Pregnancy: 32 weeks

 

What I love: This is a combination of "love" and "annoying". Kit has found this one spot under my ribs where he likes to stick his foot, then he'll pull it out, resulting in a popping sensation. He does this OVER AND OVER AGAIN, which is adorable because, hey, he found a way to amuse himself! But that area gets sore after a little bit. And since he's getting bigger, he's having to relearn where that spot is, so I've had a couple strong kicks to the ribcage before he finds the spot again. Those kicks HURT, man. I actually said "... ow...?!" out loud the first time it happened. LOL

What I hate: My bigger belly, if only because I’m super self-conscious about it. My weight, but I’m trying to get over that. And the fact that reaching my shoes is getting harder, even if my belly is “tiny”! [Same]

What I miss: My body, lol. [Same] (I feel like this is the only thing I'm missing, but damn, I could go for a beer or glass of wine, too. A good buzz would be AWESOME.)

What I’m looking forward to the most: April!! Okay, okay… I have two months left to go. I’m looking forward to our St. Patrick’s Day diaper shindig. [Same] And for Matt to get baby snuggles with his new second cousin!! <3

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

Symptoms: A bigger belly, pregnancy rhinitis, soooooo tiiiiiiired, RLP. The third-trimester exhaustion is kicking in, I think. Yikes… [Same]

Mood: Good! Feeling a little anxious as my EDD gets closer, but I’m doing all right. [Same]

Sleep: I'm having a hard time falling asleep this week, but that's only because Matt's traveling. That always happens. I'm waking up 1-2 times a night to pee, which is new, and I'm finding it harder to get comfortable at night. When I DO sleep, though, I'm a friggin' rock.

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. STILL not flat, even if it is much more shallow than before. It’s starting to pucker. LOL [Same] (Yup... STILL not out!)

Wedding rings on or off: On!

Weight gain: I’m up 21-22lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight. Every bit closer to 150 is making me panic.

Milestones: I'm now 8 weeks away from my due date, and 4 weeks away from when they won't stop labor if it happens. Talk about a reality check!

How your baby's growing:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

How your life's changing:

To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.

You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.

Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

Get support from your partner "Sleeping is getting difficult. The only way I can get any rest is to lie with my back to my husband as he cradles my body. The support from him and a pillow between my legs is the best help." —Anonymous

Decision Guide: Who should be in the labor room with you?

Childbirth is an intensely personal experience, as is your decision whether to have additional family members, friends, or labor coaches in the birthing room with you. Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare your guest list:

• There's no one right decision. In a recent BabyCenter poll, 44 percent of expectant moms said they preferred to have no one but their partner and medical staff in the room when they gave birth, while 37 percent said they brought an additional relative along and 16 percent requested to have a friend present. Only 3 percent of respondents asked for a doula or labor coach in the birthing room.


• Some husbands or partners may be confused about their role in the birth or reluctant to participate if others are present. If you bring outside relatives or coaches in, make sure your partner is on board with the plan.


• You may be under pressure from mothers or mothers-in-law who are eager to be present for the birth of their grandchild — regardless of your wishes to keep the experience private. If you want to be alone with your partner, don't be afraid to enlist hospital staff for support in carrying out your wishes and keeping relatives out of the delivery room.


• Labor and delivery nurses come and go according to their shifts, so if you'd like to be attended continuously by one person, a private labor coach or doula is a good option. In fact, some research shows that women attended by labor assistants have shorter labors, fewer labor complications, and healthier newborns. You should also give serious thought to having a doula present if you're set on having a drug-free birth.

This Week's Activity:

Start lining up helpers. Your friends and family will want to pitch in after your baby's born, but many new moms are too overwhelmed to direct household help. How to prepare now:

• If anyone offers to help during the newborn weeks, write down their name and number.


• Select one friend to set up a schedule so that all the friends who wish to help are given a date on which they can bring you a meal.


• Create a master grocery list so you can hand it off to a friend.


• Create a childcare or ride schedule for older children.


• Line up a friend or neighbor to take out your garbage, walk your dog or feed your pets.