30 Weeks (February)

I had my appointment with my OB on Wednesday. I talked to her about being so lightheaded for a long time. She says that it's normal and all makes sense just I'm a little bit worse than some other people. I talked about how I keep eating thinking food will help and it doesn't and yet I keep doing it. And then I keep gaining tons of weight each week  now. It's so annoying.  I also brought up my groin pain and lying on my hips making it bad or various forms of exercise. She didn't have any solutions for that but said not to quit exercising. She was even telling me if I have to do 15 min early in the day and 15 min later in the day to do that. I mentioned how last time I used the elliptical I made it 6 minutes before I was lightheaded. Ugh.  I made my next 2 appointments. In 2 weeks it's with a nurse practitioner and then in 4 weeks it's with her again.   I mentioned after I ran 1 mile that my groin hurt for 2 days. How it hurts when I would toss and turn in the night. She had no recommendations. But I think it also has to do with my hips and on the outside it's tender to the touch. I didn't google the problem yet because I assumed I'd ask her and she'd suggest something. I should probably get to googling and see what the internet tells me. She asked how much I've noticed movement. I said barely at all compared to Miles and Ella but maybe I'm just too busy to notice. But the heart beat was good and I measured fine so she said it's probably just that I'm busier.    She did say if things really bother me for my groin she can send me for PT, but mentioned that's a big time commitment.   My BP was 116/69. I got a shot and also got the paperwork for registering for the hospital.

I finally called to schedule my 32 week ultrasound. I apparently need an extra appointment because my PAPP-A was a little low. One thing that can cause is low birth weight so they want to check it.  I had .38 and it the low end of normal is .4.

I've been sick the entire week. I don't even feel any better.

I woke up today with my fingers swollen that my rings wouldn't come off.

Size of baby: Large Cabbage, 15.7 inches long from head to heel. My app on my phone says the baby weighs about 3 pounds.

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  I gained 1.8 lbs this week for 24.6 lb gain overall. I am gaining like crazy. I am always lightheaded. 

Maternity Clothes:  All maternity shirts. Workout pants and hoodies are not maternity.  More maternity clothes are getting too short. 

What I miss: Running and exercising. 

Symptoms: I'm getting bad pelvic pain now. My back is sore. I'm so lightheaded. 

Best moment this week: Talking to Ella and Miles about the new baby and getting them excited.

Looking forward to:  my shower, picking a name, Ella talking more to the baby (in my belly)

Exercise:  I used the elliptical twice. I got lightheaded after 3 minutes the first time but toughed it out for 10 minutes. Then the next time I only got a little foggy so I did 15 minutes. 

Same this time: My wedding rings wouldn't come off this time and last time.  Pelvic/groin pain this time and with Miles. Maternity clothes are too short. I missed sitting with my legs crossed and slouching to eat all the times.

Different from last time: Ella liked to be in my weekly pictures last time but this time she's almost always asleep when I take them.  This pregnancy seems more similar to Miles but Ella was different. With her I had swollen ankles and didn't have the groin pain. I have gained so much weight recently but my weight gain at 30 weeks is actually less this time than with the past 2 pregnancies.

30 weeks with Ella
30 weeks with Miles

27 Weeks (January)

I had my glucose test and results were posted later that day.  I also had some blood work done. My iron is low. No surprise there. But then I checked my prenatal vitamin to see how much iron I was getting and it was 0!!!! Buying other vitamins to include iron!

2013 and 2016 for comparison

I keep thinking I look huge. I am a lot bigger than other pregnant friends who are further along. Then also some people show even more. Everyone is just different.  At preschool one mom is due Feb 28 and one in March and I'm bigger than them.

I tell people how I am in my trend of gaining 3 lbs a week and I don't think they believe me. My gain is on track based on these generic graphs but I lost weight then gained that and then gain at a very rapid rate the last trimester so at first I'm low then on track and then I'm way too high.  I found a calculator since my apps don't seem to tell me about weight gain anymore.

