Ready, Set, wait around for awhile more!

I am officially 37 weeks, which means i am full term and if i were to go into labor they would be ready to deliver and not try to stop anything. This week has been a crazy week for baby and i know a lot of people want updates so here is what happened:

Thursday (8am) i had a doctor's appointment. I was "checked" (for dilation, in simple terms for my friends who don't know pregnancy jargon i need to be 100% effaced and 10cm dilated for a healthy delivery) and the doc said i am more than 50% effaced but only 1 cm dilated. She also said she thought baby might be breach (butt down) so she wanted a sono. She was SHOCKED that i wasn't more dilated and very honestly said that it would be better for me to go earlier, healthier for baby considering how sick i have been and she's hoping it happens in the next week.

** side note for the next week the doctor i really DO NOT want to deliver Cecelia is on vacation, so the timing would be PERFECT if she came sooner because i wouldn't have to worry about who is on call!

After we saw the doc we had our sono and baby is BIG especially considering i technically have 3 more weeks expected to go. She was measuring with a large head, big belly and TALL a 7lbs 13 ounces! Now i know that the measurement can be off, but how i have been feeling the weight lately 8lbs sounds about right. the best part is she is head down and READY to go.

We officially got the say that any day now and it's GOOD news (not scary becuase she's early news). Her lungs look good, her face is down and she's riding low. My belly has officially "dropped" so it'll be no more than two weeks of waddling.

Later that day I came home form work and kel and i did a ton of freezer cooking. as we were finishing i had a random gush of fluid. We THOUGHT it could be my water breaking, but i had had NO contractions and wasn't dilated at all 8 hours before. we called and the hospital told us to come in and get it checked. After one hour it turns out my water had not broken, baby had moved and her large head hit my bladder and i lost my bladder (most embarrassing thing ever!). Apparently this late in the game that happens to MOST women at least once. The weird part was that i was having contractions (the machine measures them) and they were steady and only 2 minutes apart, but i was not dilating AT ALL or feeling the contractions, i only felt a couple and they did not hurt at all.However i am fully effaced but not at all dilated and i need BOTH! Luckily my doctor was on call and she said i should go home, get comfy and wait it out. Since i know i have a high pain tolerance she said to be careful, i might not feel how serious things get. So after getting all worked up and calling in at work kel and  i went home no baby and no signs of WHEN baby was coming.

When we got home we took a LONG walk to my sister's house and took the LONG way back, went to BWW and i ate SUPER spicy wings (Which i NEVER do), saw a rainbow and took another small walk.   Kel went to play poker and two good friends came over and cleaned my house for me (I am SO SO SO grateful for them because my house was a disaster and i had no energy to even TRY to clean any part of it. Thanks to them everything is done including laundry and putting away all baby's fresh clean clothes.) and i relaxed.i definately was having contractions, but they weren't consistent. So i went to bed.

No more contractions.... i apparently slept it off... who does that????

So i woke up feeling fine, no baby today, went to work and have spent the WHOLE afternoon walking AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!

I am super frustrated! i'm ok with waiting another week or two for baby, i was told they will induce me in 2 weeks if i haven't gone because ti will be too risky for me to go later than that, and i'm ok with that. i am also ok with baby coming this weekend as i am EXHAUSTED! either way i really need baby to make up her mind. she is ready, i am set.... when do we go? Either way we need to get an informed decision from this baby.

nesting and swelling and nausea OH MY!

I have been waiting my whole pregnancy to finally hit that nesting stage i heard so much about. Way back when i had just announced i was pregnant a lady i used to baby sit for gave me ALL her old girls' 3-12 month clothes. She had her first daughter in august and said she's been waiting to pass them on to someone who has an august baby, so they are for the correct season/warmth etc. They have been sitting in a bin, unfolded and unsorted for six months. Today i finally took them all out, sorted them and put them away. i have all the 3-6 month clothes in 1/2 my old dresser (organized by onesie, pants, outfit and then the cute little dresses and sweaters are hung up) and the rest is organized by size and put back into storage, in the closet not baby's floor! all the newborn stuff is out and in a pile (we don't have a hamper or basket yet but hopefully will get one soon) to be washed and put away. I still need pretty much everything for baby (changing station, crib, sheets, diapers, wipes, bags, etc) but i know where it will all go so when we get it it's easy to put away! Also we finally got decor on the walls of the nursery (just one wall) and it's SO cute.Once we get the nursery finished i PROMISE i will post pictures!

How far along?: 34 weeks

 How big is baby?: according to the doctor right on track.

Stretch marks?:yes but if anyone is seeing my stomach at this point it's because they are my husband or doctor and neither of them care.

