38 Week Update

Week: 38 weeks

Weight gain total: As of before my appointment yesterday, my scale told me I was up a grand total of 36lbs.  It’s more than I wanted to gain, but I only have, once again, myself to blame.  Over the past couple weeks at game night I’ve been munching way more than I should have…those dreaded slim jims are probably my biggest issue…lol  I’m trying to eat healthier now and not munch or snack as much…it’s kinda tough because, once again, I’m starving all the time.

Cravings/Aversions/What I’ve Been Enjoying This Week: Slim jims are my bane this time around…that and chocolate.

Sleep: My sleeping has been pretty bad lately.  Part of it was the heat and high humidity we had over the weekend.  I couldn’t get comfortable and didn’t want the added heat of my body pillow, so I was miserable.  Monday, however, I managed to get a good nights sleep.  I went to bed earlier than normal, managed to get comfortable and only woke up 2 times to pee.  My mood on Tuesday was greatly improved, which made for a good day all around.  Last night, however, I was up at least 4 times to pee and just couldn’t get comfortable enough to stay asleep.  Despite that, my mood is pretty good today (maybe those nasty hormones have evened out some?) and I’ve been relatively productive in the cleaning and crafting department.

Belly Button and Stretch Marks: I still have those nasty stretch marks and my belly button has pushed out a little further.  Bug thinks it’s kinda funny looking…

Baby: Baby Fidget is still moving around a ton.  He’s very head down with his butt and feet kicking the top of my stomach.  Sometimes when he moves just right it hurts, but the pain has decreased some, which makes me happy.

Nesting: Nothing really new to report…

Appointments: I had my 38 week appointment yesterday with Dr. Brosnen.  I also had a quick ultrasound done to check the baby’s weight.  Right now, (best guess from the ultrasound) baby weighs in at about 7lbs 12oz.  Now, most babies will gain about an ounce a day and with me having 2 more weeks, it could push him up to over 8.5lbs.  But, the thing is that the ultrasound is a rough estimate.  The tech was having a lot of trouble getting a good top view of his head because he’s SO FAR DOWN!  So, according to Dr. Brosnen, the weight could be off 20% in either direction, which means he could weigh anywhere between 6.2lbs to 9.3 right now…In an attempt to make me feel better, the doctor told me about a VBAC he did last week where the ultrasound put the baby over 8lbs and the actual birth weight was only 6lbs…so, it can happen.  I’m really hoping that he is on the smaller side.  Everyone keeps telling me that 2nd babies are bigger…but, I was also 2 weeks over due with Bug, so had he been born on time, he might have only been 8lbs 13 oz rather than the 9lbs 13 oz he was…

Oh, and good news…Baby Fidget is still a boy.  🙂  In the back of my mind I was kinda worried about that changing…lol

Anyway, I did have Dr. Brosnen check me for any signs that something was happening and he said that I’m less than a fingertip dilated and I’m starting to thin out.  He was kinda reluctant to check me because he didn’t want me to get disappointed…I just wanted to know if because the baby is so far down if it was doing anything.  I have been having a lot of pressure and pain, so I’m glad that something is happening, even if it isn’t a ton.  I know I’m not going to get my Friday delivery like I want, but it’s nice to know that something is going on and I’m not going to be pregnant forever!  Anyway, it’s probably best that I don’t go into labor this weekend because our main people who are available to watch Bug will be out of town from Friday to Sunday…

I go back next Tuesday for another dr. visit.  It’s with some new doctor I’ve never heard of before…

Preparing for baby: This weekend we got the infant carrier installed and all ready to go.  We still need to bring down the swing and get batteries.  I think I’ll have Darling Hubby do that tonight so I can take off the fabric and wash it Friday with Bug’s clothes since I don’t have any other baby stuff to wash.

Other stuff on my mind: I still have to finish packing my hospital bag and get it in the car…I don’t know why I’m being such a slacker about this…I have most everything packed save for a couple things.  I also want to grab some yarn and a simple/small project I can work on while I’m stuck in the hospital after the baby is born.  If it’s during the week, there’s no point in Darling Hubby staying with me all day and Bug can go to school like normal.  I’ll be bored out of my mind probably and keeping my hands busy will help.  I know I’ll have a new baby to tend to, but I’m sure he’ll sleep for a good portion of the time (at least Bug did) and I’m not sure I want to get the TV turned on…that all depends on if I have a VBAC or another c-section…if I’m there longer, I’ll definitely have to have the TV on…I’ll go crazy!  lol  And, I’m pretty sure I can crochet with a baby sleeping in my lap…lol

Pictures – I need to take a shower before I take a belly picture this week…I’m just waiting for the dishwasher to finish its cycle.  I do have some ultrasound pictures, but they aren’t the greatest.  He’s pretty smooshed up in there, so the tech couldn’t get a good look at his face (he’s facing my back, which is the way he’s supposed to be facing), so she didn’t even try for pictures.  At least I know he’s still a boy!  lol  Either later today or tomorrow I’ll update with a new belly picture.  🙂

37 Week Update – Full Term!

Week: 37 weeks 1 day

Weight gain total: I haven’t weighed myself this week, but I’m guessing that I’m around 33 lbs.

