Oh my goodness friends, 37 weeks seems like a dream. I can’t believe that baby boy could come today…next week…or a few weeks from now. It’s 20 days until my due date and everyone seems to think he’ll be arriving before his due date but I don’t know, I feel like he’s pretty cozy in there and many first time mommas go late. Only he knows! 😉
I will admit that I sometimes whisper prayers while sitting on the toilet in the middle of the night, “Dear god…please don’t let these be labor cramps…don’t let my water break. Not tonight. Give me a few more days…please.” Haha.
37 WEEKS PREGNANCY UPDATE
First, did you know that weeks 37 to 40 are technically month 10 of pregnancy!? My Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy gives a whole explanation about why they divide the book into 10 months instead of 9 but whew. It’s a long 40 weeks no matter how you slice it.
There’s not too much going on with baby boy from a developmental perspective at this phase. By the end of this week he will be considered full-term and it’s safe for him to make his arrival at any time now. He’s still putting on a little extra fat to help him regulate his body temperature once he’s in the outside world and to give him all those cute rolls. 😉
HOW I’M FEELING AT 37 WEEKS PREGNANT
Weight gain/body changes: holding steady at 25 pounds. No new body changes other than the line down my tummy keeps getting darker.
Symptoms: I’m still dealing with all the normal symptoms of being late-third trimester at this point – intermittent heartburn, occasional low back/pelvic pain, itchy belly, fatigue, etc but overall I truly cannot complain. I am not at the point where I’m so uncomfortable that I’m like, “get this baby out!” I also haven’t experienced any swelling in my hands or feet. All things considered, I feel really good and really fortunate to be feeling so good.
Emotionally, I’m struggling a little more. I feel like I’m being bombarded with the question, “Are you so excited?” and “Are you so ready for him to be here?” To be 100% transparent and honest, I am feeling really scared, overwhelmed and nervous and I’ve been pretty emotional about it lately. I called my dad yesterday afternoon while I was walking the girls and opened up to him about how I was feeling and he was so wonderfully reassuring and told me that everything I’m feeling is normal for a new parent and that he was sure I was going to find my way and be a great mom.
Thus the reason for the prayers on the bathroom toilet in the middle of the night. I have this feeling that I’m going to go into labor in the middle of the night. It seems common based on the birth stories I’ve listened to and that seems in line with how my body likes to work when it comes to things related to womanhood.
My friend Virginia sent me half a dozen cupcakes via Postmates yesterday. She said she wanted to send me strength and that cupcakes were basically the same thing. I like how her mind works. There’s a reason we’re such good friends! 😉
Workouts: things have been super low-key on the workout front. I’ve walked 2-3.5 miles most days. Walking seriously makes me feel better than anything else. The fresh air is so good for my head, I love spending the time with the girls before the baby comes, it helps my energy levels, it helps my back and pelvic pain…it’s just great all around. I highly recommend all expecting mamas to WALK!
I’ve taught one strength class and taken one non-heated yoga class.
Baby shower #2: on Sunday we were showered by many of our friends, staff and students from Y2 Yoga.
The shower was held at Namastay Kitchen, which is the restaurant that is attached to the studio and part of the business.
Shower hostesses!
Huge love to BFF Dorie for all of her support through this pregnancy and for co-hosting two showers! She is my rock and has taught me so much about love and friendship. She is so excited to become this baby boy’s aunt!
Speaking of baby boys, my friends brought their eight month old boy to the shower and he was AMAZING. Those baby cuddles were the highlight of my afternoon.
It is still so crazy to me that I have one of those growing in here! <3 Also, I’ve received so many questions about my dress. It’s Free People and not maternity but I got it last summer so I can’t find it online.
How cute are these cups!? And I have to get mushy for a moment. I am so grateful to the Y2 community for showering us and loving us so well. I am so lucky to have met so many amazing people through the studio and Sunday honestly felt like being surrounded by family and being wrapped up in a big hug of support. I’ve heard it takes a village to raise children and I certainly feel grateful to have one behind me.
Can I just say that I am blown away by the wrapping creativity and skills of others? I am the worst!
Best onesie of the day! Can’t wait to see him in this.
QUESTIONS
Your predictions…Peanut Butter Baby…coming before his due date or after!?
What were your first signs of labor with baby #1? Did your labor start immediately and stay or did you go in and out for a few days? I’ve heard that is common. How long was your first labor?
Did you take birth photographs (professional or non)? If so, who took them? How soon after coming home did you take newborn photos?
