Pregnancy Update: Weeks 38 & 39 in Review {9 Months}

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Baby is officially fully baked and it’s go time!  Though I’m not sure baby knows this fact, as he’s still happily hanging out in-utero with no signs of making his debut anytime soon.  The planner in me is ready to explode not knowing when he will arrive, and yet I know in my heart he will be here when he’s good and ready … and most likely on the day we least expect him to arrive.

Any amount of stomach discomfort, no matter how small, makes me pause to assess whether or not I think it could possibly be a contraction.  I guess I’ve had a few Braxton Hicks, but I wasn’t even really aware of what they were until a midwife I was talking to told me it’s likely what I was experiencing.  One would have thought, given this is my second baby, I’d be a bit more in-tune with what’s going on.  #MamaToBeFail =)  I’m trying my best to stay active and keep busy, but I must admit I spend most of the day waiting/hoping/praying for labor to begin.  Come on baby … mama is ready!!!

Third Trimester: Weeks 38 & 39 in Review

Craving …

Homemade granola (modified version of this recipe) and lemonade!  Good lemonade is fairly hard to come by in Bangkok, but my friend recommended a place with excellent lemonade and I seriously can.not.get.ENOUGH!!!

Feeling …

Swollen and hot.  It’s almost as though my brain sent my body a memo saying “it’s time to retain as much water as possible before this baby come out.”  The not-so-glorious result is a very swollen mama-to-be.  My feet, ankles and hands seem to be taking the brunt of it, but my face is also starting to look … full … ugh! ;)  My body is running pretty hot, but Bangkok summer is upon us and making things a wee bit hotter!

Missing …

Sushi.  I’ve been craving sushi as of late and can’t wait to pop this baby out so I can go hit up one of my favorite sushi restaurants in Bangkok with the girls!

Wearing …

All maternity clothes plus a couple pairs of pre-pregnancy sweatpants.  Getting pretty excited to wear ‘normal’ clothes again, though I’m fully aware it will be awhile after baby is born before that actually happens.

Movement …

Lots of it.  My belly looks like it’s doing the wave sometimes when he moves from one side to the other.  Kiwi keeps one little foot about 5 inches above my right hip.  It’s fun to know that most of the time when I put my hand in that spot his little foot will be there.

Excited About …

Meeting this little guy.  I can’t wait to see what his personality is like and what he looks like.  My daughter is a mini, female, replica of my husband and I fully expect my son to look just like them as well.

Highlight …

Spending a day with my husband.  It was so much fun to spend a day just the two of us!  It’s rare we get more than a couple of hours alone so a full day date was really quite special.

Nervous About …

When/if labor will start.  Pretty much the same thing I was nervous about for weeks 36 & 37.

First vs. Second Pregnancy …

Checkout my recap of my 38 and 39 week with Jellybean.

Any pregnancy tidbits you care to share?  I would love to hear them!

signiture_nicole

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Pregnancy Update: Weeks 36 & 37 {9 Months}

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The 9th and final month of pregnancy is here!  I meet this milestone with mixed emotions.  A lot of excitement to meet baby boy as well as nervousness about labor/delivery and the postpartum phase aka the 4th trimester.  I’m also acutely aware the pregnancy is drawing to a close.  This is most likely the last time I will be pregnant so I’m attempting to savor and appreciate every moment despite feeling increasingly uncomfortable.

The baby bump is getting bigger by the day and I sometimes feel like I couldn’t possibly get any bigger.  As I walk around Bangkok women often remark at my sizable bump and give it a little rub.  Many will pat my belly and say ‘boy, boy’ over and over.  I smile and say ‘yes, it’s a boy’ while trying politely not to stop.  I believe the Thais think rubbing a baby bump is good luck for them.  Generally speaking I prefer if people I don’t know don’t touch me, but I’ve grown as accustomed as I possibly can to the lack of personal space, given my personality that is.

Pregnancy Update: 3rd Trimester, 9 Months, Weeks 36 and 37 | Life's Tidbits

Third Trimester: Weeks 36 & 37 in Review

Craving …

sharp cheddar cheese with an apple makes for the perfect afternoon snack.  I’m also still craving ice cream after dinner.  Who invented ice cream?  That person(s) was a freaking g.e.n.i.u.s!!!!

Feeling …

tired and ready to meet baby boy!  Pregnancy insomnia has reared its ugly head {my body’s way of preparing me for the newborn stage I suppose}.  Not sleeping well coupled with my substantial increased girth, swollen feet/hands and a couple days of seriously intense round ligament pain I must admit I’ve entered the uncomfortable stage of pregnancy.  Sorry for whining!!

Missing …

sleeping through the night.  Between getting up to use the potty, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in and a 3 year old who’s decided co-sleeping is her jam good sleep is essentially nonexistent.

Wearing …

No real changes on this front though a few of my ‘starter bump’ tanks tops are a little bit too small for the bump now.  They are my favorite tanks to sleep in so I’m totally pushing through with them, but they do slightly look like mid-drifts *blushing*.

