Bumpdate – 41 Weeks

 

This is the update that no one ever thinks they’ll have to make! The 41 week mark. A lot of women hit this mark yet no one really every anticipates it. Our Bradley Method teacher told us that the average first time, low risk birth happens at 41 weeks, 1 day, so we were at least partially mentally prepared for this day to come. However, since I heard quite a few stories of babies coming at 38 weeks recently, I started to reconsider my original assumption that she’d be late. Well, we’re back to square one folks, because she is still hanging out inside me!

This week has been kind of an emotional roller coaster. I’m happy to say that the roller coaster has leveled out a bit and I’m feeling a lot more at peace with her coming when she decides. At this point I’ve had quite a few signs that she’s slowly making her way out on her own and yesterday’s ultrasound and non-stress tests indicated that she’s as healthy as can be (good fluid levels, placenta viable, heart rate stable, baby appears relaxed). Assuming my second non stress test on Monday goes as smoothly as yesterdays (and that she hasn’t already been born), I’ll likely be induced on Friday, October 9th. However, we have NOT yet set an induction date. Doctor is feeling good about our chances of delivering even before Monday so we may never even have to make an induction appointment.

Although I was still very social this past week, I brought it down a notch from last week, especially toward the end. I just started having less desire to go out in public and stayed home more. As a result, I started AND finished my pregnancy scrap book, the house is clean and my entire to-do list is complete. My CPA license is expiring in December and I should really work on continuing education but I keep putting it off (I don’t work for a CPA firm anymore and am technically not working in accounting anymore but I like to keep it active).

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to check on me during this waiting period! I have felt the love!

How Many Weeks: 41

Baby The Size Of: Ultrasound yesterday said 7 lbs 8 oz but apparently it can be off by 2 pounds either way.

Weight Gain: Staying steady at around 42 lbs so it’s looking like that’ll be about the final number.

How I’m Feeling:  Anxious to meet her, analyzing every twinge but also getting more accepting of the fact that I can’t control any of it!

Pregnancy Symptoms: Carpal tunnel, slightly swollen hands, fingers and feet, and I have to pee literally every 30 minutes, sometimes more frequently. I’m thankful I’m not at work just for the fact that I’d be in the bathroom 40 times a day.

Labor Signs: Well, my first signs of impending labor started just about a week ago and have continued on and off every day since then. I pretty much have Braxton Hicks contractions most of the day and several times I’ve also had menstrual-like cramps with them. On Wednesday they started up during yoga at around 10 a.m. and lasted until about 3 p.m. and seemed to get closer together and stronger, so I started timing them.  Eventually they fizzled- they say if you eat, drink, walk and/or sleep and they go away, then they aren’t real. I ate and they continued but after walking and trying to rest/sleep they went away.  Thursday I started to lose my plug (if you don’t know what this is, you probably don’t want to). The doctor also indicated at my ultrasound appointment yesterday that this baby is VERY low and that my cervix is very thin (still not doing any cervical checks though so I don’t know how dilated I am).  My fundal height also measured 2 cm shorter at this week’s appointment which is another sign of engagement. So basically my body is giving me every sign that it’s preparing for labor – I just need to be patient!

Sleep:  Sleep is getting worse for a few reasons, the first being that I have to pee 6 times a night and the second because of the contractions. There were a few nights that they were painful enough to keep me awake and a few times my mind was just spinning with the thought of being in early labor. I tried to focus on my relaxation techniques when I couldn’t sleep due to my mind turning and that seemed to help calm me down. I’m in bed 8-9 hours a night and I take a nap pretty much every day though so I’m still well rested.

Exercise: Four pre-natal yoga classes this week and 1 barre class plus 1-2 walks of varying length every day.

Reading: Lots of birth stories! Before the Ironman and pretty much every marathon I’ve ever ran, I read every race report I could get my hands on and it’s no different for birth stories. I read mostly natural birth stories but I will read all kinds! It’s really interesting to see how different they all are and how people describe their contractions and pain level.

Interesting Moments: There was a lot of hype around the full moon this week! All three different yoga instructors I took talked about its impact and it was everywhere. It definitely got my hopes up that our baby girl would be born but in retrospect I’m ok with her taking her time.

Best Moments: Celebrating our 2 year wedding anniversary last Saturday night (our anniversary was Monday but we were hopeful we’d have the baby thanks to the full moon). It was a great date night for Mike and I and I was thankful to get in one last fancy night out with him before we are parents.

We also have a wonderful afternoon at the beach on Sunday – the water and the sun felt amazing!

Missing:  Sleeping through the night. Oh wait – did you say that is just going to get worse!? 😉

Looking Forward To:  The holidays! I can’t wait to dress Siena up for Halloween (our neighborhood does a big block party!), showing her off to the entire extended family at Thanksgiving and dressing her up in a darling Christmas dress. The holidays will be extra special this year.