Well, here we are at 38 weeks. Baby is all ready to go, and I’m sitting here waiting around.
I can’t tell if he’s “dropped” or not. I think that means he hasn’t. What do you think? Any different from 36 weeks?
For a while I was sort of embarrassed about being so obsessed with this pregnancy and baby, and then I realized that I’ve been pregnant for well over 250 days, which is a long time. No wonder it’s been on my mind a lot! And so as the day of delivery approaches, I thought I’d try to sum up the last 266 days…
First Trimester: (December 4 2010 – February 25 2011)
Symptoms: I was blessed with only mild nausea in those first few months and always in the evening (so it didn’t really effect my work). However, I was tired (EXHAUSTED) like I have never been in my entire life. It was difficult for me to accept that I couldn’t do anything in the evenings because I needed sleep, but I got over it quickly enough. The only other symptom I had was that my nose became congested and leaky pretty much since the day we conceived. I never knew this was a pregnancy symptom, but apparently the same hormones that make your uterus swell in preparation for baby can also make your sinuses swell, too. So there you go. (by the way, this is the only symptom that has been with me throughout the entire pregnancy. I hear it’s only going to go away a few days after I give birth).
Tests: So, of course after the whole ectopic pregnancy, I was pretty paranoid about my positive pregnancy test, but I cried with joy and relief when we saw little Meatball in my uterus at my 7 week ultrasound. He didn’t look like much (more like a fried egg) but we saw the heartbeat, and things were really good!
Emotions: Angelo and I were so ecstatic to be future parents and that we didn’t have to follow through with IVF to get there. During the first trimester we kept things hush-hush, so we were also basking in this little secret we shared together.
Second Trimester: (February 25 2011 – June 10 2011)
Symptoms: Not much to report here. The nausea went away and I regained a bit of energy as I left the first trimester. I thought I’d be able to start running again in the second trimester, but it was not to be. I started feeling some pelvic pressure that turned to pain whenever I tried to run or even lift one leg at a time (like when I had to put on pants, for example). This symptom showed up in May and never really left.
Tests: Oh, the tests of the second trimester, and the stress that they caused. I decided to have the IPS (integrated prenatal screening) which consists of an ultrasound and two blood tests. The results of the test give a risk ratio for genetic disorders (such as Down’s Syndrome). My risk ratio came in at 1:85 for Down’s. This is slightly/somewhat high. But it is only a ratio, not an indication of my particular child’s genes, so we decided to have an amniocentesis to get an accurate picture of the kid’s genetic makeup. Even though the hospital was quick to book me for the procedure and I got the results a mere four days later, it was the longest most difficult period of my pregnancy. Luckily the amnio showed that our baby has nice normal chromosomes, and we also found out then that he is a he – XY chromosomes for the win!
Shortly after all of that I had my 20 week ultrasound and it was AMAZING! The baby looked like a real baby, and we simply enjoyed watching him move and wriggle while the technician took measurements.
Emotions: The whole risk ratio episode was extremely difficult on me. I was terrified about the results, about the decision I would have to make as a result of the results. During this time I cried a lot, I laid awake at night a lot, and even though I thought about my baby constantly, I stopped talking about my pregnancy and even refused baby gifts from our parents (who were all beyond thrilled and had no idea of our concerns). But let me tell you, the day the geneticist called me with the results from the amnio, I felt my heart leap and a swelling of relief that was very hard to hide. At that moment Angelo and I decided to embrace the positive and we allowed ourselves to become more excited about the new addition to the family.
Third Trimester: (June 10 2011 – September ?? 2011)
Symptoms: Well, my entire third trimester has been in the summer. That means EXCESSIVE sweating and crazy hot flashes. Honestly, I would be at work, in a meeting, and all of a sudden someone would ask me if I was alright. I’d look down and notice the huge pools of sweat under my arms, between my boobs, and at the top of my belly. I would also sweat from my face, hands and feet. It’s no surprise that I haven’t had any bloating this pregnancy, because all water that enters my body leaves just as quickly through my pores. Not surprisingly either, another symptom is a never-satiated ever-present thirst. I am thirsty ALL THE TIME. I fill my glass and tell myself not to drain it in one gulp, and yet as I start to drink I can’t help myself and slam it down. I can’t stop drinking water! There’s also the insomnia and the fact that I CANNOT sleep on my side comfortably. I’ve actually been daydreaming about sleeping on back right after giving birth (oh, it will be glorious!!!)
Tests: The tests of the third trimester have been a breeze for me. The glucose test went very well, and the Group B Strep Test came back negative. We also had an extra ultrasound at 32 weeks to check on Meatball’s kidneys, and they looked great. He even peed during that ultrasound, so we know that the plumbing works. The baby also looked so well-developed and it’s like we could almost tell what he’s going to look like… (Can’t WAIT to meet him!!)
We also took some prenatal classes that described what labour and delivery will be like at our hospital. The class was centered around “informed decision-making”. So basically they provided info on ALL options available, and it’s up to the parents to decide the best way to proceed. It covered medical vs. non-medical pain management, the stages of labour, and the tests and procedures (such as circumcision) that are available post-delivery. The class also covered post-partum issues. All in all, very informative and helpful. Angelo and I feel like we’re ready for labour now.
Emotions: Definitely ready for this little guy to get here!! I’m so excited to meet him. I think it’s because he’s been so active and moves around so much, I feel his feet up against my ribs (yay, he turned and isn’t Breech anymore!!!) and I just want to see those little feet (and possibly put them in my mouth!!). Now that he’s “fully cooked”, I just want to get this party started!
Of course I also have moments of dread and worry that something may go wrong during labour and/or delivery but I know that fear only aggravates pain, and so I’m trying to visualize a positive birth experience now, so that I’ll have those thoughts in my head when the time comes.
…which hopefully will be soooooon!