Size of baby: Cauliflower, 14.4 inches long from head to heel. My app on my phone says the baby weighs about 2 pounds, which is the same weight it listed for 26 weeks.

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  17 lb gain overall. I gained 3.0 in the past week. (I saw I gained 3 lbs last time and thought oh how exciting I gained way less than that this time then I went and looked and was in disbelief that I actually gained 3 lbs this time too.)

Maternity Clothes:  I sleep in T-shirts but they are getting small. All tops are maternity that I wear in public anymore. My hoodie is not but it won't zip. My maternity hoodie doesn't have pockets so I suffer.  My pants are all athletic pants but my XS ones are too small. Why is it so hard to find pants in long length. (I have 2 medium pants I bought when 8 months pregnant with Ella that are still big. I have 1 pair of small pants that I bought when I was still heavy after having Miles.  So then I tried to buy more pants but I'm failing.) 

Gender: Boy

Movement: There is movement but I feel like it was way more last time.  

Sleep: My sleep is not so good. I'm so tired at night from being so lightheaded I don't even start netflix or get out my laptop. But then I may wake up in the night and then can't fall back to sleep if it's close to morning.  Miles was up 1 night this week from 1-3:45 and then I couldn't fall asleep until 5:30. That was rough. I napped twice this week. I was really fighting a cold/sick. 

What I miss: Exercising. Functioning without being lightheaded. 

Symptoms: Going to the bathroom A LOT. My low back hurts a little.  My leg muscles seem to crap a lot more lately. But also I think I suck at drinking water so then I blame the cramping on that.  My groin will hurt a lot and then I limp for awhile. 

Best moment this week: Actually getting my glucose test done.

Looking forward to:  Getting Miles into a bed so that the crib is ready for the baby.

Exercise:  I used the elliptical 1 time and got lightheaded at 12 minutes and clammy shortly after. I was trying to finish the 15 minute workout and it was tough. I also did a 1 minute push-up test once. 

Same this time: I gained more than I should in the week! I had my glucose test this week all three times. I was doing baby things the first time around and then 2nd and 3rd pregnancy I was not getting ready. Wow I gained 3.3, 3.0, and 3.0 lbs this week in the 3 pregnancies. 

Different from last time: I worked out a lot more the last 2 times.  I was in a lot better shape at the start of both of those pregnancies too.

27 Weeks with Ella
27 Weeks with Miles

41 Weeks (9.11.16)

I had a doctor appointment at 40 weeks and 3 days.  I was 5 cm dilated at that appointment.  The cervix is still posterior but not as much as it was. The doctor and the nurse were both shocked I still had my appointment. They both thought I'd have already had the baby by now since I was 3.5 cm a week earlier.  Once the appointment was over, I had low belly pressure/pain. So I guess the check triggered something.

We talked about my scheduled c-section and she's checking if we can move it to Monday to give me more chance to go into labor.   If no spot is available we'd keep the 7 AM one on Friday. 7 AM appointment means you show up at 5 AM (then she whispered showing up at 5:15 is fine too) and no eating for 8 hours prior.

Thursday morning I emailed the doctor and heard back that they were able to move my c-section to Monday. So it's scheduled for 8 am Monday morning and I have to be there at 6.

Ella is getting clingier and clingier to me. She's also very excited about the baby and likes showing off baby things.

I went into labor at 40 weeks and 6 days. I didn't have to have a c-section. yay.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I gained 0 lb this week for 49.7 lbs overall. This is up until the morning I gave birth. So It's for 40 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy!

Maternity Clothes:  Everything besides what I sleep in and most maternity clothes don't fit. I'm quite limited.

Movement: He still moves. I can feel arms or legs and butt.

Sleep:  I've been waking up a lot with different belly pressures. I think maybe a contraction but then not. I've been pretty tired but then waking up by 7 daily. I tend to wake up for one reason or another and decide to get up and go to the bathroom at that time just so I'm not waking up again. Then the last night I didn't sleep much since I was constantly nursing a baby.

