Why the rush?

I'm in a group online and I'm starting to see a trend. Moms to be are so excited and uncomfortable they want to have their baby RIGHT NOW. Some of these ladies are less than what is considered Early Term (37 - 39 weeks) and definitely not Full Term. They are now considering 39 weeks to be Full Term, and 41 - 42 Late Term in case you thought 37 weeks was it.

I get that we're uncomfortable. I get that we're excited. I'm right there with you. Pregnancy is 40 weeks for a reason. The average is actually 41 weeks and 3 days. Our babies are still developing up until the time they start labour. Let me repeat that last part - THEY START LABOUR. Not you. Babies come when they are ready. Sometimes that fits our schedule, most of the time it doesn't. Sometimes it doesn't fit the medical schedule either and we're "overdue". When they are early for whatever reason - sometimes it's in our control, most times it's not - there are higher risks of problems arising (not saying it always happens but the risks are greater). Lungs aren't developed properly, the immune system isn't finished, breastfeeding can be more of a challenge and the list goes on. Why wish that for your baby just to ease your comfort? Suck it up.

There are definitely things like exercise, teas, massage, etc that can help labour, but they won't start anything unless your body (read: baby) is ready. This may be me being naive as a first time mom and not having reached 40 weeks yet. I am uncomfortable and I know it will get more uncomfortable as the weeks go by. My comfort will mean nothing and seem incredibly selfish if bébé is born and has problems somehow. It's not about you anymore.

I'm a firm believer that my body and baby know what their doing. I believe that when it's time, it's time. Am I going to book an acupressure appointment for 40 weeks and a few days? Absolutely. Am I going to book it at 37 weeks? No.
Will I ask to be induced medically or have a membrane sweep at 38 weeks? No. I don't think that intervening early is necessary. It opens you and baby up for complications, higher risks and infection and issues after birth. Could intervention be something I consider when I'm nearing 42 weeks? Possibly, but that's another conversation at a later date if it's needed.

Let your bébé bake. They will arrive when they are suppose to. And if you're late according to the medical system, there's a whole different conversation to have at that point.

36 Weeks

How Far Along: 36 Weeks - I feel like I JUST wrote my 35 week post. Time is moving fast and slow at the same time.
4 Weeks until my due date.
1.5 weeks until I'm finished teaching (most of my students. I'm keeping a few of my adults going for another week)

Baby Size: Honey Dew

Symptoms: Heartburn acts up depending on what I eat. With all the movement bébé is doing I feel rolling waves of nausea somedays. Sharp shooting pain straight down my cervix area. Lots of Braxton Hicks. Tired more through the day than I have been. Still a huge lack of concentration.

Weight Gain: 19 lbs.

Sleep: Still getting up frequently. Some nights more than others. Hip pain here and there but mostly still sleeping as well as I can be.

Best Moment of the Week: Getting compliments from random people about how great I look.
At our prenatal class this week, we did a "labour rehearsal". Basically our teacher gave us a card of how our "labour" was going and called out Contraction! and we had to get into whatever position made sense for what we were doing at that point in time, be it walking, squatting, in the bathroom, relaxation, etc. It seems silly, but I think both Gilles and I found it really helpful to put what we've learned into a practice. Nothing can prepare you fully, but at least we both feel like we're more ready for it all.

Worst Moment of the Week: Having to leave church after 30 minutes because I was going to pass out. I felt SO sick from low blood pressure and sugar. I got up twice in the first half hour and then couldn't do it anymore. Drove myself home and laid on the couch for the rest of the morning. I've had a couple mornings like that. I'm hoping they don't increase in frequency

Any cravings or aversions: Anything dairy. Milk definitely. Fudgesicles are fantastic right now

Wedding ring on or off: Opting for my wedding band now. Still take it off to sleep.

Belly button In or Out: small outie now

What I'm looking forward to: Setting up more baby stuff around the house. Once Saturday comes and goes I'll be able to. Piano lessons and the recital are nearly over.

What I miss: Running and bike riding. Won't be able to do either of those until August.

Emotions: Feeling like I want to be done teaching but at the same time I know it's good for me to have the distraction and something to do. I'm irritated with my energy levels and not being able to clean my house more

Nursery: Picked up a diaper pail from my sister. Just need to put a new liner in it and buy a new charcoal filter. 

