Week 36:
- Hiccup baby! Squiddy gets the hiccups at least once a day... Usually it happens right after I start eating. *chew, chew, blip!, chew, swallow, blip!* I wonder if he knows my tummy gurgle/digestion noises? SO amazing!
- Non-Stress Tests. Twice weekly I make the 35 minute trek out to Walnut Creek for my tests. Little belly straps, some jelly and a whole lot of wooshing! It's kind of reassuring for me to hear his heart beat and know that he's doing okay, but the drive and time is kind of inconvenient. Traffic sucks! (He's worth all the traffic in the world, though)
- Sleeping with seven. I now sleep with seven pillows, as it's getting harder for me to breathe (with my little one lung) if I'm not upright somewhat. I sleep with: a wedge, my regular pillow and a throw pillows under my head/shoulders, a pillow under my back, a pillow under each arm and one under my knee. Poor Dustin gets, like, 1/3 of the bed. Sleeping USED to be one of my favorite things, but now I much prefer to be awake and full of air and comfortable!
- Folding, sorting swooning. Little laundry has become a part of my life. And I couldn't be happier about it. Although, those tiny socks will SURELY be eaten by the dryer monster sooner or later.
- Hard belly hurts. I've been getting stronger and stronger Braxton Hicks contractions and sometimes they hurt. Oh boy, this whole no pain medication thing is going to be tough!
- Pushing my buttons. For the past few days, I get these really hard, painful, achy cramps. Once it even hurt so bad that it went down into my thighs. Then, I'll feel some really hard kicks, Squiddy will adjust and the pain goes away. It's getting crammed up in there!
- Speaking of crammed. It's hard to eat enough to help this boy gain more weight when he likes to hog all the belly room and squish my intestines! Just a few more weeks, Squiddy and then you can spread out like never before!
- Nervous. I've been reading The Birth Book by Dr. Sears and all the talk about crowning, tearing and pain is making me a bit... scared. I KNOW that my body was designed perfectly for this, but I may be developing stage fright! Any Words of wisdom from all you moms?
- Tired Pigs. My foot easily gets sore as of late. Wanna know one fo the perks of being in a wheelchair? Insta-foot rest while lounging on the couch! Boo-yeah! Lemonade out of lemons, hey?
Our Squiddy is due in 22 days.
He may even come before that.
This event will change us.
Our lives will never be the same, and for once, that's a great thing!
xo,
Violet
I've been thinking about tiny socks...My solution is to buy a delicates laundry bag like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002R0DXOQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
That way all the teeny socks will be in the same place when you put them in and take them out. I swear, I'm a genius.
Also? I'm totally getting stage fright. 4 days til my due date. YIKES.
Posted by: Marmie | 06/10/2011 at 02:53 PM
When I was going through my back pain I was shocked how I dreaded going to sleep because of the pain. It will be so worth it, but until then I hope it goes by fast and painless.
Come on Squiddy, grow and stop kicking mom.
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=592724662 | 06/10/2011 at 03:00 PM
Definately get a little bag to wash the tiny socks in. Just keep it in the laundry basket or hamper and add the socks to it when they're dirty. If you can go without meds I would. For Adam I had meds because I was sick when I got to the hospital so things didn't quite go as planned and I was cut that time. Healing was a pain. With Laura everything happened much faster and I had her naturally and tore a bit. Recovery was easier. Don't worry (I know easier said than done) even if things don't happen the way you plan soon you'll be holding your little man in your arms.
Posted by: Michelle | 06/10/2011 at 04:28 PM
Never been pregnant but my goodness, I can see the joy and excitement in your eyes. Lady, I am so happy for you.
Posted by: Caitlin | 06/10/2011 at 04:30 PM
LOL I had a birth ball that I used as a foot rest more than I used it as a seat... I probably shouldn't have done that ;) Heeee so exciting!
Posted by: Amanda | 06/10/2011 at 06:03 PM
My non-medicated, natural childbirth 'words of wisdom' are to relax and let it happen. Easier said than done, of course - but you can do it. If you're tense and fearful your body won't open. Just let go and trust yourself.
Ina May's Guide to Natural Childbirth is a fantastic book and will make you feel empowered rather than scared.
Posted by: Julie | 06/10/2011 at 07:04 PM
woah, he got bigger since I left!! yay :)
Posted by: Leigh-Ann | 06/10/2011 at 07:36 PM
I love this! I cannot wait to experience this for myself. This just makes me so happy for you. He is going to be here so so so so so so so sooooon!!!!!
Posted by: Larissa | 06/10/2011 at 09:55 PM
I'm so excited for you guys. Almost time, and that's such an amazing thing!
Posted by: Sara | 06/10/2011 at 10:20 PM
The laundry bag/lingerie bag works like a charm! Talk about stage fright...I think it was around this time in my pregnancy that I decided she was staying in there forever....LOL. You'll do great!!!
Posted by: Sarah | 06/11/2011 at 05:20 AM
I think that is reading that book is making you scared it may be best to not. The more stressed you are through the delivery the less relaxed you will be. It is great to be informed so maybe if you only select your must know info from the index you'd be better off. It is so true that your body was designed for this and you can totally do it! Yes childbirth is painfull but I would totally do it again and again as the rewards are amazing!!! Your body heals and forgets all about the pain as soon as you hold that little one in your arms.
Posted by: amanda | 06/11/2011 at 09:04 AM
Words of wisdom about the birth: take it one contraction at a time. Don't worry about what's going to happen NEXT, just breathe through the contraction and use the intervals to truly relax as much as possible. The tearing and stretching SOUNDS awful - and yeah, it hurts - but by the time he's crowning, you'll be so ready to just have him OUT that you won't care as much as you do when you're just thinking about it.
Truly, just do your best to stay calm and relaxed and take your labor one contraction at a time. I was in labor for 47 hours (and did indeed need to get an epidural at hour 36), which SOUNDS awful. And yeah, 36 hours of contractions wasn't any fun, but at the time it was just one contraction at a time and in between I rested, walked around, nibbled on food, and chatted with my family and our doula. It wasn't JUST pain.
Posted by: Sonja | 06/11/2011 at 10:03 AM
Who wouldn't be a little scared about the entire childbirth process- I am a labor and delivery nurse and a mother of three and I can tell you, one of the worst parts of the childbirth experience is the unknown and anticipatory anxiety surrounding this amazing but intense experience. If you can learn to keep your anxiety at bay with affirmations, trust the process, and keep your expectations to a minimum, you can handle whatever the birthing process throws at you. Trust the unknown, trust your body, and trust the universe to protect you and your son. Best wishes
Posted by: Kim | 06/12/2011 at 09:00 PM