#babybutlernumerodos at 31 & 32 Weeks!!

Growth: According to babycenter.com, “By now, your baby weighs 3 3/4 pounds  and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.” 

 

My Symptoms: I feel GREAT! Seriously, I can’t believe I’m 8 months pregnant and feel this good. I am definitely having a lot more Braxton-Hicks this time! LOTS of tightening around my belly,but it goes away if I change positions. So cool to think my body is practicing for the real thing! I have also been a little tired this week because Jon works in the basement late at night and it’s pretty loud. I also couldn’t take a nap a few days this week because we had too much going on. But other than that and being a little emotional (oh, HEY hormones!), I feel good. I don’t really have any of the symptoms it talks about on my pregnancy apps- no heartburn, swelling, constipation, trouble sleeping, shortness of breath, or back pain. No stretch marks quite yet, but I know they’re coming because my skin is so thin and stretched so far already (especially around my belly button).

Weight/Baby Bump: I am up +20 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight as of 32 weeks. Gaining a pound a week like I’m supposed to from here on out will put me right at 28 lbs total, which is the same as in my first pregnancy. (I started losing a couple lbs towards the very end with Jase though, which is normal when you’re getting close.)  They are thinking Kade will be about the same size as his brother and he is measuring right on target. I am definitely carrying lower this time though and I feel like my belly looks right now at 32 weeks like I did at 40 weeks with Jase. I wanted to get some good belly shots, but these little mirror selfies don’t quite do it justice. Trust me, my belly looks WAY bigger in person!! And I’m starting to spread a little wider and gain other than just in my belly like I have been up to this point. I noticed it when I was trying on clothes the other day for our upcoming trip.

So crazy to think I’m 8 months and still have around 8 more weeks. I still remember the “aha” moment last pregnancy when I realized you are actually pregnant for 10 months and not 9!

(Please ignore my bed head and “I just woke up from a nap” face.)

Gender: Sweet little fella.

Maternity Clothes: You know it.

I really wanted some more workout pants because I only have 3 pairs that I can wear that don’t cut off circulation. I couldn’t find any at Kohl’s, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, or Wal-Mart. (I will not wear cotton workout pants.) I finally found a pair at Target & they.are.awesome! (Be Maternity by Ingrid & Isabel if you’re looking for some.) They were in the maternity section, NOT the workout clothes section….duh! I paid more for them than I would like, but they are worth it. These are actual maternity workout pants and not just regular workout pants that I’m making work as maternity (like my other few pairs). Glad to have another pair to throw in the rotation. Now I need to find some of Jonathan’s t-shirts so I don’t scar the instructors for life when we do overhead presses!  

Movement: I have a couple of videos, but they don’t do it justice. I have come to the conclusion that the way he is positioned plus think skin around my belly button means CRAZZZZZZY movement. I can see body parts sticking out and rolling all across my belly like waves. It is the craziest thing!! Sometimes there will be a major lump sticking out somewhere randomly. I always want Jonathan to come feel, but it weirds him out a little. He prefers them out of the womb. Ha! I also put Jase’s hand on my belly one day and Kade kicked/pushed really strong. Jase pulled his hand off and I could tell it freaked him out too. I told him his brother was giving him knuckles. I still don’t know that he “gets” it, but he always wants to pull my shirt up to look at my belly, and then wants to show us his and have daddy lift us his shirt to show us his belly too.

Sleep: Sleeping well. Stayed up too late a few nights, but went to bed earlier than normal a few nights too. (As early as possible with the late night construction going on in the basement.) The nights I didn’t get enough sleep and didn’t get a nap, I was so easily irritated. Whew!

Cravings/Aversions: Craving sweets, unfortunately. Doing my best to avoid them.

Appointment: Got my teeth cleaned Monday. Mamas-to-be, make sure you get your cleanings and take great care of your teeth and gums. I have read that gum issues can lead to premature labor. I am a pretty big advocate of the full 40 (Lord willing) after studying the many benefits for the baby. (I know when you get close to the end you’re just ready to meet them, but thinking about all of those benefits makes it much easier to be positive up to that due date.) I looked back with Jase and it looks like I had him at 40 weeks and 1 day. I have read that most first time moms have an average gestation period of 41 and 1 day, and statistics show that subsequent pregnancies typically come a little sooner and quicker, though not always. Can’t wait to find out Kade’s BIRTHDAY!! I’m anxious to see when he comes!

My checkup on Tuesday went fantastic. (Jon came with me, but we didn’t have anyone to watch Jase so they hung out in the car and parking lot and played in water puddles.) My blood pressure looks good at 103/67, my weight was at +20 lbs, I’m measuring right on target, and Kade had a strong heartbeat in the low 140s. I really like all of the doctors and midwives in our practice, but I am specifically praying for one of two doctors to be on call, and I would be really happy with the one I saw today. I actually taught his three sons in middle school- great kids. He is super nice, very laid back & encouraging, and was really optimistic about VBAC. I left feeling very positive about everything. (I haven’t seen three of the other doctors yet this pregnancy- hopefully in the upcoming visits.)

