**I should probably put a TMI alert at the top of this post.**
Every pregnancy is different. I have to repeat this to myself multiple times a day. You would think that by now I’d have the concept down pat…but I’m a little hard-headed sometimes. And this time? So many things seem so different.
The nausea came and went like it usually does. I still pee on myself when I cough, sneeze or laugh too hard.
And that’s where the similarities end.
Thankfully, the headaches only lasted a little while this time. (Here’s to hoping they don’t come back and that I won’t need Stadol again, right Christi?)
I can assure you that this is the most active baby I’ve had so far. Which…Lord help me if she ends up being my most active child. I’m not sure I can stand a more active child than Captain Destructo. She is partial to bouncing around from 11pm-1am and 8am-10am. And as promptly and randomly as it starts, it stops.
Don’t get me started on indigestion, which I never really had to this degree before. I’m all fine and dandy until I try to lie down, and I have now resorted to sleeping in the upright position-which is as uncomfortable as it sounds, I promise.
And the Braxton Hicks? Well, the first go round I hardly noticed them. I would feel my belly tighten externally, but not really feel much internally. With the other two…it was something I noticed a little bit at the end, but it certainly was never more than annoying. This time…it’s actually uncomfortable (like catch-while-I’m-walking-and-take-away-my-breath kind of uncomfortable). I don’t know that I’d say that it’s painful, but it is far from the “minor discomfort” that’s mentioned in all the literature. I have definitely figured out some of the things that trigger them like not drinking enough water or holding in my pee. But I’ve also found that if I get too active or I pick up Asa, I can set them off too.
But you wanna know what’s (nearly) impossible for me? Avoiding picking up Asa. And avoiding too much activity is a great big joke when you have 3 other children that are 5 and under. And so I breathe in deeply, drink more water and hope that maybe this time my body will do it’s job. And maybe this time I’ll avoid being induced. And maybe this time I’ll avoid a vulvar hematoma. (I’ve done that twice now, and I’ll spare you the details. But if you’re really curious, go here and scroll down. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you. And whatever you do, don’t do an image search. I’m telling you that for your own good.)
And hopefully soon(oh.my.goodness…SOON!!!!!!!!) we’ll bring home a happy, healthy little girl. And maybe, hopefully she’ll have a nursery by then. Because right now it looks like this:
And I was pretty okay with that ↑ until this afternoon when my OB nurse practitioner said, “Well considering your history, you probably only have what…about 6-8 weeks before she arrives anyway.”
Oh.my.holy.hell…6-8 weeks. How did 40 dwindle down to that so quickly??
I’ve got a lot of stuff to do between now and then!
I’ll get right on that…right after a long winter’s nap!
They are all different. Honestly, my fourth child (and pregnancy) was so much different. Everything about it…from how I felt to how much weight I gained….to the fact she was a girl when I’d had all boys, to her blood type, which is different from the 3 boys, to the fact that I was induced with all three and actually did have a few real monitorable contractions on the night and early morning before the Pitocin began….so I was happy to know my body was trying.
And I wish I was closer to help you with the room. But just think–she’ll probably be in something in your room for the first few days/weeks, maybe?? And that might buy you some extra time? 🙂
Love you, girl!!
Hey that’s a picture of my nursery right now! where did you get that picture? that’s exactly what it looks like. And with bed rest, mine will stay that way!
That is what our office looks like… Its great to know that I am not the only one that just can’t seem to find the time or the energy to get in there and get it done. Having had 4 kids, I totally get nearly everything you have written. All of my pregnancies were so drastically different. With Stephanie life was “normal” or as normal as it can be when your 17 and pregnant. I didn’t have morning sickness, indegestion, pain, etc. Then Devin’s pregnancy I was older and had an almost 4 year old. She was ACTIVE and had the biggest feet and the hardest kick. They HURT! However, she had a schedule at birth. She slept all night from day 1. She was a happy, bouncy, healthy baby. She was calm and truly an easy baby. With Zac I had a kindergartener, and a 1 year old. *What was I thinking… I wasn’t* I was alson going to school full time, leading a girl scout troop, and working. I had some headaches, and I was tired but for the most part it was an ideal pregnancy. Then there is Tori… She was sooo long and that didn’t go well with my oh so short torso. As my pregnancy got closer to the end she wasn’t very active at all. She simply didn’t have any more room to move. I was in near constant pain but I knew it was the last so I embraced every day. I love being pregnant. I love the idea of being pregnant. I love the entire process…
Good Luck with getting thru these last 6-8 weeks. Try laying on your left side to alleviate nausea and indigestion. If you need any help I am just a couple minutes away.
I so wish I was closer so that I could help you out and do some running for you. But know that I am here with all the moral support that you need!
Okay, now I feel bad! I didn’t mean to scare you — want me to come help you clean up???