Well, this is a pretty awesome day to celebrate! Last night as my midwife and his wife (and full time birth assistant) walked out of the house after our home visit, she gave me a high-5 and said you made it! It’s a pretty awesome feeling knowing that I’m still low risk, baby is head down and ready to go, my BP is nice and low, my urine looks good (no protein, ketones, etc), I’m feeling strong, and I’m legally allowed to deliver at home whenever this little man decides to join us in the next 5 weeks. Whohoo!
The only downside to that last paragraph? The 5 WEEK window. I’d like to think I’d be more patient if my babies weren’t due right at the turn of the calendar year, but for so many reasons (some selfishly financial) I’d really like this little guy to come in 2013 if at all possible. Also, we just found out that starting next Monday, my husband will probably be out of work for the next two weeks because the concrete plant will be closed down, so it’d also be nice to be home with babe in arms and Charlie around to help with Stella instead of me being hugely pregnant at work, Stella at daycare, and Charlie twiddling his thumbs watching ESPN over the holidays. One can always hope, right?
The problem with that is that I know babies come when they’re ready, I’m only 37 weeks today, and I’m not about to rush the kid out before he’s ready. It’s just pretty crazy to think he could come today or 35 days from now and be considered full term and healthy. Eek! When I got in my car this morning after loading Stella up for daycare, I made a combination of the oof, ugh, ahhhh noises as I sat down…and then promptly grimaced and thought to myself, “Do I really need to make all of those noises to get into my car?!” Um, apparently the answer is yes. LOL
Everyone is commenting how prominent my belly is recently, though luckily I haven’t gotten too many rude comments. 🙂 My belly circumference is 105.5 cm and fundal height is 36, so things are right on track (up from 104 / 35 at my appt 2 weeks ago). I’m up to 180#, which is a gain of 19# thus far, and still 3# below my husband. I’m pretty damn happy about that! I feel like I’m eating non-stop, but I really can’t eat much at a time at all, so I suppose all of the little portions aren’t adding up to as much as I feel they are. Overall my symptoms still aren’t bad – I woke up with some carpal tunnel pain in the middle of the night last night, but a few hours of wearing my braces seems to have resolved that. The heartburn is still not fun, but the liquid cal/mag seems to be helping with that as well. Pregnancy insomnia is to be expected at this point I feel like, so I’m just rolling with it. I usually get an hour or so of awake time in the middle of the night, but that’s not so bad. I’m starting to get some Braxton Hicks as well, so hopefully that means my body is gearing up for this next step!
Ooh – I mentioned this on Monday, but we got the birthing tub all set up and filled on Sunday night! We’re probably going to drain it tomorrow and start over again (don’t want the water to get scummy), but it’s pretty cool that it has a built in heater to keep it at temp. I’m just worried I’ll go fast again and not get to use the tub if it’s not already filled since it took about 3 hours to get filled up on our trial run!
You look terrific!
So exciting! I was totally impatient about having Avery once I hit 37 weeks! It sounds like it would be great if he got here sooner! Fingers crossed!
YAY!! So excited for full term! You look fantastic! Here’s hoping he makes his appearance sooner rather than later!!!
Awesome news! Congrats on reaching full term, my friend. I am grunting along with you getting into and out of the car. In fact, yesterday my husband was playfully mocking me doing it and I thought the same thing. Am I just being dramatic? But no. I don’t think so. I now have a whopping belly taking the place of my previously unappreciated abdominal muscles. 🙂
And the tub! I can’t believe it’s just sitting there taunting you! Have you been tempted to crawl into it yet for a warm little relaxation session?
Definitely! On Sunday night Stella and I hopped in for about a half hour of relaxation. It was great. 🙂
Yay for full term!!! Can Charlie watch Stella instead of day care if you’re still at work and he’s not? They’re going to have to get used to A LOT more one-on-one time coming up anyway 🙂 I like that you’re so anxious for him to arrive early. It makes me feel better about you being so much calmer than I am about every other thing in the entire universe 🙂 I was very, very, very NOT rushing Lyla out haha. We’ll see with Poppy in another month or so haha
He could watch her, but we have to pay for daycare anyway (it’s all pre-paid) and they’re way better about structure with her than he would be. 🙂
You’re BLOSSOMING! (Ha. I read your tweet.) But you really are gorgeous, Mama. I can’t wait to meet your little boy! Even if it’s only virtually… xoxoxo Fingers crossed he comes when Charlie is home – that would be super awesome.
This is it…the very last stretch! Congrats on hitting this milestone and Good Luck!
Yay for full term! I hope baby boy comes earlier for all the reasons you want him too. Good luck getting through the final weeks. I KNOW how hard the wait can be.
Yay for full term! 🙂 You look adorable!
I am so excited for your homebirth…can’t wait to read about it! I will be 36 wks Monday, and it is flying by. But my first was 42 wks, my second 40 wks 5 days and my third 40 wks 2 days (and lightening fast labor and delivery!) I hope to go between 39-40 wks this time, but we will see. I am used to being patient lol. My husband will be off til the 6th (so 2 wks also) so yes it would be nice but I am not due til the 20th so I am hoping just to finish a few things and maybe relax a little (haha yea right with 3 kids 4 and under at home!)
Yay!! He’ll be here so, so soon! Rooting for an early arrival for your little man!
Wow! That went fast! Can’t wait to hear about the birth, hopefully in the next 11 days!
FULL TERM BABY!!! Awwwww yeaaaaaaaah! I think keeping the tub ready is a GOOD plan since babies just SHOOT out of you! I am really looking forward to hearing all about your birthing experience as it never occurred to me to get a tub and Arch Mama didn’t get to use hers! OMG BAAAABEEEEZ!
I am so freaking excited that this little guy is going to be here ANY DAY NOW!!!!! 🙂 Full term! So exciting!! I can’t wait to hear all about how everything goes and hope it goes exactly (or close) to everything you are hoping for.
[…] – This was a busy month for us because it included Stella’s 2nd birthday and I reached full term in this pregnancy. We’ve had a lot of financial ups and downs this past month that I haven’t gotten into, […]