Winding Down
It’s really striking to me how cyclical life is sometimes. At the beginning of pregnancy, I spent a lot of time feeling worried and anxious, analyzing every twinge & symptom, and hoping that the first trimester would fly by so that I would be in the “safe” zone. And now, here I am at the end of my pregnancy, feeling [sometimes] worried & anxious, analyzing every twinge & symptom, and hoping that the next three weeks until my due date fly by.
The “want” for pregnancy to be over was almost instantaneous once I hit 37 weeks this past Sunday. Which is really funny to me, because I’ve enjoyed it so much over these last nine months. But since I’ve hit that “full term” mark, I just feel ready to be done. We’ve planned and decorated and cooked and cleaned and a whole host of other things to get ready for baby, and now we’re just…waiting. And while the anticipation is really fun, I’m also ready for it to be over. I’m ready for the next chapter. I’m not one who would ever want to wish away pregnancy, but now? I DO find myself kind of doing just that. I know I should try to enjoy these last few weeks when it’s just the two of us…and I definitely am. I’m also taking advantage of going out to eat & getting together with friends at the drop of a hat. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t ready to be done being pregnant.
As for how I’m feeling, I still love every minute of being pregnant…except at night, when I am trying to sleep. All of a sudden (again, it seems like RIGHT when I hit 37 weeks), I am wildly uncomfortable at night and not really sleeping very much. Granted, I haven’t slept much this entire pregnancy, so this development isn’t really new, but I have noticed it feels much more pronounced these last few days. I get a few good hours of sleep in early on, and then inevitably I have to get up to pee and my good night of sleep goes out the window from there. I toss and turn and sometimes lay awake for a long while. My bump feels huge and heavy when I roll over. [Random side note: the whole “sleep now while you still can!” joke is really old. Shut up, seriously. Sleep isn’t like a bank—I can’t stock up now so that when the baby comes I have a ton banked up. Also really old? The “Don’t get so worked up! You’ll go into early labor!” jokes, of which I’ve received a lot. I mean, really? Look, I know I have a very passionate personality, but it has nothing to do with pregnancy or early labor—which, for the record, wouldn’t even be considered “early labor” anymore.]
Another symptom of note: I’ve randomly developed some heartburn in the last three days! I haven’t really had it at all this whole pregnancy and then BAM! Three days ago I started getting it. It’s not too bad and more of a nuisance than anything, but I thought that kind of crap was supposed to go away when the baby dropped, not show up!
Overall, I feel excited, and pretty mellow, and just…ready! I’m not nervous or worried about labor & delivery. Like, at all. This really surprises me because I thought I would feel fearful of labor but those thoughts really haven’t crossed my mind. I do worry sometimes about a cord accident, and I am really, really paying attention to baby movement & kick counts in these last few weeks, but on the whole I would say I am just excited to meet baby boy! I know his dad would love for him to stay in for a few more weeks, but it’s ok if he wants to come early too (hear that, kid?). We had so many people tell us they thought he would be an October baby, and I had numerous dreams about it. But with only a week left in October, I kind of doubt that is happening. I guess we’ll see!
So…let’s take a poll! When do you think The Bookworm Baby will make his debut? Guesses on weights & measurements? If one of you is pretty close to dead on and I’m not too much of a zombie, I’ll try to come up with a prize for the winner (though, no promises, because you know…I’ll uh, have a newborn and everything). Good luck with your guesses! As for me, I have absolutely no idea anymore. Your guess is as good as mine!
My guess is that my little cuz will arrive on Oct 31 (yes Halloween) weighing in at 8lbs 5oz and since his daddy is a tall one 191/2 inches. Good Luck!! I am sure you will rock this!!!
Love ya Jill!!!
I’m going for November 4th, around 8.5 lbs
And the sleep comments drive me nuts too. I’m sleeping a LOT right now (work really gets in the way of my sleep) and if I’m tired and and able to go to bed super early, I do it because it’s what my body wants. I had someone laugh at me and basically go ON AND ON about how I’ll never be able to do that again and better enjoy it now and blah blah blah. I definitely snapped at her because I’m so TIRED of people making comments about how much I am/am not sleeping.
November 3rd, because that would be so cool to share with my nephew.
7.8 lbs 21 inches long
COME ON BABY, AUNTIE NEEDS A NEW PAIR OF SHOES!
11/2, 10:30 a.m., 9.1 lbs. (sorry! LOL) 18 inches long. Best wishes to you and your new family, Amy!
11/10/12 @ 11:43 pm, 7 lb 2 oz, 18 in
Good luck! I’m nearly 36 weeks but I’ve been having the symptoms you’re talking about here for MONTHS. Ha. Physically I am super ready but have a few more nesting odds and ends I want to take care of before LO arrives.
