Well, week 39 was a week for preparation I tell ya! I spent much of the week having more intense braxton hicks contractions that seem to be happening more frequently, feeling Muppet do the mambo (I swear it's more active then normal lately) and crazy nesting.
One night I had such intense contractions, I almost woke Chris up as I thought I was going into labour. It took me a long time to get to bed that night, as Muppet was very active, and then for the next 3 hours, it was a routine of having a contraction, followed by Muppet protesting with lots of movement, and so on. I also started to feel nauseated so I moved from bed to sitting on my birthing ball to try to make the contraction leave. Apparently, braxton hicks contractions generally go away when you change positions unlike real contractions. Sadly, this was not the case that night. I tried walking around the room, sitting in a chair, laying in different positions in bed, but nothing worked. Eventually they died down though, and I was able to sleep. I don't know what it is, but since that night Muppet has been crazy active, flipping around completely, kicking hard and nudging my bladder with it's head. It must be practicing it's exit routine. It mostly does it at night, and always responds quite intensely after each contraction.
Since that wild, sleepless night, I've gone into crazy nesting mode. The other day I decided to clean things that truly had nothing to do with the baby. I started cleaning closets, cupboards, breaking down boxes, looking for clothes to donate, organizing my hallowe'en costumes and folding my fabric I use to make my stuffies. The sudden burst of random energy had me a little nervous, as I was sure this was a sign the baby was coming. But no, at the end of the day, I dropped in bed, totally exhausted. I did get a lot done that day though... :) Next time, I'll clean things that are more important...like the bathroom, or the fridge. ;)
I did do more cooking as well during my frantic cleaning phase. I made a belly warming beef stew that was so full of flavour. It reminded me of a yummy roast dinner with veggies and yorkshire pudding...mmmm.... Again, a delicious soup for the winter months. Luckily we have some left over, so we have a meal or two ready for when Muppet is here. :)
Finally, after 9 months, we were able to do something I had been just dying to do. We parked in the 'Expectant Mother's' parking spot!! I was so excited that I made Chris take a picture of the sign. I know it's dorky, but hey, you can only do it so many times in life, you might as well enjoy it! ;)
We had our prenatal the other day as well, and I was supposed to get an internal pelvic exam, but after doing some research, I decided to ask the doctor to wait until I was at least 40 weeks along. Since it wasn't really necessary as I haven't had any spotting, the baby is still (very) active and I am not really wondering if I'm dilated or not, I didn't see the need to risk jump starting labour or introducing infection or bacteria into my body. The doctor was great and had no problem with my request, so all my practicing my reasons for not wanting the examination in the mirror was a waste of time. :) Oh well!
At 39 weeks, Muppet is truly ready to go. It is still continuing to plump up so it can regulate temperature when it is out in the world. It is starting to lose old layers of skin, so newer skin can form. At my last prenatal, I had lost weight, which is seen as a sign that the baby is done growing in there and will be coming into the world pretty soon. Muppet's heart rate was 147, is still head down and has it's back turned on my left side with it's feet on my right side, which we had kind of guessed as we had been playing "grab the foot" the night before in bed. :)
Well, it looks like I'm making it to 40 weeks! Muppet is not an early bird after all! It is like it's parents... ;) I suspect it will be soon though, as those crazy Toni Braxton Hicks contractions (as Chris calls them) are increasing everyday, and the baby seems to be heading south for the winter. ;) It is really doing a number on my bladder, I tell ya! It still seems unreal that very soon we will actually be holding a real baby in our arms. This has been the most amazing adventure we've ever been on, and even when I was sick and sore, I enjoyed every minute of it. I know I will never be able to do anything more important or special in my life, and I am so glad I was able to share it with all my loved ones.
*Note: My sister and brother are now home for the holidays, and we are just waiting for Chris' brother and our soon to be sister-in-law to arrive. Hopefully Muppet holds out until everyone is home safe and sound!
Week 33 was a busy week (it seems like each week is rather busy, now that I think of it...). We were able to take Muppet to another concert, this time with Canadian indie folk-rock musician Dan Mangan who is best known for his songs "Robots" and "Road Regrets" at the Aeolian Hall. The opening bands were also amazing! The first opening band (The Crackling) featured the drummer from Dan Mangan's tour, highlighting as the lead singer with the rest of the band mates playing along and for one song, Dan Mangan actually came out and played the drums, so it was a bit of a role reversal. We had an amazing time, as the music was spectacular, the band was incredibly charismatic and, and hey, how can you have a boring night when you are encouraged to join in singing with the bands? The hall was packed, the acoustics were wonderful and the crowd was such an odd mix of hipsters and elderly needing hip replacements! Also, I felt like we were drowning in a sea of plaid. At one point, I leaned over and asked Chris if we had mistakenly gone to a lumberjack convention. After the concert, which included a super fun sing-along of "Robots", we were able to meet the musicians, and they were so humble and generous. One of them even has a side project writing children's music, which I cannot wait to hear!