It would be unusual if you weren’t scared! I went a week over my due date with my son (who’s 2 now) and was so over being pregnant and waiting around for a baby that didn’t seem like he was going to come. When I finally went into labor and the doctor was prepping for me to start pushing, I remember turning to my husband and saying “I’m not ready yet. I just need one more day to get everything ready.” Obviously, I only got about 10 more minutes in that moment but I think that goes to show even with that extra time, no one is ever ready!! I certainly was totally unprepared by how fiercely I would love this little person.
I am also the worst wrapper and am constantly amazed at other peoples’ skills.
I was convinced my son (my first) was going to be late. I didn’t have any Braxton Hicks to speak of and I was pretty sure he was nestled in there tightly. Then, four days before my due date, I was sleeping on the futon in our living room (close to the bathroom for my many nighttime bathroom breaks) and I rolled over around 2:00am and felt like I was leaking. I was like, “Oh great, I’ve reached the stage of pregnancy where I’m peeing myself” and went to the bathroom but I couldn’t stop the leaking and it finally occurred to me that my water broke. I waited it out for contractions to start but they didn’t. Called my doctor’s office and they told me since I wasn’t contracting, I could come in at 7 or 8am. I did and then we waited some more for contractions to start but they didn’t. Since my water broke there was a risk of infection if I didn’t start laboring within a certain time period, so I was induced. From the time my water broke until when I delivered my son after an hour of pushing it was about 20.5 hours. It felt a lot faster, though!
Also, I wanted to add that it’s totally normal to feel absolutely terrified as a first time mom-to-be. When they told me it was time to push, I got SO anxious. And honestly, I didn’t bond with my son the minute they put him on my chest. I was exhausted and terrified and I was like, what am I supposed to do with this creature?! But he’s two now and he’s the best thing that ever happened to me. You will be just fine. <3
Labor…hmmm….it’s a pretty short story. We were watching Parks and Recreation, I laughed too hard an my water broke. I hadn’t started contractions or even dilated so it was a long process. But it’s a good story 🙂
I had really bad lower back pain that went in waves with my first. Had my assistant not told me that happened with her, I would have had no clue I was in labor!
I was due with my son on 8/29/15. Our dog (our first baby) was diagnosed with liver disease in May at only 7 years old. 3 months and $20K+ in vet bills later (thank god for pet insurance!) and the doctors were telling us we had done everything we could, it was time to let him go. We said goodbye to him on August 22nd. Two days later, my water broke spontaneously and our son was born a few hours later. We 100% believe our dog was waiting to leave us until we had someone new to love. Even now, I can’t believe we got through it. Bringing home a newborn while grieving the loss of our dog was the biggest emotional roller coaster of our lives. The bright light in the story? Those two definitely crossed paths on a rainbow bridge. We see glimpses of our dog’s crazy personality in our son every day!
Hi there! Long time blog reader & local Charlottean here.
You are totally normal to feel anxious/emotional/terrified of motherhood. It didn’t hit me until I was being admitted to the hospital, but I kept telling my husband “I think we should have waited longer [to have kids]”. Which is so silly to think of now, because once that baby is in your arms… you just figure it out. Even if you don’t get that instant bond (I don’t think I did), you realize that all the stuff you were scared about is insignificant, and you and this new human are going to get it all figured out together.
I think PBR baby will be a week early! Your belly looks nice and low and ready to go!
First signs of labor were diarrhea (tmi?) for a day before it started, increasingly regular Braxton Hicks, and this uneasy/queasy feeling at the pit of my stomach. Then a mere 62 hours of labor later, she was born! ? Your yoga and breathing will get you through this!
Nerves are totally normal! Somehow it will all fall into place naturally after he’s here – I know that sounds crazy now, but it will. I had zero baby experience prior to my first son and we did just fine. Your son won’t know the difference! 🙂
I started having contractions at around midnight the day before my due date with my first son, after getting up to go to the bathroom. My water broke about 6 hours later (just as I was stepping out of the car at the hospital! Perfect timing) and he was born almost exactly 7 hours after that (so 13 hours total labor). I had no Braxton Hicks prior to that but somehow just knew the contractions were the real deal once they didn’t go away after lying back down.
The only professional newborn photos we did were in the hospital (with the hospital photographer). I’m personally not big on the staged, posed newborn photo trend but I’m glad we have the ones from the hospital.
I’m also terrible with wrapping and am very impressed by creative wrappers. My husband actually wraps most of the gifts we give other people! He’s much better at it than me.