I head back in another week because we are flying/traveling, so they want to make sure everything is good before we go and give me a copy of my file since I’ll be so far along. The doctor asked if it was for fun or work, and without hesitation I said “fun.” It’s actually more for work, but that was such a neat reminder at how thankful we should be for what we do with AdvoCare. It truly does NOT feel like “work” at all. Can’t WAIT to see everyone!!

Accomplishments: I ordered and read Natural Childbirth After Cesarean and Supernatural Childbirth. THANK YOU to everyone who recommended Supernatural Childbirth!! I think about 10 people recommended it to me before I finally ordered it, and I SO wish I had read it sooner. I definitely feel so encouraged after reading it and way less fearful. The Scriptures were especially encouraging. I had Jon read a few chapters too and he said it’s helped him pray more specifically for the labor, delivery, and the baby. If you know any mamas to be, anyone who is struggling with infertility, miscarriages, or fear of any kind (morning sickness, labor, etc.), this is a must-read. I wish I had read it before we ever started trying to conceive. The general theme of the book is FAITH over fear, and that has been a recurring theme the Lord has been teaching me anyway.

 

Best Pregnancy Moment of the Week: One day while Jase was napping, I decided to get a manicure and pedicure (for the first time since last summer), and it was AWESOME!!

Work Outs: I stretch when I can, try to walk at least twice a week, and try to make it to pump 2x/week. I really listen to my body though, and I don’t even think I’ve broken a sweat! Ha! To me, it’s just about moving, staying strong/mobile, and keeping my endurance. Plus, I sleep WAY better on days I work out. I do wish there was a prenatal yoga class closer to me. I have DVDs, but for some reason can’t seem to make myself do them.

Thoughts: I am praying that the Lord will let me know EXACTLY when to go to the hospital. I am concerned I won’t know when to go in and I don’t want to be too far along into labor. My gut tells me this one is going to go faster, and because I’m VBAC I don’t want to labor at home as long as I did last time. I am also praying specifically to be GBS negative this time so I can avoid antibiotics and an IV. I am also praying for our doctors/midwives/nursing staff. We feel most comfortable with 2 doctors specifically and really want Erin (my BFF Dana’s sister) to be working.

I think sharing WHY I am so motivated to VBAC helps them be more supportive.  Jonathan and I really want a large family. I don’t know what that looks like or how many, but I would prefer to be able to deliver them vaginally. Surgery always comes with a risk, especially when you start getting into higher numbers. And, although recovery from a  c-section wasn’t too terrible, the thought of not being able to pick up my sweet baby Jase for a few weeks (he weighs 31 lbs now & is 37”!) makes me want to lay on the floor and cry.

And although I’ve definitely been more focused on labor & delivery, I have started thinking more about life with two! Nursing (goodness gracious I’m not excited about bloody/cracked nipples and toe curling pain again), the lack of sleep in the early days, and of course that sweeeeeeeet newborn smell. Oh my WORD, we are so excited!!  I do need to do some reading because I feel like I’ve forgotten everything and need a refresher course, but I have time because I’ll be pretty much solely focused on nursing and snuggling that sweet little one for the first few weeks anyway. I really like Baby Whisperer, BabyWise, and Moms on Call and have found what works for us out of those and meshed them together. I think I am more of an attachment parent (with baby wearing, nursing, LOTS of skin to skin, naps on chest, etc.), but am also pretty hard core about a schedule. I like a lot of the BabyWise principles…eat-wake-sleep cycle & the schedule specifically. But I am definitely not a CIO person and thankfully we didn’t have to do that much with Jase. When I was able to get really consistent with our start time, wake times, schedule, nap with dark room, and focusing on full feedings, he started sleeping through the night when he was ready. He has been a GREAT sleeper ever since! And sleep is so, so important (for them and me!) so I am really thankful for what it has taught me about sleeping. I know some people thought we were crazy in the early days for being so rigid about the schedule, but I feel 100% confident in it and I feel like it paid off with Jase. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of sleeper this baby is and also to see how it works meshing two babies with different schedules together. I’m also going to have to probably loosen up some with the schedule so we can function, so I know that will be a major learning curve. We pretty much stayed home with Jase ALL THE TIME until he dropped to one nap a day. We’ll have to figure out a way to make it work this time because the baby’s sleep is SO important, but I also don’t feel like staying home all the time is doable (or fair to older children/spouse) as you keep adding to the family.

Basically my head has been swimming with thoughts and I have had BABY on the BRAIN 24/7. It has been consuming, but oh so fun! So thankful for this sweet little one and cannot WAIT to meet him. To see what he looks like. His size. When he is born. How he feels & smells. If he looks like his brother. So much excitement!!

Goals for next week: Finish planning for bedding. Start working on nursery when Jon finishes basement rooms. (No rush, baby will be in our room for a while anyways.) Register.

Comparison:

31 Weeks with Jase

32 Weeks with Jase