Thursday, October 3, 2013

36 weeks: Due Date Month

Today is my day off. But instead of lounging around in my pajamas, I went to work at my husband's office (perks of being the boss's wife) to work on a psychological report I have to write. I love coming here. The atmosphere is so relaxed, so friendly, and pleasant. My job, in contrast, is so isolating. I know that sounds ironic because I talk to my clients all day, but that's not the same thing. So, today I'm here, in efforts that I will be able to focus better and finish my report by the end of the day. Rather than spending my Thursday doing ultra-important things like watching every single Netflix episode of Orange is the New Black.

I realized, in the midst of my oh-poor-me-I'm-so-stressed blogging lately that I haven't shared any updates about Baby. I think that's because there's not much to share. As opposed to the first trimester, where there are so many important appointments, the third trimester (if all is going well), is more relaxed, settling in, getting to you know your baby time. I'm 36 weeks today and have a midwife appointment this evening. After today's appointment, we will switch to weekly appointments (!!!) and I'm sure it will be time to start talking about things like, what to bring to the birth center, the on-call schedule for the midwives (cross your fingers I get one of my favorites at my birth) and early signs of labor. But for now...things are just calm. It feels like I feel Baby almost all the time. I mean, I know that's not actually true, but it feels that way because he's just such a constant presence. A pressure from his back here, a foot poking out there, a bottom to rest my hand on right under my ribs. This morning, when I woke up, I laid on my back and watched him hiccup for a few minutes. I just feel really close to him right now.

Physically, I'm doing okay. My feet started to hurt a few weeks ago, so I ordered two pairs of Moccasins (one pair of shoes, one pair of fleece-lined slippers) that I am basically planning on living in for the rest of the pregnancy. Screw fashion sense! Sleep is NOT my friend anymore. My hips hurt so badly and the BHs take my breathe away every time I have to pee and sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night just feeling completely claustrophobic in my own body. I take a lot of baths. I choose baths over sleep. They are the only thing that helps my body feel free. I haven't been to the chiropractor in 3 weeks or so because I've been so busy. I have an appointment scheduled in a week and then I plan on going weekly again until baby comes. But really, I am ok. For most of the day, being this pregnant doesn't really stop me in my tracks. I mean, I'm working 12 hour days here, so I must be doing ok, right?

I've gained 30 lbs as of this week. With four weeks to my due date, I feel okay about that too. Awhile back, I went through a phase where I was feeling fat. Just huge all over. But now my body has changed again and my belly has gotten so big that I like my silhouette again. I think it's because, in comparison to my belly, the rest of me looks small. Still no stretch marks, so I'm excited about that. My belly button is this weird, flat thing that is a strange color of brown. Why is it brown??? Recently, I've been thinking that once I'm done with work, I may give a little love to my physical appearance before baby gets here. I was of the opinion that I should just wait until after he gets here, but then I realized it may be a long time after he shows up before I have the energy to do a little personal care. So I'm thinking I may schedule a brow wax, a Brazilian, a hair cut, and maybe even highlights (something I haven't done the whole pregnancy). For women who've been through this, what do you recommend? Waiting until after baby or getting it done pre-baby?

I think that's about it. I'm happy to finally be in October. The Month of Waiting. One more week of work to go, and then I'll be free to sit and wait and do last minute things for baby. I'm not in a hurry for him to get here. I hear women saying that they just "want the baby out!" right at 37 weeks. I think they're crazy. This is my last chance to just be myself and enjoy my time before he gets here. Besides, I like having him inside me, safe and sound and comfortable. Annnnd I want him to wait until my mom gets here on the 29th. So yeah. Stay inside baby. We'll see you soon.

14 comments:

  1. I think that pampering yourself is a great idea but I would advise against the Brazilian. Pre-pregnancy I got monthly Brazilians, but my dr and my waxer advised against them during pregnancy. 1. It will hurt like a bitch. You have extra blood flow in that area so it's easier pain-wise to not take off everything. 2. We have hair down there for a reason and it helps to keep out bacteria, infections, etc.

