Shorts and Snippets

36 Week Bumpdate

🎉We’re officially in month 9!🎉

Baby is the size of a papaya! Her circulation and immune systems are ready to go and while her digestive system is fully developed, it won’t be used till birth since she’s getting her nutrients from the umbilical cord. The waxy protective coating on her skin has nearly faded. And she’s growing still! She’s putting on as much fat as she can between now and d-day (which means I’m hungry all the time, of course)!

Symptoms
– Penguin waddle, y’all. It’s real. 🐧
– Low blood pressure/dizziness
– Back pain and random Braxton Hicks contractions
– Pelvic pressure and soreness – the bump is so heavy now!
– Dry, itchy skin/PUPPP

Things to remember
– At our appointment last Thursday my doctor gave us his personal number that we’re to call when I go into labor. He talked us through when it’s time to go to the hospital and we briefly discussed my preferences for birth: one more conversation that made us realize further that this is really happening!
– I also went through my b-strep test, which is routine now but wasn’t done back when I was born. Beta strep was the infection from which I nearly died as an infant and the reason I spent 11 days in the NICU. So while I didn’t like the test, I am very grateful for it!
– Last week we toured her pediatrician’s office! I chose Phoenix Pediatrics based on their policy of not letting unvaccinated children in their office—my nightmare is our baby catching a preventable disease that could kill her due to her vulnerable immune system. The doctor who spoke to us also gave us advice on how to be gatekeepers during her first few months of life to guard her from sickness, which made me feel a little better.
– Speaking of putting fears to rest, we did our infant CPR class at the hospital yesterday which was SO informative and helpful. We also sent our preregistration forms in so we’re all set for the next time we pull up to the hospital!

We’re starting to really check boxes off our list. Things are coming together bit by bit and it’s sinking in, finally, that our wait for our little girl is almost over. 💓

Week 35 Bumpdate

Baby is the size of a pineapple! 🍍 Her liver and kidneys are fully functioning as is her hearing. In fact, my app suggests reading and singing to her so she’ll recognize certain sounds when she’s born! As of our last appointment, she is 4 pounds, 12 ounces and she’ll be packing on fat from now until birth, though she won’t get much longer than she already is. And today the daily fact is that her index finger is as long as a gummy bear. 😍

Symptoms
– PUPPP. From now until delivery I’ll be dealing with this. Thankfully it’s not as severe as it was last week!
– Back pain.
– Trouble sleeping, due to PUPPP but also baby girl is so active and does headstands on my bladder all night. 🤣
– Braxton Hicks contractions, which will increase in frequency from now until the actual contractions!

Things to remember
– At our appointment last week my doctor was pretty horrified to see how my rash had progressed since he saw it at its beginning – and this was days after it had begun to heal! He offered the possibility of inducing me at 37 or 38 weeks in the hopes of ending it sooner. We’ll talk about it then, but as of now I have no intention of being induced. Baby girl needs her final touches! Because I’ll be dealing with PUPPP until birth and because my rash was pretty severe he did order some bloodwork to make sure everything checked out.
– We had our joint family and friends shower on Sunday and I’m still not over how amazing it was! The excitement for this little girl is incredible!
– My big projects for this week are continuing to work on the nursery, addressing baby announcement envelopes and thank yous, and filling out our hospital preregistration forms. Next week we’ll be starting to pack the diaper bag and getting the car cleaned so we can install the car seat.
– Speaking of her nursery, there is so much inside of it now and one of my favorite things to do is to just sit in the rocking chair and look at her clothes and books. I try to imagine holding her and reading to her, dressing her… it’s all very surreal.

Five more weeks, two until I’m full term. Time is flying. We’re all ready. We’re so, so ready to meet her. 💓

Week 34 Bumpdate

Baby is the size of a butternut squash! I’ve felt her drop this week, meaning her head is slowly descending into my pelvis in preparation for birth in just six weeks (though we think she’s going to be early!). She’s gaining more fat, listening to us talk more intently, and her bones are hardening besides the ones in her skull, which won’t solidify until after birth.

Symptoms and things to remember:
I’m combining both categories for this one. Sometimes I sugarcoat things in my bumpdates but this is something I can’t: this past week has been the hardest week of my pregnancy since the first trimester.