We got their autographs, talked a bit, and Chris even bought me an adorable Dan Mangan shirt! (Please note, that is NOT my body... My shirt is "slightly" stretched around the midsection... ;) Muppet is so lucky to have been exposed to so much talent before he/she is even a year old! We are pretty sure that Muppet will be a Dan Mangan fan for life, as it bopped around like crazy through the whole concert.
If you haven't been exposed to the brilliant music of Dan Mangan, I invite you to click on the link below! He's truly a great artist and I'm so proud he's Canadian. :)
Our next fun activity was going to our prenatal class, which we have become quite fond of. We not only enjoy learning about pregnancy and labour together, but we also enjoy having an extracurricular activity that we can both take part in. We are now trying to figure out what fun classes we can take together in the future, after the baby is born. In this class, we learned all about the different stages of labour, different pushing positions, and we even watched a video. Luckily for us, this video was not from the 70's or 80's like most of them seem to be. :) After class, I was pretty set on wanting to get a birthing ball, as I think it would really help me cope during labour.
All during week 33, I suffered with a crazy bad cold, which ended up going into my chest, causing me to have some bronchial irritation. The unfortunate thing is that you can't really take much for illness when you are pregnant, because you don't want the medication to affect the baby, so mostly I just stayed in bed shivering, sneezing, coughing and whining. I even ended up taking a day off work (which I never do) because I was feeling so weak.
Taking that day off of work also shortened my work week, which was kind of sad, as that was my last week of work before I started my maternity leave, and even though I was still sick, I made sure I went for my last day, as I knew I was going to miss everyone. I can't believe I am all done! In one way, it feels great, because now I have time to focus on getting everything set and ready before the baby comes, but on the other hand, I do feel a little out of the loop. So far though, I am not bored. :) I have no time for boredom! Christmas is coming!
Speaking of Christmas, during week 33, I took down all my fall and Hallowe'en decorations and put up my winter decorations. I haven't gone into "full-on" Christmas yet (I wait for the snow to fall first before Santa can make an appearance), but I did put out my snowmen and Christmas coloured candles, potpourri and blankets. I am going to work on making a Christmas pillow this year too, with a snowman stitched on it. I felt the need to get my winter decorations out because I am starting to worry I won't have time to decorate once December hits. I don't want to be behind in case the baby comes early! I guess it's a good thing we bought a fake pre-lit Christmas tree last year, as I don't imagine I will want to cut down a tree and string lights on it this year, with the baby coming so close to Christmas. * Note: It takes me a couple days to put lights on the tree because I am crazy and believe each branch needs 2 sets of lights on it, and you cannot just throw them on, or wind them around the tree...yes, this is a very stressful process, but once it is done, you can't see anything but the tree...for real, it's blinding. I blame my mother for this obsessive compulsiveness. ;)
Every year my family goes to different tree farms to find the perfect Christmas tree. We have been doing this since I was born, I'm pretty sure. It is so much fun! We all bundle up in snowsuits, head out into the fields and start judging trees. (This process can take a long time, as my mother and I are very picky...). At the end of our day (truly, it does take the whole day), we go and sit by the fire-pits and drink hot chocolate or cider and go for wagon rides through the farm. Sometimes the farm has marshmallows for roasting, or free candy canes. Mmm! I'm still going to go this year, though I'll probably have to wear my father's snowsuit, as I'm pretty sure I won't fit in mine. I just love the family tradition, and even though I won't be buying a tree this year, you can bet I'll be scoping out the trees for next Christmas, as we can't wait to include Muppet in on this family adventure!
During week 33, Muppet weighed a little over 4 pounds, about the same amount as a pineapple! Right now, the baby is gaining around 1/2 pound a week, so the weight gain isn't just because of all the cookies I've been eating... ;) Apparently, the amniotic fluid has also reached it's maximum level, leaving less cushioning in my belly, which is why Muppet's movements feel so much stronger and intense lately. I have to say, Muppet is one strong baby! Somedays, Muppet stretches both upwards and downwards at the same time, resulting in me having to suddenly pee while clutching my ribs. :) I really enjoy watching the rolling motions of my tummy, and feeling the hardness of a little foot through my skin. Sometimes it is so hard to imagine that Muppet's little foot, that so far has only existed inside me, will one day be kicking a ball, or tap dancing on the floor.
