Baby P #2 Bump Watch: 39 Weeks Preggers

*Originally posted October 9, 2017 on Fab . Fit . Me*

Still pregnant! Had my doctor appointment at the start of my 39th week on Wednesday 9/20. Still no contractions. Still feeling anxious about going into labor. Anticipating that first wave of contractions is not a fun feeling. My midwife checked my cervix and confirmed I went from 1cm dilated/80% effaced (last week's appointment) to 3-4cm dilated/80%effaced this week. She said there's still no way of knowing when my body will go into labor - which is the sucky part about all of this. But she predicts that I could have Baby P #2 before my next appointment. If not, I told her we need to do a membrane sweep/strip at my next appointment to try and get this going. I really am not looking to possibly carrying this huge belly till 42 weeks. Or having to be medically induced to get her out. Nope. I'm not looking forward to doing a membrane strip either because that's pretty painful, too... but I'd rather do that than being induced with pitocin and other drugs.

Anyway, so that's where we're at. We are still just waiting for her to come.

39 Weeks

What is up with Baby P #2 this week?

• Baby P is as big as a pumpkin - measuring about 20 inches long and weighing about 7.3 lbs. She is continuing to grow even though the belly is running out of room.

• She is most likely able to flex her limbs now - and I'm pretty sure she tries to every chance she gets because her movements HURT!!!

• Her brain is still rapidly developing and getting smarter by the week!

• Her nails may also extend past the fingertips now

• At this point, there is nothing left to do except see the doctor each week and wait for Baby's arrival.

What's been happening with ME this week?

Weight Gained: none. Thank Goodness!!! It was only a 5-day break between doctor checkups but still... it was nice to know that I did not gain in that short week.

Workouts: None whatsoever.

Symptoms: Whatever symptoms you get for being almost 9 months pregnant I have 'em all. Braxton Hicks, heartburn, lightning crotch, pelvic pressure... all of the above.

Food Aversions: anything I eat just grosses me out now.

Food Cravings: everything lol

Sleep: very difficult rolling from side to side but once I'm asleep, I'm good.

Any Baby/Pregnancy-Related Purchases? nope. Just waiting for her to get here!

Stretch Marks: I think there's more since my last post. But at this point, I've already accepted that it's not that big a deal. I'll still rock them in a bikini once I'm back in shape.

Miss Anything?: Yes. Everything about not being pregnant. I'm over being pregnant. If I can't even enjoy indulging in foods I crave because I feel gross afterwards... I just want my baby to get here so I can cuddle her instead of wishing she wasn't hurting me from the inside. She has no room to move anymore...

Belly Button In or Out? I don't think it will ever be the same...

Wedding Rings On or Off? OFF!!!

Happy or Moody Most Of The Time? Neutral. And a hot mess all at once.

Any Movement? Yes. Jabs. Pokes. All kinds of soreness going on.

Fun and/or Interesting Things from the Week? Ummm.... nothing really. I've just been a homebody these last few days. Trying to keep the house in order and somewhat clean so that Baby P #2 can come home to a clean house. Looking Forward To? Not the actual labor part, but looking forward to meeting this little human who is taking her sweet time baking in my belly.

Tags: #39weekspregnant #39weekspregnancyupdate #pregnancyjourney #secondpregnancy #thirdtrimester #babybumpwatch #babybumppics

Baby P #2 Bump Watch: 38 Weeks Preggers

*Originally posted September 19, 2017 on Fab . Fit . Me*

38 Weeks and still pregnant! I guess it isn't always true when people say "if your first was early, then your 2nd will be early, too." I know I still got a few days to go till I'm "full term 40 weeks" and I could still have her "early." But right now, she looks to be super content in my belly.

At my last appointment on 9/15, my midwife checked me to see if I've even dilated. And yes, my cervix has dilated 1cm and is 80% effaced. While some may think "yay, that means she'll be here soon!"...hate to break it to ya... it just really means I'm dilated 1cm with a possibility of going into labor really soon. The truth is...I could stay dilated 1cm till 40 weeks. Or I could go into labor any minute. It's all up to mother nature now. Whenever my body and Baby P wants it to happen, it will happen. I haven't felt any real contractions yet. Just the normal aches and sharp pains from Baby's movements down there.

So we continue to wait...

38 Weeks

Monster and me...

What is up with Baby P #2 this week?

• Baby P #2 is as big as a winter melon, measuring at about 19.6 inches long and weighing about 6.8 lbs.

• Her head is about the same circumference as the abdomen

• She has really plumped up and has a firm grasp - which we'll soon be able to test when we hold her hand for the first time

• Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb

What's been happening with ME this week?

Weight Gained: Up 2 lbs from the last appointment. Not something any woman likes to hear but doc says its normal and Baby P and I are totally healthy. So that brings us to a total of 32-33lbs gained.

Workouts: Are you kidding me? Me? Workout? Those words don't go together. We did go to the mall over the weekend to get some new stuff to wear for Baby P's newborn photoshoot coming up soon after she's born. And, let me tell you, this belly of mine made walking that mall almost unbearable after 20 minutes. Muscles ached for days just from that walk. No joke.

Symptoms:

• Extreme fatigue

• Hot flashes

• Lightning crotch - this is a real thing, I assure you. Google it.

• Nausea - usually after eating anything

• Whacked out tastebuds - anything I eat leaves the worst aftertaste in my mouth AND no matter how many times I brush my teeth and tongue, I always seem to have the worst breath ever.

• Aches and pains everywhere

• Heartburn/acid reflux - makes for some uncomfortable sleep

• Itchy belly...because it's so dang stretched out, it just itches like crazy!!!