What I miss: I miss running. I miss holding Ella and walking without pressure. I miss walking or doing things without getting out of breath. I miss bending over to the ground easily. I miss being able to get out of bed when I have to pee without pain.

Symptoms: I breathe heavy. I get out of breath.  I have a lot of low belly pressure/pain when I do things. Swollen ankles. Bleeding heavier when I have a cut.

Best moment this week: Having Miles!

Looking forward to:  This baby deciding to come!!! --- That's what I looked forward to up until the end of the week :) 

Exercise:  We started using the pool for pool walking and I walked Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  After about 30 minutes on Friday, my feet, ankles, and thighs were sore. 

Same this time: Finally there's a baby both times around.

Different from last time: I didn't even have a 41 week post last time. I had a 2 week old already. Miles weighs more than Ella at the 41 week mark though.

40 Weeks (September 4)

Sunday night light contractions started.  I wrote a separate post about it.  But they didn't amount to anything.

At my doctor appointment on Wednesday, I was 3.5 cm dilated and still posterior. That appointment was at 39 weeks and 3 days.  I still have an appointment for 40 weeks and 3 days but she was guessing I wouldn't need it. I forget what else was said. The C-section is still scheduled for 40 weeks and 5 days (the closest to 41 weeks that I could get.) She did ask if she was doing a "tubal" I think she said when they are in there for the c-section.  She meant tying my tubes. Then asked if I was having more kids or not.

Sunday night I had more contractions that didn't amount to anything. (Separate post for details.)

Ella joined me for some pictures. She had to push the timer button and run over.

Size of baby: Small Pumpkin. The average baby is born 20 inches long and 7.5 lbs.  

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I gained 1 lb this week for 49.7 lbs overall. 

Maternity Clothes:  Most maternity clothes don't fit anymore. I have to do laundry every 3-4 days just so I have some shirts. My black shirt is missing that fits too :( 

Movement: I feel like he moves less than last week. 

Sleep:  I've been getting about 8 hours of sleep at night and some naps so it's actually the best it's been in ages. No back pain and no sciatica pain help.

What I miss: I miss running. I miss holding Ella and walking without pressure. I miss walking or doing things without getting out of breath.

Symptoms: I breathe heavy. I get out of breath. Braxton Hicks Contractions.  My back hasn't hurt. My sciatica hasn't hurt.  I have a lot of low belly pressure/pain when I do things.  I bet there are more but I can't think what to list and my app won't tell me common symptoms to make me realize I have them.  Earlier in the week my ankles were swollen but that seems to have gone away.

Best moment this week: Taking Maternity Photos for Angie

Looking forward to:  This baby deciding to come!!!

Exercise:  I've been done exercising for awhile. Cleaning for 15 minutes is too much sometimes too. 

Same this time: Baby vs being pregnant. Can't even think of anything that would be the same.

Different from last time: Well I'm still pregnant and I had an 8 day old baby last time!!!!!!

39 Weeks (August 28)

I had my doctor appointment Wednesday. I signed the VBAC consent form. I learned you can't induce if you had a previous c-section. This means I have to schedule a c-section but can go into labor first.  The last day they will schedule it is for 41 weeks but then that's on a Sunday so she said it has to be earlier.  She told me her nurse would schedule it and tell me the time that day or the next day (both passed and I didn't hear from her though). I wasn't dilated at all yet.

If I don't go into labor first my c-section is scheduled for 9-9 at 7 AM.

More of the nursery is ready. Slowly little bits got done as the week went on. The pictures suck because after I took them I realized Ella got finger prints all over my lens. It's hard to believe that this is a lot more together than it was!

I don't like the anticipation of labor. Like WHEN will it start. AHH I don't like the multiple week window when it can happen.

This morning I was trying to find clothes that fit and also doing laundry so didn't want to put on my jean shorts. Dave commented asking if I was going to take a before picture. I wasn't but then when he said that I felt like I had to! I didn't do sports bra + shorts but did tank + shorts.  I also took measurements.

