29 week belly pic

29 weeks

28 weeks!

I’m officially in my third trimester! Hallelujah, and boy does it feel good! I have less than 12 weeks left, and while part of me is sad to think that I only have 12 more weeks of this journey left, I am VERY excited about getting my body back and being able to sleep comfortably for long stretches of time without heartburn, leg cramps, the inability to breath because I’ve rolled on to my back and my uterus + baby are crushing my lungs, or simply needing to pee. It’s strange because with Zeppelin’s pregnancy I was okay with the lack of sleep during the third trimester because I felt like my body was gearing up for life with a newborn, and when the time came and I brought him home I was used to not sleeping and it wasn’t too much of a shock. So this time around I actually get to go home after giving birth and (Lord willing) sleep comfortably and for a whole 8+ hours, which most postpartum women don’t get to do!

I totally meant to update last time about my midwife appointment and I forgot. I really like the midwifery group and the midwives that I’ve seen so far are very smart and quite loving. I feel absolutely comfortable having them watch over me during my pregnancy, labor, delivery, and beyond. I had another appointment yesterday and we did the glucose tolerance test, which for those of you who are unfamiliar with prenatal testing, is basically to check to see if I have Gestational Diabetes. Well, I am happy to report that I passed the test and do not have GB. I have been having seriously intense Braxton Hick’s contractions, about 2-3 per hour, and they are very uncomfortable. I actually get short of breath and my heart starts to race. I had no idea that with your second pregnancy these contractions are worse, but the more women I talk to the more I’m finding out that this is the norm. I guess my uterus knows what’s up this time around and has decided to do daily calisthenics!

Baby is moving in less chaotic movements now and more powerful punches, kicks, and flips are being felt. The midwife said she is head down and I’m suspecting spends a lot of time on the right side of my uterus because of the way I feel her movements. Sometimes she can actually move my whole belly with a flip! It’s strange and funny to see my belly jerk to one side, especially while I’m in public. I look forward to the updates from her parents as she grows; I bet she will be an active little girl. 

I had a question from a friend about breastfeeding after birth and as far as I know I won’t be breastfeeding her because her mama is going to try to start lactating before she gets here so she can start nursing her right away. I will pump the colostrum and they (the IP’s) will either give it to her in a dropper or the IM will use a supplemental feeder, like the one shown below. I’m so glad that they intend on breastfeeding and I hope that they have great success! 

Zeppelin and I will be going to Wyoming next week to visit the IP’s and spend a few days with them (did I already mention this?). We are so excited! It will be wonderful to be able to share this pregnancy with them, even if only for a few days. I want them to feel her kicks and talk to her and do all those normal pregnancy things that soon-to-be-parents do. They are having a get together at their home with a lot of their friends and family while I’m there. It should be a blast! Hopefully the weather there is as mild as the weather we’ve been having in the NW this summer. Pregnant me has been enjoying the low 80 degree days and cool nights.

Well, I suppose that’s all for now. I am including a couple of belly pics from this week. Don't laugh, they are before we went swimming and I'm in a bikini. I sort of remind myself of a whale...

I’m thinking my next post will be a Q&A so please ask questions if you have any.

XOXO

Lady Stork.

28 weeks

28 weeks