 Sleep?: not bad, i am sick of peeing all night every night

 

Food cravings? nothing, i am back to being sick. literally every time i eat something within 5 minutes i am throwing it all back up. i don't feel nausea or anything, in fact i feel like i am always super hungry but every time i eat i have to excuse myself, get sick, then i can finish my meal in peace. Sorry if that's TMI but it's the weirdest thing. after I'm sick i am able to eat small portions. this has happened every meal for 4 days now. It's easier than when i was sick before, but i wish i knew what caused it. I know it's not WHAT i eat because i have made sure to eat such a variety to rule out anything specific so i can cut it form my diet. I think i will just blame the heat. I've been SO hot ALL the time with this weather that it seems like a good thing to blame.

 

Movement?: not as much lately. i know she is getting a bit cramped in there

Gender?: GIRL!

Belly button?: very stretched out, but still an innie! Kel and i had a bet, he bet my belly button would be an outie by now- i totally won! i bet i never have an outie

What are you looking forward to this week? well i REALLY want to start packing our hospital bag, but i am making myself wait at least 2 more weeks. That plus i have NO nursing bras or tank tops or ANYTHING. we take a class next week on breastfeeding, etc so i want to wait until after that class to buy any of that. plus i have BABY SHOWERS (so pumped) and Kel and I aren't buying anything until after those. But we are both getting overtime on our next paydays so i am hoping to set money aside for diapers (check out www.pinstipesandpolkadots.com to see what kind of cloth diapers we registered for) and other baby needs.


Random question: did anyone else who had a late summer baby ever get swollen hands/feet/legs/everything! yesterday i was outside for the shortest time ever (5 minutes) and afterwards my hands and legs were SO swollen i couldn't make a fist or walk. i immediately laid down, drank a ton of water and Gatorade and iced them. It hurts so much when my feet swell and i was wondering if anyone else had to deal with extreme swelling and HOW you dealt with it.

the wait is on!

How far along?: 33 weeks

 How big is baby?: according to the doctor right on track.

Stretch marks?:yes but if anyone is seeing my stomach at this point it's because they are my husband or doctor and neither of them care.

 Sleep?: good! when i actually sleep it's GREAT but my sleep habits are a bit off with work. 

 

Food cravings? nothing too extreme. this morning Kel asked what i wanted for breakfast and i said "toast and ice cream." the best part is he brought me toast AND ice cream!

 

Movement?: ALWAYS! she is always moving and it's EXHAUSTING. not to mention when she's more active it's more painful!

Gender?: GIRL!

Belly button?: very stretched out, but still an innie!

What are you looking forward to this week? honestly just being one week closer. last Friday i was in the hospital having a couple of contractions with some bleeding and back pain. It turns out i had a bladder infections that could possibly have been working it's way to my kidneys (hence the back pain). they gave me meds and said i need to keep my feet up as much as possible. Well this week at work things went CRAZY and i ended up working crazy hours (including an overnight) and it was opposite of what i should have been doing. plus the massive heat wave meant my feet swelled to enormous proportions (the doctor literally was shocked that my FLIP FLOP was still on). So i had a check up yesterday and although i still have a bladder infection it's nothing to worry about. the biggest thing my doctor said is it's still to early to be comfortable with delivery and she's on vacation for the next 2 weeks so i need to be really careful (i actually will be this time). No being outside in the heat AT ALL and nothing intense, she said preferably don't celebrate the 4th just eat food with your feet up. She then said she would be SHOCKED if i didn't deliver early i just need to hold on for 4 more weeks until i am full term!

It's scary to hear a doctor say that baby is already moving into a delivery position and with the heat and my active lifestyle plus all the complications i have already had that baby just needs to wait a few more weeks. As ready as i am to not be pregnant and hold my baby girl i know i need more time and baby ESPECIALLY needs more time. Luckily with everything going on bed rest wouldn't really do much or prevent much so i just need to relax more than i do. This means when i am not working i do no housework and poor kel has to pick up all the slack. i don't think he minds but it bothers me that he does ALL the cleaning and cooking and laundry, etc.

however we added a little bit more accessories to the nursery and all we need are a few more things (the big one's a crib) and it will look ready for a baby!

Unable to Beat the Heat

How far along?: 32 weeks

 How big is baby?: big! and i feel a little heavier every day.

Stretch marks?: i honestly don't even look or notice

 Sleep?: i am getting used to having to wake up to pee or roll over- and yes i need assistance or full concentration just to roll over now so it does in fact wake me up!

Food cravings? ice cream, but i think that was more because of the sweltering heat outside and less a craving. I am finally eating again so it's been exciting to eat lots of food!

Movement?: LOTS and lots of movement. at the doctor's office the doc was trying to get a heartbeat and she put the machine up to my stomach for a minute and found about 3 beats before Cecelia literally kicked the machine until it slid off my stomach. after that the doctor couldn't find a heart beat because she was moving too much too fast! Her kicks and VERY strong now and my whole belly moves and is visible to people around me. It kinda weirds some people out!