Cravings/Aversions/What I’ve Been Enjoying This Week: I’ve had the munchies pretty badly this week, but I’m trying to control what I put in my mouth.  Bug and I made some oatmeal raisin cookies and I made them small so maybe I wouldn’t eat a ton of them…It kinda helps that they are sorta healthy.

Sleep: Last night was a terrible night.  I couldn’t get comfortable no matter what, although I fell right to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow…I just kept waking up and had a lot of pain like pulling muscles or cramps or something.  At least I only had to get up to pee twice rather than the 4 times I had been earlier this week.  It doesn’t help that I occasionally wake up feeling sick to my stomach…not sure what that’s about.  Maybe Baby Fidget is sleeping on my tummy or something.

Belly Button and Stretch Marks: My belly button has started poking out a little more.  I want to say my pop up timer has popped…I’m done!  lol I think there are the same amount of stretch marks…I haven’t really been paying attention to them…lol  I’ve also noticed that the dark line from my belly button down has darkened a bit more, too.

Baby: Baby Fidget is still wiggling around like crazy.  I’m not sure if he’s decided to stop hurting mommy as much or if I’ve just gotten used to the pain, but it doesn’t seem to be as bad this week.  I only waddle half the time now…

Nesting: I haven’t really been nesting so much as trying to get everything that I need to get done around the house done…Pretty much everything is just typical day to day stuff like laundry and cleaning…it’s just tougher when you are lugging around an extra 30+lbs and you get winded just walking from one side of the house to the other…lol

Appointments: I had my 37 week appointment a few days early on Monday.  The 3rd time was the charm and I got to see Dr. Vu.  She was the one to deliver Bug 5 years ago and I distinctly remember that we didn’t hit it off well then.  She was my least favorite doctor.  Time must have changed both of us, because we actually hit it off pretty well.  It was kinda like she was a whole different doctor.  She walked me through the dangers of having a VBAC and the slim chance that I could rupture my uterus at the c-section incision site.  The chances of that happening are 1% and Dr. Vu told me that in the 10 years she’s been practicing she’s only seen it happen 2 times and neither were patients in her practice.  She did tell me that I won’t be induced (I have to go into labor on my own) and they won’t give me anything to ripen the cervix to help me along because those things can up the chance of rupture.  The good news is that I won’t get pitocin (that stuff is evil!).  The bad news is, I’m not sure if my labor will progress well without it.  I have a history of going into labor late (practically 42 weeks with Bug) and my last labor wasn’t strong enough, even with the pit, to get me to 10cm.

I do have a weight check ultrasound on Tuesday (37 weeks 6 days) to check baby Fidget’s size and I’m hoping to get checked at that appointment to see if there is any labor action happening. Last week Dr. Wallingford estimated that baby is weighing around 5.5lbs.  Dr. Vu said he’s about 6lbs now, so it looks like I’m on track for a less than 8lb baby.  🙂

I had my Group B Strep test done by Dr. Vu and I’m hoping for good results from that.  She’s also performing a sensitivity test since I mentioned that I had a reaction to some Amox a year ago, the same as Bug’s recent reaction, and since his doctor recommended for him never to have Amox again, I’m worried that I might be allergic or sensitive to cillians, too.  The last thing I want is to have an allergic reaction while in labor…that would suck!

My plan right now is to give Baby Fidget until 39 weeks (around May 12th) to decide if he’s going to come on his own and then decide on the c-section date.  If not, I’d love to schedule the c-section for the 17th at the latest, although, I’m still hoping for a May 7th birthday…I’ve already decided he won’t be born on the 19th or the 22nd.  My friend Shell’s birthday is the 19th and my nephew D’s birthday is the 22nd.  I’m not opposed to Fidget sharing a birthday, I would just rather he have his own special day, KWIM?

Preparing for baby: Plans for this weekend include installing the infant carseat.  We moved a touch lamp that was in our office up to the baby’s room this past weekend, rather than buying one.  We also bought a cute little coming home outfit.  Bug picked it out and it has his favorite dinosaur on it…the stegosaurus.   I also managed to get all the hooded towels and baby blankets washed, dried and put away.  I also bought some new waterproof pads to put under the crib sheets to save the mattress from any accidents/blowouts.

Other stuff on my mind: I need to finish packing my suitcase for the hospital.  I think by this time with Bug’s pregnancy, I was all packed and ready to go…this time I’m not feeling so ready…I did pick up a new pair of slippers since I didn’t want to pack the ones that I’m still wearing…  I may try to get all this done by the weekend and toss the suitcase in the car so we’ll have it with us.

Here’s a picture from this morning.  Does he look a little lower?  I can’t tell!  lol

37 Weeks 1 Day Pregnant

36 Week Update

Week: 36 weeks

Weight gain total: 32 lbs…as of 36 weeks 1 day…So not happy with this, but I think part of it is that I’ve been eating crappy things and snacking a lot because I’m hungry (probably because the baby has dropped and my stomach has more room…and I also think Baby Fidget is packing on the ounces cause he’s had the hiccups constantly lately and from experience, every time Bug had the hiccups, he had a growth spurt.