I was SO scared before my son was born. Like that was the prevailing emotion from the time I found out I was pregnant. Not going to lie – the transition was rough once he got here, but I also had no friends with babies and hadn’t been around babies much. But about 2 months in, I was a pro and now I love it (he’s 3 years old). You’ll be fine!
I can’t believe how close you are! I predict he will come a few days before his due date:)
Try to relax about becoming a parent. You’ll figure it out and do great! Some things will be easier than you imagined and some things will be more challenging, but you figure it out as you go and it all works out.
With my first I never went into labor. Seriously, never felt a single contraction. I was induced 9 days past my due date during which time my water broke on it’s own and still nothing…Whomp, whomp. I also never really felt any braxton hicks contraction during pregnancy which I think is a good predictor of your body and it’s readiness for labor. So no big labor story for me:)
With my firs we didn’t do newborn pictures and I really regretted it. With my second we did newborn picture when he was a week old which seemed like perfect timing.
I SO relate to feeling overwhelmed about the impending arrival and ready to meet the little person inside but yet not ready for the huge change that having them would bring to our lives. Despite some physical discomfort at the end of pregnancy, my body took care of her without me needing to know what to do and I was so nervous for when I had to be the one to know when and how to do everything for her after she was born. You’ll get through this roller coaster emotional time and once he’s here, you’ll figure out caring for him and will be a fantastic mom!
Hi Jen,
My first labor was 23 hours— thank goodness the second baby came quicker. I am guessing pb baby will come slightly before his due date. Both of my babies came just a couple days after their due dates, but I’m tall (5’ 10”) and I think they felt comfortable in there with all that torso room.
I did newborn photos a week after birth. That way the babies are still super sleepy and just go with the flow for photos. Plus it’s such a special new time to capture—> only that tiny once!
I was like you, when people asked if I was so excited I couldn’t honestly say yes. So many unknowns with being a first time mom, and with my second baby I was excited to get baby out, but I also knew that it was going to be a lot of work and exhaustion with a newborn so I wasn’t necessary excited for that. You will be so excited though once he is here. Your heart will burst! ❤️
My first signs of labor with #1 woke me up at about 1:45 in the morning and I originally just thought I had to go #2 (tmi, sorry) After going to the bathroom, those crampy, pressure feelings kept coming back. So I decided that they were probably contractions and my husband and I started timing them and they were already 1:30-3 minutes apart. My husband called the on-call doctor and he said that were in the beginning stages of labor, I was 37 weeks along, and to hang out as long as possible at home. Being a first-time mom and naive, we hung out for a few hours at home assuming that this was going to be a long process since that’s what EVERYONE tells you with your first baby. The contractions weren’t slowing down so we got to the hospital at 5:30 AM and once I was settled in the room I felt like I had to push and the nurse checked my cervix and I was already dilated to 9cm. The doctor took a bit to get there so I had to breathe and really concentrate on not pushing until he arrived. Also, everything you learn in birthing class goes out the window and I needed to verbally hear the nurse tell me how to breathe lol. My doctor had to break my water which relieved some of the pressure and then I started pushing. She was born about 45 minutes later. So total labor time was about 6 hours. Sometimes labor is super fast and atypical; my water never broke, I only felt my contractions once they were 2-3 mins apart, I never lost my mucus plug etc. Oh, and we had a doula that my husband and I were so excited to work with but we didn’t even call her because it happened so fast!
I just want to say that you’re going to be amazing; in labor, as a mom etc. Our bodies are literally made for childbirth!
Hello!! So excited to hear about the (impending) arrival of your little man. Just wanted to validate your feelings of nervousness/fear – 100% normal both at this stage of pregnancy and postpartum. It’s ok!! I dealt with this too (and still am to a certain degree) and it’s been wonderfully reassuring to hear from other mommas that this is part of the road…yes it’s a wonderful and joyous time but don’t beat yourself up over these emotions too.
Hi jen! I had my first baby last year and he was a week early. I was 50% effaced at 37 weeks like you were, and they say that effacement is a way better indicator of labor than dilation! So since you’re already effaced that far I’m going to say that you’ll go early too :). But I woke up around 7am the day I gave birth with contractions that felt like Braxton hicks. But then I noticed that they kept happening every 20 minutes or so. They weren’t painful but I could feel them. So I started timing them, and they kept getting a little stronger and a little closer together as the day went on. I went for a walk around noon because I read that if you walk around and the contractions go away that they aren’t real labor contractions. Mine continued on, and by 3p I was in A LOT of pain and my contractions were 4-5 minutes apart so we headed to the hospital. My son was born at 11:30 that night! So I guess my advice is to just start timing if you feel anything even if you think it could Braxton hicks! Good luck!!
