30 Weeks

Earlier this week I wrote about the emotional pain of losing our family puppy -- but unfortunately, I have been dealing with some physical pain this week as well.

Yes, I have finally reached the point in my pregnancy where I can stop bragging about how wonderfully easy this whole experience has been for me.  Suddenly, I am finding it difficult to work at my normal pace.  Suddenly, I'm waddling everywhere instead of walking.  Suddenly, even turning over in bed is a big production.

It's rough.  And because my pregnancy has been so uncomplicated so far, I had forgotten about a lot of these common discomforts.  It's annoying enough to be up every two to three hours peeing in the middle of the night (especially knowing that these are truly my last few weeks of "uninterrupted" sleep) -- but to also fight the constant aches and pains of late pregnancy?  Blech.  In all honesty, I'm probably just to the point where I need to take it a little easier on myself -- I've carried Gavin around far longer than my OB recommended and I'm usually spending free time running errands, doing household chores, or working out -- so it's probably just time to kick my feet up a bit.  But with an active toddler, how realistic is that, really?  Stephen is working full-time and taking classes.  I'm working four days a week.  Somewhere within this alleged "free time," appointments need to be scheduled, bills need to be paid, Gavin needs to run around, meals need to be cooked.  I just don't see how I can afford to slow down now.

Anyway, I've been told a few times that my belly has really, really popped this week -- but I don't think I look much bigger than I did at 25 weeks.  With Gavin, I remember the huge changes happening between 30 and 40 weeks, when the baby gains all its fat, so I'm assuming these next ten weeks will cause the buttons on my maternity clothes to pull even further!

We had attempt #2 at a 3D/4D ultrasound last week, and it was another big failure.  Baylor is already head-down and spine-up, which I've been told is "just perfect for labor and delivery" -- though, with ten weeks to go, I don't need her to be just perfect quite yet!  As a consolation prize for another failed attempt at seeing our little girl, the tech decided to take her measurements and tell us how much she's currently weighing.  3 lb 6 oz, at 29 weeks.  Gavin measured 3 pounds exactly at 30 weeks, and ended up being 8 lb 10 oz -- so needless to say, I'm now picturing giving birth to a 12 pound baby girl in a few weeks.  In addition, TWO different doctors have now told me they won't let me go past 39 or 40 weeks with Baylor (whereas with Gavin, I had to beg to be induced once I passed the 41 week mark).  I feel like there's something I'm not being told here, haha!  The important thing, as always, is that she's happy and healthy in there -- and though I'm uncomfortable and in a substantial amount of pain, I am also healthy where it counts.

I can't believe how close we're getting to being parents of two...!