Pregnancy: 30w

Oh man. It's kind of crazy to be at this point...! 3/4 of the way done, by all estimates. :)

 

What I love: Just about everything! I feel pretty good (though moving about is getting more difficult), I feel Kit almost all the time, and we just had our baby shower over the weekend in Florida, which was GREAT. (Some pictures of our beach excursion here. I'll have baby shower pictures once my mom sends me the others. :)) We have so many gifts from such supportive people, it was amazing. The turnout was about 40 people!! We received lots of clothes, toys, bottles, and a diaper cake from my cousin (with 'sposies, but they're newborn size, which is what I was planning anyway to avoid the cloth from getting all mucked up with meconium, haha). YAY!!

We're planning a baby shower-type thing up in this area for family and friends, which should be fun! It'll be on St. Patrick's Day, and you KNOW we're going to have beer. I might have a few sips... or half a bottle... ;)

What I hate: My bigger belly, if only because I’m super self-conscious about it. [Same] It's also getting really stretchy! And man, my weight... sheesh.

Oh, and this may be a "hate". I had to take this depression profile thing at my last appointment, and my score was a 12 (the highest they like to see is 10). I told them that I do have GAD and OCD, both of which are noted on my chart and that they mentioned, but I've still been encouraged to check out a counselor prior to giving birth in case I end up having PPD. (Better before than after, as they know what my baseline is beforehand.)

So that was pretty interesting. It's actually something Matt and I discussed a few times before and during this pregnancy, so he knows to keep an eye out. I'm not proud of this by any means, but I do know it's a distinct possibility considering my history, so better to be prepared. :)

What I miss: My body, lol. [Same]

What I’m looking forward to the most: Right now, Matt coming home. He's in Boston and will be traveling a few more times before April. Ah well!

Worries: Cesarean delivery. I’m still freaking out a bit about that. [Same]

Symptoms: A bigger belly, pregnancy rhinitis, and soooooo tiiiiiiired. [Same] And RLP! For real this time. I had a really bad stint of it over the weekend, which I'll explain later (probably over at TCC), and it's been there ever since.

Mood: Good! Feeling a little anxious as my EDD gets closer, but I'm doing all right. :)

Sleep: Good, for the most part. Kit really likes to snuggle or whatever he’s doing when I lay on my left side, which wakes me up sometimes. He’s a silly baby. :) [Same] I got a body pillow, too, which is UH.MA.ZING.

Movement: Lots of it! Mostly rolls and nudges rather than hard kicks, it’s coming down to, but he still moves a LOT. [Same]

The belly (and the button!): Bigger belly, much more shallow belly button. I give it to 30w before it’s at least flat! [Same] (UPDATE: It's 30w and I still have a little innie, but not much more to go!

Wedding rings on or off: On!

Weight gain: I’m up 19lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight! A pound less than two weeks ago, but still hovering around that area. Getting to this point has been VERY triggering.

Milestones: 3/4 of the way there!!

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

How your life's changing:

You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off.

Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size. Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.

Surprising Facts: Common labor fears

Are you nervous about giving birth? You're not alone! Here are some common fears and how to cope with them.

• I won't be able to handle the pain.


• One in five expectant moms says this is her top third-trimester fear, according to a BabyCenter poll. Some women know ahead of time that they will want pain-relieving medication during labor and, in fact, most women do end up opting to have an epidural. Others are committed to giving birth without drugs. They accept potential for pain and discomfort and learn techniques to help them manage it. With the right preparation and support, some women find natural childbirth deeply satisfying and empowering.


• I'll need an episiotomy or I'll tear.
  
  An episiotomy is a surgical cut in the muscular area between your vagina and anus (the perineum) which is performed right before delivery to enlarge your vaginal opening. Some women tear spontaneously in this area during delivery — even with an episiotomy — and the tears can range from almost undetectable to severe, requiring a significant number of stitches to repair. Once nearly standard, episiotomies are on the decline and experts now agree that the procedure shouldn't be done routinely. Talk to your practitioner about how often and under what conditions she performs episiotomies and how she might help you avoid one, or tearing. There's some evidence that you'll be less likely to need stitches if you start massaging your perineum about five weeks before your due date.


• I'll have a bowel movement during labor.
  
  In a recent BabyCenter poll, 70 percent of women said they were afraid they'd poop while giving birth, 39 percent said they actually did, and of those, only 22 percent were embarrassed by it. Though it's hard to believe now, if you do have a bowel movement while you're pushing, no one will blink an eye. Your caregivers will clean it up possibly even before you know what's happened.


• I'll be steamrolled into unnecessary medical interventions.
  
  The best way to deal with this fear is to have a frank conversation with your practitioner. If you trust and respect your doctor or midwife, you can rest assured that she'll be doing her best for you and your baby on the day of delivery. If she's aware of your wishes and preferences (consider writing a birth plan), she can do her best to adhere to them. Another way to ease this fear is to hire a doula — a professional labor assistant — to attend your birth. She can be your advocate at the hospital.


• I'll have to have a c-section.
  
  Since one in five women giving birth for the first time ends up having a c-section to deliver her baby, this fear is understandable. If you have your heart set on a vaginal birth, ending up with a c-section can be disappointing. Some moms say they feel cheated out of a vaginal birth, especially if they took childbirth classes and fantasized about the "ideal birth," or if they feel that their c-section wasn't really necessary. Others say they feel as if they're somehow less of a woman because they needed a c-section. If you have these feelings, it may take some time to reconcile the reality of your birth experience with what you'd imagined during your pregnancy. It might help to know that many women find their babies' births, whether vaginal or c-section, very different from what they expected.


• I won't make it to the hospital on time.
  
  Emergency home deliveries are extremely unusual, especially with first babies. But if you can't shake this fear, check out our emergency home birth instructions so you'll have an idea of what it involves.

This Week's Activity:

Assemble any baby gear This is the perfect job for your partner or a friend who wants to help. Cribs, bassinets, and strollers are notoriously tricky to put together, especially when you're sleep deprived, so get started now. Swings, mobiles, and monitors can all require batteries, so make sure you have enough on hand. Tip: Consider getting rechargeable batteries and a battery charger.