Hello 38 weeks! I can’t believe that I’m here! Now that I crossed this threshold I can share that my doctor’s prediction was that baby boy would come before 38 weeks. I was fairly certain when he said that he was jinxing me and I’ll probably go to 41 weeks.
I did an Instagram poll last week and the vote was in favor of a late arrival. Only time will tell. It’s the craziest thing to think that it could be tonight…or next week…or 3 weeks from now!
38 WEEKS PREGNANCY UPDATE
Once again, not much to report on baby boy. He’s chilling in there gaining a bit more weight and preparing for his birthday!
I’m very excited to meet him. I have wondered so much about what he’s going to look like since Tanner and I have pretty much opposite coloring and features. I have dreamed so much about that moment that he’s put on my chest for the first time. I just can’t wait. <3
HOW I’M FEELING AT 38 WEEKS PREGNANT
The body changes that have come with pregnancy felt like something that I wanted to dive deeper into for today’s post.
One thing I have learned in my years of working with pregnant training clients and yoga students, as well as having friends who have been through many pregnancies, is that everyone’s experience of pregnancy and body changes/image/relationship is different. I honestly had no idea how I would feel about my body/in my body while pregnant.
Minus the one scare that I had at 27 weeks, which I attribute mostly to stress, sickness and exhaustion, I’ve been so lucky to have a physically very easy pregnancy. As most of you know, I didn’t experience morning sickness in my first trimester and was able to keep up a pretty normal workout schedule until the third trimester. I’ve had minimal physical symptoms that I can really complain about…even now at 38 weeks.
As I’ve shared many, many times before, the biggest challenge throughout pregnancy for me has been the emotional side of it. I dealt with almost crippling anxiety about miscarriage in the first trimester to be shortly followed by a really down and depressed period of grief around the time of my brother’s birthday and the holidays. Finally, as I’ve mentioned briefly in other posts, relationship challenges have made the third trimester a roller coaster of emotions. At some point in the future I might share more about what that experience has been like but for now…I’m focusing on welcoming this baby into the world.
So…back to the body stuff. I have found that I LOVE the hell out of my pregnant body.
Earlier today I was putting together collages for this post. Someone suggested last week that I should compare early pregnancy to now. Here is a photo of me at 5 weeks and at 38 weeks. Putting them side-by-side was a shock.
I weighed the same thing (within 5 pounds) from high school until getting pregnant. While my body has certainly changed and transformed over the years depending on how I was training, for the most part it has stayed the same. I have always had a leaner, more athletic body type. One of the things that I’ve always felt most conscious about is my very small chest and tendency to be really muscular, especially in my arms. Finally seeing my body a little more shapely and filled out during pregnancy has been the coolest experience.
For the first time in my life I can fully fill up an A cup, I like to think I have a little extra booty back there, my face is fuller and I just overall feel very feminine and love the softness of it…extra cellulite and all. Don’t get my wrong, I also love my strong and muscular pre-pregnancy body but pregnancy has been a wonderful change of pace for me. I’ve connected with my body on a deeper level than I ever have before. It is truly a miracle what it is doing for me and this baby right now. I have a whole new level of respect for it.
I mean!!!!! Ahhhh! I will miss this bump!
And I have to say again that I know everyone’s experience of pregnancy in their body is so different. I’ve also had friends and clients share candidly that they REALLY struggled with feeling at home in their pregnant bodies and I think it’s so normal and so necessary to talk about that too. It just felt important for me to share what it’s been like for me, especially as someone who works in the fitness industry.
You may also want to read: my postpartum fitness plans.
THE REGULAR STUFF
Symptoms:
- Allllll the pelvic pain and some pressure on and off. Holy cow. Baby’s head is SO, so, so low and putting so much pressure on nerves and just everything in general. Some days it even hurts to walk and roll over in bed.
- Allllll the peeing, especially at night. I think I was up 7 times last night…and I’m not even joking.
- Fatigue, especially in my legs and especially at the end of the day and some during the day mostly in the afternoons.
- On and off cramping and nausea. Comes and goes.
- No swelling of hands or feet, blood pressure is low!
Workouts: daily walks 2-3.5 miles, teaching strength once a week (tonight is my last class!) and a few yoga practices. Moving every day and it’s what helps the most with my pelvic pain, fatigue and overall discomfort.