Cravings/Aversions/What I’ve Been Enjoying This Week: I’ve been kinda in a funk this week, so my eating has been off.  Lots of junk food…trying to be better today!  I made some homemade banana bread Tuesday, so I’m eating a couple slices of that for breakfast, drinking more water (to ward off those pesky Braxton Hicks contractions that I seem to be getting a little more) and trying to not snack all day…

Sleep: My sleep has still been hit or miss.  Monday night I couldn’t get comfortable no matter what.  My lower back was killing me..pretty much everything below my waist was hurting.  Even with the big body pillow, I just couldn’t settle down.  I’m pretty sure that because of my lack of sleep my mood was pretty sour and I was snapping at everyone most of the day (so not loving those pregnancy hormones!)  Tuesday night I actually got a decent amount of sleep, waking twice to go pee and once just to roll over.  I woke up feeling refreshed and my mood is much lighter.  Hopefully it stays that way.  The body pillow really made a difference last night, too.  Hopefully I’ll be able to get more sleep tonight.

Belly Button and Stretch Marks: Well, my belly button has started poking out a little more.  I think there are the same amount of stretch marks…I haven’t really been paying attention to them…lol

Baby: Baby Fidget is still wiggling around like crazy and often has the hiccups.  Add to the fact that he seems to have shifted lower into my pelvis, I’m in pain quite often, esp when standing/walking.  I’m at the major waddling stage.  I feel like I’m walking like a wounded penguin!  lol

Nesting: This week seems to be my “nesting in full force” week.  Saturday I scrubbed the entire upstairs bathroom…and by scrubbed, I mean got down on my hands and knees with a sponge and cleaned all the nooks and crannies.  It took me pretty much all day to accomplish because I had to take frequent breaks, and I took an extended (7 hour) break when we went to a friends house to see about taking their old TV and TV stand for our living room since they want to get an new one, and so Bug and his best buddy, Little A could play.  Since we decided to take the TV and stand this Saturday we’ve been doing some major rearranging of our living room and office.  In order to put our old TV stand in the office we have to completely move everything around, including take out some wall shelves to accommodate taller pieces…this means I need to completely rework where things are, but the good news is, I’m dusting!  lol

Appointments: I had my weekly appointment this past Monday.  I was, once again, supposed to see Dr. Vu, but, once again, she was over at the hospital delivering.  I saw Dr. Wallingford who I really like.  He’s like the grandfatherly dr and just has a good bedside manner.  He told me he thinks Baby Fidget is about 5.5lbs and probably by the time I deliver he’ll be in the 7lb range…anything below 8.5lbs and I’m happy!  I have another appointment for next Monday with Dr. Vu (again).  Hopefully the 3rd time will be the charm!  lol  I also get to be the recipient of the Group B Strep test…fun!  I may also have her check me to see if there is anything going on that might give me the early delivery date.  We’ll also schedule my weight check ultrasound for the following week (38 weeks).  I’m getting excited that I’ll be full term next Wednesday.  I’m still hoping for an early delivery, esp since Baby Fidget is sitting so low…fingers crossed.

Preparing for baby: I haven’t done much preparing for the baby specifically.  There are things we still need to get…maybe this weekend we’ll go out and see about finishing up the last of the tasks.  It is supposed to be a rainy weekend anyway.  Why not go out looking for a touch lamp…lol

Other stuff on my mind: My raging hormones!  I swear my family thinks I’m a homicidal maniac or something.  I can go from perfectly fine and happy to royally pissed off to having a complete and total crying meltdown in seconds flat…and I know in the back of my mind what I’m getting worked up about is totally not worth getting worked up over…I just can’t help it.  At least I’m not making jello for anyone this pregnancy (there’s a funny back story about me making jello for Darling Hubby when pregnant for Bug…)  Anyway, I’m hoping that the next few days are better…I’m really not liking myself when I get like that and I’m sure my family is pretty sick of me, too…At least I laughed this morning when I dropped the tv remote and it busted in half…maybe that’s a good sign…

I was also getting a little worried about finding someone to watch Bug for us when we need it and thankfully our friends (Little A’s parents) have offered to watch Bug whenever necessary, even if it’s in the middle of the night.  It’s actually a load off my mind and Bug would really be happy hanging out with his best bud.

Theoretically, my ideal delivery would go something like this.  I go into labor in the morning (a Friday would be good), say around 7am.  We get ready and drop Bug off at school by 7:45 and head over to the hospital.  I labor for a few hours, deliver naturally (probably with an epidural and no tearing!) around lunchtime.  Darling Hubby then goes out to pick Bug up from school at 2 and we have our first family of 4 gathering before dinner time!  I know that’s not how it’s going to work, but a girl can hope, right!  lol

Here’s this week’s picture, taken by Bug. Please pardon my hair…I’d been cleaning and rearranging the office most of the day and hadn’t hopped in the shower yet.  Does Fidget look lower from the last 2 pictures?  He does to me, but I’m having a hard time telling.

