Baby #1: 30 Week Bumpdate

This week I experienced the most challenging physical symptoms of being pregnant.  Thursday was probably the worst day EVER throughout this pregnancy, but I got through it with lots of prayer! This is a very TMI, but real so I can remember truly how this pregnancy has been.

STATS:

How far along are you: 30 Weeks - Wow, we're down to 10 more weeks! Time is FLYIN!

Total weight gain this week: I forgot to weigh myself :(

How big is baby: Size of a zucchini

Maternity clothes: Yes

Sleep:  This week was an eye opener.  I woke up at 4am on Thursday and moved to the couch.

Per instructions from my doctor, I tried sleeping with a pillow between my legs to help with the Sciatic nerve pain. It helped a little but I was still sore so I went out and bought a body pillow (I don't want to splurge on a pregnancy pillow since we'll be headed across the country again in a few weeks in our tiny car).  The body pillow was too tall/fat and made my hips fall asleep which woke me up early and then I was tossing trying to get comfortable.  But when I was tossing I was scared to move because of the pain in my hips/pelvis.  I will honestly say with the pain I've felt down there, I was just nervous to move/sleep as I didn't want to feel it again :( Sometimes I just wanted to cry but I felt like I had to be strong because this pregnancy has been such a breeze until I felt this.  I wanted to ask Jade for a blessing but didn't want to come off as weak - is that so dumb?!?  I can't believe I thought like that.  

Best moment this week:  The bump is now a full on arm rest and a phone holder when I sit on the couch.
My parents came to town, like flew across the country to visit us!! I found out my dad is NOT a beach goer.  I thought I would be more of the groaner for the day, being the pregnant whale in a bathing suit, but that was Grandpa :) I was dying it was quite hilarious. We decided he'll be the designated babysitter at a beach house, in his hammock, while we enjoy the beach. Thanks dad!

Miss anything: I don't think so

Movement: Yes, just jumping around

Food cravings: No

Anything making you queasy or sick: No

Gender: Boy

Labor signs: Lower back pain, light pink hue in discharge, increased pressure on my pelvis and groin/cha cha area - after doing research on these items I feel like maybe I was experiencing premature labor but my doctor shrugged it off stating its normal pregnancy feelings.  okay.

Symptoms: Sciatic Nerve pain is what my doctor stated I was experiencing - when I woke up early on Thursday and got up from sleeping on the couch, I could hardly walk.  I was in so much pain in my back but mostly on my right side.  The pain would shoot through my bottom to the middle of my right thigh.  I struggled walking.  I struggled putting on pants - I had to have Jade stable me as I couldn't put any weight on my right side or I'd feel the pain.  I learned to sit on the bed to put on or take off pants.  I felt almost paralyzed.  I didn't know what was going on but I freaked out knowing we were going to DC in less than a week and I was in this condition.  I prayed.  I cried.  I sucked it up.  I walked outside and then took a hot shower, which was probably the best thing I could do. Aside from the pain by walking, my pelvis felt heavy and it was painful to open/close my legs apart from each other in the groin area.  My doctor stated it was just a pregnancy thing I'll have to deal with.  She stated to sleep with a pillow between my legs and under my belly so my belly weight wasn't pulling on my back (which was pinching a nerve), and do yoga and stretches but didn't give specifics or resources to find prenatal safe - thank goodness for my momma!  She showed me a stretch which really helped!  Luckily that was a short-term physical pregnancy experience!

Yeast infection :(  That's why I woke up at 4am on Thursday - to an itchy cha cha.  I decided to get Monitstat 7 which is on my doctors office 'safe over the counter medications while pregnant' list.  I could feel a difference the next day!  This was my first time using Monistat and I was really impressed with it!

Belly button in/out: In

Wedding rings on/off: On

Happy or moody: Happy

Looking forward to: Our first DC trip with my parents!

Baby #1: 29 Week Bumpdate

STATS:

How far along are you: 29 weeks!

Total weight gain this week: +2.4 lbs

How big is baby: Size of a pineapple, small cabbage, or an acorn squash

Maternity clothes: Yes!

Stretch marks: Yes, 2 days before I discovered a little red dot on my belly I asked Jade if he could see anything...nope!  So I thought I was still golden.  But two days later I lifted my shirt up to apply all the stretch mark cream, oil, etc to lather on to discover a little red dot (short line - I don't know how to describe it).  I stated out loud "NOOOOoooooo, no no no no!" I was in disbelief. I had been so fortunate to not see them before now.  I rubbed on my creams and put my shirt back down.  Throughout the day I noticed I was constantly thinking about having stretch marks.  I was growing thoughts of anger and self hate towards my body.  I don't think I have ever thought such horrible things about my body which made me feel dark inside...simply because of a little tiny stretch mark on my belly.  Satan totally got me on this one!  Luckily that evening I continued reading in an uplifting book "Have it all Woman" which helped me bring me back to my senses.  I have a body that is capable of creating life and giving a safe place to grow.  Not every woman has this special experience.  Who cares about stretch marks.  And no one will see them anyways since I don't wear bikini's, so why tear myself apart? Jade reminded me on that one.  He's such a good husband - he even said he loved them... so sweet.  (I want to remember my thoughts throughout each pregnancy and what I experience with each one so I had to write that out).  