My book choice this week is called "Someday", and is written by Alison McGhee. It is a wonderfully touching story that I consider to be the new "Love You Forever". Don't get me wrong! I love "Love You Forever", and I will surely have that one on my shelf, but it is nice to have options under the tear-jerker category in children's literature.
"Someday" is a beautifully illustrated story about a mother's love, hopes and dreams for her child as the child goes through many milestones in her life, until life goes full circle, "Someday I will watch you brushing your child's hair". It's a very simple, but moving story of motherhood that touches on a child's highest highs, and saddest sorrows, because truly, that is what life is all about. I gave this book to my mom when I found out we were expecting, as it really captured how she was feeling, watching me go through another milestone as her daughter, but now, also as an expectant mother.
Please read this book with a box of tissues beside you...
Week 30 came and went like a flash! I had a prenatal appointment with my family doctor (thanks Dad for driving me!), who recommended I get prescription support stockings (really sexy) for my swelling and vein-y situation, as well as told me to lay down whenever I can. Sadly, there is not much time for laying down these days, as we are getting close to the finish line and we still have much to do! I also am no longer covered for medical things, so I will just make due with the stockings from Shoppers Drug Mart. Happily, at this prenatal, I went up only 2 pounds...Whew! I seem to be back on track again! I also got to listen to the heartbeat during my prenatal, and the heart rate was 140. Muppet is very regular. ;)
A new development is that I seem to be having Restless Leg Syndrome, or RLS in the evenings now, which is VERY annoying. No matter how comfy my new mattress topper is (and it is VERY comfortable), it can not help me fall asleep anymore, as my legs feel like kicking and dancing. It feels like there is a current of energy just running through my legs, even though I just want to sleep. I'm hoping it's just a phase that will soon disappear, because Chris has the "Jimmy Jams" in his legs, and it is quite bothersome.
Another new "symptom" of this pregnancy seems to be my sudden lack of coordination, or just plain old clumsiness. I truly feel as if I have been thrust back into puberty, with brand-spanking new hips, as I seem to bump into everything, getting bruises and boo-boos galore. I seem to walk into things I normally would have avoided, or pull something that normally would not hurt with everyday movements. I also am not nearly as agile as my mind seems to remember me being. The other day, a child kicked a ball, which I leaped to stop...pulling my groin muscle in the process. Another day, a child was climbing a table at work, and as I watched her jump to land on a giant stuffed animal, I raced to catch her...again, pulling that darn groin muscle. Just a few days ago, I almost fell off the couch while I was standing on it, to step over the dog, who was sleeping so soundly...I didn't have the heart to ask him to move. Maybe I should be doing some yoga or something...
At 30 weeks, Muppet is roughly 3 pounds and 15-17 inches in length. Muppet is about the size of a cabbage. It's eyes are still developing, and when Muppet is born, it's eyesight will be 20/400, seeing objects only a few inches away. Muppet is still moving around a lot, though I notice bigger and stronger movements, instead of little flutters, as Muppet is starting to run out of room in my tummy. Some days I get sharp jabs to my ribs, or Muppet will press itself against my side, and I can actually feel it's little back going up and down as it practices breathing.
One thing that I wanted to do before the baby arrives, was to start finding my favourite children's books, so I could start Muppet's first library collection. I will try to write about my favourite books from here-on-out. :)
The first book I want to write about is 'The Monster At The End Of This Book' starring Grover. This book was one of my family's all time favourites. It's about lovable Grover who becomes quite distressed to learn that there is a monster at the end of the book. As each page is turned, he realizes that he is getting closer and closer to this monster, and he begins to try to figure out ways to prevent you from turning the pages of the story, as he is very scared. Even now, this book will make just about any child laugh as they turn the page, while poor Grover begs them not to...Evil, I know. :) But who wouldn't want to see this monster? The end is a cute, little surprise that shocks even our furry old Grover. This book is simply a must have for my home, and I'm sure it would entertain even the most antsy, on-the-go child. It is definitely a classic!
My oh my! As of week 28, we hit the third trimester mark! We are now in the home stretch! Yay! I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy has flown by! When you hear that you have to grow this little baby for 9 whole months, it sounds like forever, but in reality, the time feels so short in comparison to all the work and preparation you have to do before your little one arrives.
