Thirty three weeks! I am going to make a paper chain for Annabel so she can tear off a link for every day until the baby’s arrival, but it’s really for me. I am strugggggling these days. I’m doing my best to power through, but like I mentioned the other day, I really just want to sleep. I’ve entered the everything hurts stage. My hips/back/bladder/ribs are all screaming thanks to the incredibly growing baby. I definitely put a mental block on that from my last pregnancy. It doesn’t help that Annabel wants hugs! And to be held! And carried! I can’t carry thirty six pounds of toddler right now, sorry Annabel. Use those legs I grew ya.
Yesterday when I saw Dr. Risky I had a fetal fibronectin test (the test for preterm labor) and I flopped back onto the table so hard I knocked the wind out of myself. Dr. Risky laughed at me and said, “you sound like an old lady!” I can’t help it, I am carrying a bazillion pounds of baby and laying on my back is hard, yo.
My FFN came back negative, and the even better news is that I will never have to get another FFN test as long as I live! YAY! (It’s really not bad, it’s basically like a pap smear, but who wants one of those once a week? NOT ME!) When Dr. Risky’s nurse measured my stomach, she told me that I was “measuring consistently.” Code for still big. But that’s fine by me, the bigger The Acrobat is, the better. Even if it means he destroys my body in the process.
Before I saw Dr. Risky, I made a little trip to see Dr. Looove. Remember that um, skin tag problem I had? Well it’s finally been taken care of. There was some debate between Dr. Looove and her nurses about how to numb the area until I finally said, “I don’t care if you numb the area at ALL, just take it offffffff.” But Dr. Looove is cool and gave me a shot…in the area…to numb my skin before she removed the tag. I really wish I could use the numbing solution before I breastfed! That stuff was amazing.
It looks to me that the baby has dropped. I can also vouch for this because I am suddenly finding myself in the bathroom much more often than usual.
I’ve decided to set small goals for each day to help force myself to start getting ready for the baby. Yes, I will definitely leave Mike to the cleaning and organizing that he’s itching to do. But there are things I need to do, and they can mostly be done from a semi-prone position. So now I just have to actually do them. I feel bad that I have hardly anything done for this little guy. I’m so excited to meet him and I don’t want him to ever think otherwise. I’m just tiiiiiired. Someday, if he ever has a pregnant wife, I’ll make sure he understands.
Gwensarah says:
Hehe, I don’t think you dropped yet. I think he moved towards the back. I don’t know why boys like to hang out in the back (also-boys, back labor ugh!) I was looking at photos of mah belly with Rymer and I look bigger at 31 wks than 33 weeks because he kept going from front to back. Which makes you pee ALOT! He didn’t drop until I was 38 weeks. Also, he had a pumpkin head (sorta like the Spohr head) which why I think he kept measuring ahead like the Acrobat!
Jenn says:
33 wks. YAHOO!!!! So inquiring mind have to know… ARE YOU ANY CLOSER TO AGREEING UPON HIS NAME?? I know you don’t share your babies names before they are born which is exactly why I am NOT asking the name – ONLY IF HE HAS ONE yet?? I think setting small, attainable goals is an excellent idea!! You’re getting closer mama & I’m getting so excited for & with You!! YAHOO!!!!
Babbalou says:
I don’t think you should worry for a moment that you haven’t done anything to get ready for your acrobat – you’re “growing” him and really that’s enough. And once he’s born you’ll hold him and that’ll be enough (along with feeding him of course). Really you know he just needs to be loved and taken care of and you couldn’t possibly love him more than you do and more than you will once he’s in your arms. All the other stuff may matter to you, but he doesn’t care. He’s coming to a loving home, that’s far more important!
Panni says:
Exactly!
Lisa says:
Ditto!!!
Annalisa says:
Can’t be said enough.
But if a little project that can be done right on the couch makes you feel better (and takes your mind off from the organ grinding), why not use it to make these last few weeks pass by?
