I am full term and feeling it. I am getting eager to meet this new little guy, although I still want him to at least wait until next week. I don't feel quite ready yet. But, as I sit here and think, other than being completely packed (which is hard to do because I don't want to pack away clothes and not wear them for weeks), we are pretty much good to go. Maybe not feeling ready is just a sign that he's not quite ready yet either. I guess we will see.At any rate, the car seat base is installed, his bag is packed, Liam's big brother presents are packed, my bag is mostly packed, the bassinet sheets are washed and it is ready in our master bedroom along with his newborn clothes and diapers... we even brought the swing downstairs tonight. I've had all the discussions about what I want in different scenarios with my OB as well. All that is left now is waiting and trying to rest and spend as much one-on-one time with Liam as possible.
How far along today: 37 weeks + 4 days
Baby size: At 37 weeks, baby should be about the size of a winter melon, 19-22 inches long and 6.5 lbs. At 34 weeks, Coen was approximately 5lbs and 3oz (as much as 5lbs was the What to Expect estimate) so he may be just a bit bigger. Despite that, my fundal height at the last appointment was 3cm smaller than gestational age and 1cm less than the previous week's visit so we are thinking baby has dropped (which I could already tell).
Trimester: Third trimester is tough but we are almost there!
Gender: As I announced in my Gender Reveal Post, it's a BOY!
Name: This little guy's name will be Coen Gabor. See my What's in a Name Post to see how we chose this name and why it is so special to us.
Movement: I think it is getting kind of tight in there. This baby boy seems to prefer jabbing an elbow, knee or foot out versus wiggling around like he used to. Sometimes I can feel him try to stretch out by kicking my ribs and shifting his head even further down onto my bladder.
Contractions: The Braxton-Hicks have sure been picking up lately. Today, I felt like every time I bent over (which of course is pretty often because of big brother), I had a contraction. They seem to be accomplishing a little at least. I was almost 2cm and 40% effaced yesterday. I know this means pretty much nothing but it's good to know that progress is being made none-the-less.
Cravings: Bagel bites and Halloween candy. The first is such a horrible craving but I can't shake it. It is ever present and very strong. I just try not to give in too much or like today balance it with a plate of fruits and veggies first. The second is a craving of convenience. Here's to hoping all the candy is gone soon!
Aversions: What are those? Just give me food and lots of it!
The Not So Fun Pregnancy Stuff: I had a lot of muscle cramps this month that I just couldn't figure out what to do about. My athlete husband recommended I may be low on electrolytes so I tried Gatorade and bananas with little improvement. I did however learn that my prenatal has absolutely no potassium in it so I realize that adding these foods was a good thing either way. I asked my OB and she had no idea and just recommended I continue my vitamin and what I was already trying. My mother finally suggested I may be low on calcium when I described how the spasms were worsening to the point of my muscles contracting when I tried to stretch my limbs out first thing in the morning and my finger did something similar while I was cooking one night. I started supplementing and focusing on more dairy intake and I am happy to say that the spasms are gone. The prenatal I take only fulfills 12% of daily value for calcium so this makes sense. I wanted to share my story in hopes that if someone else is having this issue they try this sooner! (And here's to hoping my teeth survived the time it took us to figure this out!)
Coen has dropped in the last week or so so sleep has gotten a little better. I still wake up in pain (mostly my ribs and upper back) or having to pee at least 3 times a night but that is much better than before. I haven't actually had to get up before morning just because the pain was so bad that I couldn't sleep any longer regardless of how exhausted I was like I was doing before. Still, by the end of the day, I am utterly and completely exhausted every single day (though I am sure my toddler has a lot to do with this!).
Baby size: At 37 weeks, baby should be about the size of a winter melon, 19-22 inches long and 6.5 lbs. At 34 weeks, Coen was approximately 5lbs and 3oz (as much as 5lbs was the What to Expect estimate) so he may be just a bit bigger. Despite that, my fundal height at the last appointment was 3cm smaller than gestational age and 1cm less than the previous week's visit so we are thinking baby has dropped (which I could already tell).
Trimester: Third trimester is tough but we are almost there!
Gender: As I announced in my Gender Reveal Post, it's a BOY!
Name: This little guy's name will be Coen Gabor. See my What's in a Name Post to see how we chose this name and why it is so special to us.
Movement: I think it is getting kind of tight in there. This baby boy seems to prefer jabbing an elbow, knee or foot out versus wiggling around like he used to. Sometimes I can feel him try to stretch out by kicking my ribs and shifting his head even further down onto my bladder.
