It’s still a couple of weeks until my due date, but there are a few things I’ve noticed. I don’t think I’m alone in these, so let me know if you have a “me too!” moment.
- The “look at my so-cute” pregnant bump is pretty much nearing its end. Instead, it’s replaced by the “whoa, I’m like some sort of beached whale” bump. Even if it doesn’t LOOK that huge, I think by the last month, we all feel pretty gigantic. Instead of cute little baby flutters, we feel our babies rolling and smashing around in there like a 6-year-old in gymnastics class.
- Nesting? Some people get their nesting “kick” at the very end. I think mine peaked in the second trimester. I had SO much energy, and SO much motivation. Now I have a long list of things I’d like to do, but a lot of days, naps win over scrubbing door frames.
- Clothing is the enemy. Any bit of “support” elastic or structure, while it might be fine in the morning, is like a boa constrictor by the end of the day. The muumuu pregnancy styles of yore are looking quite attractive these days.
- Alternating between “Gimmie my baby now!” and “What am I going to do with another (or a) baby?” Mostly I’m just SUPER excited to have this kiddo out (of course, only “fully cooked,” please) and to get to know him and have him become a part of our family. But there’s also the question of how things will change when he’s here. How will my daughter react to him? How will our daily routines change? Will I be able to keep up with the house as well as I have been lately? Will we have any “learning curve” with newborn nursing, since every baby is different? But then I go back to just imagining snuggling that squishy little thing, and smelling his brand new sunshine-vanilla-newborn scent, and I just want to have him in my arms.
- Bed is a trap. Easy to fall into. Hard to even roll over. Even harder still to hoist myself out.
- Pee. Suddenly, I’m aware of every bathroom location in every building I enter. If there’s not a bathroom, I make an escape plan complete with evacuation route ending at the nearest restroom I know of. When I go for walks, I make sure to turn around to head home before I feel like I need to…so that hopefully I’m back at my house before I explode with pee.
This is an exciting time! And I’m so thankful to have a healthy, uneventful pregnancy, and a healthy little boy growing inside of me. But if any of you can tell me your third trimester was comfortable, graceful, and relaxing, I’ll buy you dinner*.
*Not really, unless you’re local to me and want to meet up with me. I’m not going to be sending anyone restaurant gift cards just for commenting “I was an ethereal ballerina until the day my baby was born! Also, I didn’t even push. My body did all the work itself in 10 minutes!”
;
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22 Comments
Being on “reduced activity” or a modified bed rest since I was about 24 weeks has made the nesting thing very difficult for me. I want so much to just clean and organize yet I have to be careful about everything I do. It’s a good thing I have a desk job or my doctor would have written me out of work too. Working keeps my mind off the dust. Well, usually. I’m 34 weeks now and my brain is starting to go at work. I’m loosing my concentration. I’m ready to be able to just get up and move. I’m ready to meet my little girl.
These just made my day, especially the nesting. I’ve always been slightly OCD, but it did kick into overdrive. Now to just find the energy…
Beginning week 36!!!!! The bed got me in this trouble and now is back to causing trouble for the past few weeks…booby trap it is…LOL…now sleeping on couch in the living room (thank GOD I bought the over stuff sectional months ago, true life saver)since bathroom, laptop, remote control, and kitchen are all at a reach or a few steps away…Can’t wait to see my little girl and see the person who obviously is trying out for the 2028 Olympics 🙂
I didn’t push with my 2nd, but only because she was a 25 week preemie. This 3rd one is going to push me over the edge. You are right on about the bed and bathrooms. I’m 32 weeks and feeling like the next 5-8 weeks can’t go by fast enough. It may be harder with a new baby, but at least my back will feel better.
I too am a military spouse with “hippie” tendencies. Just found your blog via BlogHer but I’ll be back. Keep writing!
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I’ve been experiencing all of the same things…. Waiting for all of this to be over, but at the same time I’m a little sadden because I’ve gotten so used to having this little one inside of me, kicking and fluttering all around. But to have her in my arms finally would be such a joy. My daughters are so excited and I think by them being the age they are 9&11, it helps to not have to worry about the jealousies, but that they are ancious to help take care of their baby sis. Also by this being my husband’s first blood related child, the anticipation is killing, especially with only 6 weeks left to go!
Everyone keeps telling me how pregnancy fits me so well & that i’m the prettiest pregnant person they’ve ever seen…but i feel like a beached whale. This is week 32 and my husband & i reside on the down stairs living room sofa(which i have to roll off or get assistance). 1)It’s closer to the fridge since i’m always hungry. 2)The stairs are the devil. Between braxton hicks & high tailin it to the closest bathroom every 5 minutes..I’M EXHAUSTED! I’m just ready to give birth to a healthy baby girl!
1) even if you were buying dinner, you wouldn’t have to buy me dinner per your guidelines in the post 🙂
2) totally agree with the bed is a trap point – so very difficult to navigate and get out of
3) very mixed feelings at the end – getting uncomfortable and “ready” to be done with the aches and pains, wanting to meet baby, but also very aware of the fact that life will NOT get easier when baby is out and I knew there would be thing I missed about being pg
I feel you this time around. With my first two kiddos I did fairly well (except having mornings sickness the whole pregnancy). I was able to jump out of bed/off the floor with ease. I’m now 21 weeks expecting #3 and I have trouble getting off the couch already. We won’t even talk about the bed or the floor! I also know the location of every bathroom in the county. Every time I sneeze it’s a battle not to pee.
I totally remember the bathroom charting. And escape routes. And the bed trap.
Is it time to be pregnant again yet?
Great post! I will be pinning this for sure!
I feel like that already and I start my 3rd trimester tomorrow… I know in a couple months I am going to be unbearably miserable. BUT having a little baby boy is worth all of it <3
I’m a week from the 3rd tri and I’m already excited/nervous about having this boy be an outside baby. Obviously I’m looking forward to meeting him, but I finally have a routine going with my daughter and I know it’s going to throw a monkey wrench in our schedule. I totally understand that line of thinking.
As for bed – rolling over is already a process, and it only gets worse from here!
You’re looking great! And yes pee, when you’re in that phase it’s like you develop supersonic ability to detect where the bathroom is.
You look beautiful! How did you manage it that you are still so skinny?
right there with you (currently 38 weeks) and i feel you! i actually am still RELATIVELY comfortable despite the hugeness butttttt the bed and bathroom issues are spot on.
Can I just say, your legs look great! Meaning, they don’t look like swollen pregnant legs! Really, you look good and unless that picture is from before you turned into a beached whale, no need to fret! You are such a fabulous mother of one and you’ll be a fabulous mother of two! And I also think we are the ones that should be calling you up and taking you to dinner…or bringing you dinner. 🙂
I’ve had two babies, and I don’t understand the nesting thing at all. I never got that burst of energy or motivation with either one! Just got more and more tired as the weeks went by. Get rested up, because baby number two is way more exhausting than the first one!
Yeah I pretty much have every single one of these emotions and thoughts.
I think the nesting thing is a second pregnancy thing. I started nesting at 20 weeks this time around and worried my body would fall apart before I had a baby! Twenty weeks of nesting seems insane but it’s for reals.
Pregnancy ain’t easy. I HATE women who have no side affects like nausea, headaches, heartburn, soreness and are like ‘oh yeah this pregnancy is great, I just love food so much!’. I want to punch them.
This made me smile. If any of us were ballerinas right till the end,who had bodies that automatically delivered babies without needing any pushing, I think the rest of us might have to beat her up. 😉 I was right there with you! You’re doing FANTASTIC!!
Haha! I love “Bed is a trap”. Ugh. Never again. My youngest are almost 18 months old but the memories of that third trimester are still fresh.
I had all those feelings in the last weeks before Ollie arrived. It will all work out. There will be test and trials but you will make it through.