37 Weeks

How Far Along: 37 weeks

Total Weight Gain: up 22 pounds

Cravings: Still loving crushed ice.  My sweet tooth is still there, but is subsiding slowly. 

Symptoms:  My heartburn is out of control!  Water gives it to me, and laying down at night really sets it off also.  I’ve stopped eating or drinking after about 8pm so that when I go to sleep there’s at least a chance I’m not miserable all night. 

Sleep:  I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll actually sleep better when Kaitlyn is here!

Movement:  Kaitlyn is still moving around like crazy.  It’s less of kicking and punching and more of stretching out. 

What I’m Looking Forward To:  Maybe getting some comfortable sleep again.  I know I’ll be up every few hours to nurse, but at least the couple of hours in between will not be miserable.  I’m also looking forward to seeing how Kaitlyn’s birth plays out.  Breanna’s was a really good experience, and I’m hoping it will be just as good this time.

Anything Else:  I had my first internal exam a few days ago.  It went really well.  My doctor said Kaitlyn is really, really low!  I’m also 1cm dilated and 75% effaced.  My doctor predicted I would definitely go early again and have a November baby.  I’m really hoping she is correct!!

 

Belly Photo:

35 Weeks

How Far Along: 35 weeks

Total Weight Gain: up 19 pounds

Cravings: crushed ice.  I am constantly crunching away at it.  I may be remembering this incorrectly, but I feel like at this point when I was pregnant with Breanna I didn’t have much of an appetite at all.  I felt like I didn’t have room for it.  This time I feel like I could eat everything in sight!

Symptoms:  My heartburn is out of control!  Water gives it to me, and laying down at night really sets it off also.  This doesn’t help with my sleep issues.  I’m still getting super cranky and my patience is at an all time low.  I don’t know if it’s because of hormones, lack of sleep, or a combination of both but I have to bite my tongue a lot!  I’m trying to choose joy and just be thankful for every aspect of this pregnancy!

Sleep:  Feeling pretty redundant in this category… I am not sleeping well at all.  My hips are sore and now I’m up every few hours to pee.  So looking forward to sleeping on my belly again!

Movement:  Kaitlyn is still very active.  I’m beginning to notice patterns in when she is moving also.  She will often try to stretch out her whole body and push my belly out from all sides, which hurts!!  She is running out of room!  Haha.  She gets the hiccups multiple times a day usually.  I’m trying to take it all in now and enjoy it.  Who knows when/if I will get to experience it again.

What I’m Looking Forward To:  In general I’m just excited to meet her!  I feel like it is getting really close, and I’m looking forward to getting to know her personality. 

 

Anything Else: I have my first internal exam in a little under a week.  The first thing the doctor said to me when she checked me with Breanna was “Wow, she is really low!”  Then I delivered at the end of my 38th week.  I am hoping to hear something similar this time!  I would love to go early with Kaitlyn, and have her birthday as far away from Christmas as possible.

Belly Photo:

32 Weeks

How Far Along: 32 weeks

Total Weight Gain: up 17 pounds.  I am consistently gaining a pound a week right now.  Trying to focus on a healthy baby and mom rather than that number...

Cravings: Sugar.  I have a major sweet tooth.  I’m trying so hard to keep this in check, but it is so hard!  The other thing I can’t get enough of is ice.  I love crushed ice and I’m sure my dentist would not be happy, but I am crunching it around the clock.

Symptoms:  Still getting leg and feet cramps.  I've started getting braxton hicks contrations every once in a while.  It is mostly when I've been standing or walking for long periods of time.  I never had this with Breanna, so it's a new experience.  They hurt but don't last long.  I’m also getting super cranky and my patience is at an all time low.  I don’t know if it’s because of hormones, lack of sleep, or a combination of both but I have to bite my tongue a lot!

Sleep:  If it’s possible, my sleep has gotten even worse over the last week.  I am waking constantly and my hips are incredibly sore. 

Movement:  Kaitlyn is still very active.  Despite all the negative stuff, when I feel her move none of that other stuff matters.  It sounds so cliché, but I am already so in love with her.  She has also started getting hiccups at least once a day, but often more.  Breanna did this too, and it’s such an odd feeling.  I’m told that it is a good sign of the baby learning and practicing breathing.    

What I’m Looking Forward To:  I am starting to really get anxious about her arrival.  My mom got her plane ticket, which makes it seem really close and real!

Anything Else: My glucose test went well, so I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that!  I had a doctor’s appointment this morning, which went great.  My belly is measuring on track and her heart was around 130 BPMs.  All is well, and I am incredibly thankful for that!

Belly Photo:

 

For comparison

30 Weeks with Kaitlyn



30 Weeks with Breanna



 

30 Weeks

How Far Along: 30 weeks

Total Weight Gain: up 15 pounds.  Holy cow!  I’m going to blame vacation for gaining 6 pounds in 4 weeks!  Hopefully that trend doesn’t keep up!

Cravings: no real cravings.  Still liking sweets though.  While it’s not exactly a pregnancy craving (it’s more of an all the time craving), I was so excited to get a frozen hot chocolate while on vacation.  I love it, and our local ice cream places don’t have it.

Symptoms:  I am starting to get leg and feet cramps.  It’s mostly at night and first thing in the morning.  They only last about a minute, but they hurt!!

Sleep: My sleep is getting pretty bad.  Poor Drew ends up on the guest bed at least once or twice a week because I’m tossing and turning so much.  My hips are just so sore.

Movement: Kaitlyn is definitely active!  I feel the biggest movements on the upper right part of my belly.  As of my last doctor’s appointment, this is where her feet and hands are squished.  She is head down, so hopefully she’ll stay that way!

What I’m Looking Forward To:  This is so superficial, but I can’t wait to see what she looks like.  I am also hoping we will be able to decide on a middle name soon!

Anything Else: I had a doctor’s appointment today and everything looks good.  Her heart rate was strong, but it was hard to get BPM because she was moving all over the place.  We couldn’t keep it on the Doppler more than a second or two.  My glucose test was also this morning.  Hopefully that will come back normal so I don’t have to worry about doing the 3 hour test. 

Belly Photo:

 

Breanna wanted in on the action too: