37 and 38 Weeks

Well, I must say: I.am.done.

I have random hours of timeablecontractions and then they taper off. At about 36.5 weeks, I was checked for the first time and was a whopping 1 cm, 30% effaced, and she was at -1 station. I was super disappointed. Then that whole week, my sciatic nerve pain got even worse and I wondered if she was dropping lower into my pelvis, and that's what was causing it. So at my last appt I asked her to check me again - which she did so reluctantly (because this particular office doesn't like checking every week due to the risk of infection.) Anyway, my theory was wrong and I hadn't progressed at all. 

However it was getting to the point that I couldn't even walk normally. I mopped the floor the other day and really couldn't walk the rest of the day because of the pain. 

So after a few friends suggested it, I went to the chiropractor for the first time in my life yesterday. She adjusted my lower back and after she did so, she told me to move around to see how it felt. I sat down in a chair in the room, and then stood back up. When I did, I didn't have any pain when I stood back up, which was the first time that had happened in over a week!! I woke up a bit sore today, but took Tylenol and iced my back per her suggestions and I feel so much better this afternoon. It's not 100% better but it's definitely an improvement. I was even able to lift my legs to get dressed this morning with no pain!! That hasn't happened in weeks. I have another appointment on Thursday and am hoping for even more improvement. 

I was supposed to have my 38 week appointment on thsirday also but I called and canceled it today because we have crazy flooding everywhere from Hurricane Matthew that came through over the weekend and I don't even know if there's a way to get between here and Greenville that isn't flooded. So I'll just wait for my appt next week. She said they wouldn't check me this week anyway. 

I have red raspberry leaf tea coming in the mail tomorrow. You're supposed to start that way earlier than 38 weeks to help tone your uterus but better late than never, right?

Sent from my iPhone

36 Weeks

Week 35 got away from me and I didn't get a belly pic! Week 36 was taken on the right day though. I've had multiple people tell me I look like I've dropped and I think I feel it too. The top of my belly seems lower and I literally can't sit for a long period of time because she's resting in my lap and it hurts.

My sciatic nerve is really bad these days too. I noticed when she's head down is when it bothers me. She spent a couple weeks sideways about a month ago and I didn't have the pain then. But I'm thankful she's head down!

Today is actually 36w3d, although the pic was taken on the right day. Two nights ago I had timeable contractions for about an hour and a half, from about 11:30pm-1am. They were 10 minutes apart but then they subsided. :( I've had crampiness on and off at totally random times throughout the last couple weeks and I'm hoping I'll get good news at the dr when they check me.

I'm so tired. My rls is bad so I will take Unisom if I have to to sleep but then I'm groggy the next first half of the day, even with only taking half of the pill. I'm so ready to hold her in my arms and kiss her and tell her love her, and to share her name with everyone!!

Pregnancy Comparison #4

33 and 34 Weeks

Well, it's certainly been an eventful 2 weeks, at least in comparison to my other pregnancies. Last Sunday night, I was just sitting in the couch, and started to feel crampy, like I was on my period. It lasted for a while and I even had some contractions that would start weak, build, peak, and then die off. But nothing was timeable. To be honest, I was a bit nervous, but decided to go to bed and see if that helped, which it did. They died down after I laid down. I had an appt the following Wednesday and talked to the midwife about all of it. She said contractions are completely normal as long as you can get them to stop - which I did. I was just so nervous and surprised since I've never had anything before 38-39ish weeks with the others. I've had more cramping since then but it's totally sporadic and nothing is timeable. I'm kind of excited at the possibility that I could have a baby before my due date, but at the same time, I'm trying not to get my hopes up. At my next appt, which will be at 36w3d, they'll do the group b strep test and they'll check me then too. Maybe I'll hear more than "you're *maybe* a 1" when they check me. 

Greg and I talked about all the possibilities (at least what we could think of) for when I go into labor, and how we get the kids to the sitters, etc. Of course, I would like a fairly quick labor, but being that we have a good hour drive to the hospital, not including dropping the kids off, I'm just not sure how it's all going to play out. I really don't want to deliver her in the truck!! I had contractions for days with Gunnar before finally going to the hospital. I didn't go into my dr with them because I was being seen at the health dept and you can't just get a same day appt there. If things are similar with this one though, I will at least make a dr appt to have them check me and see how things are progressing instead of just waiting for contractions to get super intense and go straight to the hospital. 

I can't remember if I've mentioned this up until this point - but this girl is CRAZY! Out of any of my babies, even my 10lb8ozer, she is so painful in her movements! At least once a day, I jump because she hurts me with one of her adjustments in there. I was hoping for a snuggler, but based on that, I'm not sure I'm getting one!!

Well, it's certainly been an eventful 2 weeks, at least in comparison to my other pregnancies. Last Sunday night, I was just sitting in the couch, and started to feel crampy, like I was on my period. It lasted for a while and I even had some contractions that would start weak, build, peak, and then die off. But nothing was timeable. To be honest, I was a bit nervous, but decided to go to bed and see if that helped, which it did. They died down after I laid down. I had an appt the following Wednesday and talked to the midwife about all of it. She said contractions are completely normal as long as you can get them to stop - which I did. I was just so nervous and surprised since I've never had anything before 38-39ish weeks with the others. I've had more cramping since then but it's totally sporadic and nothing is timeable. I'm kind of excited at the possibility that I could have a baby before my due date, but at the same time, I'm trying not to get my hopes up. At my next appt, which will be at 36w3d, they'll do the group b strep test and they'll check me then too. Maybe I'll hear more than "you're *maybe* a 1" when they check me. I'm still measuring great though. At my last appt at 33 weeks, I measured 32cm, so I'm really planning on an 8lb-ish baby should I go full term. Here's the belly pics!

31 and 32 Weeks

I can't believe how fast these weeks are going! I can't keep up with blogging through them!!

In the 31st week I felt decent. No sciatic nerve pain and no pressure between my legs, and I'm totally convinced that it's because baby was turned sideways. I'm pretty confident she turned back to head down a few days back because all of the sudden my nerve has been bothering me and I feel the pressure from the weight of her between my legs.

I am so tired. RLS is here most nights which makes it almost impossible to fall asleep. I've taken Benadryl a couple times in the last week or so and it makes it slightly less miserable. Aside from that though, I feel decent for being 32 weeks along. I've been THMing about 75% of the time and I can definitely tell the benefits of it. When I eat off plan, my rings get tighter and I just have no energy. I'm so thankful for the way THM is presented that made me feel like it was possible for me to eat whole foods and helped me fully understand it.

Here's the belly pics!

Pregnancy Comparison #3

Sent from my iPhone

29 and 30 Weeks

What?! 30 weeks already? I can't believe it! Baby girl is low and I can feel the pressure from it quite regularly, especially when I get up in the morning. Sciatic pain is on and off and it's totally at random.

I had an appointment yesterday and I only gained 1.8 lbs in the last 3 weeks so that was really good! I've really been trying so much harder to stay on plan. My uterus also measured at 30 cm so that was perfect too. 

Overall, things are looking really good!