Contractions: The Braxton-Hicks have sure been picking up lately. Today, I felt like every time I bent over (which of course is pretty often because of big brother), I had a contraction. They seem to be accomplishing a little at least. I was almost 2cm and 40% effaced yesterday. I know this means pretty much nothing but it's good to know that progress is being made none-the-less.
Cravings: Bagel bites and Halloween candy. The first is such a horrible craving but I can't shake it. It is ever present and very strong. I just try not to give in too much or like today balance it with a plate of fruits and veggies first. The second is a craving of convenience. Here's to hoping all the candy is gone soon!
Aversions: What are those? Just give me food and lots of it!
The Not So Fun Pregnancy Stuff: I had a lot of muscle cramps this month that I just couldn't figure out what to do about. My athlete husband recommended I may be low on electrolytes so I tried Gatorade and bananas with little improvement. I did however learn that my prenatal has absolutely no potassium in it so I realize that adding these foods was a good thing either way. I asked my OB and she had no idea and just recommended I continue my vitamin and what I was already trying. My mother finally suggested I may be low on calcium when I described how the spasms were worsening to the point of my muscles contracting when I tried to stretch my limbs out first thing in the morning and my finger did something similar while I was cooking one night. I started supplementing and focusing on more dairy intake and I am happy to say that the spasms are gone. The prenatal I take only fulfills 12% of daily value for calcium so this makes sense. I wanted to share my story in hopes that if someone else is having this issue they try this sooner! (And here's to hoping my teeth survived the time it took us to figure this out!)
Coen has dropped in the last week or so so sleep has gotten a little better. I still wake up in pain (mostly my ribs and upper back) or having to pee at least 3 times a night but that is much better than before. I haven't actually had to get up before morning just because the pain was so bad that I couldn't sleep any longer regardless of how exhausted I was like I was doing before. Still, by the end of the day, I am utterly and completely exhausted every single day (though I am sure my toddler has a lot to do with this!).
What I'm most looking forward to: Coen's birthday is pretty much the biggest thing coming up now. His due date is less than 3 weeks away! I'm kind of hoping he decides to come a few days early but if he's like his big brother, it may be more like a few days late. It would be a huge thing to be thankful for for sure though if he made it by Thanksgiving. We have a variety of plans (thanks to some wonderful family and friends) for what to do with big brother on the big day based on when little brother decides to make his grand entry into the world. Hopefully, we are covered for any day he decides now!
Big Brother: Big brother turned two this month! He had a blast at his Elmo party. He also loved Boo at the Zoo (he danced for over an hour) and was in heaven on Halloween night. I'm actually having trouble explaining to him that Halloween is over. I started trying to focus on doing some Thanksgiving crafts with him so that the coming holiday seems more fun to him. I don't know what it was about Halloween but maybe it was promised candy and that everything was orange (his favorite color) but he was (and is) obsessed with that holiday.
I'm eager to see how he adjusts to being a big brother. He has a teenage mutant ninja turtle pillow pet to give Coen. He has one in orange and we got Coen a blue one from Liam since Liam loves his so much. Liam is getting a build-a-bear Michaelangelo (that he actually built with Mommy and Daddy this month) and a recorded story book read to him by Mommy to keep him company while we are in the hospital, and a big brother book and pin. I am most excited about seeing what he thinks of what must seem like a mythical baby to him when he is no longer a concept in Mommy's belly and can be touched and seen. And how long it'll be until he tells me to give him "back" like he did a friend's baby we saw last week ;).
Big Brother: Big brother turned two this month! He had a blast at his Elmo party. He also loved Boo at the Zoo (he danced for over an hour) and was in heaven on Halloween night. I'm actually having trouble explaining to him that Halloween is over. I started trying to focus on doing some Thanksgiving crafts with him so that the coming holiday seems more fun to him. I don't know what it was about Halloween but maybe it was promised candy and that everything was orange (his favorite color) but he was (and is) obsessed with that holiday.
I'm eager to see how he adjusts to being a big brother. He has a teenage mutant ninja turtle pillow pet to give Coen. He has one in orange and we got Coen a blue one from Liam since Liam loves his so much. Liam is getting a build-a-bear Michaelangelo (that he actually built with Mommy and Daddy this month) and a recorded story book read to him by Mommy to keep him company while we are in the hospital, and a big brother book and pin. I am most excited about seeing what he thinks of what must seem like a mythical baby to him when he is no longer a concept in Mommy's belly and can be touched and seen. And how long it'll be until he tells me to give him "back" like he did a friend's baby we saw last week ;).
You look adorable and I love your little guy's ninja turtle outfit! I'm expecting baby #2 right now and I feel so much bigger in the second trimester (compared to #1), I'm a bit worried for the third trimester!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your baby boy #2!
Amy @ http://www.livinglifetruth.com/
Thank you! Congrats on your second little one!
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