Movement …

so many kicks, punches and whole body shifts.  Kiwi has a knack for punching me in my hip.  It’s one of the stranger fetal movements I have experienced.  He occasionally will kick me in the ribs, but it’s a rare occurrence.  Jellybean on the other hand was always kicking me in the ribs.

Excited About …

checking some big pre-baby stuff off the to do list.  I’ve booked a newborn photographer {check out these lessons learned from my 1st pregnancy}, mostly packed my hospital bag, met with my doula and made progress on organizing and decorating the nursery.

Highlight …

was having my little sister and brother-in-law in town.  My sister and I got some quality time in and I got to spend my birthday with her for the first time in I’m not even sure how many years!

Nervous About …

labor not starting on its own.  It seems lots of moms-to-be worry about the opposite – going into labor too early or having their labors go too quickly, especially when it’s the 2nd or 3rd baby.  My concerns are a bit different.  With my first I never went into labor, at least not naturally.  I was induced at 41 weeks and Jellybean was born at 41 week +1 via emergency c-section.  I am hoping/praying for a VBAC this time around and my doctor’s big requirement is I go into labor on my own … no inductions this time around.  So here is to hoping baby boy decides on his own birthday!!

First vs. Second Pregnancy …

The biggest difference at this point is my hands don’t have the numbness they did with my first pregnancy.  While my hands and feet are absolutely swollen I don’t get the numbness or tingling feelings in my hands like I did with Jellybean.  So thankful for that!  Checkout my recap of my 36 and 37 week with Jellybean.

Any pregnancy tidbits you care to share?  I would love to hear them!

signiture_nicole

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Pregnancy Update: 8 Months {Third Trimester}

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I cannot believe there is only one more month until we meet our little guy!  It’s clear the baby bump is growing and I am often asked by people I frequently don’t know when said baby will be arriving.  We have finally settled on a short list of names for Kiwi though I’m still open to adding additional name to the list.  Similar to when we had Jellybean we won’t make a final decision on his name until Kiwi is born.

Pregnancy Update: 8 months pregnant the 3rd trimester, pregnancy log | Life's Tidbits

Third Trimester: Month 8 in Review

Craving …

Ice cream.  Lots.

Feeling …

Tired and swollen.  I’ve started retaining water so my hands and feet/ankles are a bit more swollen now.  Sleeping is kind of a struggle given the pregnancy insomnia.  Thank goodness for napping or I would probably be a walking zombie at this point!

Missing …

My engagement and wedding rings.  I finally gave up wearing them.  My fingers are just a bit too swollen to wear them comfortably.

Wearing …

The same as last month.  All maternity clothes with the exception of a few pairs of sweatpants.  With the January weather in Bangkok being ever so slightly cooler than the normal I have started wearing my leggings more often than shorts.

Movement …

Baby boy is staying consistent with lots of movement!

Excited About …

Getting some organizing done.  We finally pulled out all the baby stuff we saved from Jellybean and sorted it.  Knowing what we have here in Bangkok already and what’s on it’s way via a shipment it was much easier to make a list of what we still need to buy.  The more we do in preparation for Kiwi’s arrival the more real and exciting it is!!

Monthly Highlight …

Spending some quality time with my parents.  Given we are literally half a world away from our families for this pregnancy it was nice to be with my parents while I’m pregnant.  My mom and dad got to feel Kiwi kick as well as see me pregnant in person.  FaceTime is a wonderful thing, but the truth is being in person is so much better!

Nervous About …

Never sleeping again.  Just kidding … kind of … well, not really … hahaha.  I remember thinking during Jellybean’s newborn stage “I now understand why sleep deprivation is a form of torture” and that thought/memory is somewhat seared into my brain.  My current inability to sleep makes me anxious about the sleep deprivation that is coming.

First vs. Second Pregnancy …

As of late the biggest difference between the two pregnancies is Kiwi gets the hiccups quite often and Jellybean didn’t.  In fact I’m not sure I ever felt Jellybean hiccup.  For me, feeling Kiwi hiccup is somewhat strange, I think because it’s a rhythmic versus being the inconsistent feeling of his punches and kicks.  Check out the recap of the 8th month from my first pregnancy!

Any pregnancy tidbits you care to share?  I would love to hear them!

signiture_nicole

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Pregnancy Must Haves

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The first and second trimester of my pregnancy completely flew by!  As I quickly trudge through the third trimester, I wanted to do a overview of some maternity must haves that are making for a more comfortable pregnancy.  Being pregnant is such an amazing experience and we should enjoy it.  Sometimes when nausea, hip pain or whatever-else-ails-you decides to rear it’s ugly head, it’s hard to fully enjoy some phases of pregnancy.  I’ve put together a few items that have helped me out while growing my little bundle of joy!

Pregnancy must-haves and essentials for all moms-to-be! | Life's Tidbits

Pregnancy Must Haves

Ovia Pregnancy App // Somehow I find it easy to forget exactly how far along I am.  Not sure if it’s just a case of the second pregnancy OR pregnancy brain.  Either way this app helps track pregnancy stats (gestation, weight, doctors appointments and more) as well as providing updates on baby’s weekly growth throughout the pregnancy.

