How far along? 30 weeks. 10 weeks to go. (WOAH.)
Baby Size: According to the Baby Center app, Baby Girl is about 15.75″ from head to toe (about the size of a large cabbage) and around 3 pounds. What to Expect says she’s as big as a bunch of broccoli.
Total Weight Gain: My appetite is finally just starting to kick back in, and I’ve been chugging water like crazy because we have our final ultrasound this Friday and they told me to be sure to be well-hydrated for that. So I’ve put on about 2 pounds. I’ve gained/lost two pounds in past weeks, so we’ll see if this sticks!
Maternity Clothes: Still about the same with this — non-maternity sweatpants and stretchy jeans still fit, and I can still wear my bigger t-shrits and hoodies no problem. My favorite thing has ended up being my denim overalls from Motherhood Maternity, though. I bought them specifically for a photoshoot and I was really hesitant to spend the money when I did … and now they’re my absolute favorite thing to wear, so I feel better about having spent that money!
Sleep: I’m napping pretty much daily: sometimes a power-nap on my lunch break, and almost always a little snooze after work or after dinner.
Best Moment of Week: We got to see our friend Jess who was in town visiting from Tennessee. She brought us some adorable baby gifts from our registry as well as a Woodstock-themed counting board book that is the absolute CUTEST thing ever!
Miss Anything?: I miss being able to jump up out of bed or off the sofa without a struggle to scoot/roll and not strain my back or pelvis. I miss not being able to just “muscle through” things like hauling 50 pound feed sacks. I don’t like having to ask for help.
Movement: Baby girl is BUSY, almost all the time. 99% of the time I love this because it’s reassuring she’s healthy and doing OK in there. About 1% of the time it’s exhausting because she decides to just settle somewhere in my guts and SQUISSHHHHHH or put pressure on me till I feel like I’m going to explode.
Food Cravings: Ice cream and french fries (eaten together, alternating back and forth but not dipping the fries IN the ice cream). Chocolate. Frozen or iced coffee (but not TOO much of course).
Anything Making You Queasy or Sick?: Anything spicy or acidic.
Happy or Moody?: I’m admittedly getting more moody and emotional. Most of the time I’m still happy overall but I’m starting to get to the point that things are getting harder to do and I get frustrated and emotional that I can’t just “power though” things the way I want to, and some days it feels like I never will be able to again. (Even though I know that’s not true.)
Labor Signs: I’m starting to have Braxton Hicks contractions occaionally. I had one last weekend that was strong enough that it took my breath away for a second. Usually in the evening, baby girl gets “settled” and puts a TON of pressure on my guts. I’m just starting to get more nervous – not because I’m anxious about labor and birth in general, but because Myles was born early at 35 weeks. So this span of time from 30 to 37 weeks is probably the most stressful for me, because I really want to make it to 37+ weeks with this baby so we’re able to have another home birth with our midwife. (Our first midwife took a chance and let us stay home with Myles at 35 weeks; this midwife won’t deliver at home unless I hit 37 weeks, and I don’t blame her.)
Shopping/Nesting/Preparation: I started rearranging and getting some things put away for the baby. We have some built-ins that have a spot that’s perfect for a changing pad, and shelves where I have baskets for toys and pacifiers and whatnot. I found an unused dresser in my parent’s basement that we’re going to bring over so I can start washing and putting away baby girl’s clothes (I’ve been anxiously waiting to start that project!)
I also started gathering all the things on the homebirth checklist from our midwife as well as all the “fun” postpartum care things. I got a swimming pool to set up in the family room, just like I had for Myles’ birth. I’m hoping to have another water birth with this baby, so I wanted to be prepared.
Looking Forward To: Our last ultrasound is on Friday evening after work, and I’m super excited. The last one we had, I wasn’t as well hydrated as I should have, and baby girl wasn’t super cooperative posing for pictures. This time, I’ve been chugging as much water as I can daily to prep so hopefully that will help (the ultrasound tech said it would). I’m hoping we can see some detailed face pictures with the 3D/4D ultrasound that they do. I’m so anxious to see her little face, fingers, and toes!
My mom also started planning a “sprinkle” (small shower, not focused on gifts- just more of a celebration) for us later in June. I’m really grateful that we’ve all been able to get vaccinated (Mike & I got our second Pfizer doses back on March 30th) so I feel good about getting together in a small gathering with family and friends who have also been vaccinated. I really didn’t know if we’d be able to have anything, and I’m really looking forward to it. Now I just need to NOT have the baby early (I’ll be 35 weeks by the date of the shower, so *fingers crossed*!!)