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    1. Oh, well...I've been getting them all throughout and it hasn't been so bad. I absolutely love my waxer. She does a great job of keeping it (relatively) painless. But about the second point, I was thinking the same thing that it might be good to not do it anymore because of the protection/cleanliness factor. So yeah, you may have just swayed me and saved me 15 minutes of pain. Ha.

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  2. Forgot to add that I have been getting bikini waxes all thru the pregnancy and the pain for those hasn't been too bad.

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  3. I think planning on pampering yourself prior to birth is a great idea. I'm hoping to fit in at least one haircut and a prenatal massage mid-February before Smudge makes an appearance. I would also recommend scheduling something special for yourself one month after birth (another haircut, a mani/pedi...) Something that gets you out of the house without baby to remind yourself that you're still a woman -still YOU- and not just a Mom.

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    1. That is good advice! I should do it while my mom is still staying with me so I have back-up.

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  4. I miss baths! Now that Rob is in town, I can't use his tub, and I only had a week of lounging in my own before they had to tear stuff out of my bathroom again to re-tile. I should have my lovely new tub back by tomorrow, though.

    I'm really ready for Baby M to arrive, but only because I'm excited -- not because of discomfort, luckily. It's easier (emotionally) to stay zen about it, though, and to just realize things will happen in their own time. In reality, we've got such a short time to wait now, and a lifetime of being moms ahead!

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  5. I want baby out and I'm only 37 weeks. Of course with a three year old at home I don't have any time to myself anyway. ;)

    I hope this month is stress and discomfort free. And I hope the stretch marks stay away. I didn't have any until the last week or two of my pregnancy and then they all shower up, and totally scarred my poor belly. I hope you can avoid them.

    Good luck with everything this month!

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    1. I'm sure I would feel the same way if this were my second baby. Totally different. And damnit! I was worried that would happen with the stretch marks. I hope I can dodge them, but we'll see....

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  6. Well, I can safely suggest that if you're going to wax, do it BEFORE the baby! After the baby...well...not to scare ya or anything, but you will NOT want hot wax going anywhere near there for at least a month or two. I would also advise against looking "down there" for about 4 weeks after birth if you birth vaginally. Happy to report that things do settle and go back to normal, but the healing process threw me for a loop!

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  7. Although I'm still on the other side of things, from what I've heard from friends, a little self care - haircut, pedicure, etc. - pre-baby is much advised. I also got the great rec to have someone come clean your house right before the baby arrives because, again, it might be a while before some of these things happen post-baby. (Also just want to say you look awesome and 30 lbs is totally healthy!)

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  8. You are so close, this is all so exciting. I say go pamper yourself, but like Non Sequitur Chica said above, I would not wax completely because of the hygienic factors. For the rest, just enjoy :) Maybe a pedicure as I can imagine it is difficult to reach your feet right now? And pretty feet are always such a reason to smile!
    I am not particularly feeling *fat* (I am now 18 weeks and I put 2.5 kg), but it is a weird feeling because I am growing. I am kind of disappointed that you don't really see a bump that looks like a babybump yet... we know it's there, and when I am naked Mark can see it, but other than that my body is just moving around and changing and I just look bigger, like I ate all the cookies and the pasta and the cheese. Or like a beer belly.

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  9. I just can't believe you are 9 months pregnant and working 12 hours days! Wow!!

    I say go for the beauty treatment now, I would think it would be a lot harder once baby is here to find time to go to the salon.

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  10. OK, I totally had plans early on in pregnancy to get a Brazilian before labour... but then the hemorrhoids kicked in by third trimester, and now I'd be WAY to embarrassed to have an esthetician attempt to wax around that area. But if you're all good in that department, I say go for it! Same for the highlights -- I've heard you should at least get it cut because hair appointments go out the window when baby is around...

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  11. Do the pampering before baby arrives. It could be awhile before you have the time or energy to do it after baby. I desperately need a pedicure and I just don't see how that is going to happen anytime in the near future.

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