Size of baby: Mini Watermelon, 20 inches long from head to heel. My app on my phone says the baby weighs about 7.25 pounds.  The baby gains a half a lb a week. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I gained 1.1 lbs this week for 48.7 lbs overall. Earlier in the week I weighed more though.

Maternity Clothes:  Most maternity clothes don't fit. It's hard to have enough clothes to wear without doing laundry. Target ones are definitely longer than old navy ones. 

Movement: He moves a lot more in the evenings and you can tell he's getting bigger based on the body parts that start to move my skin all around.

Sleep:  I've napped a few times while Ella was at school and those 2 hour naps were pretty darn good. At night my sleep isn't so good. It's not as awful as it was with the sciatica pain though.

What I miss: I miss running. I miss hoagies from Jersey Mike's. I miss being able to turn over in bed without breathing heavy or without it being a big ordeal. I miss not having sciatica pain. I miss being able to walk normally.

Symptoms: My ankles actually got swollen a lot this week. Dave noticed weird bumps on my legs and I think it's just weird swelling. My low back hurts sometimes. Sciatica pain and then left leg pain and numbness. My blood pressure is higher. I want tons and tons of food lately but not sure that's considered a symptom. My nose randomly started bleeding at Trader Joe's on Friday. I still have a few acid burps. (But I did not have heart burn that I noticed.) I'm getting out of breath a lot. Going to the bathroom and getting back to bed and getting under the covers result in me being out of breath!

Best moment this week: Getting more maternity photos taken

Looking forward to:  Having a baby

Exercise:  I don't exercise for real but I feel like cleaning up was a bit of exercise because it kept triggering more pain so I know I was doing too much.

Same this time: Clothes not fitting even though they fit less this time.

Different from last time: I already had a baby last time at 39 weeks!

38 Weeks (8.21)

I had my doctor appointment on Wednesday. She did an ultrasound to check the size of the baby and confirm head down. The ultrasound says 7 lb 6 oz already. He is definitely head down. This baby moves so much that she had issues just getting the 2 parts to measure. Then doctor pushed around with hands and said she feels weight will be around right for what ultrasound says. She says the baby will be in 8 lb range (depending when I deliver). 1/4 lb to 1/2 lb weight gain a week. We were discussing last time how I was 8 days early and as soon as I got to the hospital I was 8 cm dilated. She told me not to linger at home when I go into labor and if I have to bring Ella and have someone meet us there. I mentioned the friends coming to help with her are all 20+ min away. She said yea bring her have them pick her up from hospital. If Ella is good then she can be in the room until someone gets there but if not then Dave has to leave the room and be with her!

My cervix is thinning which is first step before being dilated at all but no dilation. I said this was good to know since last time I got to hospital so fast and was 8 cm. Also she said definitely boy and also definitely felt a head. Apparently they start checking at 38 weeks but since I was midway through 37 weeks I could be checked or not. The nurse assumed I wouldn't want to be but I chose to be checked because if I was dilated already or something that would be good to know.  Oh she also said he's posterior but I said I didn't know what it meant. I just looked it up to see.

My ankles were swollen this week. It's the first time besides the carnival that they were.

I looked at Target for curtains. Then 2 days later went to Bed Bath & Beyond to look at curtains. I failed and left empty handed. Then I dug out curtains we have and decided to use some green ones we had. I don't think they match very well and the greens clash but at least they make the room nice and dark. So now we just need to buy a curtain rod.

I had a baby sprinkle today. It was for the one mom group. It was a joint sprinkle. This was the first sprinkle they did not do the homemade onesies. I was so looking forward to that. I can't believe they didn't do it. Ella loved to color in after I drew last time. I was going to have her make one for Tobe. 

Size of baby: Celery Bunch, 19.6 inches long from head to heel. My app on my phone says the baby weighs about 6.5-7 pounds.  The baby gains a half a lb a week. At the ultrasound this week, the weight is predicted at 7 lb 6 oz ± 18 oz. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 47.6 lb gain overall. I gained 4.7 lb  in the past week. I actually gained over a lb in the past day. I'm huge! Clothes don't fit. Well my maternity shorts finally fit better. 


