The coolest thing about being pregnant is to feel a baby moving around inside of you. It's really hard to fathom that you are growing life, but so cool at the same time. Pregnancy is rather uncomfortable though and all that gets exacerbated in the third trimester.
Things to note:
Troubled sleep hit me like a ton of bricks around week 33. I started waking up dozens of times per night, not being able to fall asleep, and waking up at 3:00 a.m. for a couple of hours before being able to fall back asleep. It's awful. I guess its God's way of preparing you for the sleepless nights. This paired with regular pregnancy fatigue can make for a very tired mama!
Contractions started early for me, probably around week 32. Nothing serious or too intense, but enough to make you stop and pay attention.
The low back pain started around week 33. Again, nothing terrible, but bothersome nonetheless.
Hormonally, I hit the full blown crazy stage at about 32 weeks. And, I mean, CRAZY! PMS on mega steroids and anxiety for no reason. I had surprised myself with how even keeled I had been with a few exceptions before this point. It all caught up to me. Sorry to those who have felt my wrath.
I came off progesterone at 36 weeks. My doctor told me to be prepared from this point on as coming off progesterone can increase contractions!
I generously applied coconut oil all over my torso every day to help fend off the dreaded stretch marks. At 38 weeks I still have not gotten any. I am prone to them so I still am waiting for them to arrive...
Things that were life savers:
I continued to workout doing the elliptical and my define class up until week 36 when my doctor told me to stop exercising. It really helped me to feel like a normal human, and helped to keep me (somewhat) sane.
We took three classes through the hospital to prepare for Emerson. A breastfeeding class, a basic baby care class, and an understanding birth class online. TCH puts on great classes, and I would highly recommend them. The breastfeeding class was a little intense and very strict in their teachings, but I guess that is to be assumed. All the classes helped me feel as prepared as I could be in becoming a new mom.
Prenatal Massages. I didn't get them often, maybe once every 6 weeks or so, but they are wonderful. The key is to go somewhere that has the maternity pillow so you can lay on your stomach. It feels so good to lay on your stomach after many months of not being able to. Fiori has the pillow, and its awesome. Other places with just make you lay on your side.
Preparing:
Preparing the nursery. Noni ironing her curtains.
Blake and JoJo hanging the bed crown. Since its going above her crib, Blake made sure he could basically hang on it without it coming down. :)
Hanging the mirror.
Assembling the bookshelves!
And, putting together the moses basket stand.
Cute and proud papa to be.
At a friends baby shower in February. Caroline (center) and I are due a few days apart. Missy is due in late June. Of course, all girls.
At Amy's baby shower in March. Claire and Emerson will be besties!
And, Amanda's baby shower in March as well.
We got to go to the rodeo (Tim McGraw) when I was 35 weeks in a suite. The best way to do the rodeo!
Baby E at 31 Weeks. Look at those lips!! She looks like a little Blake. The specialist we see started to giggle when looking at this picture because she so closely resembles Blake. She said "It takes two people to create a baby, but Blake obviously has some very strong genes"! This was the last picture we got although not the last ultrasound. She was hiding too much to get a good picture after this.
32 Weeks Pregnant
36 Weeks Pregnant
38 Weeks Pregnant
At 37 weeks I had to do a non stress test to make sure all was still well with her. Its a heart rate monitor and contraction monitor that is hooked up to a machine that reads everything for 20-30 minutes. I also had to press a game show like clicker every time she moved. All was good!
Our hospital bags are packed, and we are ready for induction day (if she doesn't come before) which is Tuesday, April 7th 8:00 p.m. I will be induced at 39 weeks because there are some blood flow problems between the placenta and her due to my thyroid disease. They want to get her out early as a precaution to make sure she doesn't go into distress from the lessened blood flow which has also caused her to stop growing optimally. At the last appointment she weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces, so her size isn't worrisome, but is now only in the 27th percentile when she was in the 45th four weeks ago.
The car seat is in the car, and we are just waiting for you to arrive sweet girl. Your daddy likes to just sit in the glider and think about you.
I can't wait to see your precious face!
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