November 5th, 2022

It’s the final countdown! As I’m typing this post, I’m just days out from my due date. Eek! Baby boy could come at any point: now… or as late as two weeks from now. What a mental trip.

I don’t mind the wait and uncertainty, but what bothers me is the comments I get.

• “Are you having contractions?”
• “I thought you would have the baby two weeks ago!”
• “You look like you’re going to explode!”
• “Are they going to ‘take’ the baby on a certain date?”
• “You look like you’re going to pop!”
• “You’re looking fat!”
• “You know, I had my baby at 37/38/39 weeks.”
• “What are you waiting for?!”

And on and on! I kind of want Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak. Like, can I just go places without people noticing me and do my normal life?! I know I can’t control what people say, only how I react.

It’s still hard, though, because it’s honestly out of my hands. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the baby is going to come when he’s ready!

Preparing For Baby

We have the car seat installed, bassinet set up, breast pump parts sterilized, cord blood collection kit all ready, and baby’s bag is packed.

I’ve been having good prenatal appointments each week. What a blessing to be measuring right on track, having good blood pressure readings, normal heart rates for baby, and knowing he’s head down. I’m trying not to expect “the other shoe to drop” because things are going so well. Like, it’s okay that things are good!!

How I’m Feeling Physically

Physically I am holding up well. I am peeing constantly. Sleep is definitely meh with getting up to pee and trying to roll over–I look like a turtle laying on its back while trying to roll over–and my hernia aches in the morning but I’m honestly doing good! I feel some fatigue, but I also have bursts of energy, you know?

I did acupuncture last weekend for the hernia pain and it was such a cool experience! I was impressed with the acupuncturist. I totally expected a hippie in a billowy skirt with dreadlocks to come out and assess my aura, but I was met by a lovely woman wearing scrubs who explained everything to me and ran a clean facility.

The acupuncturist explained that certain areas of my hand and wrist are connected to the area where my hernia is. Some of the needles didn’t hurt going in, but one in my hand did and it moved the whole time I was sitting there. So crazy! She said that was the inguinal spot, which is where my hernia is.

Was I instantly cured? No! Acupuncture isn’t going to repair a hernia, but it did help a bit with the pain. I would absolutely go back for other issues like headaches, pain, etc., too.

Chiropractic care has also been fantastic. I go about once a week and the chiropractor uses the Webster Technique, which is a pregnancy specific type of adjustment. So thankful for all these types of medical care!

Still Staying Busy

At 39 weeks and 4 days I finally put my Etsy shop in vacation mode. It was a sad moment, but I decided I want to spend the last days of the pregnancy busy with Sadie instead of stressing about orders.

I’m also still doing real estate work (which is thankfully very flexible!), keeping up with Sadie’s speech therapy appointments, and finding fun adventures to go on with my little family.

Emotions

Each night when I tuck Sadie in, I could just cry thinking it could be the last time I kiss her goodnight as my baby. Like I’m tearing up just typing that! I am easily sensitive/annoyed about little things, rude comments, and even the pets acting up, but then I feel guilty.

I am feeling excited to meet our son! What will he be like? What will he look like? What will Sadie think of him?

I am curious about when he will come and how his birth will go. I don’t have a lot of control over that, so I’m trusting God and surrendering it all over to Him.

A Possible Documentary

I totally forgot to mention this! At some point in my third trimester, the birth center sent out an email to all clients to let us know a documentary about midwives would be filmed there over the next couple of months.

The email also sent along a consent form if we were okay with having our appointments or birth filmed and I said yes. I haven’t been there for any filming yet, but it’s possible that the birth could be captured. Kinda wild! We’ll see if the production crew is there when I have the baby.

I’m fine with it because the documentary isn’t about me giving birth, it’s about midwives and the awesome work they do. If I so happen to be in the background, so be it! I’m happy to be a small part of a documentary about the work they do.

Okay, I think that’s everything on my mind for today! Feeling thankful and excited and every emotion in between ❤️

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Monday November 7th, 2022

Well, tomorrow is my due date! Wild! I know not to expect baby to come on his due date (Sadie came a full week after hers!), but it always feels so exciting leading up to that day. Also, tomorrow is a full moon and Sadie did come on a full moon, haha.

My brother’s family got hit with the stomach flu on Saturday into Sunday. This morning, my dad called me to say that if I go into labor today I need a backup plan because my mom was sick with what we think is also the stomach flu all night last night. He and my mom were the ones we were going to call to take Sadie girl if/when labor begins. We have plenty of neighbors and other family nearby that can help, though! I’m more concerned about our family catching the bug 😆

It’s hard not to worry about how things will play out with this added stressor, but I am praying and giving this situation over to God. I’ll be sure to check back in here if anything changes in the next couple of days. I know God is watching over us and His plan will unfold just as it should! So many people are praying for our little family and it’s so humbling and reassuring.

Aside from the crazy stomach bug news, I am feeling good! Baby isn’t moving quite as much because he is cramped, but that’s to be expected. I see the midwife tomorrow and Jimmy and Sadie are coming with me to the appointment just for fun since it’s near the end of the day and Jimmy will be finished with work!

Today is going to be a pretty simple day. Sadie and I did her homeschool work this morning and I’m going to the chiropractor. Other than that, I’m picking up oil for our car (we need to change the oil) and hopefully tidying up the house a bit.

Okay, bye until next time!