So, I fell off the baby update wagon. I believe my last update was right around week 20. At my 20 week scan they had a hard time viewing the baby’s heart because of his position, so I was referred to a specialist to view the heart, where they found his heart was great but his head growth was a little behind and I had to come back the following month for a follow up. At the follow up scan all was well and for the remainder of the pregnancy, baby has been growing as he should! At my 36 week scan he was head down, making breathing motions and already has a head full of hair (just like his big brother)! That being said, I am so very grateful that everything turned out well, but the added stress of the extra scans and the anxiety and worry between appointments made it so I didn’t really feel like talking about my aches, pains and food cravings, I just wanted a healthy baby. I’m not high risk by any means, but I can’t imagine the anxiety that goes along with it and I really feel for all the mommas out there who don’t have the smoothest of pregnancies. But, now that we are nearing the end and very soon we will have a newborn baby in our home, I thought it would be fun to recap the pregnancy!

How far along? 38 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 26 pounds and six of those were in the last week! The fluid retention is getting real.
Sleep: Through the entire pregnancy my sleep has been up and down, some nights I sleep well, but lately, I wake up often with having to pee, having pretty bad back pain or shortness of breath from rolling onto my back a little too much. I also have some nights where I wake up at 3am wide awake! Fun times.
Best moment this week: Feeling like we finally have everything ready to go and getting excited that he could be here anyday!
Movement: This baby has always been a really active guy. At the end of pregnancy when they are nice and big it’s fun to see movement from the outside.
Symptoms: A lot of pain! Inner thigh pain, hip pain, back pain, rib pain, headaches, you name it, it’s happening right now. Again, I’m not complaining, it’s something that happens in pregnancy and well worth it!
Food cravings: If I could stop stuffing my face, that would be good. Third tri has brought on a whole new level of hungry and cookie monster desires.
Food aversions: Onions continue to be my nemesis, I don’t want anything that has to do with onions.
Gender: Boy!!
Labor Signs: Yes! Lots of cramping and braxton hicks, baby has started to move down which has been totally uncomfortable in the belly button region (hello internal muscle ripping sensations), but feels a lot nicer in the rib region.
Belly Button in or out? What belly button?
What I miss: Normal clothes, I currently have like two pairs of pants and two shirts that still fit me. I have also grown out of many of my maternity clothes.
What I am looking forward to: Meeting this baby boy!!!

Overall, this pregnancy has been very different from my first pregnancy. My first, was easy sailing, no complications and I felt pretty great overall. This one, there weren’t any complications, but I did have those scary extras and the aches and pains have been rough. My weight gain has been about the same, but with this pregnancy, the way the baby is positioned in my belly has made for a much bigger belly! But, like I said, the journey of pregnancy, while not always pretty, is so worth the reward in the end. We can’t wait to meet you sweet baby boy!