 Gender?: GIRL!

Belly button?: very stretched out, but still an innie!

What are you looking forward to this week? we finish out birthing class this week. it was actually really informative, but i will be glad when it's done! the whole class has scared me and made me more and more nervous for the whole actual giving birth process. Ignorance was kinda bliss, but at least now i know what to expect and what options there are! Then it's time for BABY SHOWERS! i am really excited for these!


Sidenote- being VERY pregnant in the is not something i recommend. i am naturally a very warm blooded person and kinda hate heat to begin with, but this summer is pure torture. Poor Kel has been cold so many times and i am just sweating! I haven't even been able to make it to the pool very much this summer because i have been working crazy hours, so there is literally no escaping this horrible heat. I dread going outside even if it's just to get into my car! I can't wait until autumn, in fact i am ok with just skipping the rest of summer and having a SUPER long Autumn.

10 weeks left

How far along?: 30 weeks.... the countdown begins!

How big is baby?: 3 and a half pounds

Stretch marks?: i honestly don't even look or notice

 Sleep?: awful i peed so much and i am thirsty all the time so i keep drinking which make me pee more! plus i have to wake up to repositions myself now....

Food cravings? pizza, i saw someone order a pizza on TV and i of course i then HAD to have pizza

Movement?: yup and i still get excited every time she kicks! i doubt it ever gets old. however the hard kicks make me loose my breath, but most people just think i am hiccuping so it's not really a big deal

 Gender?: GIRL!

Belly button?: still innie, where it will stay!

What are you looking forward to this week? we have started birthing classes and they aren't too bad or too awkward. this week though i am most excited about date night! i can't wait because i never get to see my husband or spend time with him so i am mandating a date night!

i can't see my feet when i stand up!

How far along?: 28 weeks and I'm not gonna lie i am a bit bummed. I though i was either 29 or 30 weeks today and it turns out i was wrong. i was reading ahead in my week by week book.

How big is baby?: quite large by the looks of me. i have turned into a nice basketball (in MOST clothes, some just make me look large). People keep asking me when i am gonna "pop" and i always get frustrated because i still have ALL summer to go. I know I'm big but i am baffled how, i have officially gained 2lbs in 2 weeks, which is not much compared to how big i am. Total i lost 35lbs and gained 8... i am still -27lbs! not sure how baby is so big if i am not gaining, but I'll take it.

Stretch marks?: they actually have gotten lighter and less itchy this week. i put on special lotion daily and i got a new soap, so i am hoping that keeps them away!

 Sleep?: irregular, but i am pretty sure that i less pregnancy related and more "my husband now works overnights 2-3 nights a week" related. It's weird sleeping in a bed without him, but when he does sleep in the bed with me i think it's too crowded (and sorry hun, but the pillows WIN!)

Food cravings? buffalo wings, i am OBSESSED! i eat them without any ranch now (i used to SMOTHER then in ranch) and i eat spicier ones that usual.

 

Movement?: lots, always. and they are now borderline violent.

 Gender?: GIRL!

Belly button?: it is a little closer to the surface, but definitely still an innie! Kel has some weird fascination with it (i claim it will never pop out and he says it definitely will, so the bet is on!) and checks ti everyday to make sure it is getting closer to popping.

What are you looking forward to this week? i have a doctor's appointment this week and the baby's godmother is coming with to see her on the "big screen" and i also have to do my sugar test (yuck). But this is the first time we have gone the recomended amount of time between visits and not had to have an extra one. Since there have been so many concerns i have been going every 2 weeks when i should have been going every 4, but this time i will be 4 weeks between appointments (three and a half technically). Just in time for me to start going every 2 weeks again *sigh*. but it has all been worth it. i just can't wait until she is HERE, I'm more antsy than i was 12 weeks before my wedding!

Starting to feel real

How far along?: 27 weeks! Officially Third Trimester!

How big is baby?:  over 2lbs

Stretch marks?: they aren't as bad as i anticipated!

 Sleep?: well i am usually so exhausted by the end of the day i fall asleep around 8-9pm and i wake up between 5-6a so i would say i'm getting some pretty good sleep!

Food cravings? nothing really. i'm eating and that's all i really care about most days!

 
Movement?: most of the time! and her kicks are getting even stronger!

 Gender?: GIRL!

Belly button?: still hidden!

What are you looking forward to this week?Well it's kinda unreal now, kel and i have been saying we are going to take this one trimester at a time, which turned out to be REALLY perfect for us. I was so sick we have been focused on ME staying healthy for baby. However now that we are third trimester it's time to do/think about all those things we have been neglecting. We need to find a pediatrician. we signed up for classes, we need to go back through our registries, we are garage sailing to see if we find anything good that will come in handy. Pretty much we've hit crunch time and instead of figuring out how to live pregnant we are trying to figure out how to live with a BABY!