39 Week Update

Date: August 11, 2013

Next Doctor’s Appointment:  August 14, 2013

 Baby’s size: Baby girl is the size of a watermelon! She weighs about 7 pounds!

How far along:  39 weeks. 

Total weight gain: +29 pounds.  Current weight: 139

Sleep:  Lately I have been getting up more often at night to empty my bladder.  I never thought I would make it to 39 weeks, but it really looks like I might even make it to 40 weeks.  I have felt more pelvic pressure lately.  I did have one day last week that I felt a little crampy, but nothing too uncomfortable or painful at all.  I thought I might have been in the early stages of labor.  I was wrong.  When you get this close to delivery, you become even more aware of your body than ever before.  It has made me really question each new feeling I experience.  This entire pregnancy has really been a dream.  I have been able to stay fit and active throughout the entire process.  Kiley and I have even started jogging around the neighborhood again (praying the entire time that it helps baby make her way out.  Yes, we're anxious to meet her).  I attribute this to how well and how comfortable I have felt throughout the whole process.  Even living in Louisiana during the hottest part of the year for the last stretch of my pregnancy has been surprisingly comfortable for me.  With all of that said, I am highly anticipating the day I get to meet my little girl.

Maternity Clothes:  nope

 Food cravings: No cravings, really.  Any cold fruit juice or carbonated water sounds good to me almost all of the time.

 Food aversions: No

Symptoms I have: Lots of Braxton hicks contractions lately.  I discovered that the sharp leg cramps I have been writing about are likely sciatica, due to the baby putting pressure on certain nerves.  No bueno, but very worth it.

 Movement: Baby is running out of room in there

Belly Button: outie

Gender:  sweet girl

 Best moment of the week: My mama came into town from Colorado this week! She will be staying until baby's arrival.  It has been so fun and exciting having her here! Just yesterday (at 39w2d) we made a belly cast of my belly! It will be an awesome keepsake to remember this time in my life.  We had a ton of fun placing the plaster strips all over my belly! We have just been hanging out, cleaning house, unpacking the last of my unpacked boxes & waiting for baby girl to arrive! I am so happy she has made herself available for this special time in my life.  I love her and appreciate her so much. I am extraordinarily blessed.

What I miss:  Nothing at all.  These are some amazing times in my life.  Each day is better than the last.

What I’m looking forward to:  everything.

 Additional Details:  I started school again last week! I am on track to graduate in early Feb. next year and I couldn’t be more ecstatic about it! I am proud to say that I have been able to achieve such great grades throughout this whole process and all of the moves and changes that have been made throughout the past year.  Having my degree will really help me provide for my daughter, too.  I always want her to value her education like I do.

37 Week Update

Date: July 27, 2013

Next Doctor’s Appointment:  August 6, 2013

 Baby’s size: Baby girl is the size of a watermelon! She weighs about 7 pounds!

How far along:  37 weeks. 

Total weight gain: +29 pounds.  Current weight: 139

Sleep:  I sleep pretty well.  I do get up to empty my bladder and I still get the occasional leg cramp in my calf.  I’m excited to be able to sleep on my back and on my belly again in a couple of weeks! 

Maternity Clothes:  No new maternity clothes.  I have been primarily wearing dresses.  I’m excited to wear my normal clothes again!

 Food cravings: still loving fruit… cold beverages always sound appetizing to me also!

 Food aversions: Nada

Symptoms I have: Hello swelling! Swollen feet, swollen ankles, swollen face... yay... Lots of Braxton Hicks contractions, too.  They are tight and frequent most days, but not painful. I also have sharp pains in my pelvis a few times a day.  Kiley has been hard at work renovating our new home.  We are both really active people so I am doing everything I can to keep up with him, but sometimes my body asks me to rest. I started dilating last week.  At my 36 week appointment, the doctor said I was 1cm dilated (progress!!!).  This week, I was still 1cm, but 30% effaced (more progress!!!).  My mama will be in town by Tuesday of next week (her birthday!) so the baby can come any time after that. I also should note that sometimes I feel a Charlie horse sensation in my hips.  It’s pretty startling and a little uncomfortable.  The hip pains last about 5-15 seconds and we all kind of get a kick out of it because it almost knocks me off my feet.  I had no idea that this was a symptom of pregnancy, but I guess it is the baby pressing on nerves, or maybe my hips are shifting in preparation for birth.
Movement: She is still pretty active in there! I hope she doesn’t get too comfortable!

Belly Button: outie

Gender:  my little sugar girl

 Best moment of the week:  Feeling like things are falling into place with our new home.  We are ready for the next chapter of our lives.  Every day, we talk about how blessed we are and how excited we are to have made it to another day.  We definitely bring out the best in each other.  We are beyond excited to be the parents to a sweet baby girl.  

What I miss:  I don’t miss a thing.  Each new moment is a moment to be excited about.  I’m so blessed to share this time with such an incredible man.  My daughter has the best daddy in the world.

What I’m looking forward to:  everything.

 Additional Details:   I have been restless lately! I have been in beat ode unpacking, cleaning and organizing while Kiley does the renovating stuff I can’t exactly help with.  I get a little frustrated from time to time because I just want to go, go, go! Kiley is always telling me to sit down lol The good news is, he has installed the floors in the living room & the nursery with very little help, we have painted the entire house (with the help of some friends and family), almost everything is moved in, clean & organized.  Everything is coming together! We are both getting so excited! Praying for a relaxing, calm, peaceful, beautiful natural delivery in the next couple of weeks! I am really looking forward to delivering her naturally and unmedicated.  Although it's highly unlikely, I think it would be awesome for her to be born inside her amniotic sac, too.  This is sometimes known as a "veiled birth" and it is when the sac is not ruptured until the baby is outside of the womb.  I know that if I don't deliver after a certain date, I will have to be induced with pitocin (which puts your body into labor and makes contractions more painful and more frequent).  This is not ideal, so I am really hoping she comes soon.  Kiley and I appreciate all of the love, great vibes and prayers for a calm and beautiful delivery!