On Monday, I noticed that the inflammation on the front of my stomach was spreading a bit. Weirdly, on Tuesday night, I was finding little bumps all over my arms and legs. By Wednesday morning, I had full fledged hives – that were rapidly turning into massive, red welts – running down my legs, thighs, feet, toes, arms, hands, fingers, lower back, sides, and baby bump. The itching was more intense than anything I’d ever felt before in my life and the welts were literally everywhere besides my face, neck, chest, and upper back.

I went to my doctor and was immediately diagnosed with PUPPP, which stands for pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. About 1 in 200 women get this horrific rash in their third trimester of pregnancy, and what’s fun about it is that 1) no one knows what causes it; and 2) there is only one cure: giving birth. My doctor took one look at my welts and told me if I were closer to my due date he’d induce me. But with my due date being six weeks away, he sent me to a dermatologist instead.

I’ll spare details of my battle with PUPPP this past week but suffice to say all the prescribed medicines have done nothing while the all-natural ones my mom and I found online have been life saving. One week later, I am starting to get the hives under control, am mostly off my antihistamines, down to 3 showers a day, and am almost sleeping through the night again. It’s even hard to tell in the picture I have a rash on my arms. Things are only looking better, and for that I’m extremely grateful. But man. I wouldn’t wish this hell on anyone.

Some other things to remember from this week:
– On Sunday, my ranch family threw me and baby girl a shower! It took my mind off of PUPPP for several hours and I had an amazing time being with people I love.
– Baby girl is pushing like crazy! I think she pushes rather than kicks because she’s running out of room. 🤣
– It’s getting harder to walk as she gets even bigger. We go to the doctor again Thursday, and our guess is that she’s over five pounds now.
– I ordered some necessities for our hospital bag yesterday. In a few weeks we need to have that thing ready to go!

Have I mentioned that we are just so ready to meet our little girl?? 🥰

Week 33 Bumpdate

Baby is the size of celery – although after our doctor appointment last week I’m inclined to think she’s even bigger! Last Thursday she was weighing in at 4 pounds, 7 ounces. She is head down already and is moving around like crazy! Her immune system is fully developed and she’s swallowing up to a pint of amniotic fluid a day, keeping her eyes open while awake, and going through even more brain development this week. I just know by her kicks and pushes that she wants out! 🤣

Symptoms
– This is a new one: inflamed stretch marks! I have the equivalent of hives on the front of my bump and they are driving me insane! My doctor isn’t worried though which is good.
– Heart palpitations and dizziness sometimes.
– BIG legs and ankles due to swelling from extra fluids.
– Believe it or not, I’m not as ungodly hungry as I was all the time a month or so ago. This is because my stomach is getting smaller as she pushes everything around!
– Anticipation! This is also a new one. It’s like someone flipped a switch and suddenly there seems like there’s no time left. I’m anxious to get everything we need and her nursery done ASAP.

Things to remember
– Based on her current development, my doctor pushed my estimated due date up three days! I’m now officially due on Sept 21, putting me at 33 weeks and 3 days today. Some people are starting to make guesses of when she’s going to arrive. Alex thinks the 13th, my mom the 22nd.
– What’s funny is that her legs are measuring a week and half ahead than the rest of her since they are so long! We definitely have a tall baby!
– I got my Tdap vaccine at my doctor’s appointment which will help strengthen her immune system further, and Alex will be getting a tetanus booster in the next few weeks since obviously we want to surround her with vaccinated people when she’s born. I’m going to be so paranoid about protecting her immune system since newborns are so vulnerable.
– We’re going to a new parents’ meet-and-greet and the end of the month to meet her pediatrician!

Things are becoming much more real as we get closer and closer. Someday SO soon she’s going to finally be in my arms and I don’t think I’ll ever let her go! 💓

Week 32 Bumpdate

Baby is the size of a squash! If she isn’t already, soon she’ll be getting into head-down position in preparation for birth. Her digestive system is fully developed and her bones are hardening by the day. And she is packing on fat! She weighs close to four pounds now.

Symptoms
– Heart palpitations. Pretty normal since my heart is working overtime these days!
– With that, dizziness. Sometimes I can’t stand for too long at a time without feeling like I’m going to pass out. It’s getting harder to breathe as she gets bigger!
– My skin is stretching and it itches. Speaking of skin – the stretch marks, you guys. All the stretch marks. 😬
– I’m hot all the time, even with fans on and our AC at 77. Sometimes I literally stand in the freezer during hot flashes.

