38 weeks

I have officially carried baby boy to term, and as usual, I can hardly believe it. The baby could basically decide to come at any time! Does anyone remember the Gilmore Girls episode where Sherry schedules her csection around her work schedule months before the baby is due, and then proceeds to freak out when the baby comes early? It is one of my least favorite episodes because I found her irritating. She brought all of her work to the hospital while she was in labor and kept talking about her due date and saying “I wrote it down!!”

I totally get it now, girlfriend. You wrote it down, and the baby had other plans. I’m scheduled to work my last shift 3 days before my due date, and I’m hoping I make it! I’ve been having no labor symptoms, but I am feeling enormous. I was dilated 1 cm and 50-60% effaced at my appointment yesterday.

What I am loving

All the kicks

The movements still freak Yung out. Yes, it is pretty weird to look over at my stomach and see something move inside of it, but I think it is cool! I am going to miss feeling him inside of me each day.

The excitement

Everyone loves babies and pregnant women. I’ve been getting lots of squeals and love at work, and random people in the grocery store parking lot will tell me ‘congratulations.’

Exercise

I’m still doing random bouts of weights, squats, and stretching at home and taking the dogs on walks when I am off. I keep telling myself that will combat all of the extra food I have decided to indulge in lately.

What I am struggling with

Sleep

I’m having mild insomnia, but nothing major. Also, I had never really thought about how having a big belly would affect my movement in bed. I turn like a sloth and I have to gently slide out of bed. It is especially interesting in the middle of the night when I am feeling stiff from being in one position for hours and also battling with a bladder that is about to explode.

Putting on my shoes

Swollen feet and ankles plus a big belly makes it pretty difficult to put on shoes, and Yung has been helping me put on and tie my shoes. He is a keeper! Yesterday, I had to stop retie my shoes twice while I was walking the dogs, which was a struggle.

Stretch marks

These started showing up a few weeks ago, and I don’t think there is anything stopping them! I have not been good about moisturizing my belly throughout pregnancy even though I’ve had my stretch mark cream this entire time.

Weight gain

I have definitely been making poor choices recently with food, so my weight gain is increasing exponentially. I think I am going to hit the 40 pound mark, which is something that I did not want, but as long as baby boy is healthy, I know it will come off with time.

Swelling

The swelling in my lower extremities is what I would call moderately severe. My fingers are swollen, but I don’t think they have continued to grow. My blood pressure has been measuring fine, but I do feel that it is slowly creepy upwards.

Baby preparations

The furniture is up and baby clothes, towels, and blankets have been washed. The diaper bag is packed, my hospital bag is pretty much packed, and Yung has a list of what he needs to throw in his bag when it’s time. We have a bag of snacks for the hospital–priorities. Yung installed the car seat, but we just need to get it checked by a professional. I think we are ready. If someone could just come over to clean my house and finish all of my projects, that would be great! 🙂 Oh, and my shower thank you cards need to be written.

Both Yung and I are getting anxious, but also excited about the baby coming. We have reviewed our game plan once the contractions start, and we have been reviewing our labor and delivery book. I will always be a student at heart…studying for that next test.

This will be my last pregnancy update, so thank you for reading along! Can’t wait to introduce you to our first baby boy! <3 <3

XOXO

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