The Final Weeks- 39-41

I imagine EVERYTHING with baby #2 is going to be way different, just from having the knowledge from baby #1. The final few weeks of pregnancy are pretty miserable. Between everything hurting, not sleeping, and the constant wonder of "is this it", followed by the disappointment when it's not makes for an emotional roller coaster. I had braxton hicks every day the final few weeks. It would always be more intense at night, than during the day. Every night, I'd prep myself to go to the hospital, "just in case", and lay down for bed. I'd tell Clay not to get too excited, because if I could fall asleep, this wasn't labor. This was followed by waking up every morning disappointed. Now that I know what to compare real contractions to vs braxton hicks, I won't have this issue with the next baby, but while having braxton hicks with baby #1, I had no way of knowing if it was real or not. It was very confusing. It also doesn't help that every Dr/Nurse/Other moms constantly telling you that it could happen at anytime after 38 weeks. "It probably won't, but it could." Ugh, no. I will never say that to a pregnant woman again. Being ready for it to happen at anytime, questioning every single thing your body does, not sleeping from pain, and from anxiety for 3 weeks is just cruel. And then the due date came, and went. Every single day after that was the longest day EVER. I was so sure that I'd come early, so once the due date passed, it was a waiting game where every single contraction felt real..... even if it was just out of hope. There are all kinds of wives tails for ways to induce labor. I tried everything short of Castor Oil. And let me tell you, your baby will come when he/she is ready, and ONLY when they are ready. I probably walked 10 miles the last weekend we were pregnant. I bounced on an exercise ball for hours a day. There was intimacy, and mass amounts of spicy foods. None of these things were my "miracle worker". My baby was sitting tight until he was ready. He finally came 9 days late, on the morning of the day that we were scheduled to be induced, and I'll tell you this- It was worth every single second of the waiting game! I'm beyond glad I didn't rush into being induced, and let him come on his own time. That event in it's own is a 48 hour adventure that I'll write about next. Labor/Delivery blog will be up soon after this. :-)
  

40 Weeks, 1 Day

40 Weeks, 4 Days

41 Weeks

 

How far along? This blog is about weeks 39-41

Total weight gain/loss? I didn't get weighed before delivering, but I believe it was right at 25 lbs

Maternity clothes? Wardrobe is VERY limited now.

Stretch marks? I don't know how, but NONE!

Sleep? I woke up every day around 3:00 AM, and was up for the day. Between peeing every hour, braxton hicks, and the rib pain, there wasn't much sleep those final weeks.

Best moment this week? The best part about the final week specifically was being on maternity leave from work. Even though it would've been way better with the baby, I felt way better being at home than I had been at work. I also got way more done/ felt more prepared when we did go into labor.

Miss Anything? Rare Steak

 

Movement? Baby's movements decreased quite a bit the final few weeks. Totally normal.

Food/Drink cravings? I had Oreo's or a Honey Bun every night after dinner the final week or two.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope
 
Have you started to show yet? It's now even visible with a sweatshirt on ;-p

Gender? It's a BOY!

 

Labor Signs? Braxton Hicks is a cruel/unusual form of punishment. 

 

Belly Button in or out? Outie

Happy or Moody most of the time? This one varied day by day. Even though I was ready for him for weeks/ wanted him here more with every day that passed, some days I was content that he'd come when he was ready, and enjoyed the extra time to prepare/ other days I'd be VERY impatient, and would cry easily wondering why he hadn't come yet. 

Looking forward to? Every second of every day was filled with looking forward to our son being born.