Full term WHAT!? I can’t believe that it’s almost the time when we get to meet our baby girl. I must say that I have a hard time telling people that I’m ready (since that seems to be the most common question at this point) – I am still a bit uncertain about how this baby is going to change our lives and am enjoying the final days/weeks/month of my “old life.” I’ve been scheduling get togethers with friends like it’s my job – trying to soak it all in before things change big time!
How Many Weeks: This covers weeks 36-37
Baby’s Size: As big as a winter melon or a stalk of swiss chard, depending on which app you use. That’s about 19-21 inches and according to the bump, anywhere from 6.2-9.2 pounds (although at my 37.5 week doctor appointment this morning the doctor guesses she’s in the high 6 pound range)!
Weight Gain: 38 pounds. As I’ve said before, I still feel great so I’m not worried about it.
Movement: For the first time, I’ve noticed Siena has had the hiccups! She had them almost every day during the last week and it’s a funny feeling. The doctor reassured me that it’s actually a GOOD sign that she has the hiccups since it means that her central nervous system is fully developed.
Symptoms: I have no signs that this baby is making her way into the world anytime soon. I have no Braxton Hicks contractions, I still sleep fairly well (see below), I have plenty of energy, and I don’t have a backache, swelling, stretch marks, heart burn or any other end of pregnancy symptom. When people ask when I’m due they are always surprised to hear that I’m due on September 25. My ultrasounds and belly measurements have always been right on track, but the belly from an outsiders view just doesn’t seem to show my true progress! I’m certainly not complaining about these lack of symptoms and I hope that this just means I’m not going to have any of these common late pregnancy complaints.
Sleep: I still sleep pretty well, but I definitely wake up multiple times in the night to change sides and/or pee. I stopped using the Snoogle pillow and instead I just put a regular pillow between my knees. Even though I wake up more, I fall back asleep right away and I’m able to take naps on the weekends, so I don’t feel overly exhausted.
Purchasing: I finished both of my registries (Target and Amazon) using the completion discount. I had added a bunch of postpartum, breastfeeding and labor gear to my Amazon list as well and it’s all its way to me. I’m ready for you baby!
Reading: I finished “Birthing the Bradley Way” and have been reviewing “Baby Wise” (I read most of it already) and just started “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.”
Maternity Clothes: Some of my shirts are starting to get TOO SHORT and sometimes the bottom of my stomach peeks out. It’s not ideal but I refuse to buy anything new!
Exercise: I am loving yoga, still going to barre two mornings a week before work, and I got in some spin classes in the last two weeks as well. I’m taking lots of long walks and/or hikes and am started the squat challenge on September 1.
Cravings/Aversions: Ice water is still a favorite (crushed ice please). Basically anything cold.
Best Moments: On Saturday I had went to a wonderful yoga class, grabbed a green juice after class and then headed to an incredibly relaxing prenatal massage. The masseuse started the massage with me on my back and then I was surprised when she said I could flip over and lay on my front side! There was a hole in the massage table that my belly fit right into and it was surprisingly comfortable. It felt so good to lay on my stomach and it was wonderful to get my back worked on for so long. I absolutely plan to get another prenatal massage if I’m still pregnant after I stop work on the 18th.
Another great moment was taking Siena to her first concert! Asia and I went to the Taylor Swift concert at Petco Park last Saturday night. Originally I was wondering how I’d be feeling at 36 weeks pregnant but I felt great! I even suggested we walk the 1.3 miles from our car to the restaurant before dinner and stayed up past midnight for the first time in months.
Interesting Moments: I almost had a stranger touch my belly for the first time while waiting in line for the bathroom at the Taylor Swift concert – but then she realized what she was doing and pulled her hand away before she actually touched me.
Final Preparations: The hospital bag is packed, the pack n’ play is assembled (we’re putting it downstairs so we have a changing station and bassinet on both floors), the nursery is done (full nursery tour post coming soon!) and all required purchases have been made. I also finished my Bradley Method book and have been reviewing the workbook and handouts we used in the classes. We hired a temp to take over my work while I’m out and we’ve already had 9 days of training and have another 9 to go before my last day of work (September 18th) so I feel good about leaving work. At this point, the baby could come at any time and we’re ready!
Missing: Beer! This weather has beer calling my name.
Looking Forward To: Meeting our girl! Ok – and possibly having a week or more off of work to relax before she comes!
So close! That’s great youre still feeling fantastic- hopefully it is the sign of an easy labor and delivery!!!
You look GREAT! You have been an inspiration for other women to stay active when expecting! I had 4 pound twins at 36 weeks (totally healthy – just small) and we used the Babywise method. Lots of negative press about it – but the author was a father of triplets – so I figured he know what he was doing). It worked out GREAT for us and my little girls were sleeping through the night (6-7 hours at a time) by 7 weeks and they were little! Best advice – Do what is best for you and your family! Exciting!
Thank you! As for baby wise – everyone I know who has used it has babies who sleep through the night by 3 months and I love scheduling and sleep so it seems like a good fit! 🙂
So fantastic to hear how great you are still feeling! Hope the last week of work goes well! Good idea to use the pack n play as a 1st floor bassinet. I’ll have to get mine out this weekend and ready for that too.
You’re so cute and look amazing! If only all pregnancies were like yours, right.
You look awesome!!! So glad that you are feeling so good!! Last stretch!!!
Your little winter melon looks great on you 🙂 Excited for you and wishing you a healthy and happy rest of the pregnancy before the little pumpkin makes its arrival. xo
You look fantastic. I’ve heard great things about babywise. I’m going to start reading it this week.
Why am I just now seeing these updates??? Eeek! Catching up now! You look fantastic and beautiful!!! Getting so so close! I’ll be 35 this weekend, and I’ve been having braxton hicks pretty much everyday, ugh! So uncomfortable! I just finished reading Baby Wise for the second time, so hopefully I can remember a few tips!
You look great and it’s getting so close! How was the TS Concert?
It was great! She’s an amazing performer and never disappoints !
I love that you are such a planner! I hope you have an easy delivery, but if you don’t, you will handle it well. You have a very supportive husband at your side! Can’t wait to meet my first grandchild, Siena!!!! Love you with all my heart, Mom
You are looking so great. I love that you are so positive and are still maintaining your social life (I kind of crawled into a hole those last weeks, haha). I would LOVE to see Taylor in concert – total girl crush. How was it?
I’ve been reading Baby Wise and hope to try some of the methods when the time comes. Shouldn’t be long now!
Your baby is definitely going to change your life – but in the best way possible! You will never feel or experience so much love!! ☺
Taylor was great! I’d love to hear how baby wise goes for you- every friend who did it had babies sleeping through the night by 3 months which is promising.
And yes, I think I crossed a bridge when I hit 38 weeks yesterday because now I’m suddenly more accepting and excited for her impending arrival 🙂 I think it’s just a big change and hard to wrap my mind around!!!