Official Bumpdate {34 Weeks}

Things are finally starting to heat up around here! With 6 weeks left, I’m in full nesting/preparation mode and am starting to slow down physically. I start each day just wishing I could stay home from work to clean, fold baby clothes, take a nap, and make the curtains and burp cloths that have been on my to-do list. I’m antsy!

The first photo is me, with my best friend, Fallon. She is exactly 8 weeks behind me! This is the second boy for both of us…we are SO outnumbered.

Here’s a quick run-down of where we’re at.

Midwives and doulas, oh my! Baby boy is healthy but still measuring a little small so I’m trying my best to make sure I get at least 60 grams of protein a day {greek yogurt, protein drinks…my favorite is the Odwalla vanilla protein monster, eggs…}. He is head down and in a good position, although he feels so low that I can feel his head if I scrunch my legs up too tight. I feel like I am constantly squishing him. I love all my midwives and enjoy going to the hospital to get checked. After my 36 week appointment, I get to go weekly! We also had a meeting with our doula {who I also love} to discuss the birth process and our thoughts/fears on having an un-medicated birth {which is what I’m shooting for this time}. This week, I also set up arrangements for placenta encapsulation. I’m really looking forward to trying it and hope it will give me an added boost so I don’t sink into the same postpartum issues I had with Sky.

I’ve been reading books! With Sky, I read books but they were more along the lines of “what to expect when you’re expecting”. This time, I’m trying to prepare more for the actual birth experience and labor process since I would like to avoid an epidural. The book featured below Do Chocolate Lovers Have Sweeter Babies?: The Surprising Science of Pregnancy is not really hardcore, it’s my “light” reading but is actually pretty interesting and each question is backed up with a lot of research! Also…VERY EXCITING NEWS….I FINALLY got to park in the “expectant mothers” parking space! It’s usually never available anywhere I go so it was quite the treat.

Aches and Pains. I’ve reached the point where I’m now uncomfortable or in pain about 50-60% of the day. I wake up each morning feeling pretty great and “light”. As the day wares on, I worsen and by bedtime every ounce of me hurts and I can barely walk. I’m getting sleep in 3-4 hour stretches. Baby boy has a pretty regular routine – he is always awake and jumping around at midnight, and then will wake me up again with his kicking and rolling between 3-4am. He always has the hiccups. Add that to Sky who had decided to stop sleeping through the night and I feel like a walking zombie most days. I started pre-natal yoga last week and hope to continue it until I can’t do it anymore.

The nursery is…um….still a disaster. BUT, I’ve been pinning like crazy with ideas and inspiration on how I want the space to FEEL. My fabric arrived from spoonflower, created by the lovely Pellerina Designs and I’m planning to make a small shade kind of like this but maybe a little shorter. I’ve also decided on this glider and  have been selling a few things on craigslist that we no longer use to raise money to buy it, haha.

On a final note, I’ve started to notice that when I buy things at the grocery store, some of them have expiration dates AFTER my due date. I have things on my calendar for May and think to myself….”that’s not too far away….WAIT…OH MY GOD….I WILL HAVE A BABY BY THEN”. It’s small realizations like this that put me over the edge and remind me that this little dude is not far away….not far away AT ALL.

Comments

[Mama Melch]

Soo close! Here's hoping these next weeks fly by in a haze of spring and nesting. :-)

[Mari, small for big]

Sounds like you're doing great! A friend of mine did the placenta encapsulation with her most recent baby and said it made a huge difference, she had some problems with depression too. I wish you oodles of luck and health and good fortune!!!

[Annie]

Isn't it crazy that you're almost to once a week visits? It's getting real :-) Love this post. I don't know where to start! Love your polka dot shirt - where is it from? And, love the book suggestions. I'm "Ina May'ed out" so I want to pick up these. I am going to do placenta encapsulation this time too! Can't wait to hear how it works for you. Looking good mama! Keep the pics and updates coming!

[Lettie]

You're almost there! This inspires me to pull out all of my pregnancy books and get reading before I run out of time (I'm due in August)!

I have to ask: where do you find your maternity clothes? They are so cute! I am in desperate need of a new maternity wardrobe :)

[Allison]

Yay! So close! I did placenta encapsulation when I had Charlotte, and I think it really helped, although I don't know what it would have been like without them because she is the first.

[Rachael]

So excited for baby boy to arrive! Sorry you're having aches and pains, but 3-4 hours of sleep at 34 weeks sounds pretty good to me. ;)

I'm REALLY curious to see how the placenta encapsulation works for you. I'm going to discuss it with my doctor at my next appointment, and if they can't recommend anyone then I'll start asking around to find how accessible it is in my area and how much it costs and all that.

[Jesyka]

Haha, I'm the same as Allison. The apprentice midwife at Laelia's birth did it for free! :D

[Sara]

How fun to have a friend due so close to you. You look great and I just can't believe the day is drawing so near. Can't wait to "meet" that little one.

[Lauren @ A Lovely Lark]

Haha! I thought the same thing at the grocery store - it must be getting close now because this is going to expire AFTER my due date. Amazing how much that really was a wake up call. Hang in there mama!