36 Weeks Pregnant

35 Week Update

This was written on Wednesday, 4/14, but because I’m feeling rather lazy lately and didn’t get my belly picture taken until Friday, it’s not getting posted until Sunday…oh well!  lol

Week: 35 weeks

Weight gain total: 28lbs…I’m actually OK with this.  I’ve got about 4 more weeks (If I have a c-section, it will probably be at 39 weeks) and if I can keep my weight gain at the recommended 1lb/week, I think I”ll be ok.

Cravings/Aversions/What I’ve Been Enjoying This Week: I haven’t been craving anything really.  I’ve still been wanting chocolate and ice cream.  I have been eating lots of fresh fruit (grapefruit, strawberries, bananas) but I have also been bad in the junk food department, munching on the candy that Bug got for Easter.

Sleep: I’ve still been hit or miss in the sleeping department.  I’m still waking up at least once to go to the bathroom (around 3am) and change positions (it’s still easier to get out of bed than to just roll over) and sometimes it’s just hard for me to fall back to sleep.  The leg cramps are still present, but only if I don’t eat a banana before bed…like last night.  Last night I also had some very strange and vivid dreams…they were all random and didn’t make sense.

Belly Button and Stretch Marks: I’m still an innie, but it’s getting shallower and the top pokes out and the stretch marks are still there.   I’m also starting to sport the faint beginnings of the Linea Nigra.  I’m actually surprised that it didn’t show up sooner like it did with Bug’s pregnancy.

Baby: OUCH!  That’s all I have to say!  Last night and today Fidget was moving around a ton and it was really painful.  I think he’s pressing on my prior c-section scar.  I actually had to get up and walk around to get him to shift position and stop.

Symptoms: I’m still waking up to pee a couple times a night and the leg cramps at night are still there.  I have found that if I don’t eat a banana before going to bed, I get leg cramps…last night for instance.  I’ve also noticed that I have episodes where I start feeling shaky and weak and after I’m really tired.  I asked the dr about it and he said it’s probably just a low blood sugar thing and that I should eat and drink something.  My blood count from 2 weeks ago came back fine, so I’m not anemic…I was going to ask about that in combo with the shaky feeling since taking my prenatal vitamin seems to help.

Nesting: I had Darling Hubby bring down several bins of baby clothes from the attic so I could sort through them, reorganize them, label them and put them back in the attic.  It was good that I did.  I found the hooded towels I was missing.  I just have to wash the next batch of baby laundry…I just haven’t been feeling it lately…

Appointments: I had a dentist appointment on Monday for a quick filling.  It wasn’t near as bad as I imagined and I’m glad I got it out of the way prior to the baby’s arrival.  I did notice that when the dentist would start drilling, Fidget would start moving around a ton…I don’t think he cared for the drill any more than I did!

I had my 35 week appointment this morning (Wednesday) with Dr. O.  Fidget’s heartbeat was at 138bpm.  He was resting, so it was lower than last time.  He did have the hiccups while I was driving to the appointment and from that I was able to tell he was still head down.  The dr said we’ll schedule the weight check for 38 weeks, so I should know specifically sometime in the next 2 weeks.  I did learn that they do not induce for VBACs, which kinda screws with my plan, but if I’m allowed to go into labor on my own, I’d like that…I’m actually hoping for 37 weeks, so keep those fingers crossed for me!  I still feel owed after being forced to go to 42 weeks with Bug!  The dr did say that I could just elect to have a c-section prior to 40 weeks if I don’t want to wait for the baby to make up his mind.  I’m hoping he’s not going to be as stubborn as his big brother in the l&d department.  The dr did seem to think that Fidget will be much smaller than Bug, esp since I haven’t gained a ton of weight this time.  I go back in next week on Monday at 35 weeks 5 days.  It’s with one of the delivery doctors I haven’t seen yet, so I need to get in a little earlier than my preferred Wednesday time slot.

Preparing for baby: Like I said before, I found the missing hooded towels and added them to the laundry basket, which still needs to be tackled.  We still need to bring down, wash/disinfect the swing.  I bought a wicker basket to put on the changing table for storing the diapers and boxes of wipes (I got it on sale at Joann’s Crafts for less than $8, originally $20.)  I’m thinking we should at some point soon, install the infant carrier in the car so it ‘s done and we don’t have to worry about it later…esp since I’ll be considered full term in 2 weeks.  I want to attempt breastfeeding again this time since it didn’t work out so well with Bug.  I do need to wash several of the bottles and things just in case I end up needing to formula feed.  I also need to find a touch lamp for on top of the dresser in the baby’s room so I don’t have to turn the big light on in the middle of the night.  Other than that, I think we are pretty well prepared.

