Oh man, I am behind. The last time I did a weekly update was at 30 weeks. Time is flying!
Forgive the camera-phone-in-the-bathroom shot. We haven’t had the time to take “real” photos lately.
Total weight gain: I haven’t weighed myself since my last appointment on April 11. I was in the middle of getting over some sort of flu/bronchitis nastiness so I hadn’t gained anything from what I could tell on the scale. May have even lost weight actually. Most of it water weight, as my foot bones and ankles were visible again from all the lounging around. That was the ONLY upside to being so sick for 2 weeks.
How big is baby?: Close to 5 1/2 pounds and about 18 inches long. Or the size of a butternut squash. Baby won’t grow much more in length now, and most of his bodily developments are complete. His main job these next few weeks is just to fatten up. Though hopefully not TOO much since he’s still gotta squeeze through my birth canal.
Maternity clothes: Yes. And sadly, some items I bought earlier on no longer fit. Fortunately, my maternity jeans still fit, as do my dresses. I have a feeling I’ll be wearing the same five outfits every week from here on out. I really don’t want to spend any more money on maternity clothes at this point. I need to start saving for some nursing-friendly outfits and bras.
Stretch marks?: Not yet. Shockingly. I think I see a little pinkness happening on my lower belly, but I’ll keep using my stretch oil and hope for the best these next few weeks. I highly doubt I’ll get through this pregnancy without some pretty visible stretch marks, but I just hope they’re minimal and will eventually go away with the help of some creams and lotions.
Sleep: It varies. I get up about 3 times on average to pee each night – sometimes more, sometimes less, but at least twice for sure. And lately, my hips have really started hurting in the middle of the night. I don’t know if it’s hormone-related and they’re spreading, or if it’s from the added weight and pressure I put on them when I sleep on my side at night. It’s really a struggle to roll over from side to side several times a night, and sometimes my back will pop when I roll over which scares the bejeezus out of me and makes me feel like I’m breaking my back. It doesn’t hurt really, it just feels weird.
Best moment this week: Our newborn care class on Saturday was pretty educational and got me super excited to meet our little man. I can’t wait to feed him, bathe him, play with him, rock him to sleep and just get to know him.
I also placed an order for a Cardinals music box that plays “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” It was the first song I ever learned, taught to me by my grandpa as we used to sing it all the time on the way home from daycare. With my grandpa being so sick and possibly (I hate to think about it) not being around before the year is out, I wanted to make sure to carry on the tradition some how.
Oh, and while this is probably more gross to most people than exciting, my boobs have started, um, leaking. Not much, but just a drop here or there. I’m both amazed and happy that my body is responding to growing this baby the way that it has. Even though I’ve read that this is no indication of how breastfeeding will go, it makes me hopeful that I’ll at least have a decent supply.
Movement: Oh yes. Some days more than others. At my last appointment, the OB confirmed that he’s in “launching” position, with his head down, butt up and feet over on my right side. I feel most of his movements either way down low near my bladder (I assume where his arms/head is) and up high on the right (feet). I don’t now if it’s Braxton Hicks or if he’s just stretching, but lately when I feel it, I’ve been able to look down and see what I believe to be the outline of his bum or hip poking out from my stomach.
Food cravings: Nothing crazy but over the last week, I’ve found myself really craving nachos, a chocolate donut, ice cream, and a bologna sandwich. Not at the same time of course.
Food aversions: None really, but now that my stomach is running out of room, my heartburn is back with a vengeance. If I don’t eat, the acids in my stomach give me heartburn and when I do eat, depending on what it is I’ll get heartburn too. For example, a bagel might give me heartburn whereas nachos with jalapenos will not. It’s really odd.
Labor signs: Just some sporadic Braxton Hicks contractions, and sometimes a soreness deep within my girly regions, which may be a labor-prep sign or it could just be the fact that I sit for so long each day and there’s too much weight/pressure on my pelvic area.
Belly button in or out: Definitely in but getting more and more shallow and flat.
What I miss: Fashionable shoes and not walking so slow.
What I’m looking forward to: Finishing the nursery. We’re about 75% done. I’ll be sure to post pics.
Milestone: 35 weeks means I have just 5 weeks left. FIVE. WEEKS. Or less. It’s crunch time, folks. Next week I’ll officially be 9 months and the week after that I’ll be full term and ready to roll at any time.
Other random thoughts: Even though we’re so close, we still have SO much to do. Such as…
- Pick a pediatrician
- Pre-register at the hospital
- Finish the nursery
- Pack a hospital bag
- Install the car seat
- Finish buying some of the necessities from our registry
- Set up the pack ‘n play (so we can use the bassinet part of it for those first few weeks)
- Pick a new doctor – since mine is moving at the end of May
- And then the 35 things I still need to transition or wrap-up at work…
Anyone wanna swap to-do lists?