Our week began with me having to go for my glucose tolerance test which checks to see if I'm likely to have gestational diabetes which happens to many pregnant women. I had totally forgotten about this test until I looked at my calendar and saw an upcoming prenatal checkup with my doctor. I then recalled that at this checkup we were to discuss the outcome of my glucose test...oops! I frantically called my doctor's nurse informing her of my "little" mistake and she told me she'd fax my paperwork to the clinic and for me to go and do the test the next morning. Now, this test isn't your everyday-blood-work kind of test. This test involved me drinking (quickly, I might add) a liquid loaded with sugar and then sitting in the waiting room for an hour as the sugar coursed through my veins. After the hour is over, you then go and have some blood taken to see how your system handled the sugar overload. Well, I am not usually a sugar person as I've said before...especially not at 9 in the morning. To make me drink a whole bottle of liquid that tasted like a combination of very fizzy orange pop and the old McDonald's orange drink in under 5 minutes is just cruel! I quickly became this gassy, dizzy and nauseated woman who couldn't focus on the small text in her book she had smartly remembered to bring for the long wait. Now Muppet on the other hand was doing cartwheels and jumping jacks because of the sugar rush. I swear, that baby is growing some very sweet milk teeth. I still haven't heard the results, but I hope I did okay, because if I failed, I have to do the next test which is 3 hours long... Boo!
The next day I went for my prenatal with my family doctor. I was feeling pretty good about going until the nurse asked me to step on the scale. I just about fell off when I saw how much I weighed! "Impossible!" I exclaimed. I had not been eating that much more than usual! Now, I knew my tummy had gotten pretty big as even pulling on my socks in the morning was a bit of a obstacle, but this was crazy! When my doctor saw my weight, she asked if I have noticed any swelling, but I'm a bit of a round girl, so I don't usually notice anything like that, so I said no. Later on, she decided to check my ankles and to my amazement, they were indeed quite swollen! She asked me to take off my rings and when I tried, they remained stuck to my fingers. I was super bloated!
Apparently, I am retaining fluid which is why I gained so much weight. That made me feel a little better...but now I feel like the Marshmallow Man. Another thing I need to watch is my iron intake, as I'm getting a little anemic which is common in the third trimester. It's a good thing I love Shreddies! (I prefer the square to the diamond shaped ones personally). ;) Oh, and for those keeping track, the baby's heart rate was 140.
The next day I got to go to another prenatal, but this time it was with my obstetrician at the hospital! We were very nervous to meet her, as I was scared our personalities would clash, but she quickly set that fear aside with her hilarious sarcasm and sassy attitude. She yawned at how boring I was (no history of broken bones or surgeries) and awarded me the DN Award- Disgustingly Normal Award. We also met a medical student who talked to us about my medical history and then did a little exam to see how bad my edema (swelling) was and to check out the position of the baby. Muppet is currently in the vertex position (head down, bum up) and is hanging on on the right side. It's fun to know where it is exactly now so we can comfort it with back rubs when it's tired and little pats on the butt when it's acting up. ;) Apparently it's also low which is why I've been getting so much pressure and pain in places I shall not name. I hope it doesn't think it's coming out early! At this appointment we got our birth plan to fill out (which I am so excited to go through with Chris) and Muppet's heart rate was 153.
At 28 weeks, Muppet is the size of a chinese cabbage! Aw, I have my own little Cabbage Patch Baby! Maybe it will have my nose and look like a Cabbage Patch doll all it's life too! ;) Muppet is always busy do stretches and jabs (usually around my belly button) which have become quite intense at times. There are moments it can take my breath away as those little punches can really take you by surprise! I started using an app on my iPhone to record kicks and movement and that has been quite fun. I am supposed to do it in the morning and at night and get at least 10 movements in 2 hours. Well, Muppet often does 10 in the matter of seconds. Using the kick counter, I have also been able to record Muppet's hiccups which are happening quite frequently and are usually spaced 2 seconds apart from each other. They tickle too! :)
I am really feeling the weight of the baby now and have started noticing how difficult it is to even do the simplest tasks, like getting out of bed or picking up something I dropped on the floor. Even sitting on my bed to do my makeup is a pain because I can't slouch over as there is this big "bump" in the way! :) I have also noticed that I am becoming tired really easily these days and sometimes have a difficult time breathing. The other day while I was sorting laundry, I became really dizzy and nauseated and felt I couldn't breathe. I began to gag which Chris heard upstairs. He started yelling my name, but I couldn't hear him or respond so when he finally found me, he was a little upset because he had been so concerned. I was alright of course, I think I just overexerted myself and maybe had a bit of an anxiety attack or something. I'm having a hard time remembering to rest, but like my doctor said, "If you are sitting, you might as well be lying down". I need to slow down and take it easy...but just try telling that to my brain! All it wants to do is clean, make food to freeze, work on the nursery and shop for baby things! How does one rest when the mind wants to nest?