Shopping: Bought a bassinet mattress. We got a bassinet handed down to us, but it needed a new mattress. Should be here next week! 

To-do: Finish another assignment for my courses. You'd think writing a resume wouldn't take long but I haven't started yet.

Fun comparison shot from the week we found out to 36.

35 Weeks = 35 days left!

How Far Along: We've hit the milestone of 35/35. 35 Weeks Pregnant. 35 Days left.

Baby Size: Coconut

Symptoms: Hips and knees are sore. Low back is sore when I lay down to sleep. Starting get a 'zing' in my cervix area every once in a while. I had some period-like cramping but nothing to be concerned about.
Bébé is moving around a lot still but has firmly positioned himself/herself with head down in my pelvis.  My OB this week said baby's head is very low.
Love seeing his/her little bum move back and forth across my stomach. Starting to be able to see feet stick out my side which is very uncomfortable at some points. Alien!!
Definitely experiencing pregnancy brain. Having a hard time concentrating on anything for more than 15 minutes. Good thing is, I work for a bit on something and then switch to something else so I'm not bored.

Weight Gain: 18 lbs.

Sleep: Because my hips get sore when I lay on either side, I wake up from that, then have to pee. Past couple nights have been up 4 times. I've had a couple people say "Oh, that's like having a newborn". Yes and no. The number of times I'm up maybe, but blindly going to the bathroom and back to bed is not the same as getting up, feeding our bébé for however long it will take and then going back to sleep. The time I'm up will be drastically different.

Best Moment of the Week: My OB appointment. I asked about eating at the hospital during labour. She said absolutely, as long as there is no risk of a c-section at that point in time. So unless I'm induced, or there is some reason for a section, I'm able to eat/drink what I want. This is great news because of my low blood sugar.

Worst Moment of the Week: More and more heartburn is coming back. I've tried to watch what I'm eating to trigger it, but I'm starting to think it's just pregnancy at this point. Not bad considering I've done without heartburn for the majority of it.
I also had a few days with morning sickness again. Not fun, but it seems to have subsided

Any cravings or aversions: Still craving sugary foods. Trying to combat that with fruit rather than junk. Definitely able to eat more at a time which is great.

Wedding ring on or off: On during the day again. Swelling a little at night so I take it off before bed.

Belly button In or Out: Definitely flattened.

What I'm looking forward to: Post-pregnancy: Laying on my back.

What I miss: Spring. It snowed every day this past week. I'm so tired of it!

Emotions: Nesting instinct is in full swing. I'm starting to feel worried about post-partum and my emotions. There's not much I can do now but prepare as much as I can and get a support team in place.

Nursery: So close to being done. A couple more things left! Here is a sneak peek at the decal. I love the colours so much. Makes the room so much brighter.

Shopping: Amazingly enough, nothing! 

To-do: Try out meals from my "freezer meal" list.

34 Weeks

How Far Along: 34 Weeks

Baby Size: Watermelon or Butternut Squash

Symptoms: I had a horrible charlie horse last week that went away after relaxing, but the muscle was sore for the last week. Hungry. It's like first trimester again. I feel like I need to keep some snacks on my bedside for when I wake up in the morning.

Weight Gain: 17 lbs.

Sleep: Takes more and more effort to turn over and a little longer to get comfortable. Still sleeping fairly well once I am asleep.

Best Moment of the Week: Having my mom see the nursery almost complete.

Worst Moment of the Week: Heartburn making a comeback. I know it's food related so I need to keep on eye on what I'm eating better

Any cravings or aversions: Sugar. Definitely craving junk food

Wedding ring on or off: On except at night. I woke up with pinch marks so I may start wearing just one instead of both

Belly button In or Out: Hood. Not an outie completely.

What I'm looking forward to: Maternity photos this week!

What I miss: Not having to put boots and a parka on every time I go outside. I'm so sick of winter. That said, I don't really have any spring maternity clothes.

Emotions: Getting excited, anxious and nervous. Frustrated with myself and lack of mental concentration to finish my courses.

Nursery: Wall decal came in. Just need to put it up. Glider is almost finished being stained. 

