37 Weeks

I had this blog post half written and my computer shut off and POOF!  My post is gone.  I’m super sad and honestly, I don’t have the brain power, energy or desire to recreate it.  I do want to have a post about being 37 weeks though (especially since I have one for Munchkin).  I think I can handle doing bullet points.  Can you hang in there with me and forgive the rambling off a sleep deprived pregnant lady?  Thanks!

• Non Stress Tests (NSTs) started at 35 weeks.  Punkin has been passing with flying colors.  I don’t think she likes the monitors pressing into her so she kicks at the the whole time. I’m doing the NSTs at the closer office of my OB.  In this practice they like me to see one of the practitioners after every NST so I’m being seen twice a week.  My OB isn’t there on my second NST day so I see one of the midwives instead.  I’m really enjoying this because it feels like I still get to be under some midwife care, which I prefer.  Not that I don’t like my OB, I do.  I just prefer a midwife.

• We did a hospital tour a couple of weeks ago.  We never did one with Munchkin so it was a new experience for us.  It was a pretty large group and most of them were first time parents.  I had the most questions and some of the others just glazed over from all of them.  I hope they did help some of them though.  The great part was that I did find out that there is a very good chance that if I end up with the repeat c-section (RCS) that I will be able to do to skin to skin with Punkin right away in the OR.  I wasn’t able to do that with Munchkin (though we asked and the couple after us with the same OB was able too…yay for paving the way!)  This is something that I’ve been concerned about.  I’ve been told that I might need to push for it but it does happen, especially since the hospital I’m delivering in is working towards earning the baby friendly designation.  I double checked with my OB and she’s totally ok with it too.  Knowing that the skin to skin can happen in the OR makes the idea of getting a RCS easier for me.
• Speaking of a RCS, it’s scheduled!  I haven’t preregistered yet and still need to do that but we have a hard end date (again.)  It’s kind of nice at the moment since I’m ready to be holding this little girl and no longer waddling. 
• I’m still praying Punkin will decide to come before the RCS.  If she does, I get my VBAC.  The OB is on board with it.  At my 36 week check I was a centimeter dilated.  I know that’s not much but considering when I went in for my induction with Munchkin I wasn’t dilated at all, I was pretty happy.  I mean, I dilated a little all on my own.  Punkin is head down but still pretty high.
• Speaking of Punkin being high, as I looked back at photos of when I was 37 weeks with Munchkin, I don’t think I’m as big with Punkin.  It could be that I’m just carrying her different.  I do think she’s more active than Munchkin was.  I love feeling her and it really is one of my favorite parts of pregnancy.  I know I’ll miss it when she’s out so I try to stop what I’m doing and just feel her and enjoy.  She’s been a little nicer that her sister and has been keeping her feet out of my ribs for the most part.
• I’ve been having more round ligament pain this time around.  As in I didn’t have it last time and now there are times that even if I get up slowly, I still bend over in pain from it.  The Man had to drive me to my last NST because the pain was so bad and last for about thirty minutes.  The midwife said it’s normal so we’re going with that.  I haven’t had more sciatic pain and I’ll take the round ligament pain over that any day.  (About 3 hours after I wrote the sentence guess what happened?  I started having sciatic pain again.  I should have kept my big mouth shut!  So far it hasn’t been too bad and I’m hoping it doesn’t get worse!)
• Munchkin seems to be getting more and more exited for the baby.  Her new favorite thing to do is to look at the ultrasound photos several times a day.  She has a personalized alphabet book and there’s a ultrasound photo of her in there but she insists that it’s her sister. She still gives her multiple hugs and kisses a day.
• I watched a friend’s two youngest kiddos the other day.  The baby is about three months old and oh my, she’s so snuggly.  If I wasn’t already pregnant I would have wanted to start trying to get pregnant that night.  I was just so giddy after holding her knowing that we’ll have a newborn again soon.  

• Sleep is getting harder.  I’m having a hard time getting comfortable and I have to change sides often or my hips hurt (which I had forgotten about but since I blogged about it last time I know I did.  DH confirms it true.  It’s amazing how much I forgot about pregnancy, especially when you’re sure you’ll remember it forever!)  I usually wake up every 2 hours.  About every other night I have a hard time falling asleep and end up getting up.  If you’ve been on Twitter you might have seen me mention a time or two.  I try not to complain but it’s hard.  It would be nice to nap and sometimes I do with Munchkin.  I usually feel sick after so it’s not always worth it.  A cup of coffee is usually what I have instead, if I haven’t had one in the morning.  Otherwise it’s some red raspberry leaf tea.
• My belly band is a lifesaver.  Towards the end of the day the belly just starts to hurt on the top and sides.  It’s heavy! There are times when even with the belly band it still hurts.  I’ve been resting a lot.  It helps.
• With Munchkin my belly button stayed an innie.  This time around it’s been flirting with the idea of being an outie.  Sometimes it’s an innie, sometimes it’s an outie.  It keeps me guessing!

I think that’s it for now.  I know I’m probably forgetting something but oh well.  Thanks for hanging in there with me and making it through that.  Hopefully my next update will be a little easier to understand!