38 weeks

Alright I'm going to say one positive and one negative right now. I failed my Group B Strep test which has me worked up a bit even if I'm trying really hard to hide it and calm down. Group B Strep isn't bad for me but potentially bad for the baby- I guess a lot of us have this but if it's present during a regular birth (c-section wouldn't matter) then the baby can be exposed and the results can be bad up to being lethal. To improve the odds (but it doesn't guarantee anything), they give the mom antibiotics (and not orally).  However, that doesn't guarantee that nothing will happen to your baby and I'm reading online that there can be late onset group B strep which can happen whether or not you have a positive or negative test. The midwife center has agreed, though, that instead of giving me an IV I could choose the option of a shot every 6 hours. Either of those options honestly has me feeling sick and I'm trying really hard right now to just avoid the topic in my mind altogether. Anticipation is the worst for me and I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around this one.

On the plus side though, he is definitely head down, engaged, and dropping. They measure your fundal height (basically your belly) and that is decreasing, which means he is dropping. I can definitely tell when I walk and biking is done for sure until I'm cleared for exercise afterwards; it's just too uncomfortable at this point.

Speaking of biking, I have tried to up exercise although I definitely feel it and overdid it earlier this week. Even though I was sick, our weather was awesome (in the 60's) so Dave and I walked the neighborhood together. Then I did it again the next day while talking to my friend Colleen and I overdid it. I was so sore, and in parts of my body I never knew could be sore. ;) But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop walking; I just need to not go as far from now on. I didn't use my Garmin watch but I think I did about 2 miles and our neighborhood is extremely hilly. It was really, really nice to talk to Colleen though. I miss my running buddy so much!

38 weeks

Showing the belly a little better

How many weeks: 38

Size of baby: A watermelon and measures 36-37 cm or 14.2-14.6 inches, crown to rump length. Head to toe is 19.5 inches. The baby also weighs 3200-3250 grams or 7-7.2 pounds. The midwife center estimated that the baby is at 6 and a half pounds.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I gained 4 pounds so I'm up 30.5 pounds. Let me say, I am NOT happy about the weight gain. I made it a point to talk about at my 38 week appointment and she said it's ok. I'm hungry a lot and that's my body saying I need more food for energy/whatever, and try to eat healthy things instead of junk. And it probably isn't helping that I'm not really exercising. Also, the midwife noted that I seem to be swelled up so I must be retaining water and stuff.

Maternity Clothes: All maternity clothes now. 

Gender: It's a boy!

Movement: There is still a lot of movement and I'm about to nickname him Thumper. I still wish I could see what's going on in there. The midwife at my appointment said he's very long and last week the comment was that he's all twisted up in there. I guess that's because of the length. Poor kid! I keep saying he just wants to get out of there at this point, I think.

Sleep: I realized that part of my miserable sleeplessness has been this cold that I can't take medicine for (or at least anything that will have an actual affect). The past two nights I've actually slept so much better. I still wake up to go to the bathroom or if there's a really big kick from the baby, but when I'm sleeping it's a very sound sleep. I'm so thankful for that. I'm still pretty tired but not outright exhausted. Also, I have to say- I'm having crazy dreams! Last week I dreamt that he stretched his leg out of my body (but didn't break skin or anything) and it was so realistic. Now I'm starting to dream that I'm having contractions. It feels realistic and when I wake up I lay there for a few minutes just to make sure I'm not having contractions.

What I miss: I am so looking forward to my first beer after the baby is born.

Cravings: I'm just hungry in general.

Aversions: None. 

Symptoms: My gums are bleeding a lot now. My back and neck crack easily, I think all my bones are just settling or something. I pee a LOT now. I'm achy and riding in the car for a decent amount of time (like my commute home) leaves my back pretty achy. I definitely feel emotional, too. But with all that I do feel a lot better now that I'm not fighting this darn cold.  

Best moment this week: My coworkers had a cake and presents at one of our meetings. I didn't read the card right away but it made me tear up. They are so thoughtful and I was surprised.Oh! and #2 we had maternity pictures done. I felt miserable, I can tell I'm kinda tired in them, and I can see as the pictures progress that I'm losing energy ha but the photographer (Paul Meyer, who was also our wedding photographer) did an amazing job. I will have some of those in a future post. I promise. Even if it's not until after the baby is here, depending on how much longer I have.

Looking forward to: I want to say meeting our baby again and since it's my blog that's what I'm going to say. This might end up being a broken record until he's here!