Water bottle // It’s important to stay hydrated throughout pregnancy and I’ve always struggled with drinking enough water.  I find it easier to track how much water I need to drink when I can count how many times I’ve refilled the water bottle.  Silly as it may sound, I’m more likely to drink from a cute water bottle.

Oyster Crackers // Every morning of the first trimester and a few weeks into the second I woke up feeling nauseous and queasy.  Every.Single.Morning. And, unfortunately it stayed that way for most of the day.  The only thing that helped was to eat a small handful of crackers every once in a while.  I could barely stomach a full meal and the crackers helped keep me from hurling.  Gross, but true.

T-shirts // These t-shirts are flattering, comfy, hold up well after multiple washes and, the.best.part, they last the entire pregnancy.  I had a couple from my first pregnancy and bought a few more for this pregnancy.  My favorite part about these t-shirts is no matter how big my bump gets it’s always fully covered.  No mid-drifts for this pregnant Mama!

Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth // This book is divided into two parts.  The first part contains various birth stories.  The second part is very informative with information on pregnancy and birth, forms of interventions, mantras and mindsets.  I really wish I had read this book during my first pregnancy.  I found the positive birth stories coupled with substantive birthing information to be very helpful.

Raspberry Leaf Tea // Raspberry leaf tea is thought to tone the muscles of the uterus and help it to work better during labor.  Read more about it here.  I started drinking the tea around the 24 week mark.  What surprised me the most was it doesn’t taste like raspberry {mind blown!} instead it tastes more like a black tea, which is right up my alley so I enjoy my daily cup!  This should go without saying, but talk with your healthcare provider to decide what’s right for you before drinking the tea.

Snoogle & Boppy Wedge // Moving from the second trimester into the third I have found sleeping to be more of a struggle.  I prefer sleeping slightly on my stomach or on my back.  With a growing bump it is was basically impossible.  The snoogle body pillow is very comfortable, but sometimes I just not in the full body pillow mood.  The boppy wedge is the perfect solution.  Pop the wedge under the belly, throw a regular pillow under my head and between my knees and goodnight!  While I’m still feeling a bit like an insomniac I’m as comfortable as possible doing it.

Check out my pregnancy essentials list from my first pregnancy!  What are your pregnancy essentials?

signiture_nicole

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Eviction Notice

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My due date has come and gone.  Honestly, I am really ready not to be pregnant anymore.  We have been  eagerly awaiting Jellybean’s arrival since the 23rd.  Every time I wake up during the night I pause and think “am I in pain?” and/or “am I am labor?”.  The answer is always no.  As I’ve mentioned (probably too many times) I am having trouble sleeping.  This morning at 5am I made this little eviction notice. I got a good kick out of it and thought it was perfect for my 40 week recap post.

Baby Eviction Notice | Life's Tidbits

In early November both sides of the immediate family wrote down their predictions for Jellybean’s due date, time and weight.  The idea was the winner gets … bragging rights.  As of today only 3 of us are left in the running to possibly win the D-Day pool prediction.

Here is what everyone’s guesses were:

Nana – 12/13/2013 7:31 pm 7 lbs 11 oz
Papa – 12/24/2013 6:00 am 8 lbs
Auntie Amanda – 12/26/2013 3:27pm 7 lbs 2 oz
Mimi – 12/27/2013 6:20 pm 7 lbs 15 oz
Daddy – 12/27/2013 6:45pm 7 lbs 8 oz
Uncle Nate – 12/28/2013 4:45 am
Auntie Alison – 12/30/2013 12:30:13 am 6 lbs 6 oz
Mommy – 12/30/2013 8pm 7 lbs 9 oz
Grandpa – 1/2/2014 3:00 am 7 lbs 8 oz

Pregnancy Tidbits from Week 40

Cravings – No real cravings, however I am counting down to having a good ‘ole turkey breast sandwich sometime soon after Jelly’s delivery.

Maternity Clothes – Clearly this is still a yes.  I’ve abandoned my maternity jeans and have been wearing leggings or sweatpants exclusively this week.  Lucky for me this attire has been completely acceptable and I’ve only had to put jeans on once.

Symptoms – The carpel tunnel in my hands is pretty bad.  The doctor assures me it will be fine, however I am concerned it won’t go away after the baby comes.  Continued swelling in my hands/feet, congestion and trouble sleeping.

Movement – Lots of it!

Missing Anything? – Tying my own shoes.  Yup I just wrote that!  Though I technically can tie my own sneakers, bending over the belly is highly unconformable.  The pressure or whatever of doing so often makes Jellybean mad and she will move into weird positions after doing so.  I have therefore passed this oh so fabulous task off to my doting husband.  =)

Highlights – Spending some quality time with the hubby.  Though we haven’t done anything productive or “fun” it has been really nice to just hang out and get excited for JB to come.

Looking Forward To…  seeing what Jellybean looks like and {finally} naming her.

Fears/Concerns…  that whole giving birth thing seems a bit scary at the moment.  :)

Labor Signs – Still a big ‘no’ on this.  Every time I feel even a little pain or cramp I am ever so hopeful I’m in labor … unfortunately no such luck.

Any pregnancy tidbits you care to share?  I would love to hear them!

signiture_nicole

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