Shopping: Zulily.com got me good this week. So did the crunchy mama store. I bought a Belly Bandit for post partum, a nursing bra and shirt. Bought some great cloth diaper laundry detergent, wool dryer balls, red raspberry leaf tea. I also bought another cloth diaper and 3 covers from TenderTushies.

To-do: Study. I need to be more diligent about it.

33 Weeks

How Far Along: 33 Weeks

Baby Size: Watermelon

Symptoms: Hip pain on my right. Achey low back. Nothing too bad, just uncomfortable. Shortness of breath and very thirsty all the time.

Weight Gain: 17 lbs.

Sleep: Crazy dreams that keep me awake after. Typically most dreams I have resolve themselves before I wake up, but these ones aren't and it's frustrating. They aren't terrible or nightmares, just annoying.

Best Moment of the Week: Seeing bébé again for an ultrasound. Found out he/she has LOTS of hair and long legs. Measuring perfectly. Finding out my blood test results for antibodies was clear.

Worst Moment of the Week: Unrelated baby stuff but it's all good now.

Any cravings or aversions: Starting to see things on TV that people are eating and think that would be tasty, but never enough to go and get it.

Wedding ring on or off: On but getting snug.

Belly button In or Out: Outie, but not by much.

What I'm looking forward to: getting back to yoga

What I miss: sleeping through the night. It will be a long time before that happens again

Emotions: irritable and impatient. Feeling like everything is very real. Booked all my prenatal appointments from now until 1 day past my due date. Didn't have to flip the calendar that far. yikes!

Nursery: Ordered a decal for the wall

Shopping: Bought one soother clip

To-do: Study some more. I'm so close!

32 Weeks

How Far Along: 32 Weeks

Baby Size: Squash

Symptoms: Tired. Some hip pain on my right side. Sore low back.

Weight Gain: 16 lbs. Didn't gain anything this week. Hoping for a growth spurt at my next appointment

Sleep: With the hip pain I'm tossing and turning more, but still feeling fairly rested in the mornings.

Best Moment of the Week: Meeting my OB and really liking her.

Worst Moment of the Week: Being told I'm measuring small by 4 weeks and low on the weight gain end.

Any cravings or aversions: Lots of things are sounding good this week. Pancakes were the biggest one

Wedding ring on or off: On.

Belly button In or Out: Getting a bit of a hood overtop but still not an outie

What I'm looking forward to: Having an ultrasound Monday to see how the baby is doing.

What I miss: Crab legs and shrimp and lobster

Emotions: Feeling like there are less important things in life as the due date gets closer

Nursery: Organized the things I bought this week

Shopping: Bought the rest of the newborn diapers, a wetbag for the nursery and one for my diaper bag. Bought some shampoo/baby wash and a few things for me post-partum

To-do: Study. Study. Study

31 Weeks

How Far Along: 31 Weeks - SINGLE DIGIT WEEKS LEFT!!!!

Baby Size: Pineapple

Symptoms: Tired. Knot in my back, pain in the front opposite it.

Weight Gain: 16 lbs. Lost two pounds this week. I wasn't feeling well and had a couple days of not eating much.

Sleep: Good week this week. Had a couple nights of only getting up once which was amazing.

Best Moment of the Week: 
Went shopping with my mom this weekend when I went to stay with my parents. She helped knock a few things off my list. The rest I can get next week from the crunchy mama store and I'm done shopping.

Worst Moment of the Week: Being tired like first tri again

Any cravings or aversions: Moved on to apples instead of oranges

Wedding ring on or off: On.

Belly button In or Out: Slightly poking out just a bit. Still not an outie!

What I'm looking forward to: FINALLY seeing my OB tomorrow. I get a 1 - 1.5 hr appointment with her. I'm excited. Also have a prenatal massage tomorrow at my chiropractors office. Can't wait.

What I miss: Not being light headed

Emotions: Ready to meet this bébé

Nursery: Gilles is still sanding and staining the glider. The bookshelf is done, which is awesome. Looks great!

Shopping: My cousin offered to sell me some newborn cloth diapers. Kissaluvs and two Bummies Super Brite covers. They are adorable!!
6 THX diapers coming from the diaper co-op. Going to the store next week to buy prefolds and then I'm done!

To-do: Study. Study. Study