38 Weeks

How far along? 38 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: I have vowed to never weigh myself again...I feel massive...

Stretch marks? None. Just have to make it through the next 2-4 weeks and then delivery. I feel like that is asking a lot.

Sleep: I have been sleeping well again!

Best moment this week: Long walks while soaking up some vitamin D!

Movement: We can feel "stuff" better and better all the time. I felt the top his head wiggling around and got freaked out when he "ducked" and my thumb slipped over the roundness of the top of his head. It was pretty cool :) I've also been pretty lop sided lately and can almost grasp baby bum poking out right underneath my ribs.

I'm also kind of scared that I am going to have the biggest baby of all time. That we'll be in the Guiness Book of World Records. My stomach is hard top to bottom and side to side. I'm praying that isn't all baby...hopefully it's some of the accessories that come with it!

Food cravings: Water and now...milk! Lots of both!

Labor Signs: Always have labour signs. It was entertaining last week, now it's just a tease.

Belly Button in or out? Even with the rest of my tummy...I'm quite rounded.

Wedding rings on or off? On.

What I miss: When people didn't assume that everything I say, eat, or do has something to do with pregnancy. I'm convinced (from some research articles and other reading) that the pressure that people put on pregnant women doesn't help and may prolong their labour and effect how they interpret and cope with pain...I know people are excited...and we are too! But I really didn't think it would start at 36 weeks. We are excited and like to talk about it...but not everything has to do with babies...we've been watching movies lately too ;)

This also played a great factor in me deciding to have a water birth at home. I'm not the type who really likes being the centre of attention, I put enough pressure on myself that I prefer to handle things by myself, and I get incredibly overwhelmed with outside environmental factors...especially when there is a hundred things going on at once and no one is filling me in. Maybe it's the controlling part of me shining through but it's what I need. I have to understand and respect what I need in order to make sure my baby is born unstressed and healthy. I really do feel that privacy is my best option in getting all this done the healthiest way possible...for both of us :) Luckily my body clearly agrees with what I need so far and has kept us healthy this whole time :) I'm surprised at all the people that have been incredibly supportive in helping me find the peace and relaxation that I need. Even the mom's that were informed they would be called right AFTER the baby is born lol. Let's not turn a home birth into a 24 hour+ event lol. Work with me people!

What I am looking forward to: Having a baby!

Weekly Wisdom: Practice, practice, practice! I was starting to get the days of being exciting and then a day of being nervous. I feel so much better now that we have been practicing our chosen coping techniques. Whatever they are...practice them! Nanny McPhee suggested applying some pain while practicing. She said to try ice cubes behind my ears, on my wrists, and in my hands for one to two minutes at a time...basically mimicking the duration of contractions and the rest period in between. Of course it doesn't hurt as bad, but if I can block out the burning, freezing sensation, it gives me confidence that I can handle something greater one breath and coping technique at a time. No matter how or where this baby enters the world...it's gonna hurt. So I'm glad that I'm making my worries work for me!

Milestones: Having some "nesting" freak outs. I went to Walmart and bought ALL of their 0-3 month sized pants because I thought we didn't have enough. We did.

Getting up at 7am on a Sunday because I HAD to do the laundry.