Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 34 weeks
Size of Baby: Almost 5 lbs
Total Weight Gain/Loss: +23 lbs
How Far Along: 34 weeks
Size of Baby: Almost 5 lbs
Total Weight Gain/Loss: +23 lbs
Doctor’s visits: We had an appointment yesterday and everything is “picture perfect.” Her weight, measurements and position are all exactly as they should be. Our next appointment is in 2 weeks, at which point internal exams start to check for dilation and effacement on a weekly basis.
Maternity Clothes: Oh yes, and even started wearing maternity panties, which were given to me as a joke, and fortunately I’m still able to find the humor in them. I decided awhile ago that if I can’t laugh at some of the strange and/or unpleasant things, it was going to be a very long road.
Movement: She’s going to be a boxer or yogi. At first, movements felt like small pops. Now, we can really feel and see her whole body moving around and stretching.
Symptoms:
Maternity Clothes: Oh yes, and even started wearing maternity panties, which were given to me as a joke, and fortunately I’m still able to find the humor in them. I decided awhile ago that if I can’t laugh at some of the strange and/or unpleasant things, it was going to be a very long road.
Movement: She’s going to be a boxer or yogi. At first, movements felt like small pops. Now, we can really feel and see her whole body moving around and stretching.
Symptoms:
The Good: I internally feel the pregnancy “glow” that everyone talks about—I’ve never felt more happy or excited in my life. I’m afraid to say this as it will probably come back to bite me, but SO FAR, I’ve not had swelling, heartburn or stretch marks. I’ve definitely had some bad days and meltdowns, but for the most part I’m feeling great!
The Bad: Varicose veins, Round Ligament Pain, breathlessness, increased heart rate after eating, trouble sleeping even with sleeping pills, frequent trips to the bathroom, and just an overall lack of being able to get very comfortable.
The Ugly: Too ugly to post on a blog.
What I Miss: I miss people looking at my face when I talk to them or walk by. However, I am grateful to be getting special treatment from strangers who open doors for me, let me cut the line, return my grocery cart for me, etc.
Health/Exercise: I’ve decided to hang up my running shoes. I so enjoy starting the day out with a jog with Brice and Dakota through the neighborhood, but my round ligament pain is noticeably worse on those days. For someone who has been running on a regular basis since high school, it is hard to imagine giving it up, but I also realize the importance of listening to my body. I honestly never thought I could still be running this far into the 3rd trimester, so I do feel good about what I have been able to do. I probably will not run again for 3 months, since typically doctors don’t sign off on rigorous exercise until 6 weeks post-partum. Fortunately, yoga and spinning are still on the table, and although challenging, are not adding to my discomfort. And of course, I will still go on walks with Dakota.
Belly button In or Out: Almost out
Cravings/Aversions: Girl Scout Cookies! We ordered from a neighborhood girl several weeks ago, and they have not arrived yet. I hope this 5 year old didn’t scam us! As for aversions, I’ve developed an extremely strong aversion to BBQ sauce. The smell made me gag when we made BBQ chicken the other night.
Preparations/accomplishments:
What I Miss: I miss people looking at my face when I talk to them or walk by. However, I am grateful to be getting special treatment from strangers who open doors for me, let me cut the line, return my grocery cart for me, etc.
Health/Exercise: I’ve decided to hang up my running shoes. I so enjoy starting the day out with a jog with Brice and Dakota through the neighborhood, but my round ligament pain is noticeably worse on those days. For someone who has been running on a regular basis since high school, it is hard to imagine giving it up, but I also realize the importance of listening to my body. I honestly never thought I could still be running this far into the 3rd trimester, so I do feel good about what I have been able to do. I probably will not run again for 3 months, since typically doctors don’t sign off on rigorous exercise until 6 weeks post-partum. Fortunately, yoga and spinning are still on the table, and although challenging, are not adding to my discomfort. And of course, I will still go on walks with Dakota.
Belly button In or Out: Almost out
Cravings/Aversions: Girl Scout Cookies! We ordered from a neighborhood girl several weeks ago, and they have not arrived yet. I hope this 5 year old didn’t scam us! As for aversions, I’ve developed an extremely strong aversion to BBQ sauce. The smell made me gag when we made BBQ chicken the other night.
Preparations/accomplishments:
- We attended our Infant CPR class. It was very interesting and informative, although scary at the same time to imagine so many emergency situations. We hope to never use the skills that we learned.
- We’ve made major progress on the nursery and bathroom and hope to get delivery of our couch this week. I’m hoping to have everything set up and ready to go by mid-March and I’ll post pictures when it’s all done.
- We’ve started the process of looking for another car. The lease on my car is up in May, which is perfect timing since my convertible sports car days are over, at least for the next 15 years or so. We’d really like to get a hybrid or fuel efficient car and test drove the Prius last weekend. We are going to look at the Honda Insight this weekend.
- We spoke to a dog trainer about what we can do to start acclimating Dakota to life with a baby. She was very helpful and gave us lots of great trips such as:
1. Starting to play sounds of a baby crying so that Dakota is used to the sound. I actually thing this should apply to all of us.
2. When we come home from the hospital, give Dakota a chance to greet us (she will be excited to see us after not having seen us for a few days), then have Dakota and the baby meet each other outside and then all walk in together.
3. Keep a toy box for Dakota’s toys and a toy box for the baby’s toys and train both of them to only take from their respective box. I understand this in theory, but am skeptical about how this will work in practice.
4. Start setting up the crib, Pack n Play, other moving/noise-making equipment now so that Dakota gets used to their existence and noises.
5. Establish boundaries with Dakota so that she doesn’t crowd me while I’m trying to move around or jump on me while I’m holding the baby. I’m really not concerned about this—Dakota is very respectful and rarely jumps.
6. Maintain a calm and peaceful environment around the baby. Dakota is very sensitive and will immediately sense our stress and be on edge herself.
7. Dakota is as much part of our family as the baby will be, so it goes without saying that we should not neglect Dakota, but try to maintain her walking and eating schedules so that her normal life isn’t disrupted.
We are really excited about seeing how Dakota reacts to her little sister and imagine them becoming the best of friends!
