I made it. Today is my due date.
The baby is the size of a pumpkin. There’s a freakin pumpkin in there, yall.
No makeup, no hair – don’t care. This is what you get at FORTY WEEKS pregnant. Remind me one day that I swear to G-d never to ask a pregnant woman how she’s feeling, how she is, or if she’s had the baby yet. Every time someone asks me, I picture launching myself at them and pinning them to the ground and growling in their ear, “I’m fucking miserable, what do you think?” – I don’t do that, though. But I no longer respond to text messages or emails asking me these things, because if I did, it’s all I would get done all day – seriously. It’s nice that people care, but honestly – it’s just safe to assume each day is more miserable than the one before it til the baby comes. Also, coworkers – I’ll never ask if you’re “still here,” as in, in the office. Because you’re obviously still here if I’m looking at you asking if you’re still here.
My new auto-reply: www.haveyouhadthatbabyyet.com
Total Weight Gain: 26-27 pounds, fluctuating. Who cares at this point?
Weekly Workouts: SO MUCH WALKING. SO MUCH. I’m trying to walk her out. I hit double digit mileage this weekend alone.
Maternity Clothes: I can barely fit my regular work pants on with the Bella Band – good thing I start leave tomorrow.
Sleep: Only woke up once on Saturday night, which is a recent record! But then last night it was about 5 times again. Boo.
Best Moment of the Week: Don’t judge me if I say it was binge-watching Orange is the New Black. I didn’t do too much this past week.
Food cravings: Sweets. And Vietnamese food is still doing it for me. YUM. Who can I talk into Huynh this week?
Food aversions: Nothing right now, except sometimes I’m hungry and nothing sounds good. Weird.
Symptoms: Still having mild sciatica and carpal tunnel.
Movement: She is out of room but when she kicks me, it hurts – she is strong.
“At 40 weeks pregnant, this is the moment your baby (and you) has been waiting for! Now officially full-term, a baby born this week will weigh in the neighborhood of seven and a half pounds and measure anywhere from 19 to 22 inches. But many babies check in smaller or bigger than this and are both perfect and perfectly healthy.
The first thing you’re likely to look for when baby makes his or her dramatic (and possibly fashionably late) entrance: proof positive that he is actually a he, or she is actually a she. That major mystery solved once and for all, you’ll also notice that baby (besides being cute as can be — and yours!) is wearing a little leftover travel dust, consisting of blood, vernix, lanugo, and amniotic fluid. From your baby’s perspective, you’ll look a bit blurry (babies at birth can focus only about an inch away), but that’s okay. With all the tears of joy you’ll probably be shedding, your baby will look a little blurry to you too.
You’ll notice your little one is still curled into the fetal position (though his or her arms and legs may flail a bit). That’s because after nine months in such cramped quarters, it’ll take a while before your baby realizes that he or she has room to spread out. And because it’s the only position he or she has really known, it’s a comforting one to be in. (That’s also why so many newborns like to be swaddled, it reminds them of your uterus.)
Be sure to say hello to your new arrival. Your baby is very likely to recognize the sound of your voice — and that of your partner.” – What to Expect (www.whattoexpect.com)
Gender: GIRL – well, that’s what we’re told. Guess we’ll find out, right??
What I’m Looking Forward To: HAVING A BABY.
What I Miss: Running. Drinking. Sleeping without having my body fall asleep. Tying my shoes. Painting my toenails. Riding a bike.
Next Appointment: November 13th
Estimated due date is November 11th?!?!
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
The carpal tunnel will not get better right away, but it will get better. In its place may come an even more awesome thing though and its nicknamed “mommy wrist”. Google it. =) My husband and mom also have this. I would say it is the worst ever, but I had carpal tunnel pretty bad and I thought that was the worst. That alone made me anxious to not be pregnant!!!! I never even knew carpal tunnel was a symptom of pregnancy until it happened to me (and I secretly wished it upon my husband so he could share in the fun, hahaha).
Keep drinking the water, and keep on walking. Once she is here, this will all be a distant memory, and you’ll ask yourself if it was really as bad as you thought. (the answer will likely be yes and no).
The carpal tunnel doesn’t bother me too much, thankfully. Now it’s mostly the waddling and not being able to bend over that gets to me.
What I cannot understand for the life of me is why in the hell someone would ask you TO YOUR FACE if you’ve had the baby yet. My smart ass would snap back “does it LOOK like I’ve had the baby?”I mean, seriously!? But one thing I’m learning is that people are straight up STUPID when it comes to conversing with a pregnant woman.
One recent thing that’s been happening to me (and annoying me) is other ladies who’ve already had babies basically discounting my excitement. For example, on Facebook I posted a status saying I love feeling her kick. A friend responds back “How far along are you?” and then after I respond with “20 weeks” she says to me, “Just wait! She gets stronger and you’ll really be able to feel it then!” She’s pregnant with her second. I don’t care. You know what? This is my first, and I deserve to be excited about it, no matter how faint others perceive them to be. It’s not a contest. The whole “just wait!” thing is supremely annoying to me.
FWIW, you’re a rockstar. I also love how the dogs are posing with you in the picture.
Ew Stacey, those people suck. I love to see your excited posts about things that your baby is doing. I’m going to like it more when there are other things you experience or you experience them even more.
I’m not waiting to see your excitement, so please don’t wait to get excited!
Yeah, that’s the worst – take all of that advice and commentary with a grain of salt. Nobody is an expert, no matter how much they claim to be. Glad you’re living in the moment!! Agree with Katherine, I love reading your posts.
Oh man how I want to shake my finger at that baby and tell her to come meet us all, already! 11/11 is a great day, fingers crossed you meet her today!
I know, I know. I hope she comes ASAP too!!
There is a man at my office who, everyday and sometimes 2-3 times a day asks me ” are you sure you are going to make it to December?? ”
I used to laugh it off and answer politely..
Now a days my response is, ” I’m sure I am going to make it, but I am not sure you are… “
Hah!!! Good one. Ugh, seriously.
eeee so exciting! hope the little one makes their arrival soon!! xo
Thank you Katelin!! Me too
Have you checked those pant legs? Charlie appears to be acting very suspicious and all in the top pic.
I think Charlie was in the middle of sitting – he def looks awkward.
Hang in there, mama! That pumpkin will be here very soon! And you look FABULOUS for 40 weeks. All baby! It just looks like you swallowed a pumpkin!
Aw, thanks Nicole – I feel definitely pumpkinesque, haha.
I am rooting for you Sharky! Well my whole pod at work is – feel the love! YOU ARE AWESOME!
-Lori
Hahah thanks Lori – it’s like a race, I have my own fan section!!
Usually that makes me go faster, so hopefully your cheers speed things along in this scenario too, haha!
well in that case – I’m bringing out the signs! Speaking of which, during the half, there was a group of ladies holding signs that said “Hot firemen ahead!” I was so confused when I saw them later on in the course. I felt so dumb, in that moment in time, I really was excited to see the fireman– haha. My other favorite sign was a picture of Ryan Gosling with “I’ll see you at the finish line…” So if any of those catch your fancy… ;-P
Oh no!!! When you hadn’t posted anything in a couple of days, I was sure you had had the baby….hang in there…..
Orange is the New Black is one of my favorite shows and it’s the only reason I still have Netflix. I can’t wait for the next season….
No dice yet.
I am reading the book now! It is very similar, of course some dramatization for the series. But I love the show and the book is great so far.