Other stuff on my mind: I started to pack up a bag for the hospital.  So far I’ve got some travel size shampoos and a toothbrush/mini tube of toothpaste kit.  I figure it would be better to pack a few little small things rather than rushing around trying to pack the big versions of those things while I’m in labor or having Darling Hubby collect it all and bring it later.  I’ve also got some snacks, a book to read, and some warm socks.  I’m going to toss in my smaller bathrobe, too.

Here’s a picture that was taken on Friday at 35 weeks, 3 days.  Pardon my hair…not a good hair day that day.  lol

35 weeks, 3 days pregnant

34 Weeks, 1 Day Photo

Since I’ve been posting a weekly photo with my weekly update and failed to do so on Wednesday, I’m posting one now. This was taken yesterday at 34 weeks, 1 day. You can really see the difference from 25 weeks as I’m wearing the same shirt!   BIG DIFFERENCE!  I think I was actually having a pretty decent hair day, too!  lol

34 Weeks, 1 Day Pregnant

34 Week Update

Week: 34 weeks

Weight gain total: 27lbs…I blame all the dang Easter candy that Bug collected over the weekend…and those muffins and cookies I made!  lol

Cravings/Aversions/What I’ve Been Enjoying This Week: I haven’t really been craving anything new…I’m still enjoying chocolate and fresh grapefruit (though not together).

Sleep: I’ve been hit or miss in the sleeping department lately.  I’ve been waking up at least twice to go to the bathroom and change positions (it’s easier to get out of bed than to just roll over) and sometimes it’s just hard for me to fall back to sleep.  I’ve also been plagued by leg cramps, which wake me up at least a couple times a week.

Belly Button and Stretch Marks: I’m still an innie, but it’s getting shallow and sometimes the top pokes out and the stretch marks are still there.

Baby: Baby Fidget’s movements are still painful sometimes and it’s getting worse!  He’s still sitting head down, with his butt around my belly button.    He’s either pushing with his feet or his hands along my hips (usually my left one) and pressing up with his butt.  Ouch!  Sometimes when he turns around it literally stops me in my tracks.  It’s no fun when I’m driving!  Last night there was some appendage poking out and it really hurt!

Symptoms: Nothing new in the symptom department.  Still waking up to pee a couple times a night and the leg cramps at night.  I’ve had several people tell me to eat a banana before bed and that would help.  I picked up a bunch this morning so hopefully that will help.  My sister-in-law also suggested more calcium, which would give me a good excuse to eat pudding and ice cream.  I have made an attempt to up my calcium intake by eating more cheese and yogurt.  Hopefully it will make a difference.

Nesting: I think I’ve started nesting a bit, but not like I would like.  Yesterday I did go through everything on my kitchen counter.  I cleared it all off, wiped it all down, rearranged it, tossed and recycled a bunch of papers.  I also went through and disposed of some of the cleaners on the bathroom shelves; things I haven’t used in years.   It felt really good to get rid of and clean a bit, but there really are things I should tackle more so than the kitchen counter…lol

Appointments: I have a dentist appointment on Monday for a quick filling – the dentist needs to fill in a small chip on a tooth that was fill a year ago and I have another doctors appointment Wednesday at 35 weeks.  Hopefully they’ll schedule the weight check ultrasound then.  It will probably be for 38 weeks.

Preparing for baby: I finished organizing all the clean clothes in the baby’s dresser and pulled out some receiving blankets, burp clothes and bibs for the next load of laundry to be tackled.  We still have to move the rocking chair from Bug’s room into the baby’s room, but I think we’ll wait until the baby’s officially here.  We also need to bring down, wash/disinfect the swing.  If Baby Fidget is anything like his brother, he’s going to love the swing so I want to have it handy…must get new batteries, too!  lol  I totally forgot to swap out the play pen that I have for the better one that my mom has…I’m hoping that she’ll bring it up and swap them out when she comes up to visit after Baby Fidget arrives.  We still need to pick out a coming home outfit, too…I like one that has little dinosaurs on it at Walmart, while Bug prefers a bear one…Guess daddy is going to be the deciding vote…lol

Other stuff on my mind: I randomly realized last night that I only have 3 weeks until I’m considered full term.  I’m still hoping that I’ll go into labor on my own, but I’m not convinced it’s going to happen.  I did come back from Easter to find that two of my online mommy friends who were due at the end of March and the middle of April both had their baby boys on Friday and Saturday.  I’m a bit jealous!  lol I still have to pack a bag of some sort to bring to the hospital…I’m just not really feeling totally on the ball lately.  Maybe I should start on that tomorrow!  lol

I’m also feeling a bit nervous about what to do with Bug when the baby is being born.  The person who I had planned on having him stay with has some personal reasons why she can’t take time off of work to stay with him…I’m not sure if she’d still be willing to watch him if it were overnight or a weekend.  I’m nervous that we are going to be in a bind.  I just hate asking my other friends because they have their own jobs they need to be there for (not that my one friends job is any less important, she was just willing and offered to to take the time and for good reasons had to revoke the offer) and they have their own kids to take care of and schedules to keep.  One has a new baby, too, so I’d hate to bug her about watching him…though her son would love some Bug time!  lol

I didn’t get a picture taken tonight…I didn’t think about it until I was already in my jammies for the night…maybe tomorrow.  lol

33 Week Update

Week: 33 weeks

Weight gain total: 25lbs…That’s 1 more pound in 2 weeks, not bad.  I can live with that.