Movement: This baby moves so much and there's a lot more pushing out of the skin than with Ella. 

Sleep:  Sleep is pretty much awful.

What I miss: Running! lunch meat. Exercise. Being mobile. 

Symptoms: My back gets sore. I go to the bathroom a lot.  I am swollen.  I am so tired. It's quite difficult to go from lying to standing. 

Best moment this week: making more onesies.

Looking forward to: Getting curtains up and cleaning the crap out of the nursery. 

Exercise:  I'm not exercising. I'm playing and climbing with Ella. That is like exercise. 

Ella has to help take pictures so then I end up with a lot

Same this time: I made onesies both times. This time though I did not have to use an exacto knife to cut everything and used my Silhouette machine.

Different from last time: Last time the baby was predicted to be 6 lb 7 oz ± 15 oz. and this time 7 lb 6 oz ± 18 oz. Last time I mentioned crazy dreams and I don't even remember those this time.

37 Weeks (8.14)

I'm wanting to get up and down off the ground a lot less now but Ella still wants me to do it.

Monday, Beth came over and put together the crib. I barely helped. I showed her where the directions were. Ella and Gio tried to help a lot. Once it was together, Ella wanted to go in. The next day she just climbed in herself.

I created a baby pool. Everyone should fill it out! 32 people already filled it out. I had a pool for Ella and 24 people filled that one out. The first few guesses were all guessing birth after the due date! 

I feel like we are more ready for the baby but then also like we are far from ready. I also realize I forget a lot of the baby stuff since it's been awhile since a baby. Maybe I should reread some books.  Who has time for that?

I took some pictures similar to the ones I took and posted in week 33 with athletic clothes but didn't have time to make collages yet so I'm not going to hold this post up because of that.  I still need to take new measurements.

I got my maternity photos back this week but already did a separate post on those.

Size of baby: Leek, 19.1 inches long from head to heel. My app on my phone says the baby weighs about 6.5 pounds.  The baby gains a half a lb a week. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 42.9 lb gain overall. I gained 2.9  in the past week.  I'm pretty huge nowadays. People keep telling me I'm all belly but they are wrong since a month ago I took my measurements and my hips were 5 inches bigger than they were 8 months ago!

Movement: This kid moves so much. 

Sleep:  It's pretty crappy. Ella doesn't like to sleep. I want to wind down after she asleep. I have trouble sleeping. I have trouble turning over in the night. Poly wakes me up and gets annoyed with me that she's started hitting me in the face to get me to wake up and turn the way she wants me to turn. Ella tends to wake up over half the nights and runs into our room. I wake up a few times to pee a night.

What I miss: I miss running and exercising. I miss being able to just hold Ella normally. It's so hard to hold her and walk with her 30 lbs + the 43 lbs I gained so far.  I miss crossing my legs!

Symptoms: My back is sore. I have trouble sleeping. I go to the bathroom a lot. I'm tired. My plantar fasciitis is bad. 

Best moment this week: I made some onesies for the baby. Ella made some too!

Looking forward to: Not being pregnant anymore. Not having back pain anymore. Actually having a baby!

Exercise:  I'm not exercising besides shopping, cleaning, and taking care of a toddler. All of which are like exercise. 

Same this time: I get lightheaded and my back is sore. This week and last time this same week I woke up middle of the night and spent 2 hours awake before falling back to sleep.

Different from last time: Last time I was reading books on pregnancy and birth and babies. I'm not doing any of that this time!

36 Weeks (8.7)

I put in 2 from 36 weeks instead of 1 and realized after that in both I had my hand on the top of my belly. You can see how the short is getting shorter and shorter and I try to tug it down before the pictures. 

Stephanie came over and we put together the dresser.  It took 5 hours. We had to redo 2 parts and also we had to work with Ella so that slowed the process. Also my numb leg and painful leg didn't help matters.

