The Baby Moon (Weeks 32 - 34)

These last couple of weeks have been fun. The baby moves a lot! My birthing plan is coming together and I am looking forward to experiencing my last few weeks of pregnancy. Although the world can feel really chaotic right now, I feel at peace about birthing my baby into this world.

Week 32

The Farmers’ Almanac predicted a very hot summer and this week in the 90’s is killing me. I have never been a huge heat person, but this is on a whole other level. My walks have changed from one long afternoon walk to one in the morning and one in the evening. It also makes it easier on my back to break my walk up. With the heat and having to wear masks into every place, I feel like I can’t breathe. It makes running errands really hard. After using several masks, I finally found one that is breathable, comfortable, and has an antibacterial effect. They are called Boomer Naturals. I even got Vito hooked on them. I ordered one for him and as soon as he tried it on he said, “Wow, this is really breathable.” They are cost effective and good for thirty washes! I am definitely going to have to order a few more!!

I know I already mentioned the heat, but I feel like it is affecting all areas of my life. We have so much to do in the next couple of months but I am so hot. It is hard to be motivated when I have continuous boob sweat. I think the heat is also affecting my sleep. My legs cramps have calmed down again, hallelujah! BUT……..I am tossing and turning again. We put the air on 70 degrees at night and I still kick all the covers off, toss side to side, and have light dreams. Sleep hasn’t felt restful at all.

Vito’s uncle has a really nice pool and we made plans to go there for the fourth of July. I was excited to get in and cool off! I actually found myself sitting in the shade most of the day and barely made it into the pool. I felt it was still too hot to be in the sun and stayed next to the food in the shade. It was a nice, relaxing day with family.

33 Weeks

I read last night that pregnancy insomnia may happen and it did. It is 3am and I can’t sleep. Is it because I read I would have pregnancy insomnia around this time or do I actually have it? Oh, the joys of motherhood! I have to get tested for Group B Strep in a few weeks and feel like that is my last hurdle to jump over. If I am positive, I may need antibiotics in labor. I really do not want to be hooked up to an IV, and I really do not want antibiotics. Studies have shown that antibiotics given in labor can affect the baby’s gut microbiome for the first couple of months and potentially longer. I also just try to avoid antibiotics in general because they wipe out the gut. Based on this study I read, I would do antibiotics if I tested positive and my water broke. It is important, however, to know that you always have options in birth and can refuse any treatments. It is also important to have informed consent and to give consent to your provider before they give you any drugs or medications. As the study mentioned, probiotics can make a difference. I am continuing to take my probiotics mentioned in the previous blog daily.

Saturday night I went downtown Chicago for my friend Kiran’s bachelorette party. And by bachelorette party I mean four of us went to a lovely dinner, had a great time, and were home by 10! It was fun to dress up and go out to eat since this is only the second time in four months that I have been out to eat. I wore my most comfortable heels, which are only an inch high, and a dress I got from StitchFix. By the time I had walked from where we parked the car to the restaurant, my feet were swollen. This is the first time I had swelling. After dinner we walked some more and I thought my feet were going to fall off. These shoes would normally never bother me, but I also have not worn heels while pregnant before. My feet were so fat by the time we got home that the straps from the shoes were indented on my puffy feet. Lesson learned: say no to heels. I am in this friend’s wedding in a couple of weeks and have no idea how I am going to get the dress over my belly. Stay tuned for that!

Sunday, Vito and I drove to Milwaukee to have some maternity photos done. It was a perfect evening out and our photographer, Daniella, was amazing. I am so glad we got some professional photos done to capture this moment in our lives. It hasn’t sunk in yet that we are going to be parents. I know one day we will wake up and say, “We have three kids? Where did they come from?” We are so looking forward to this next adventure in our lives.

34 Weeks

I think I am understanding the honeymoon phase of pregnancy now. I can easily have sex every day and it definitely feels different in a good way. I figured by now I would be too uncomfortable to enjoy it, but we really haven’t had to make any alterations so far. Check back in six weeks and see how I am doing then! Other than having great sex, not too much has changed. The insomnia is back and I wake up around 4:00 every morning and having light dreams through the night. Napping is out of the question as the endless list of things I need to do continues to pile up!

At my midwife appointment this week, I was told that they will no longer separate me and Vito if I am COVID-19 positive when I arrive at the hospital in labor. Before, they were not allowing partners in. I have cried about this twice in the last week, worried I would have to birth without Vito by my side. I am beyond relieved that we will be together throughout the whole thing. I am still sad my mom won’t be allowed in the room, but hopefully it will be different with the next baby. I hired a doula for the birth and am excited to have that extra support. Being a doula myself, I understand the vital role that doulas play in helping the birthing person and partner. I am getting so excited to give birth and can’t believe I will be technically full term in 3 weeks. Ideally, I would like to not give birth before 39 weeks, but I am trusting my body and baby to do what it right. My midwife said the baby’s head is really low in my pelvis. I believe her because the baby punched me yesterday and I felt it in my vagina.

Vito and I got to take a little baby moon this last weekend. We rented a little cabin in Galena, IL. Although we only stayed two nights, it was just what we needed. Our cabin had a giant tub in it which was amazing to relax in both nights. Our tub at home is small and so we never get to take baths together. Saturday night we sat in the bath, ate fruit and watched the TV show Friends. It was a perfect evening for me. Galena is where we got engaged and it was nice to go back, reminisce, and plan for our future. We visited the vineyard where we got engaged and walked around town. It was so hot and humid out (100 degrees) and I am so glad I had my boomer masks because I would not have been able to breathe through the others. As we wandered around, Vito and I talked about how we want to raise our kids and what we want our family mission statement to be. We dive into it in this episode of The Long Haul Podcast.

My leg cramps have completely gone away for about two weeks now. I rub arnica, CBD, and lavender oil on them every night and take Magnesium calm. Last night I was so tired that I didn’t rub arnica on them and I woke up with the worst leg cramp that sent me flying out of bed. Never again in this pregnancy will I ever forget to rub arnica cream on my calves before bed. I have linked this little miracle here for you.

I am only a few weeks away from being full term. Where has the time gone? I can’t believe my pregnancy is almost over. Stay tuned for my final weeks of carrying baby Presta.