I am getting closer & closer to being ready. The crib is together. The changing table has been weight-tested by the cats. Lots of baby clothes have been washed. The carseat will be installed this weekend. I have diapers. 5 weeks from tomorrow is my absolute last day of work, even if no babies have made an appearance.
I still have a few things on my to-do list (finish packing hospital bags, get a crib mattress [no worries! Alvie will be in the pack 'n' play for the first few weeks, and that has a mattress AND a sheet], get a rocker/glider, move book shelf from my room to the guest room to make room for said pack ‘n’ play, finalize daycare decision), but overall, we’re in pretty good shape, I think.
So – what’s going on in my womb this week?
Baby size: Alvie is the size of a butternut squash! He’s between 17.2 to 18.7 inches long. From here on out, he won’t get much longer, but he’s plumping up. He’s now between 4.2 to 5.8 pounds, and he’ll put on a pound or more of baby fat before birth.
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I’m feeling: Still tired, but I think that I’m getting used to it. Other than that, not too bad.
Physical changes: Alvie hasn’t dropped much more, but I’m definitely breathing easier & peeing all the time. It doesn’t help that I’m constantly thirsty. The heartburn I bitched about last week is no longer an issue, either. My hips are killing me, though, and sleeping is getting harder and harder.
Baby stuff: He is finishing his lung development, but really all his major organs are fully developed now. His hearing is improving, and he gets really excited when I play music. His favorite music (or least favorite – I’ve no idea, really, if he’s dancing or punching in anger) is Irish drinking songs. (Love that pandora station!)
Body Image: A-OK – although I am ready to not be pregnant anymore, but I think that’s more of a comfort issue at this point. It’s weird, though, that I finally found something that makes my boobs look small. A giant pregnant belly. If you didn’t know better, you’d think my knockers were of normal size, instead of about to take over the world. I am really afraid for what post-partum will bring. Anyone have nursing sports bras recommendations in sizes that go up to G/H? (or bigger? Please, not bigger….) Also, I hate having things touch my belly. The minute I get home, I pull up my shirt & just walk around with that giant torso all naked (just the belly parts, though; I’d have to buy more curtains in my house if I was going to walk around nude all the time).
Food stuff: Last week, everything made me nauseated – until Thursday night when I was suddenly starving. I think I had a little stomach bug, and it wasn’t actually pregnancy related. I have no real cravings (LIES! I just want fruit! Juices, dried fruit, raw fruit, whatever…FRUIT!), and am continuing my raw veggie aversions. Cucumbers smell so bad! And a tomato the architect put in my sandwich Monday night almost made me gag.
Things I miss: Shirts that fit comfortably.
Labor Signs: The braxton hicks contractions are ramping up a bit. I feel so fortunate that mine are painful</sarcasm>, which is not typically the case. However, I know it’s just my body practicing for labor!
My doula was over last night & we practiced labor positions & talked about the whole process, which was good. I’m nervous, but confident, if that makes sense. The doula is definitely worth the money, in my opinion. If anyone cares why I think so, let me know in the comments, and I’ll talk about it more next week.
Prep Work (Things to do between now & Alvie Bean Day)
January: Find a pediatrician, lock down a daycare (one last tour scheduled!), recycle all the old electronics in the office, get the carpet cleaning appointment made, find a maid service for quarterly deep cleans, finalize shower list for shower giver! Find a new doula!
February: Attend childbirth class, take babymoon (canceled SAD), make sure all essentials are purchased (diapers and carseat at this point!), pack hospital bag
March: Attend breastfeeding & newborn care class; install carseat, finish getting less essential essentials (rocking chair, crib, changing table, other random stuff), make a plan for freezer meals, finish getting nursery ready, sign up for FMLA
In conclusion: It freaks me out a bit that in 2 weeks, I’ll be full-term, and that in no more than 48 days (if I go all the way to 42 weeks), I’ll have a baby. I am currently only 33 days away from my due date, and that’s so weird! It seems like just yesterday that I was staring at that positive test thinking, “seriously?” and now, the end is in sight!
PS – Don’t forget to enter the due date contest! There are a few March dates left, and even if you guess a date that’s already been guessed, 2nd place gets a small prize, too!