Food: cramping, nausea and occasional heartburn have not made for the best food situation. I’m really good for breakfast and lunch and then things go downhill for dinner. I typically have to force myself to eat dinner and it’s usually not until 8:30 or 9 that I can get hungry/psyched up enough to eat anything. It’s so weird.
Getting labor going: my doctor told me to stay as active as possible to get things moving. I’m now sitting on a birth ball (exercise ball) at my desk every day, doing lots of squats (especially low squats in yoga) making sure to get my walks in and doing fun things like bathing the dogs.
I thought surely a 3 mile walk and bathing both girls today would do something…but nope! 🙂 We were a sight to see on the back patio with the garden hose.
They sure do look cute though! And they’ll be clean when their baby brother comes home! 🙂
Speaking of cleaning, I’m feeling the need to clean all the things. My housekeeper was here this morning, I have professional carpet cleaners here as I type this post and I’ve been doing things like organizing bathroom vanities, washing and folding baby clothes, wrapping up house projects and more. This is coming from a girl who is NOT a neat freak!
Back to getting labor going, I don’t really buy into all the food superstitions and whatnot. I think he’ll just come when he’s ready to come!
QUESTIONS
What was your #1 physical symptom in the last weeks of pregnancy?
Was there anything that helped to “get your labor going?”
How did you feel in your body/about your body when pregnant?
Craziest pregnancy cleaning/organizing story?
You look happy and ready!
My boy was “in position” weeks early according to my OB and I was having lots of contractions. Every doctor appointment I had she told me to be prepared for the baby to come early.
Yeah…he was a week late and I had to be induced. 😛 Basically, babies decide when LOL
Good luck and relax!
Yes! This happens so much. I wish no one would predict at all, especially doctors. Also the “going to be a big baby, better induce” prediction and then the baby is 7pounds. Just let the baby come when he or she is ready. Predictions mean nothing and I think it just sets moms up for disappointment/worry.
I have heard this SO much from so many different women and birth stories! It’s so crazy!
I don’t know if I’ll ever be “ready” but he’s coming and I know I’ll figure it out and that life will never be the same again in a positive way that I can’t even imagine right now!
And I so think that will be the case for me as well. This boy is going to come when he decides it’s time. I don’t think anyone else has a clue!
You look awesome!!
Two quick things…I ate eggplant parmesan two days before my daughter was born and one day before my son was born 🙂 So that little trick worked for me. HAHA
Also, the nesting cleaning instinct. My sister told me that when that instinct kicked in really strong, the baby was about two weeks away and she was pretty much right on! 🙂
Thanks Suzanne! I do LOVE eggplant parm so maybe I’ll have to make some for kicks! 🙂
I had twins at age 40 after three years of infertility (we used IVF to conceive), and twin pregnancy is really hard on a body, esp. a middle-aged body. So my experience while pregnant was exactly the opposite of yours in that I felt physically terrible while feeling terrific mentally. I was elated to finally become a mother, and my husband and I got along great my whole pregnancy! (He was actually much more caring and nurturing than normal.)
I have been overweight my entire adult life but actually lost weight the entire first trimester (due to severe all-day nausea/vomiting and many food aversions) and only gained 25 lbs with my twins. (By 6 weeks postpartum, I weighed 15 lbs less than on the day my sons were conceived!) I had many unpleasant physical symptoms but the worst were bone-deep fatigue all but about two weeks of my second trimester, nausea/vomiting, and severe heartburn starting midway through the second trimester. (Oh, and I also developed gestational diabetes and later preeclampsia, which forced me to deliver early, at 34 weeks.)
My #1 symptom in the last trimester was exhaustion.
Oh, and I never went into labor, since I had a semi-emergent C-section long before I was due. So no experience to share in that regard.
I cannot even imagine a twin pregnancy Sharon. It’s truly incredible that your body was able to carry those babies for you and I can only imagine how terrible you must have felt physically. It’s wonderful to hear that it was a positive mental experience for you and something that bonded you and your husband.
I’m so sorry to hear that you were so sick in the first trimester. That’s the worst. <3 Congrats on your twin babies and I hope your family is happy and thriving. <3
Thank you! Time goes by, and memory is kind: my sons are now 6, and I rarely ever think of how hard my pregnancy and delivery with them was. Such a small fraction of our whole lives together (though it certainly felt interminable at the time — ha!).