Food Aversions: nothing specific

Food Cravings: Ice cream. Fried chicken. But not together.

Sleep: It was pretty damn good up until now. Insomnia kicked in right at the start of my 38th week. Can't seem to get comfortable with this watermelon belly. And also, can't seem to shut the brain off. The anxiety of going into labor again is not fun.

Any Baby/Pregnancy-Related Purchases? Nothing new. I'm looking at new bows to add to Ella's old collection that Baby P #2 will inherit.

Stretch Marks: Oh don't even get me started on this one. Gone are the days of flawless abs for this mama.

Miss Anything?: Everything about being mobile!

Belly Button In or Out? What belly button?

Wedding Rings On or Off? I keep them off most of the time. I put them on when I leave the house.

Happy or Moody Most Of The Time? Happy but easily irritated if you say or do the wrong thing. For real.

Any Movement? Heck yes. There's never a dull moment with this Baby. She is ALWAYS moving.

Fun and/or Interesting Things from the Week? I think we finally settled on a name! LoL. You'll find out once we've announced Baby P's arrival. Looking Forward To? Meeting this little human of mine. But not looking forward to labor.

Tags: #38weekspregnant #38weekspregnancyupdate #pregnancyjourney #secondpregnancy #thirdtrimester #babybumpwatch #babybumppics

Baby P #2 Bump Watch: 37 Weeks Preggers

*Originally posted September 12, 2017 on Fab . Fit . Me*

I think I'm pretty much all set! Been doing laundry and nesting like a crazy person!!! Baby P's newborn clothes and blankets have all been washed and put away and is ready to go! Our hospital bag has been packed and is sitting by the door. The infant carseat that Ella used her first year has been cleaned and installed in the car. Ella's bag has also been packed for the time that she will need to be staying with relatives while I'm in the hospital.

Now I just need to sit back and just relax as much as I can before the chaos.

With my first pregnancy... my 37 week update was the last one that was published before I went into labor. I hadn't published my 38 week update because I never made it through the whole week...just a couple of days. I had Ella at approximately 38 weeks and 3 days. So this could also potentially be my last entry before this baby decides to come. The idea is exciting for sure but it still freaks me out to think that she could come any day now.

The belly is still growing and it really is getting harder and harder for me to get up off the couch, the floor, the chair... rolling over in bed? Takes minutes, not seconds, to accomplish. In my last post I mentioned being anxious about going into labor...and I still am... but I hope it doesn't get harder than this to be mobile. Ella doesn't quite understand my "slowness" when she wants me to play with her.

37 Weeks

Just out of the shower and getting ready for bed...

My big girl and I...

What is up with Baby P #2 this week?

• Baby P weighs about 6 1/3 lbs and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel, which is about the length of a Swiss chard

What's been happening with ME this week?

Weight Gained: I'll know at my 38 week checkup. Hopefully not much more.

Workouts: Doing chores around the house is my workout. Keeping up with my toddler is my workout.

Symptoms: I wanna say Braxton Hicks contractions but I'm not quite positive. And I know Baby P has "dropped" because the pressure and movements in my pelvic area hurt. Other than that...nothing new.

• Abdominal pressure. If baby has dropped down into my pelvis in anticipation of labor, she is putting increased pressure on my abdomen, which might make me feel some new aches and pains down below—and a greater urge to pee too!

• Contractions. At 37 weeks, cramping or contractions are to be expected. After all, I'm going to have a baby soon—my body’s ramping up! I may find that the contractions go away if I sit or lie down. That means they’re Braxton Hicks—not real labor contractions.

• Nausea. An upset stomach is pretty typical almost any time during pregnancy. But now that I'm so close to my due date, it could be a sign I'll go into labor soon. (Whoa!)

Food Aversions: Greasy foods.

Food Cravings: Junk food. Sweets. And greasy foods. Go figure.

Sleep: Frequent trips to the bathroom doesn't allow for uninterrupted sleep these days but it's been pretty good. The first full week of being on maternity leave and prepping for Baby P's arrival didn't leave me much time to nap with Ella when she takes her afternoon nap. But I try my best to get some extra sleep when I can. That's about all I can do, right?

Any Baby/Pregnancy-Related Purchases? I bought a new belly wrap. I didn't need one last time...or at least I didn't think I did. But my belly is definitely bigger than last time and I need all the help I can get to get back into pre-baby shape.

Stretch Marks: Yeah, for sure. I can't really see how many, but they're there. My belly has stretched more than last time. It's gonna leave a mark. Oh well.

Miss Anything?: Just feeling normal in my own skin.

Belly Button In or Out? I don't have a belly button.

Wedding Rings On or Off? As I'm typing this, they're on... but that's because I can't take them off. My fingers are too puffy.

Happy or Moody Most Of The Time? Happy. Tired but happy.

Any Movement? Yup. All over. In my back. In my pelvic area.

Fun and/or Interesting Things from the Week? Yes! So we haven't exactly picked out a name yet but we did run a poll on Facebook just to see which name people liked most. Of course, it wasn't meant to be the deciding factor as to which name we'd pick. But it was interesting to see there was quite a few people who felt the need to suggest other names not listed on the poll itself. It was fun to see the results... and we will announce her name when we announce her arrival.

Looking Forward To? Getting to spend more time with my Ella before Baby P comes. She is growing so much everyday, I don't want to miss any of it.

Tags: #37weekspregnant #37weekspregnancyupdate #pregnancyjourney #secondpregnancy #thirdtrimester #