Bumpdate Weeks 32-33

As I approach my due date, I decided to try to write a bumpdate at least every other week. With my doctor appointments now scheduled every two weeks, we’re getting to the end! For some reason I’ve always assumed I’ll deliver late, so I tend to think I have 7-9 weeks left, but I’ve been hearing plenty of stories of people delivering their first 2-4 weeks early lately, so really there is no way to know when she’ll make her grand entrance.

I have mixed emotions about the end of my pregnancy. On one hand, I’m looking forward to having my body back under my own control (well, mostly, as I plan to breastfeed) and on the other hand I’ll miss some of the excitement of having a baby growing inside me for the first time. At the same time, I’m excited to meet my baby girl, on the other hand I’m scared for how dramatically different it will make my day to day life and am nervous about the change.

How Many Weeks: 32-33

Size of Baby: Baby is as big as a pineapple, over 4 pounds.

Baby Position: At my 32 week appointment the doctor said the baby is facing down! We’ll see if she stays that way, but it’s a good sign that she won’t be breech, which can warrant a c-section.

Symptoms: Calf cramps have me leaping out of bed in the night! But generally, I just feel more pregnant lately – I’m easily winded, it’s hard to bend forward because the baby is in the way, and it’s harder to get comfortable in general. I get very out of  breath doing things like carrying laundry up the stairs and it’s getting harder to make it through my squats without my heart pounding too fast.

Sleep: I’m pretty much sleeping with the Snoogle every night now, much to Mike’s dismay. I’m definitely waking up more often to go to the bathroom and shift into a good position, but I’d still say I’m sleeping fairly well overall. Naps are definitely my friend on the weekends! I wish I could take one at work too…. maybe I should ask if the mother’s room can be also be used for napping.

Purchasing: I purchased 3 essential oils, 1 of which is specifically for childbirth (clary sage – this can actually induce labor so it’s best not to use prior to due date) and two are meant for both birth and recovery (peppermint, which can soothe nausea and serenity which is a calming blend, great for relaxation). I also chose our newborn photographer and put down a down payment on that!

Biggest accomplishment of the last 2 weeks: I ate almonds! I’ve been eating them nearly every day in fact. My aversion is officially over! I also ate a Cliff bar that I had in my car during a near melt-down on the freeway while stuck in traffic (this seems to be happening more lately as I can’t eat as much at one sitting thanks to the baby pushing against my stomach – then I get extremely hungry out of no where).

Best Moments: I had my first baby shower on August 1st, hosted by my friend Allison and it was wonderful! Siena and I were showered with love and Siena came out of it with a pretty awesome library (guests were asked to bring a book with a hand written note instead of a card) and a ton of headbands (there was a head band making station). She is going to be one fashionable and literate baby! Of course the highlight was spending time with friends and family, specifically those who I rarely get to see. It was a wonderful day and I wish it could have lasted forever! More photos to come…

We also took a baby/child CPR class last week (at CAP Wellness, the same place I have found that has prenatal yoga) which was actually pretty entertaining. It’s nice to know that we will have the knowledge to save our baby if something terrible were to happen.

Exercise: Yoga, barre, squatting and walking are my main exercises at this time. I’m finding myself getting out of breath much easier and sometimes need to stop mid-exercise to take a break to catch my breath and drink water. It’s not getting any easier, that’s for sure! (see July workout recap here). I just found a studio in Encinitas (CAP Wellness) that offers prenatal yoga that is offered through WildFire and tried out a class for the first time last week – it was still a challenge but obviously very pregnancy friendly so I loved it!

Cravings/Aversions: Nothing really either way (see above accomplishment).

Looking Forward To: Meeting this baby! Mike keeps saying how he really feels like there is a person inside me now – the bigger I get, the more she moves and the more we talk about her the more real it becomes. Despite the sleep deprivation I’m also looking forward to maternity leave. I’ll be taking 15 weeks off (last day of work is September 18th, 1 week before my due date) and Mike will be with me for the first 4 weeks after the baby is born. Thanks to California’s generous maternity/paternity leave (believe me we pay for it in taxes!) and my work’s generous short term disability coverage, financially we will barely be affected and can focus on bonding with our baby!