I can’t wait for the little guy’s arrival! Wishing you a safe and easy delivery xoxo
Thanks Hillary!
Somehow the nesting instinct skipped me 3 times and I so wish it hadn’t because my house is always in desperate need of cleaning and organization!
Not on topic of today’s post (and I am not a paid spokesmodel lol!) but I just discovered this swaddle – the Nested Bean – for the 3rd kid and omg I LOVE it. I’m spreading the word to anyone who is pregnant right now because I wish I had known about it sooner!! I ordered it at 2am one night during a feed and it has worked insanely well for my little one. It has this genius little bean bag right on their chest (to mimic your hand resting there) and it washes incredibly well!
Haha on the nesting Trish! I would say mine is hybrid doing it myself and paying people to help me! Not my fave thing to do with my extra time.
I so appreciate the swaddle recommendation. Checking that out now!
My best advice to you would be (and you likely don’t want to hear it, but it will likely be the best advice you will get)… DO NOT rush the sleepless nights. Seriously, I didn’t understand it until my second baby(bc I knew what happens once that baby comes). Everyone always wants to rush that baby out but honestly enjoy whatever sleep you are getting now. Even if you aren’t getting much I can promise you it’s more than you will be getting. Enjoy the magic of pregnancy while it lasts 🙂 You will miss that cute bump of yours.
Oh I am so not rushing him out! I am TOTALLY good with him staying put until his due date. I am cramming in as many lunches and dinners with friends, shopping trips, massages and baby-free nights as possible before he makes his debut! 🙂
I will so miss him on the inside but know it will be amazing to have him on the outside. <3
I have no advice on the pregnancy side but THANK YOU for this wonderful write up on how being pregnant has changed your body and how you’ve completely EMBRACED it!!! I am extremely petite and while shorter than you – we have similar body types in that I gained muscle after starting CrossFit 5 years ago and my arms are muscular as is my back/shoulders but I have also have barely filled out a A cup and I have to wear 28-30 band sizes!! It makes me super excited to read your post and (hopefully) when I’m pregnant one day it’ll be somewhat of a similar experience to yours 🙂 So excited for you to meet your little boy soon!
Hi Nicki – you are so welcome. It’s been the coolest thing to experience pregnancy in my body and something I will forever cherish! <3
You look very beautiful and happy. It sounds silly to many people, but I really struggled emotionally with my pregnant body. I had been 300 pounds and lost half my body weight. I lost weight the first trimester due to hyperemesis gravidarum but once my symptoms subsided in my second trimester, I started putting on a lot of weight (36 pounds total). That made me very anxious to see the scale go up even though logically I knew these changes are supposed to happen during pregnancy. Last trimester I didn’t have many symptoms other than occasional nausea and heartburn and fatigue. I was a procrastinator in the nesting department. Nothing got organized until about week 37 and I realized that I could have a baby with nowhere to put it. I also found out that babies will come when they come. It was predicted that I would go early. My due date came and went. I tried walking and kept up with going to group exercise classes. I ended up being induced a week after my due date and delivered a healthy 9 pound baby girl.
Hi Kimberly – I can’t thank you enough for your comment. I don’t think that it sounds silly at all. I’ve had quite a few friends who also really struggled emotionally with this aspect of pregnancy and like I mentioned in my post, I think it’s important to talk about. I can’t even imagine what that was like for you mentally/emotionally and you sharing your struggle helps others not feel so alone. I think that all to often pregnancy gets painted in this amazing light when in reality, it’s really freaking hard…whether you’re struggling mentally, physically or both!
I also believe baby is just going to come when he’s ready to come! It’s such a crazy waiting game!
You look so wonderful and it’s so great to hear how happy you sound! I can’t wait to hear what the name is! That baby boy is very lucky to have you as a mom!
Thank you so very much Joy! Confession: we are still struggling with names!
At 35 weeks, I feel like I finally love the bump. And now it will be only a few more weeks until it’s gone! I think the impending excitement of finally meeting the little one has helped me embrace it. Sending you lots of good vibes!
I was getting semi-regular pregnancy massages with a certified doula. A few days before Olive’s due date, I had a scheduled massage. She asked me if I wanted her to push on certain parts of my feet to encourage labor, I said yes. I thought nothing of it but sure enough, 2 days later contractions started and I had Olive on her due date. Who knows if it’s all connected but I am a firm believer of pressure point inducing massage! Also, spicy foods although the heartburn killed me.