11/13/12 @ 3:30 PM, 8 lb 3 oz, 18.5 inches Best of Luck Amy…you’ll do great!
I’m going with November 1st at 8:22pm and 8 lb 10 oz., 22 inches.
Good luck, you are so close!
I’m going with election day: 11/6.
8lb 7 oz, and 21.5 in. long. Best of luck!
The end is the best and worst part! You want it to end and yet an amazing new beginning is right around the corner! My guess is 11/5 at 10:20
That’s the time Noah was born, so that’s what I’m going with!! And weight, I’ll go with 7lbs, 12 oz and 20 inches long.
As far as the dumb comments from people, they need to cool it. Everyone seems to need to add their own 2 cents!! So frustrating! HUGS MAMA!
Gahd with the comments. Out of all of the uncomfortable aspects of pregnancy, of which there are MANY, the least tolerable part is definitely everyone else’s opinion about your (as in, yours, ours, anyone’s) pregnancy. JUST SHUT IT.
I’m gonna say…..11/7, because it’s my anniversary and I’m not creative, lol. And 7 lbs 7 oz because that’s what I was, and again, I’m not creative.
I have a 3 month old and I also hated everyone saying “sleep while you can” but now…I totally get it. I would kill to go to bed when I wanted to and know that if I woke up it was because my body was uncomfortable not because I have a wide awake baby next to me squirming who needs to be soothed and nursed and rocked back to sleep.
I miss sleep…even bad pregnancy sleep.
Again though…you have a new baby. You would kill for sleep regardless, and I expect to feel the exact same way you do. My point, however, is that sleep is not a bank. Although I appreciate being able to go to sleep whenever right now, no matter how uncomfortable I am, it’s old news for people to say “sleep while you can!” because a) I’m not really sleeping right now anyway, more like taking a series of one hour naps, and more importantly, b) there’s no such thing as stocking up on sleep. You’re going to be sleep deprived & wanting for sleep when you have a new baby, regardless. I fully expect to be the same way.
I do appreciate being able to try to go to sleep when I want or try to sneak in a nap if I can, just like I appreciate being able to read a book when I want right now, or go to Target when I want right now, and all of those things. Trust me, I do appreciate them & I remind myself of that daily, especially in these last few weeks. But this fake advice of “sleep while you can” is a huge pregnancy pet peeve of mine.
I am awful at guessing baby lengths and weights, but I’m going to guess baby boy is going to show up 3 days early!
11/14/12 8lbs7oz 18.5″ 11+14+12+8+7+18.5 = 70.5 What does this number mean? I don’t know, do you? I don’t understand all this baby stuff. Did I win something?
Halloween Morning 10/31 at about 10AM. I’m thinking…. 9 lbs, 7 oz. Loud like Mom…
NINE POUNDS?! You guys are out of your minds!
I’m going to say next Monday, 10/29, even though that would be only 38 weeks…but it would be exactly one month away from Caleb! And Caleb came out at 20″, so I think this little guy will come out at 20 1/2″, just so Brad can say he beat me at something.
Weight…7 lbs, 3 oz. Anyway, best of luck! It is a very memorable experience. Remember to be patient with the hospital volunteers who walk you out of the hospital. Also, swaddle the heck out of that baby to help you get more sleep. 
You will have my Grandson on Sunday Oct 28th, 6 pounds 10 oz and 21 inches long. Got it!
Two weeks early to the date just like you were, and the same weight and length.
Forget about the sleep thing, what will be will be. You slept thru the night at 5 weeks and then I had plenty of rest. Your sister on the other hand did not sleep thru the night until 18 months.
Just enjoy the whole experience – love you!
I say 8 lbs. 3 oz. 11/5/12
And as far as the “get sleep now” comments. TOTALLY WITH YOU. am i saving a bank of sleep hours that i can charge up when i’m down and tired with a nb baby? RIDICULOUS.
Thinking of you every day friend XOXO
I think your baby will be born November 7 th and 7 pounds and 13 oz. 23 inches.
I am going with 11/11 because that day sounds cool!!! I will guess 7 pounds, 1 ounce, because that is what my little boy was, and you are carrying yours similar to how I carried mine.
I remember getting a LOT of “sleep while you can” comments both times I was pregnant too, and I also smiled and internally rolled my eyes to it. It is definitely more about enjoying your free time, because most 3rd trimester women are NOT comfortable enough to sleep anyways!!!!
Good luck with everything… can’t wait to hear the news!!
I forgot to guess length. Oops… how about 20 inches.