Cravings/Aversions/What I’ve Been Enjoying This Week: I’m still eating my pretty much daily grapefruit and I still love my pudding.  I’m out of ice cream, which is probably a good thing…lol  I did make  5 dozen dark chocolate, butterscotch chip coconut cookies this week and will be making some Apple Cinnamon Butterscotch Muffins on Thursday for a friends Easter Egg hunt on Saturday morning.   I’ve been really trying to eat well.

Sleep: My sleeping has improved a lot.  I’ve been sleeping with a pillow between my knees, which seems to help.  Tuesday night, though, I was sweating profusely and had a nasty leg cramp that woke me up around 4am.  I do have some trouble rolling from my left side to my right (I’m like a turtle stuck on it’s shell), so sometimes it’s just easier to get up and go to the bathroom than roll over.

Belly Button and Stretch Marks: I’m still an innie and I’ve had stretch marks since probably around 30 weeks or so.  I had them with Bug’s pregnancy, so I just assumed that I’d have them this time around, too, and I was right.

Baby: Baby Fidget’s movements are still painful sometimes.  He’s still sitting head down, with his butt around my belly button.    He’s either pushing with his feet or his hands along my hips (usually my left one) and pressing up with his butt.  Ouch!  Sometimes when he turns around it literally stops me in my tracks.  It’s no fun when I’m driving!

Symptoms: My wrist is feeling much better.  I think I just strained it rather than it being carpel tunnel.  The brace did help though and I’ve been able to go back to my crocheting and knitting.  I’ve noticed I’ve started having more leg cramps at night, though, which is pretty painful.  I still have to pee a lot, too.

Appointments: I had my 33 week dr appointment yesterday morning.  Baby is looking good.  Heart rate was 148bpm and is constantly moving.  I had to have a bit of extra blood work done because someone forgot to put a CBC (blood cell count) on the order with my glucose test.  It was an easy fix with just a simple blood draw, so I was ok with it…I did ask the dr about my chances for an early delivery.  He confirmed that I’ll have my weight check ultrasound at 38 weeks (according to my calculations, that would be around May 5th) and everything else would depend on my cervix and if it’s shortening and thinning…I’m still hoping for an early delivery…I still feel owed!  lol

Here is a picture taken last night.  You can see my new haircut…pardon it’s frizzy-ness.  I went to bed with it wet the night before and that’s something I just shouldn’t do!  lol  Plus, the constantly wet weather we’ve had recently hasn’t helped!

33 Weeks Pregnant

32 Week Update – Yay 8 Months!

I’m 8 months pregnant (as of yesterday)!  Yay!  Every day is a step closer to meeting Baby Fidget!  Physically I’m ready (although I know I’ve got at least 5 more weeks until I’m considered “full term.”)  I’m tired of sleeping on my sides (my poor hips) and lugging around the extra weight, but I’m not sure I’m mentally ready for that 2nd baby just yet.  I have to wrap my head about the fact that I’ll have a 2nd child and that I’m going to have to work around different schedules for him, Bug and Darling Hubby, especially having just one car!  At least I finally decided to wash some of the smaller baby clothes this morning.  We still need to pick out a coming home outfit (which is something I want Bug to have a hand in), but we haven’t found anything we really like yet and I’m not sure, but we might be waiting to find out how big he’s going to be before we buy something.

Week: 32 weeks

Weight gain total: 24lbs as of yesterday morning…I haven’t gained anything since last week.  I’m not sure that’s a good thing or a bad thing.  I’ve really tried to not eat a ton, just eating a good meal when I’m hungry and trying to cut back on the snacks.  I’ve still had the ice cream and the occasional chips and candy, but I’m trying to go easy.  I’m just thankful the STARVING feeling has dissipated.

Cravings/Aversions/What I’ve Been Enjoying This Week: I’m still wanting chocolate and as with Bug’s pregnancy, lunch meat.  I’d really love to have a turkey sub with tomatoes, lettuce and cheese on it.  I’ve still be eating my ice cream and I wanted pudding the other day (both chocolate, of course.)

Sleep: My sleeping has not improved.  It’s killing me to sleep on my sides.  I wake up every morning with pain in my hips and when I get up in the night to go pee, I walk like an old lady with pain in my back.  Many times in the night I’ll wake up to my shoulders hurting or my arms asleep.  I’ve been having so much trouble turning over, too.  Last night I rolled onto my back and felt like a turtle turned on it’s shell.  I had to roll back and forth a bit before I could get momentum enough to roll to my other side.  I also get tangled up in the sheets, which sucks…

Clothing: Friday, I picked up some  Basic Edition tops from Kmart on clearance/sale.  I decided to buy regular shirts rather than maternity shirts so I can wear them after the pregnancy.