We used the my siblings have paws onesie to announce our pregnancy! I’m two weeks behind you. Hoping for a smooth, successful delivery for you!
Thank you for being so honest about those middle of the night prayers ?? nothing better than praying to alleviate stress and anxiety!
Wow! I can’t believe the due date is so near! I think it’s completely normal to feel so nervous about everything but it’s all so new and it’s such a big change–a wonderful change! You’re going to be such a great mom, no doubt about it.
I can tell you that on the ride to the hospital while in labor, I was still trying to somehow get out of it! I was so scared! it’s totally normal. If I can do it, you can totally do it, I swear! 🙂 My water broke at 3:45 am the day before my due date. Looking back, I think the day before my Braxton hicks were a little stronger and I felt constipated even though I wasn’t. And I was a little nauseous. Those may (may not) have been little signs before my water broke. Also, my labor wasn’t overly long – even with an epidural and pitocin, I dilated to 10 pretty quick. Wishing you only the best and a really easy labor whenever it is xoxox
Can I just say I love these updates?! I’m a week and a half behind you with baby #3 and it’s so fun to follow along.
Our first came at 39 weeks and 1 day. I had been to the doctor earlier that day and was not dialated at all. She went ahead and set an induction date for a week later and I went on my way thinking I had a whole week to get stuff done ? I really had no sign of impending labor – just some Braxton hicks and cramping but I went to bed and got up to use the bathroom at 1am and boom – water broke. With a little pitocin at the hospital (I still was not dialating) he made his debut at 1:30pm. I will say there was a huge freak May snow storm that blew through that night and I was with 22 other women giving birth and ended up delivering in triage but made for a good story 🙂
Baby number two’s delivery was perfection! Still no labor signs and dialated at half a cm at 39 weeks and 5 days. We again set an induction date for a week out. The next morning at 7am got up to use the bathroom and water broke. Baby girl arrived at 5pm that afternoon.
So excited to see what your birth story ends up being like. Hang in there with the emotions. All totally normal. Oh and I think your little one will arrive at 39 weeks and 4 days 🙂 Xoxo
#1 I’m also a horrible wrapper!
#2. I predict he comes on due date! My first did! I felt odd the morning I woke up and then I started losing my guts (come to find out diarrhea is normal sign-gross). Then I lost my mucus plug(so gross) and bam in labor. I felt contractions about 10 and had her at 3pm. Super quick. I hope yours is short and sweet!!
Don’t feel alone in nervousness. Remember we all start out right where you are -unknown, nervousness, fear,excitement you name it!
Sam
I lost my guts too. Like 5 times the day prior!
You will be so great, Jen! I totally get the fear of the process starting – as so many above have said, that’s so normal! I had a great pregnancy and all of a sudden, at the end, started getting anxious. I hadn’t felt like that at all and one night just felt the need to hunker down. I started texting or instagramming friends, asking about when they went into labor, not realizing that I must have known it was about to happen! I delayed bed until 12:30 pm (not usual for me!) and contractions started at 1:30 am. I breathed through them all, knowing each one served a purpose, and by 12:34 pm the next afternoon had a beautiful baby girl in my arms in our home! Not that it was easy, but it was doable! Fitness helped prepare me for the breathing and knowing I could do hard things, and oddly enough, the time flew by as the contractions picked up and got harder. But I was so nervous that day leading up to it all starting – how will I know? What exactly will it feel like? How hard will it really be? Will I yell or breathe and throw things or bounce on a ball? So many unknowns. But you will do it! And then it’s the best thing ever – as much as I loved being pregnant, having Abi on the outside as my little friend is by far better. 😉
Sure thinking of you! I think the hardest part was going, “Okay, it could be today! Or tomorrow. Or in 3 weeks!” I went until 40 weeks, 3 days and I was comfortable the whole time physically, and I kept thinking, “Keep growing away, little one!” So excited for you guys!
PS – typing that out I started leaking so badly! haha – now I want to nurse but my babe is down for a nap! so funny! must have released some hormones or something!
I had some complications towards the end of pregnancy and was potentially going to need to be induced three weeks early. I figured I should FINALLY buy stuff for my hospital bag so we went shopping. My water broke in the middle of the store when I was contemplating the best face wash to buy ??. I calmly walked over to my husband and whispered “I think my water broke!” It’s a fun story to tell now!