Lisa says:
Hardly done anything for the little guy? Please girl!!! You have done EVERYTHING for this sweet boy! I know how hard it is to feel motivated when you aren’t feeling well – I was on bedrest for the last 8 weeks of both of my pregnancies and felt like I was a big useless blob. Just keep reminding yourself that you are doing the MOST important job of all – cooking this boy!
Carrie G. says:
I’m 2 weeks behind you and went in for my regular check up yesterday. When the Dr. put the u/s wand on my stomach to get a good shot to show me where things were, it hurt so badly because this giant child of mine (all of my babies were over 9 pounds) keeps kicking me in the same spot, so I am bruised from the inside. It hurts a lot, and to top it off, my other children like to climb on me and always shoot a knee or elbow into the same spot, so I’m getting pressed on both sides. Oof.
Annalisa says:
This is what I said to my husband last night: “I’m besieged. One of the keeps making me get up 3 million times to fluff a blanket, the other pokes me in the ribs as soon as I lay down. I can’t win.”
But at least the toddler doesn’t like to climb on me. You have my sympathy.
Lynnette says:
Congrats on getting through to 33 weeks so far. You are doing the very best thing you can for The Acrobat by keeping him in there to grow as much as possible. You are also preparing his big sister for his arrival. Keep up the great work, Heather!
Katrina says:
I’ve hit my “nesting” period but I have NO energy to do anything about it. I’m not prepared, my house is a mess, clutter everywhere…and I do NOT have a “Mike” as a husband. My husband is great, don’t get me wrong, but he hasn’t that nesting gene that Mike seems to have. So, my house will continue to be an unorganized mess, and NOTHING will get done unless I specifically ask. And then it won’t be done right, not the way I would have done it. And that will only make me feel unsatisfied and I’ll start to nag, and everyone in the house will roll their eyes at me and not take me seriously. And this baby will arrive wearing only diapers for the first two weeks until I feel good enough to do ALL the things that I should have done during my “nesting” period. Ah well. A healthy baby is all that matters. (I keep reminding myself of this!)
Annalisa says:
If you have existing kids, picking out new clothes for baby is probably a great last minute “daddy and me” outing (just be sure to send dad off with specific guidelines first ;)).
Jessica says:
You are doing amazing things just to get him here. (Says the mom who has yet to write a thing in my rainbow baby’s album and he’s 3 now.)
Maggie says:
I am just checking in on your blog after a few years (I think Annabelle was a baby the last I checked). I’m so excited that you guys are expecting a little boy! Congrats on the good FFN test. And I agree with everyone, go easy on yourself. You are doing a lot for your little guy and it’s hard to be very pregnant and be a mom to a preschooler. All babies really need is a car seat and some diapers. If you have those things, you’re set. I have a daughter and a little boy who are about 3 years apart. It’s been so fun experiencing raising both a girl and now a boy and watching my daughter grow into her role as a big sister. Their relationship is so sweet (and funny and crazy and sometimes violent, but mostly sweet). I hope you enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and I wish you and your family all the best!
Joelle says:
We adopted newborn twins and had nothing (absolutely nothing) ready for them because I was scared the adoption would fall through. One quick trip to Target and we were fine. so don’t sweat it, i know you probably want everything perfect, but I found it was kind of nice to plan once the adoption was “final” (2 days into their lives). People sent us so much stuff anyway, I’m glad I didn’t go buy a ton of clothes!
Expat Mom says:
I didn’t do much of anything for my third either because I was SO sick with him. The night before the C-section, I was sitting there trying to sew some little hats so he’d have something homemade to wear at the hospital! It will be fine. Your little guy knows you love him. Heck, anyone who has gone through what you have in this pregnancy HAS to love their baby!
Auntie_M says:
Holy Crow! 33 weeks! Heather!!!!!!!!!! Amazing! You look beautiful! And, yes, I do believe the Acrobat has dropped!
He’ll be here soon! Oh my goodness!!!!!!!!!!!! Tell Mike to get going and get that room ready! You have resting to do! And then you have a baby birth and a C-section to recover from, and a toddler and baby to care for…you are far too busy in the future to be busy right now!
Tina says:
Yay for 33 weeks!! You’re doing so well Heather. You’re almost there!!