32 Weeks

This week has been filled with baby and labor education. On Tuesday evening, I had a breastfeeding class. On Wednesday, Joshua and I had our childbirth class. On Thursday, we had my 32nd week doctor appointment and a meeting with our doula. Goodness! I love feeling prepared, but it has been a lot of information to process for one week. Joshua told me at one point, he needed 30 minutes without talking about labor/baby. :)

My breastfeeding class was really wonderful. It made me feel more confident that I can do this. The instructor made it seem easy and taught us very useful, tangible skills. I think my biggest concerns around breastfeeding deal with going back to work. Right now, though, I am trying to take it one step at a time. I won't have to think about combining breastfeeding with work for a little while yet.

While Joshua and I like our childbirth class, we have been feeling as though it has been missing an important piece on the logistics of labor. I am so happy that we have Joy (our doula) to answer any questions we still have and discuss with us things we should know! Our childbirth class primarily focuses on preparing us mentally for labor and how to cope with pain. I've learned a lot about myself, including what comforts me and how I vision labor. The class has been a great time for me to connect to the baby. While I have been feeling scared of being the sole person responsible for giving birth to this baby and even feeling alone in the process, our class has talked about connecting with your baby through the labor and thinking about how the two of you are in this together. I found that really comforting and beautiful. It's not just me who is going through the labor; my baby will signal to me when he/she is ready to come and will be doing work as well.

My 32 week doctor appointment went well! The appointments are typically pretty quick. Blood pressure, weight, urine, and baby's measurements all look good. I am relieved to know baby is measuring right on track! We have been seeing a really great midwife at these appointments. She takes time to answer any questions we have and helps put my worries aside. Through my insurance plan, I won't know who will be in the delivery room with me so thought about switching what doctor/midwife I see at the prenatal appointments but have decided instead to stick with someone I like. I'll have Joshua and Joy in the room with me and think they can provide me with the familiar faces I need.

I'm so relieved that our week of appointments ended with Joy. She is so wonderful, and I am incredibly grateful for her support and knowledge. She gave me some to-do's for now until the end of pregnancy. I need to take probiotics, drink red raspberry tea, sit or lean forward as much as possible to get baby in the ideal position, and continue doing yoga. I love it when people give me advice like this; I feel as though I am proactively doing something everyday that is helping baby's arrival.

The end of the third trimester has brought on some aches and pains but nothing compares to the horrible feelings of the 1st trimester. I've been having trouble sleeping at night and even moving around. I seem to have developed pregnancy carpal tunnel which is so painful! At night, it is the worst. My hands go numb. The baby has also been kicking much harder and wakes me up at night. It kicks so hard that I sometimes fear something is wrong.

Besides some sleepless nights, I have been overall feeling really good. I feel huge but good. Of course the heat is a huge discomfort, but I think I'm starting to get used to it or have just learned to tolerate it a little more.

9 more weeks and so much to do

We have exciting news! It looks like we are moving forward on buying a house! Woohoo!!! We have been extremely busy lately with trying to seal the deal. Our condo went under contract a week ago, and we immediately put in an offer on a house we like. Every day it looks more and more like a real possibility that we are going to have our own house with our own back yard. It is so exciting to think our baby may get a room of its own, and we'll have space for so many more things!

In the midst of signing paperwork for the new house and tidying ends for the condo, we have been really busy with baby stuff. Only nine more weeks, so I have been feeling the pressure to get everything done in time. We have started our child birth classes and took a newborn class a week ago. We love our child birth classes! We are taking "Birthing from Within" classes at the place I do yoga. The class is really small so there is time for discussion and questions.

This past weekend, we bought a TON of stuff for the baby! We hit up a huge community sale where we got so many baby things for awesome deals. At our first stop we got a swing and "exersaucer" for free! We completely filled our car with crib sheets, baby toys, clothes, blankets, and so much more. I'm so excited to say we only spent $100!

While life seems to get busier by the minute, my energy level sinks further every day. I am constantly tired and feel as thought I could sleep 24/7. I honestly feel more tired than I have ever in my whole life. The hot weather does not help at all. Our new place will have A/C! I cannot wait. :)

3rd Trimester!

As of last week, I am in my 3rd and final trimester! This pregnancy has been quite a journey, but I am not sure I feel quite ready to have a baby in my life in nearly two months. So many things to get ready and still need to prepare myself mentally. I recently bought several more books as I'm nervous I don't know what I'm doing. I suppose I will never feel fully ready though.

It sure is summer in Colorado! It has been so hot! I worry how I'm going to get through two plus months of this weather. Joshua has been such a sweetheart as he has been giving me the car to drive to work on real hot days. I feel immensely guilty as I only work about a mile from home, but it sure is nice to not be outside in the brutal sun.

Joshua and I have been trying to find "cool" activities on the weekends since we only have a window ac unit in the bedroom that doesn't always work the best. This past Saturday, we went to the art museum as it was a free day. I really enjoyed it but was surprised by how quickly I got tired from walking around. We have been seeking out lots of ac places, like movies, restaurants, coffee shops, etc. We also went to a concert at Red Rocks a few weekends ago (saw Widespread Panic). It was much cooler in the foothills than in Denver! I was nervous that the sound would be too loud, but my doctor said it was fine to go. Of course, I had to go to the bathroom about a million times, and the stairs to get to the bathroom are horrendous at Red Rocks! I surely got my exercise for the day. I really enjoyed the concert and am very happy that I can still have a little fun every once in a while. :)

I had my 28 week appointment last week. I was so excited to hear that I only gained 1 lb since my last appointment! Baby is measuring right on track and everything looked great. I took a glucose test and am thankful to hear that I do not have gestational diabetes. I was told, though, that I need to be drinking more water, especially in the summer. I am not sure how to do this! I must drink a gallon a day already.

This upcoming Saturday is our newborn class! July is going to be a busy month with childbirth classes. I'm really excited to learn and meet other people in our classes.