You look fantastic! I think the anxiety you are feeling is totally normal, IMO. With my first, I had on and off contractions all day at work the day before my due date. I started timing them around dinner time and they kept coming all night but not consistently close together enough. It was definitely awhile before I was willing to admit I was pretty sure it was labor! He was born at 11:16pm on his due date. With my second my water broke so that was a much clearer sign! I was so happy. I’m 32 weeks now with #3 and can’t wait to meet this one!
My water broke 3 days early with my first baby…..and I was on my own at the mall! I remember trying to walk calmly back to my car through Macys with my heart beating out of my chest. Lovely Jen, my wish for you is that you will be…..not at the mall when your waters break 🙂 In fact don’t go anywhere on your own after week 39!
I went 4 days prior to my baby boy’s due date. I knew it was labor at about 830pm and he was born at 11:46pm! Phew! It was fast!
I didnt take pictures at the hospital.
We took his newborn photos at like..5 days old?
Eeeeee so excited to meet baby boy! 🙂
I think he’ll be here early! 🙂
I had my daughter on 2/22/18 when I was 39wks1d. Like you, I assumed that I was going to go into labor in the middle of the night. Nope. She had other plans. For a few weeks I had been joking that my water would break at work.. and sure enough it did – at 3:30pm on 2/21.
I didn’t think I was having any signs leading up to her birth. All I was having was bad lower back pain but only on the right side. The Friday before I was to L&D bc the pain was so bad they wanted to make sure I didn’t have a kidney stone(s) or pre-e (because the pain was localized). And that following Monday I was at the OB for my weekly check up and I was 75% and not dilated at all! Hell, my cervix hadn’t even moved forward yet (like it’s supposed to – and it didn’t until well into labor). But that back pain was labor pain.
From water breaking until she was born at 1:24am on 2/22, my labor was a little under 10 hours. I pushed for about an hour and 20 minutes mainly because my contractions had long pauses in between. There was another girl giving birth and my doctor was going between us both during our pushing! Haha, she kept saying it was race – and I won! 🙂
I went in wanting an epidural but didn’t get it because I progressed extremely fast – went from 3cm to 10cm in about an hour! My hospital wouldn’t give an epidural until 4 or 5 cm, so I had Stadol. It worked great the first time but when I took it a second (bc I was in so much pain) it didn’t work. If you’re in that situation, I don’t recommend getting Stadol twice – just once. It made me so out of it that I don’t remember most of what happened, unfortunately. Luckily, I remember baby girl coming out, but until then it was mostly a blur.
If you plan on having a natural birth, trust me, you can do it! The worst part was the contractions but when you start pushing it feels so much better! (But it still is childbirth, lol.) I didn’t want to stop pushing! It’s all mind over matter.
Good luck, Jen! You’ll do great! 🙂
My labor started the evening of my due date with contractions. They started earlier that day as period cramps then got more intense. I labored at home through the night and the next day. I went to the hospital around 5pm, at 4cm dilated, and had my baby at 2am. I had a pretty typical labor and birth and was very fortunate it did not last long. From the time I got to the hospital until she was born it was 9 hours. To me, it flew by! I did get an epidural and that was the least painful of the entire process. Pushing was harder than I thought! I worked out right up until my due date and I was not prepared for how hard pushing is!
I think your baby will come on time 🙂
We had newborn pictures at 1 week at our house.
My little girl was due May 2, 2014 and was born May 7th—and at this point in my pregnancy I was scared to death! I was googling and reading and freaking. You’re totally normal, and you’ll get through it.
So my daughter came five days after her due date. I had acupuncture a few times after my date had passed because my ob was pressuring me to set up an induction, which I did not want. I had it on my due date, I think, and then the day or two before I had her. Maybe it helped? Hard to say. Anyway, I woke around 430 and felt a little water leakage. I went upstairs to email work to say this was it, then went to the bathroom around 530 and WHOA, my water broke, big time! I immediately started having contractions about two minutes apart, all in my back (she was sunny side up). I called my doula and the doc, and got to the hospital by maybe 730 am. After that was labor, long story short I had an epidural at about 1230 when I was maybe 7 centimeters, and we all chilled out for a while, and she finally arrived just after six pm.
We had newborn photos taken when she was about 12 days old, after the little umbilical cord stump fell off.
You can do this!!
Xo
I’m going to have to say I think you are gonna go after your due date! I say this because it looks from the pics that your baby hasn’t dropped yet. Mine dropped at 36 weeks and I birthed at 40 weeks, 1 day.
i have nothing to add that hasn’t already been said, and have no baby/pregnancy advice whatsoever, but i KNOW you are going to be an amazing mom and things will come very naturally for you <3 also loving reading your journey and honesty and its just all around great, girl!