38 weeks

And feeling nesty/anxious/ready/tired/sick/stoked.

17 weeks                                                               24 weeks

36 weeks                                                                           38 weeks

After a night of regular which turned into sporadic contractions, I thought it might be go time… but turned out to be a fluke. I was so excited to call Tom –who was working/flying all night last night- and tell him that I was in labor, but not yet. I think little miss is trying to tease us, or maybe she really wants to be a Christmas baby? Her nanas already got her a Christmas outfit, just in case.

Last night I was thinking that if it was the real deal it would have been so similar to when Tom’s mom went into labor. She was at home, and her husband (Tom’s dad) was flying, and they had to call him on the radio to tell him his wife was in labor. Pretty exciting stuff 🙂 We never know when it’s going to happen, but we have the suitcase packed –I’ll post all of the goods tomorrow- towels in the car, pillows, blanket, car seat ready to go.

The nesting instinct is here with a vengeance. As soon as I publish this post, I’m ready to clean the kitchen and then put the new bedding on the bed while Tom puts up the mirror and assembles the nightstands. When that’s done, I’m going to file and organize tax paperwork. Tax paperwork. It’s not April, so this will be a first for me. I’m also hoping to sneak a bath and nap in there, too, since I didn’t sleep well last night and just in case I end up needing energy for later.

One of the questions I get asked a lot is how I’m progressing, as far as dilation and effacement go. The midwives aren’t checking me, unless I request it. In our Bradley classes, we learned that getting checked can kick start things if you’re body isn’t ready, which can lead to Pitocin and other interventions to get the baby out. Also, you can be 2cm dilated for two hours or two weeks, so the info isn’t that helpful. Apparently effacement (a percentage of how thin the cervix has become) is helpful to know so it can give a better idea of how close you are to the baby’s birthday.

So, I’m trying to decide if I should go ahead and let them check me on Friday. Secretly, I’d love to know what my progress is looking like, but on the other hand, I don’t know if I want it to get the ball rolling if the baby isn’t ready.

In the meantime, I’m drinking lots of raspberry leaf tea –helps tone the uterus and prepare it for labor- walking, and wondering!

Weight gained: 29 lbs

Craving: anchovies (!), almond butter (I was on hiatus for a while, but now I constantly have a jar glued to my hand, with spoon in the other hand), apples, anything savory/salty, salads, pumpkin pie filling, miso dressing, Pop Tarts (I had a strawberry one last week and was instantly transported back to my childhood)

Aversions: Not really loving seafood as much as usual. This has been a big one throughout pregnancy… too fishy for me. Everything else is good, though

Blast from the past: (It’s funny to look back when I thought my belly was HUGE. I had no idea what was coming)

–See ya later, first trimester

–18 weeks

–26 weeks

–Being a pregnant fitness instructor

-How my workouts have changed in the first, second and third trimesters