35 Week Pregnancy Update

You know the saying.  If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.  That is sort of the way I have been feeling about this pregnancy, which is weird, because this pregnancy has been nothing but smooth sailing.  For some reason, though, I find myself complaining about something pregnancy related almost every single day.

I realize that the second pregnancy is far less magical.  Lots of people told me that.  There is nothing blissful about not having the stomach muscles required to get off the couch.  For some reason, feeling an actual human hand scratching around my pelvis does not trigger feelings of joy, but rather feelings of fear.  Fear that a human hand is going to pop out of my vagina at any moment.  It is difficult to do simple tasks like get out of bed, read Chloe a book, or walk through medium to large size passages.  I cannot tell you how sick I am of walking around with crumbs and stains on my belly.  I know that all of this was true of my first pregnancy, as well, but for some reason I just can't remember. 

I don't take any of it as seriously as I did with the first.  In fact, on any given day you might find me dressed in a suit of deli meat, eating a medium-rare steak (hold the guilt), and sipping a small glass of red wine, all the while carrying the extra 34 pounds of myself, 27 pounds of Chloe, and 5 pounds of whatever else I have stuffed in my work tote, purse, and daycare bag.  Yes, my hair is highlighted.  I wash my face with Clearasil.  I didn't cry after my flu shot in fear that my baby would suffer a rare genetic mutation.

When I was pregnant with Chloe my life revolved around my pregnancy, but this time around my pregnancy is just fitting into my life.  It has to, because what the hell would I eat if not for deli meat?  Cooking a steak above medium rare is just preposterous.  It's like the cow died for nothing.  And, a very, very small glass of red wine on a very, very rare occasion when I feel as though I may just spontaneously combust from the stress and exhaustion of everyday life just seems safer than actually bursting into flames.  I have to carry around my toddler or else I would still be sitting in the living room having this conversation over and over again:

Me:  Chloe, Mommy said you can bring just one toy to daycare.
Chloe:  One?
Me:  Yes, one toy.
Chloe:  One, two?
Me:  No, just one toy.
Chloe:  One, two, three?
Me:  No.  I mean... good counting!  Whatever, just come put your coat on.

Despite all of these negative thoughts, I know that I am going to really miss being pregnant once I'm not pregnant anymore.  I do love feeling my baby kick throughout the day.  I do love bringing him to work with me.  I do love him.  I do, I do.  Right now, being pregnant is far less scary than not being pregnant, so I'm really in no hurry to send an eviction notice. So, I owe it to myself and to my baby to make a few notes about this pregnancy so far.  Good notes, no matter how few.

On the good side, I am loving my new midwife practice.  There are two midwives, Gail and Amy.  Both are amazing and never make me to feel rushed when I ask them questions.  They engage me in conversation, and I always feel like they remember me.  In fact, I know they do because they always ask follow up questions from past conversations.  I fell in love with them when they sent me home with my glucose drink.  With my old doctor I was instructed to go to the lab where I waited in line to drink the drink, waited an hour among sick and/or very, very weird people, and then had my blood drawn.  This time around I took the drink in the morning before work, headed up to the lab once I had 20 minutes to spare, waited in the waiting room just long enough to fill out the paperwork, and had a quick blood draw.  The results were about the best you can get, so I don't have to worry about Gestational Diabetes. 

At 34.5 weeks I have gained 34 pounds, so it looks like I'll probably gain at least 40-45 pounds with this pregnancy, which is over the recommended 30 to 35 pound weight gain.  My midwife said it was okay, and that the recommendation is mostly made so that it is easier for women to lose the baby weight after the pregnancy. 

The baby's heart rate has always been strong and in the 150 range.  Chloe's was always much higher in the 170-180 range, so for us the old wives' tale is true.  Low heart rate equals boy and vice versa.  And if you are into that kind of stuff, my Chinese Gender Chart was also correct for both babies. 

The baby has been in the head down position for at least the last 8-10 weeks.  My mom and I were at Kohl's on Black Friday.  She decided to go stand in line while I picked out a few last minute things.  As I was walking toward her she started giggling.  When I finally reached her she said she noticed I was waddling.  After she mentioned it I realized that I was waddling.  Also, I could breathe better, and my 36DD (holy shit, it is true) bra no longer felt as though it was a straight jacket.  Did I mention I have to pee?  And is that the distinct feeling of a head resting on my vagina?  It dawned on me that at some point over the last 24 hours that the baby had dropped.  The technical term for this occurrence is called lightening, which is ironic since the baby feels heavier than ever.  This didn't happen with Chloe until I was in labor, so I freaked out a little.  So far I haven't had any signs of early labor, so I'm not too worried about it.  For now, I'm just trying to enjoy the ability to breathe again since I'm now on double time when it comes to bathroom breaks.

This baby kicks way more than Chloe ever did.  He also moves his whole elbow or knee from one side of my stomach to the other.  A little kick doesn't phase me, but a whole belly swipe often stops me in my tracks.  He also loves to kick his leg out straight and then just leave it there for a minute so I have a giant lump protruding from my stomach.  I'm often embarrassed at work because the movement is so visible from my shirt.  I often have people say, "Ahh!  I just saw your baby move!"

I remember for both pregnancies feeling awesome when I went in for my 20 week ultrasound.  I lifted up my shirt and thought Ha!  I bet she wonders if I'm here to confirm if I am even pregnant.  I must have the smallest 20 week pregnant belly she has ever seen!! I am a master of disguise.  But with this pregnancy it seems like the minute I found out I was having a boy, my stomach began to grow exponentially.  By 25 weeks I was mammoth and looking like I did when I was full term with Chloe.  The good thing is that I haven't changed a whole lot since then.  My belly is bigger, but not that much bigger.  Maybe I'm just delusional.  It wasn't until the last few weeks that I stopped being utterly shocked when someone asked when my baby was due.  Gasp!  But how did you know?!?!  For the longest time I was startled every time I saw my profile in a reflective surface. 

So here I am.  I know this is what you have been waiting for.  This is me and the baby at 35 weeks.  Enjoy.