I have no crazy cleaning stories but I most definitely was in super cleaning mode right before each girl came. It was like this thing I could not control. I had to clean in all, even the inside of the oven. Because you know, the baby will totally give a shit about the oven.
I’ve always struggled with body image and still do but when I was pregnant, I felt beautiful. Like straight up pretty. I think the idea of building a baby is such a powerful and precious thing and having the honor to do that twice made me feel even more at ease with the curves and softness.
Also, near the end my back killed me. I had to sleep on the couch to have a prop of sorts. I struggled so sit up straight and just wanted to lounge all the time.
Oh wow, I can’t believe you’re posting this either – I figured you would be holding that baby boy in your next picture. I’m so excited for you!! Like you, I’ve always had a smaller chest and after my kids I was totally weirded out by having a big chest! I didn’t like it one bit. No worries, they shrunk right back down again 🙂
Thanks Lisa! Yeah, I think that having a bigger chest when breastfeeding will be an adjustment for me. I love my small chest because it’s so easy to manage for workouts and running. I never have any sports bra or support issues! 🙂
The full moon is April 29!
That always seemed to work around here. Best wishes!
That’s my grandmother’s prediction!
I love reading these sweet baby posts. Kinda makes me miss pregnancy 🙂 I’ve always thought the last weeks of pregnancy were like a race. The problem is, you have no idea if it’s a 5k or a Marathon 🙂 You have to be ready to go at any second, but also be ready to hang in there for the long haul. Lots of hurry up and wait! I tried to make a plan for a small fun treat every single day in the last weeks – whether that be a haircut, or a walk with a friend, or watching a movie I’ve always wanted to see – so that if the baby didn’t come that day, I at least had an activity to look forward to…and if he did, well, then I had a baby! I remember having to cancel a hair appointment the morning I had my son 🙂 You look great – thanks for your vulnerability in this post!
Melissa – such a TRUE statement about the race that you have no clue if it’s a 5K or marathon. LOVE IT! I’ve been making tons of plans with friends to do fun things to help pass the time!
The physical symptom I had the most at the end was pain in my ribs. Everyone kept telling me it was the baby’s feet hooking the ribs. Turns out it was his head and he never turned down. Which is also why I may have gone into labor at 37 weeks. He was trying to turn and my water broke!
I felt mostly good about my body. I was actually trying to work out (pregnancy friendly of course) more than before I was pregnant.
Good luck to you! You’re right he’ll come when he wants to!
Oh wow! That is crazy Pamela!
Wonderful to hear that you stayed active throughout!
This is such a beautiful thing to read!
I’m someone who is athletic and builds muscle easily – but will always be softer, curvier, with a booty I’ve ALWAYS wanted that thin, lean athletic body you have – so it’s always beautiful to hear that someone else admires aspects of bodies that you might not. A good reminder that nothing is as it seems <3
Love this comment Lindsay and so important for us to remember that we all have such different experiences and perspectives, especially in things related to the body!
What was your #1 physical symptom in the last weeks of pregnancy?
Period cramps that intensified to real contractions. You will know when they are real!
Was there anything that helped to “get your labor going?”
Like you, I was very active my whole pregnancy and I honestly think that helps. I also bounced on the ball the last couple of days. My labor began on my due date and my delivery was pretty textbook – contractions got stronger, I waited until they were 1 minute long and 5 minutes apart, went to the hospital and I was 4cm dilated. Got my epidural right away and had my baby 9 hours later. It flew by for me because it was through the night and I basically slept the whole time until I had to push. The pushing was definitely the hardest and I was unprepared for just how hard it was. As soon as my baby was born I forgot all about any pain. It’s just amazing!
How did you feel in your body/about your body when pregnant?
I loved being pregnant and loved the way I looked. However, once my baby was born I was really happy not to be pregnant anymore and peeing all the time!
Yes, I’m having those period cramps too but not contractions yet!
Very cool that your labor started on your due date! I feel like that is so rare! It’s so great to hear that you had such a wonderful birth experience.
I WILL NOT MISS the peeing. Holy cow!
this might be my favorite update yet! so excited for you guys, truly!! also it was really cool to read about your body image and whatnot. keepin’ it real girl. love it <3