29 weeks
29 weeks: We finally got some focus (and baby's first toy: a tiny wooden train).
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30 weeks
30 weeks: I can't believe how big this baby is now!
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31 weeks
31 weeks
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The weeks are flying by now. They've been a whirl of focus, panic, excitement, tears, exhaustion, and amazement.
I'm most amazed by just how much I can feel this little guy moving. We've started having regular mid-morning playtimes. He'll start squirming around, I'll rub his back, and then he'll press harder against my hand. The other day he was kicking his feet and moving his body at the same time so that I could really feel just how much he's grown (according to the Internet, he should be around 17 inches long now and weighs nearly four pounds!). This whole pregnancy experience feels more and more real each day.
We chose a wonderful doula and are thrilled that she'll there to support us during the birth. We instantly felt comfortable with her. She's attended more than 100 births and has worked with our care provider and hospital many times before. In fact, at our last midwife appointment, I mentioned our doula's name and our midwife not only knew her, but had wonderful things to say about her. Our doula makes me feel much less anxious about the birth.
However, I did panic a couple days ago when it felt like my body was going to explode. Every part of me feels full and stretched tight; I cannot imagine how it will continue to grow for another eight weeks. I underestimated how much of a toll pregnancy would take on my body and emotions. I kept thinking that labor and delivery would be the hard part, and I know they will, but I glossed over the whole "I'm growing another person" thing. This week I've been exhausted and slow-moving, which finally made me realize I need to take things slower and treat my body more kindly. More naps, early bedtimes, walks, and warm showers are in my future.
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I hope you're treating yourself kindly this week too! I plan to take it easy today after I check off some errands from my never-ending to-do list.
Reading your post brought me beautiful memories of my pregnancy and I feel so emotional about it, my baby is now 10 months old and I can still remember her kicking my belly lol.... I love being pregnant, and yes I remember those times when I felt as I was gonna explode!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy every little moment is worth it :)
Take care!
Lluisa x
You look great! Take it easy :)
ReplyDeleteIt never ceases to amaze me the way our bodies can change to accommodate another person! Take good care of yourself in these last weeks. V
ReplyDeleteTake care! I really enjoy following your pregnancy! You look beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you've found people you can feel comfortable with during such an important time in your life! Honestly, I miss my dr and the dr's office--I loved the midwife I saw first (in the same office), but given my previous pregnancies, I had to be switched to the doctor side of the office :( Don't worry about having enough room to grow your little man--it feels like you can stretch no further during this part of your pregnancy, but around 34 wks, that feeling went may go away (like it did for me), but baby continues to grow just fine :) Oh, and if you're interested but don't know about it yet, you should go to the Kid Stuff Sale in mid March (I went to the one in NA today, but I'll go to the Louisville sale as well). Soooo much baby/kid stuff at terrific prices!
ReplyDeleteIt is scary as you don't know what quite to expect, but everything will be alright as you have a solid support system in place. You glow mama!
ReplyDeleteYou look great! Enjoy this time as much as you can (I know it can be uncomfortable!!) because it goes by so amazingly fast! I remember I was pregnant in JULY when I lived across from Louisville in Clarksville, Indiana and I felt like I was going to explode from the heat too. Whew, I remember that 13 years ago like it was yesterday! Hang in there!
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