39 Stinkin' Weeks

Here I am, entering what could very well be the last week of my pregnancy. But could also very well not be (just being realistic here). I was talking to my sister today about how I'm feeling and told her she just wouldn't understand because she has never been pregnant for this long before - both her babies were born at some point in her 38th week - he he he.

Overall, I am feeling fantastical. In fact, I am feeling much more comfortable, both physically and emotionally than I was last week. I think a lot of that has to do with the babe dropping. My ribs no longer feel bruised at all times. And, I have been sleeping fairly well with a significant reduction in the pain in my hands that I had been experiencing. Although I am still ready to be done being pregnant, I don't feel quiet as impatient and quite as "I AM SO DONE" as I was last week. I am definitely ready to meet my Little Monkey but I am more content now to accept that he/she will arrive when ready.

The only big complaint I have is that my stomach is bloody itchy. It is almost unbearable!! I have noticed the appearance of some new stretch marks under my belly over the past week and that is where the itch really is. My midwife took a look at it yesterday and said that it was starting to look really red and raw from my scratching. She recommended a lotion with menthol in it so we picked that up yesterday after my appointment and I have been slathering it on like crazy. It seems to be making me feel a bit better.

E was able to take the afternoon off yesterday to come to my midwife appointment with me which was so nice. He came to a number of my early pregnancy appointments but this was the first one he'd been to since my 15 week (aside from the 20 week ultrasound that is). I think he was glad to hear the baby's heartbeat again - it certainly sounds different now than it did at 15 weeks.

I was somewhat frustrated to see when I stood on the scale yesterday that it told me I had gained SIX (!!!) pounds since my appointment the Thursday before. That is, you know, A POUND PER DAY, taking my total weight gain to somewhere between 34-37 pounds! I am pretty sure that a lot of the new weight is fluid retention as I am feeling and looking a little more puffy these days and I was fairly careful with my intake over the past few weeks. I was a bit upset about the numbers after my appointment but the Dude kept reminding me that the number of pounds does not matter and what matters is that I am healthy and our baby is healthy. And he is so right. But, as a woman, I'm sure you understand, it's sometimes hard to accept.

Over the past weekend, I thought that perhaps something was maybe happening. I had quite a lot of cramping on Friday evening and Saturday but I haven't had much else take place again until this morning when I felt some more cramps. Nothing to get excited about, though. I have been walking, walking, walking trying to get this baby moving. The cooler weather has been a welcome relief because it makes it so much easier to get myself up and moving. I met up with a friend and her sweet sweet 5 month old who just so happens to have an amazing name (Lucy) and we went for a nice walk together and chatted about all things baby.

It was my plan (according to my sticky notes) to do some cleaning this afternoon but when I got home, I looked around and realized that the house is really not so bad at all. Plus, Nika (who stays outside all day every day) came in while I was eating lunch and snuggled up on the couch with me. I decided that I should take that as a divine message from God telling me that I should park my butt on the couch for the afternoon. Thankfully, the sticky notes are easy to edit. So, I am taking advice from many of you from yesterday's post and laying low this afternoon. I am snuggled up on the couch with Nika and a warm blanket, the patio door open, a fresh breeze blowing in and my new fall scented Pear candle burning watching Harry Potter. Sounds like a plan to me! There will be lots of time to vacuum ... later.

See you next week at 40 weeks ... maybe.