Ella had to be part of the photos but wouldn't just stand with me. Here are a few collages showing some of the pictures we took together.

I did 2 loads of laundry to wash baby clothes and they took forever to fold. We have 3/4 of the dresser already full with clothes. I have them organized by size except all the socks are together and then all the shoes are together. I did notice that some 6 month size shirts are twice as wide as others. Some are also many many inches shorter than others. So I will have to figure things out later.  I will need to find the onesie extender at some point.

The bouncer is out of the box and put together. It still needs batteries. The empty boxes are out of the closet so now the entire top shelf is empty so I actually have some storage. I need to move my old clothes/dressy clothes from the closet so there's at least a little bit of room for baby stuff to hang.   Things are finally progressing but we still aren't ready. The crib is not together.

The swing parts are handy so that will probably be put together too. Ella never liked the swing. I think because it was more lying down not sitting up. I wonder if this kid will like the swing.  Ella didn't really like the bouncer or the swing or anything like that. I see other babies liking those things so I know everyone is different. Ella never liked the ring sling because she had to have her legs frogged and she didn't like that.

I feel huge this time but then making the collage comparing it to last time, I don't really look huge. I don't know. I seem to be up higher last time a little.

I didn't really feel like doing my hair or putting on makeup but then I keep looking at all these pics and I wish I had.

Size of baby: Coconut, 18.7 inches long from head to heel. My app on my phone says the baby weighs about 6 pounds.

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  40.0 lb gain overall. I gained 3.5 in the past week. I sure gain 3x as much each week as I'm supposed to.  I can't believe I hit 40 lbs already!  I knew I started my gain 3 lbs a week earlier than last time. With Ella I started 10 lbs heavier. It's looking like I might have a very similar end weight after this is all said and done. 

Maternity Clothes:  Since I don't work out, I wear maternity shorts daily. I sleep in non-maternity pants and the T-shirt Timmy gave me. I definitely need maternity clothes for day to day wear and still lots are getting too short. 

Movement: This kid won't stop moving and beating me up.

Sleep:  My sleep is crap. It hurts to lie on anything but the opposite side of the sciatica pain. Then I lie on my back at some point because the belly just seems so wide that it hurts lying on the side anyway. Then my back hurts on my back. Turning to get up to pee can cause a lot of pain. I get leg cramps. Sometimes I have to just reach down and bend my leg because my right leg is stuck straight and I cannot bend it and it hurts. I wake up to pee 1-3 times but I also think I just wake up because of pain and figure I better pee while I'm up so I'm not waking up at a new time to pee. 

What I miss: Running... the ability to eat lunch meat. Exercising in general.

Symptoms: My low back hurts a little but that's so mild compared to the sciatica pain. My plantar fasciitis is very bad.  The sciatica pain is on the left side for a few days then on the right side because of how the baby moves. I am getting lightheaded randomly sometimes. 

Best moment this week: Getting the dresser put together and washing baby clothes. I feel one step closer.

Looking forward to:  actually having this baby. (Not the birth process but like having a baby to hold.)

Exercise:  Shopping. Cleaning (a lot). That's probably it. Unless you count the exercises to try to get this baby to turn.

Same this time: I gain 3x what I should in a week! As I write this I'm wearing the exact same clothes and I am in the post last time where I'm doing the exercises to try to get Ella to flip.

Different from last time: Last time we got the preregistration thing back from hospital saying my paperwork arrived. I didn't even mail it in this time. Also last time when I was actually at the hospital they asked all the questions on the form anyway like they never had the form so I find it funny that they said they got it.  Last time I bought some newborn size clothes and mentioned pre-washing and also the seasons being messed up. The jacket I bought for Ella never did get worn. I know the footie PJs that were newborn also never fit her. Last time I was doing exercises to try to get Ella to flip from being breech and this time I don't have to worry about that. I was doing some exercises to try to get him to move off the sciatic nerve though.