Things to remember
– We took our maternity pictures yesterday! We had so much fun and I can’t wait to see the pictures. We took them where Alex proposed to me: at Sedona’s airport vortex!
– She’s big enough now that she’ll push on me and if I put my hand against the movement I can feel little body parts. Sometimes I picture her pressing her little hand against my skin and I put mine on top of wherever she is. I want to cry when this happens. I just want her to be here so badly so I can put my hand against hers for real!
– We finished our childbirth classes last week. We have one more class we’re doing at the hospital (infant CPR) and then the next time we pull up to the hospital will be delivery day.
– I’ve known all along that Lucy knows I’m pregnant (the cats I’m not 100% sure) but this past week she’s been acting way more protective of me than usual and I know it’s because she senses baby is coming. If she hears something outside that she doesn’t like she literally runs to me, puts herself between me and whatever she finds scary, turns so I’m at her back and barks and growls at whatever she thinks is coming. We do not deserve dogs. 😭

Only eight more weeks! 4/5 of the way there!

Week 31 Bumpdate

Baby is the size of asparagus! She’s close to four pounds and around 16 inches long. All five senses are fully functioning and this week she’s going through further brain and nerve development. Her irises react to light, and she’s strong enough to both grasp a finger and move her head from side to side. Best update of all? The number of weeks remaining before she gets here is in the single digits!

Symptoms
– I thought I had swollen ankles before this week. Oh no. If I’m on my feet too long with this heat I get serious kankles, y’all. I have to put them up ASAP and chug water when that happens.
– Always. Hungry.
– I’m dizzy and winded all the time. She’s crowding my lungs now which makes it hard to breathe and a little frustrating when I’m trying to get things done and can’t stand for more than a few minutes at a time.
– Back aches!

Things to remember:
– She is moving around like crazy! She does this thing now where in addition to kicking, she’ll just push things around in there, hard.
– Next Monday we’re taking our maternity pictures! I’m excited, although I may or may not have had to go buy a new dress since the one I got last month doesn’t fit anymore. 😬
– I have another doctor’s appointment next week, after which my doctor wants to see me every two weeks until I hit 37 weeks. Then he wants to see me every single week until he gets the phone call that I’m in labor. 37 weeks is full term, which means while ideally I go to 40 weeks, baby could come any time after 37.
– I am slowly wrapping up my volunteer work so I can focus on growing my business before she gets here and, you know, getting the nursery and the rest of the house ready for her. I didn’t realize how much there was to do and how long it was going to take me to do everything since I’m exhausted what feels like all the time.

Nine more weeks. I just want her here already! 💗

Week 30 Bumpdate

Baby is the size of a zucchini! 🥒 (By the way, y’all, the fruit/veggies are a reference to how *long* she is, approximately.) Both her brain and body fat are beginning to regulate her body temperature and her immune system is getting stronger. She’s packing on the fat – she has at least three or four pounds to go before she’s born! And she’s a pro at opening and closing her eyes now.

Symptoms
– It’s definitely getting harder to move. My balance is way off, I’ve perfected the preggo waddle, and it’s a struggle to get off the floor if I’ve been sitting on the ground. I can juuust bend over still but that’s about to be a thing of the past.
– I’ve outgrown a lot of my maternity clothes and have upgraded to the next size up. 😞 Trying not to be upset about it.
– I’m winded walking anywhere, especially outside in the heat – baby is starting to push on my lungs.

Things to remember
– Our first childbirth class was last week and I sat riveted the entire time. Our instructor is a hilarious, older labor and delivery nurse it was really nice to get a perspective from someone who has been delivering babies for 40 years. I’ve read everything I can get my hands on about childbirth yet I learned a ton like apparently, dehydration is the number one cause of preterm labor. And baby’s brain is still only two thirds of the way developed by week 35 (or 37, can’t remember) so those final weeks are so important if it’s possible for baby to stay in there! Not that you want to go too long over 40 weeks. Our instructor told us in the 70s, she gave birth at 46 weeks (!!!) and she nearly lost her baby since the placenta was just about dead at that point!
– I’ve meant to mention this in other bumpdates – baby girl LOVES salt! If I have salty foods she does a little happy wiggle which is so different from her other movements. Her absolute favorite thing is soft pretzels. 🥨
– After lots of research I chose baby’s pediatrician and will be making an intro appointment soon. Apparently the doctor comes to the hospital within 24 hours of birth for the first check up.

I can’t believe we hit 30 weeks. 3/4 of the way there. I hope these next ten weeks fly by!