Baby: Baby Fidget’s movements have actually become a little more painful.  I believe he’s still sitting head down like the dr said, with his butt around my belly button.    He’s either pushing with his feet or his hands along my hips (usually my left one) and pressing up with his butt.  Ouch!

Symptoms: My wrist is still hurting.  I have been wearing a wrist brace quite often.   Today it actually feels much better, although it’s still a little sore.  I took the brace off last night to give it a rest.   I’m actually not sure if it’s true Pregnancy Induced Carpel Tunnel or if I just pulled/tore a muscle.  The pain I feel is on the top of my wrist and really hurts when I move my wrist a certain way or if I pick things up.  I’m still holding off on knitting/crocheting.  Instead I’ve been trying to scrapbook a bit, which isn’t as strenuous.   Computer work, oddly enough, doesn’t really affect it.

Appointments: Darling Hubby and I both had dentist appointments Tuesday for cleanings.  I found that this cleaning was a little more brutal than past experiences.  I bled pretty badly, but the hygienist assured me that it was just a pregnancy side effect.  In fact, it’s one of the main reasons I though I might have been pregnant from the start.  My gums bled badly when I flossed before my last dentist appointment 6 months ago…Unfortunately, I do have to go back on the 12th for a small filling.  One of the teeth I had filled a little over a year ago, the one that I broke, has a slight chip out of the top of  it.  It’s only a small chip, but to me feels like a canyon and I’ve noticed small bits of food, like strawberry seeds, get caught in it.  I opted to have it taken care of prior to Baby Fidget’s arrival, mainly so I don’t have to find a sitter (Bug will be in school) and so I don’t push it off and let it get worse.

I go back next Wednesday at 33 weeks for my next doctors appointment.  I’m debating on talking with the dr about when to schedule the weight check ultrasound…I worry it may be to early in their eyes to start thinking about it, but I need to start thinking about getting dates together so I can find coverage for who is going to watch Bug.  The coverage I had lined up fell through for reasons I won’t go into here, so I feel the need to plan.  In theory, I’d love to have the weight check at 37 weeks and based on that, either be induced or have the c-section  before 38 weeks.  In a way, I kinda feel that I’m owed an early delivery because they let me go to 42 weeks with Bug and he was nearly 10lbs.  I want a small baby this time around and I’m really hoping to have a VBAC.  Maybe I’ll just go into labor on my own.  🙂  That would be nice.  lol  In reality, I do just want a healthy baby.

Here’s a picture that Bug took for me last night:

32 Weeks Pregnant - 8 Months

31 Week Update

Week: 31 weeks

Weight gain total: 24lbs as of this morning…I’m still not too happy about that, but I think Fidget was having a growth spurt and because of that I was STARVING literally every couple hours.  Course, I wasn’t making the best choices in the food department as I’ve still be craving junk food, but for the past couple days I haven’t felt as hungry as I had been.  Hopefully it will stay that way for a little longer.  My goal was 27 lbs, but I’m guessing it will be closer to 30lbs by the end.  I have at least 7 more weeks left, and (fingers crossed) 3-6 more lbs in those 7 weeks is doable, provided Fidget doesn’t go through another massive growth spurt like before (oh and provided I don’t go overboard on the junk food.)  At least I’m better off this time around and won’t gain the 50+ lbs like I did with Bug.

Cravings/Aversions/What I’ve Been Enjoying This Week: I’m still wanting sweets…somethings just won’t change!  lol  I’ve still been eating lots of grapefruit and drinking pineapple juice.  Darling Hubby has gotten into making smoothies for breakfast, so I’ve occasionally had a strawberry smoothie.  I still love my ice cream at the end of the day.  I try to justify it by using a smaller bowl and by adding a banana…lol

Sleep: The past couple weeks my sleeping has gone down hill.  I haven’t been able to get as comfortable with or without an extra pillow.  It doesn’t help that Darling Hubby came down with a nasty cold Monday and between his sniffling and me attempting to stay away from his germs, neither of us have gotten much sleep.  I’m just keeping my fingers crossed I don’t catch the nasty cold…On the plus side, I was given the ok by my doctor to take medication like NyQuil/DayQuil to help if I need it.  He said that at this late in the pregnancy it won’t do much harm, as long as I’m not drinking it straight from the bottle.  I have a feeling that I’ll be needing some soon…my throat, ears and nose are starting to get that “I’m getting sick” feeling…I don’t like it one bit!

Clothing: Maternity pants all the way.  Still wearing a few of my bigger non-maternity tops, although I don’t know how much longer that will last.  I will probably have to buy some short-sleeved maternity shirts before the end as I mostly have long sleeved/heavy ones from Bug’s winter pregnancy.  I’ve been checking out the clearance racks at Target, but the only thing they had that I liked was in bright lemon yellow…and I don’t want to look like a giant lemon!  lol

Baby: I feel the baby moving every day…in fact he’s currently moving up a storm.

