can still button my winter coat, which will be handy when I'm in New York in two weeks.

Friday morning, I had a bit of a scare that sent me to the doctor that afternoon. Everything is okay, though. Adam and I heard the baby's heartbeat and the doctor found an infection that I'm now treating with antibiotics. Then, I spent the weekend with this darned cold. Otherwise, I've been feeling great.

All I know is that being pregnant is hard. People see pregnant ladies and think they're all cute and full of life, which is true, but everything is changing and so fast -- it's hard to adjust. My body is different, I can't believe how much I weigh, when I lay on my back I get nauseous, I can't eat feta cheese or a turkey sandwich without feeling like the worst mother ever. But I keep reminding myself that I get to have a baby after all of this. A real baby.

I'm still flabbergasted.