Week 29 Bumpdate

Baby is the size of an acorn squash! She’s around three pounds at this point, and she’s only going to get chunkier as white fat deposits grow under her skin. She has dream cycles already, she’s moving her diaphragm regularly to practice breathing, and she’s starting to run out of room! I can feel her kicking pretty hard now and I know she’s probably saying, “Let me out!” 😂

Symptoms 
– Back aches, leg aches, feeling winded all the time, heartburn, hunger… I’m gonna stop there but I have to admit, it’s like someone flipped a switch and suddenly pregnancy got a little more difficult. Wouldn’t trade this for anything, but you know…hurry up, September!

Week 28 Bumpdate

🎉HELLO THIRD TRIMESTER!🎉

Baby is the size of an eggplant! 🍆 The best update of all is that she can now open and close her eyes! Apparently their permanent color won’t set in until a month after birth and she won’t be able to see beyond a foot for a while. Also, if she were to be born now that we’ve hit trimester three, the likelihood of her surviving outside of my body is pretty good since her lungs are getting more powerful by the day. (But seriously, little girl – stay in there! I’ve got some final touches to put on you.)

Symptoms
– Not gonna lie, I’m officially starting to feel like a beached whale. 🐳
– Random aches and pains from, you know, a rapidly growing baby.
– Hunger!
– Tiredness. I wouldn’t say fatigue after what I went through in trimester one, but I’m definitely feeling more tired throughout the day.

Things to remember:
– After my glucose test last Wednesday, we saw my doctor for a quick check up. Looking at the ultrasound he said baby is 2 pounds, 7 ounces – and she’s tall like me! Apparently she has very long legs already. Doc mentioned that due to the way she‘s positioned she may be a stomach sleeper, which made us laugh because that’s 100% Alex.
– We put her crib together on Saturday! Sometimes we find ourselves just walking into the nursery to try and imagine her in it.
– I‘ve had a few moments this past week where I’ve thought, “I am DONE being pregnant.” It’s getting a little harder to move around, sit down, get up, bend over, etc. etc. I can only imagine how I’ll feel in 12 weeks.
– All that said, I’m trying to remind myself daily how lucky I am to have a healthy developing baby and a fairly uncomplicated pregnancy. I don’t deny myself my feelings and complaints because they’re valid, but I still want to be grateful for a relatively smooth sailing thus far.
– I’ve been contemplating the future of our family over the past few months and especially over this past week. Sorry to be ambiguous here… but to that end, stay tuned for an announcement on Facebook, Instagram, and the blog tomorrow!

12 more weeks. Just under three more months. Time, keep on flying so I can hold my baby already.

Week 27 Bumpdate

Last week of the second trimester!

Baby is the size of lettuce 🥬 (which I guess means lettuce is bigger than both endives and kale?) and is now 14.4 inches long and almost two pounds. Her lungs are continuing to practice breathing and her brain activity is increasing rapidly. And she’s starting to become less wrinkly and more plump as she gains weight! She’s got a lot of fat to put on over the next 13 weeks.

Symptoms:
– Heartburn and some acid reflux. I read that because baby is pushing my stomach upward as she grows (rude) this is fairly common.
– Leg cramps. I forgot to put my magnesium spray on my legs one night and I paid for it dearly at 5am the next day when I woke up to an awful charley horse in my leg. It still hurts three days later.
– Back aches. I have a feeling I’ll have these for the next three months as my center of gravity continues to shift!

Things to remember:
– We did our hospital tour last week! From check in to triage to delivery to postnatal suites, we got to explore it all, and we may or may not have gotten super emotional at the thought of pulling up to the hospital for delivery day. Fun fact: the hospital at which I’ll be delivering is where *I* was born! (I was helicoptered over to Phoenix Children’s a few hours afterward, but that’s another story.) How cool would it be if I gave birth on my due date, which is my birthday??
– Baby has been moving like crazy! We can actually see her move if we watch carefully and a few times she’s kicked hard enough to take us by total surprise.
– I went down a YouTube rabbit hole of labor and delivery vlogs as well as all kinds of advice videos on what you actually need in a hospital bag, postnatal care, unmedicated birth advice, the works. Part of me wishes I hadn’t – I’m a little overwhelmed!
– Tomorrow I have my glucose test. Think good thoughts for this girl who is always hungry (and hypoglycemic) who has to fast starting at midnight tonight! 😬