December 12th

Interesting... I've just discovered that we're set to have a full moon on Dec 12th, exactly one week before my due date.

Ouchies

I've been avoiding making this kind of post, I've been trying to be optimistic and thankful that I get to go through what I'm experiencing... but it's so hard some times.

My sleeping is going down the tubes, I've had to get rid of my Snoogle because it's giving me back problems and I can't lie on my sides because of the extra weight (and I'm sure my pelvis is getting ready for labour) so I've resorted to a pillow under my legs while I lay on my back. It's so hard to get my body into this position and have it be comfortable. As I lay on my back baby floats up to my lungs and I find it harder to breath (and then I get heartburn too). I have 39 days left... I can do it! 39 days with lack of sleep and then a couple months of no sleep... not a problem! I took a Tylenol at 10 last night and didn't fall asleep until 2... on the couch. I woke myself up around 3 and was able to crawl into bed.

I'm having a hard time breathing, too - I don't know if it's the weight of my massive boobs, the baby in my lungs or a combination of the two... but some times when eating I have to sit back and catch my breath.

I've got about one month and one week left, I can do this. I need to stay positive and strong.

Dear Snoogle,

YOU'RE FIRED!

Sincerely,
The pregnant one with sore hips and back.

34 Weeks

This is a BIG milestone for me. As of today, if I go into labour they won't try and stop it. One more week and I'm half way through the 30's and three more weeks until I'm considered FULL TERM! Hooray (as I do my little happy victory dance)

I have been feeling some serious pains in the nether region, I was walking around Michaels yesterday and had some pain that almost had me stop in my tracks. It felts like she was punching... maybe even scratching my cervix. It was a sharp pain. I'm still having a good amount of braxton hicks' (daily). I find that if I get up too fast I always seem to get one, I've stopped letting Colin know because it just seems to spook him out.

I picked up a new cover for the bucket this week. I recently discovered that the bunting bag that we used for Robbie actually voids the car seat's warranty, so I went over to our local baby store (which I'm slowly becoming addicted to) and picked up one of these:

This guy is all weather proof and reversible! I can still put blankets inside to bundle her up to make sure she's nice and cozy. I know Robbie's going to love opening and closing that little window (playing peek-a-boo), hopefully she doesn't mind!

Speaking about Robbie, I think he's in denial. Every time I lift up my shirt to rub the belly, scratch it, etc he's quick to try and pull my shirt down again and say "no belly, mommy" or "no baby". Does it spook him out? Does he not want to acknowledge it?

Sleeping has becoming increasingly more difficult. Every time I need to flip over I have to wake myself up, hold my breath and use every ounce of my muscles to raise my belly up and over.

My next doctors appointment is Thursday, I'm curious to see what he's going to do. At 36 weeks they usually do the Strep B swab so will he start me on weekly visits after next week? or will he have me wait another 2 weeks and then start weekly visits? Time will tell!

Your baby now weighs more than 4.7
pounds / 2.2 kilograms and is 18 inches / over 45 centimetres from top to toe.
She's filling out and getting rounder -- she'll need her fat layers later to
regulate her body temperature.

If you don't already talk to your
baby, this is a good time to start -- at 35 weeks her hearing is fully
developed. Don't feel ridiculous if you're already chatting in baby talk. Some
evidence shows that newborns pay closer attention to high-pitched tones.

If you've been nervous about going
into premature labour, you'll be happy to know that 99 per cent of babies born
at week 35 can survive outside the womb -- and most have no major problems.
Although your baby's central nervous system is still maturing, her lungs are
nearly fully developed by now.

Many women start to notice a
tingling sensation or numbness in the pelvic region or pain as they walk. This
may be caused by the pelvic joints loosening, ready for labour

First Signs of Pain

I told myself that I won't complain with the aches and pains that go along with the third trimester, so this post is purely for documentation. I was almost convinced that I was blessed with a painless pregnancy...

A couple of nights ago I did something to my Achilles tendon. It was so painful to put pressure on it so, I ran myself a warm bath and massaged it which seemed to take away some of the sharp pain but there was still an achy sore feeling to it so I took a Tylenol. That night was the first night that the Snoogle didn't help me :( My hips were so sore and every time I tried to switch sides they made me moan with pain... very uncomfy.

Tonight was the first time I've had a leg cramp this pregnancy, I can't believe I forgot how painful these things are!!! I must have pointed my toes while trying to roll onto my other side and it felt like someone just punched me in the calf. Poor Colin was woken suddenly by my "ouch"es and squirms. My calf was ROCK HARD! I tried to sit up to massage it but of course, I was like a fish out of water... what pregnant woman with this big of a belly can sit-up by herself?! Thankfully Colin gave me his hand and I was able to sit up and rub my knuckles over the calf muscle. Now it feels like a bruised muscle... awesome.

I guess these are all good signs - I'm that much closer to meeting this little girl!

33 Weeks

http://s367.photobucket.com/albums/oo114/missstasiuk/33%20weeks/

You know what's depressing... I just bought this white shirt about a month or two ago and I had AMPLE room! Now I've got to wear my belly band so that my gut isn't sticking out :P

Your baby now weighs about 4.2
pounds / 2 kilograms and measures approximately 17 inches/ 44 centimetres from
head to toe. Your baby should already be getting ready for delivery by turning
upside-down -- his head should be pointing down.

Your doctor or midwife will be
paying careful attention to your baby's position in the coming weeks -- some
babies do decide to turn back round again. Your baby's skull is still quite
pliable and not completely joined, in part so he can ease out of the relatively
narrow birth canal. But the bones in the rest of his body are hardening. Your
baby's skin is also gradually becoming less red and wrinkled.

If you're a first-time mother, your
child's head may move into the pelvis this week and press firmly against your
cervix. (This happens for about half of all first-time mothers.) If you're a
second-time mum, you can expect this to happen a week before labour -- and for
some this won't happen until the start of labour.

You may notice that your feet and
ankles are quite swollen by the end of the day. Water retention, also known as
oedema, is often worse in warm weather and late in the day. Surprisingly,
keeping hydrated helps reduce water retention. Your body -- particularly your
kidneys -- and your baby need plenty of fluids, so drink up. If you suddenly
feel swollen or puffy in your hands or face, however, call your doctor -- it may
be a sign of pre-eclampsia.

50 Days Left!

Oh goodness, this due date is creeping up on me.

I'm starting to feel the regular aches and pains associated with the third trimester. I find I have to pace myself in my regular house hold duties and I've got to sit down a lot more than usual, my stamina isn't like it use to be.

My hips are a major ouchies right now. I can't lie on my side anymore, I find that if I'm playing with Robbie on the floor and go to get up I'm in some serious pain. I had the same kind of pains when I was lying in bed with Robbie while I read a bed time story to him, so now I sit on the floor right on the edge of his bed :( It's not the same as crawling into bed with him and cuddling.

This little girl loves to boot the *beep* out of me... especially around 8-9pm, that's her peak time. I forgot why pregnant women put their hands on their bellies, to keep the baby from bursting out of the skin! It seriously feels that way, especially on my right side. She pushes so hard and so fast that I'm quickly pushing her back because it feels like she's going to rip through my flesh!

For the past couple of mornings I've been wide awake right around the time that Colin gets up to go to work (6am) it's kind of nice to see him off to work and then I get to watch the news before Robbie wakes up.

A little side note, I'm part of an online pregnancy message board and three (yes, 3) of our December moms have already had their babies. Two of them weighed 3lbs and a bit and the other one weighed 7lbs (and he was just 33 weeks old). Crazy, hey?!?!