I thought I'd add this bonus picture of Chris and Neko using my new Peanut Shell baby sling which is in the pattern 'Time For Tea'. Neko loves it to pieces and falls asleep in it while you carry her around the house. I think the baby likes it too because Neko purrs while she sleeps, which I imagine is very soothing to Muppet. :)
Week 27 went by pretty quickly in our house. The week started off with an exciting project headed by Chris and his good friend Keith (who is quite handy, thank goodness!). ;) Together, they spent much of the day putting in the nursery flooring and I must say, it looks amazing! I had to work that day, so I admit I was a little nervous leaving the two of them on their own (not that I would know how to help them or anything), but what a wonderful surprise to come home to! I can tell Chris is proud of his work, as he always seems to just be standing in the middle of the nursery and then breaks into a little jig when he notices I'm watching him. I'm so happy that the nursery is coming together! Thanks gents! Keith, feel free to help us with the rest of the house! ;)
One thing I have really started noticing is the heaviness of my body. I have hit the uncomfortable stage. I get sweaty and overheated, can't roll over, need to pull myself upright in bed, and I just can't seem to get comfortable! The baby seems to be sitting up in my ribs half the time! Being uncomfortable has made me into an irritable and restless woman! I have been getting no sleep! Half the time, it takes me forever to fall asleep, and as soon as I do, Chris moves or breathes...and BAM! I'm awake. Many nights I've glared at him in the dark, wishing we had bought twin beds. Some nights I ponder the thought of sleeping in a chair rather then on a lumpy, hard mattress. I spent a few days going between tears and angry rants to whoever would listen (mostly the cats). Well, to amazement, Chris seemed to pick up on my moodiness and understood at once that we needed to invest in a better sleep (we had cheapened out when we moved into our house, buying the 'back to school' discount mattress).
We ended up going to Costco with my mom to check out the mattress toppers, and there on the shelf sat the most beautiful queen size memory foam mattress topper. I saw the price tag and immediately thought, "Uhoh...Chris is going to want to know where the $40 ones are hiding...", but again to my amazement, he picked it up and happily carried it around the store! He said that it was important for me to get my rest and to be comfy as I was only going to get more uncomfortable as time went on. That man is a lifesaver...though he may have just been trying to save his own life... ;) I have to tell you, if you have a crappy mattress and cannot sleep, get a mattress topper! It changes lives people! I am able to sink into the most deep sleep now, being hugged by my mattress. Even our dog loves it! I'm pretty sure I know what he's getting for Christmas! :) I am really glad we invested in this purchase, as I know it really can affect the quality of your life. I go about my day a little bit happier and a little more rested, which makes for a much better wife!
Another big accomplishment for us is that we booked our prenatal classes as well as a breastfeeding class! I'm so excited to go to these, as I feel like it's a good way to get Chris involved in the whole process. I also just finished an amazing book called "The Big Book of Birth" by Erica Lyon. It is the most unbiased and informative book I've read on the whole birthing process. Some of the books out there come across as a little preachy and condescending...and honestly, I feel a little judged when my opinion differs from the author, but with Lyon's book, you just feel like you have all the information and that it's up to you and your partner to make the best decision for you. The book educates you on all the birthing positions (I had no idea that giving birth on your back is actually the WORST position you can give birth in), medications, visualization techniques, interventions and real life stories from women in all different situations. She provides the pros and cons of each decision you will have to make, but remains positive and encouraging instead of scaring you off with warnings and negative thoughts. I also really like how she encourages you to have your partner read certain chapters, as it has tons of information on how they can help you through the birthing process, without laying too many expectations on them as this whole event is new to them too. She really opened up my eyes to not judge anyone's birth experience, because each one is personal and right for someone out there. If you end up with a healthy baby in the end, you know that whatever you chose to do, well, it was the right decision for you. If I could recommend one book to anyone during their pregnancy, this would be it. Heck, I'll loan it to you after my hubby is done reading it! ;)
At 27 weeks, Muppet weighed as much as a head of cauliflower. Muppet is sleeping and waking at regular intervals and is probably sucking away at it's fingers. It's lungs are still immature, but with medical help, Muppet's lungs would be able to function if it was born, though we want Muppet to marinate a little longer... :). Muppet has also become fond of playing with my bladder. I had an eight hour shift the other day and I spent at least 4 of those hours making surprised faces, running to the bathroom, or squatting down on the floor, pretending to tie my shoes. What a little bugger! :)
I'll be back soon with Week 28! I bet you can't wait! ;)
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