Sleep:  I'm still getting a full nights sleep and not complaining about it :) I do need to train myself to strictly sleep on my sides though.  The poor bump gets squished which seems to squish every other organ in my body - not the best feeling to wake up to in the morning.  

Best moment this week:  Going back to the lab for a 3 hour glucose test and getting poked FOUR times.  I don't like needles.  The initial poke and taking out the needle is the worst part!!!

The real best moment this week was coming to the conclusion that I don't need to buy a stroller until after the baby is here.  I have literally dreamt about which stroller would be best, consumed my time thinking/researching strollers, testing them, etc.  Which stroller was the right one literally consumed me because there are certain sales going on for a limited time BUT since this ISN'T important for baby's arrival I put a stop to this nonsense :) If I miss a sale, I miss a sale, and can wait until the next one.  This was definitely the best moment for me!  Letting my mind focus on other things that are much more important now!

Miss anything: I can't think of anything

Movement: Constantly moving.  Sometimes it hurts in the area of the ribs or pelvis bone?

Food cravings: No

Anything making you queasy or sick:  No

Gender: Boy

Labor signs: No

Symptoms: I was a little sore in the belly when we went on a little 2 mile hike/walk around a lake.

My thighs and groin area (TMI?) are sore and feel heavy.  I feel like I walk funny (like an elderly person) when I first stand up from the couch, chair, or bed. And when I walk or do the seated bicycle it just makes it worse for getting out of bed the next morning :) haha

Belly button in/out: In

Wedding rings on/off: On

Happy or moody: EMOTIONAL

Looking forward to: My next doctors appointment coming up!

Baby #1: 28 Week Bumpdate

STATS:

How far along are you: 28 Weeks! Hellllooo 3rd Trimester!!

Total weight gain this week: +1 lb

How big is baby: Size of a coconut, cauliflower, an eggplant

Maternity clothes: Yes - I finally ordered maternity g's. I'm excited for them to get here!

Stretch marks: No

Sleep:  Still sleeping perfectly fine - I dreamed two nights which hasn't happened in awhile - about a quiet beach trip (our last beach trip the beach was PACKED)  and the other dream was about giving birth early/not having a stroller&car seat&really any baby gear (which I've been paranoid about lately)/the nurses got babies mixed up in the hospital nursery/I was told the baby I thought looked like Jade was not my baby and a red-headed baby with a name starting with E was mine.  A lot of this makes sense as fears, discomforts, or not wanting something to be a reality, so this dream cracked me up! Good news about the last dream was I didn't feel labor, he just came out and that day I went with Jade to Walgreens (conveniently located on most corners, right?) to get a car seat so we could take our baby home from the hospital :) 

Best moment this week:  My doctor telling me he is head down!  Now I can sort of picture what is hitting me in certain parts.  
I also really enjoyed going to different stores to register and getting freebies!  I went to Babies R' Us and learned SO much about breastfeeding/pumping/bottles to use to prevent nipple confusion in a one-on-one class.  There is so much to learn.

Miss anything: Pre-pregnancy body - unfortunately its a real mental struggle to accept the changes for welcoming and housing the little baby

Movement: Okay, I know I've said I've felt lots of movement but this week stands out.  He was constantly moving at least hourly-every two hours and from all sorts of angles (Top, sides, bumping that cervix?) Even though I have an anterior placenta, I've seen and felt some bumps/moving on the face of my belly which is new -  not definite like the sides but I'm able to feel/see now.  He is kicking/bumping some areas that make me stop and say 'ouch' in my head - probably just out of being kicked somewhere I've never felt before.  

Food cravings: Haha no.  I mean someone stayed with us this week and had Oreos...they were delicious...is that a craving?  

Anything making you queasy or sick:  I noticed two times I felt nausea while I was working this week.  I drank water and had a little snack, to get rid of the feeling but I couldn't pinpoint any reasoning.  Thankful it only lasted minutes :)  

Gender: Boy

Labor signs: A little bit crampy

Symptoms: This week I don't feel like my belly was being stretched, more of baby just growing and everything being squished.  I'm never really hungry and drinking water fills me up.

Belly button in/out: In

Wedding rings on/off: On

Happy or moody: Happy

Looking forward to: SHOPPING FOR BABY!! It has literally killed me not being about to stock up on items since it won't fit in our tiny car across the country in a month.  Last week when Jade and I went to push strollers around and look at car seats, he found a car seat from 2016 on clearance, which was over 50% off. I decided to walk away from it and have been so upset I did.  When I went to register, I went back to this store and of course it was gone - broke my heart a little bit. I'm having dreams the baby will come when we don't have gear....so I'm really starting to stress and get a finalized list (doing all the research I can on products/gear) so I can go go go when I get home in a month as I'm already in my LAST TRIMESTER!