Symptoms: Well, in addition to the typical peeing all the time I think I’m adding a couple new symptoms to the mix.  I think I have a lovely case of Pregnancy Induced Carpel Tunnel…My right wrist (I’m right handed) has been killing me when I move it certain ways.  I can barely pick things up without it hurting and occasional my fingers will get a bit numb.  I’ve been wrapping it with an ace bandage until I can make it to the store to get a wrist brace, which I’m told is more supportive…hopefully that will be on the list of things to do tomorrow.  Oddly enough, using the computer doesn’t seem to bother my wrist…crocheting and knitting are pretty much off the table now as it only makes it worse…and I was really hoping to work on Darling Hubby’s sweater…In addition to the lovely carpel tunnel, I think I’ve been experiencing some Braxton Hicks contractions.  It’s usually toward the end of the day, esp if I’ve been on my feet a lot.  I really think I felt them tonight.  It’s nothing painful, they don’t last long, and they are irregular and infrequent, but I’ve noticed that my belly gets really hard.  Maybe these practice contractions will help me have a VBAC this time around.

Drs Appointment – I had my 31 week appointment today.  Everything is looking great.  The heartbeat was nice and strong and loud.  I didn’t get an actual BPM from the nurse, but she did say he sounded great.  My sugar levels were good, too.  The doctor said Fidget is head down with his butt around my belly button.  That’s what I figured.  I think I can feel his head banging on my pelvis, his butt pressing on the top of my belly and I think, depending on the way he’s facing, his feet are pressing on one side or the other of my belly, kinda like he’s folded in half. Sometimes where his feet are can be rather painful!

Funny story about the doctors visit this morning.  I went back with the nurse to do my weight check and the back of the office smelled fantastic.  I commented on how something smelled really good and the nurse told me they were having an impromptu party (i.e. someone asked someone else who liked to cook to try out a couple recipes and she obliged and brought in a bunch for the office staff to share).  I said, “It’s downright evil!  Torturing poor hungry pregnant women!”  The nurse said, “It’s what we do best!”  (meaning eat).  I thought she meant torturing poor pregnant women!  lol  We had a good giggle over it.  I really like this particular nurse…we have a good report with each other.

Here’s the most recent photo taken tonight:

31 Weeks Pregnant

29 Week Update

Week: 29 weeks

Weight gain total: 20lbs as of this morning…I’m not too happy about that, as I’m a pound over where I wanted to be this week, but I know it’s my own fault for jumping up approximately 2 lbs from a week or so ago.  I blame the fact that I am constantly hungry and right now I’m craving junky foods.  I ate breakfast (cup of tea with lemon and a slice of homemade cinnamon raisin bread with butter) at 8:30 this morning and it’s by 10:30 my stomach was growling!  I managed to hold out until 11:30 and had a couple waffles with blueberry preserves and a bit of maple syrup with a glass of ovaltine milk.

Cravings/Aversions: Lately, I’ve really been wanting sweets…mostly chocolate.  I broke down in Walmart yesterday and bought a giant Hershey’s with Almonds bar and a Caramello…and 2 packages of cookies.  I’ve also been eating a bowl of ice cream practically every night.  I’m halfway through a carton of Edy’s Samoas Girl Scout Cookie ice cream and when it’s gone, it’s gone!  I’m not getting anymore!  Well, at least not until it’s a new grocery shopping week, that is!  Despite my junky food cravings, I’ve been eating lots of fresh grapefruit and pineapple juice and lately, Darling Hubby has been making fruit smoothies, so I’ve been having at least one of those a week.  I’ve been really good about trying to have something healthy for my 3 meals…it’s those pesky times in between that I need munchies!

Sleep:  I’m actually not doing too badly in the sleep department.  I still wake up a couple times to go pee (always at 2 am and usually between 4 and 5:30), but other than that I’m actually able to get relatively comfortable (I probably just jinxed myself.)  I do have to sleep with a pillow supporting me, which I know crowds Darling Hubby in the bed…I try to be considerate, though, and not sleep in the middle of the bed too often!  I have noticed that when I’m laying on my side my left hip will have a tendency to cramp up a bit and I’m more prone to cramping in the arch of my feet if I flex just right at night.  I can now tell the sign of when it’s going to happen, so I can usually prevent it from fully cramping up.

Clothing: I am completely in maternity pants now.  My belly has really blossomed over the past couple weeks.  I’m actually still able to wear some of my pre-pregnancy shirts as they were loose to begin with.

Baby: Fidget lives up to his name daily.  Last night in fact, he was moving around so much I said he was doing his alien impression.  You could see him sliding around under my skin.  Darling Hubby said it could be worse…I could be seeing facial features like he’s trying to tear himself out through my stomach!  It’s actually very freaky/creepy, weird and amazing all at the same time.  I still think that he spends most of his time head down and likes to keep his back along my right side with his butt up under my right ribs and his feet kicking my left hip…not totally sure if that’s his placement, but that’s where I tend to feel most of his moving about.   At least he’s stopped kicking my cervix, which was quite painful at times…especially when driving the car!

Photo:  Here’s a picture taken today.  I need to have Darling Hubby take a better profile picture of me…this was done with the camera on a tripod…

29 Weeks Pregnant