Weeks 28-34
Workouts
I would say I workout 4-5 days a week on average. I typically miss 2 days a week because of life, or being tired. Soccer season has started which makes my life even more hectic and harder to get the workouts in. I am motivated to keep moving knowing I will be going to Worlds in September, but I am also being realistic and giving myself a little grace when I am just not up to it.
Swims- swimming is still my favorite, but it is the most time consuming with going to the pool/changing/etc. so it isn’t the most convenient to do. Around week 25/26, my belly was getting big enough that my bathing suits were starting to get too small. I bought a super cheap bathing suit that was 2 sizes bigger than what I am used to. It fit ok, but the cut of this particular brand/suit I didn’t like. It was super cheap for a reason. I ended up spending money on a TYR that is 3 sizes bigger than what I usually wear to have a better cut I am used to.
My times are still slow, but haven’t gotten much slower than they already have been. I think my awkward slow flip turns are part of my decreased times. During my flip turns I sometimes wonder what kind of flips and flops the little baby is doing. I did some 100s the other day and they were supposed to be “strong effort”. I can’t say that I truly am putting 100% effort into these “faster” sets, I like to still stay comfortable so I am ok with the fact they are about 15 seconds slower than my pre baby 100s. It seems WAAY slow, which it is, but I feel good and I am able to stay consistent.
Bike- I had broken my derailleur and almost started crying the day I wanted to ride. My plan was a nice easy ride and once my bike wasn’t usable that meant I had to go downstairs and jog on the treadmill. It worked out well because I got 3 miles in and felt really good when I was done, but I felt an urge to get my bike in to be fixed as soon as possible.
While I’ve been biking lately I have been able to feel the baby move which I normally don’t during activities. It can be a little strange and he can sometimes get up into my ribs which just feels uncomfortable. It usually doesn’t have any impact on my breathing, but the positioning on the bike with a big belly can be uncomfortable and the added movements are weird. Oh and watts/effort- still about the same as it has been, low and slow, but hasn’t been continuing to decrease, which is nice.
Runs- With this mild weather we are having, I feel somewhat guilty I have not taken advantage of running outside as much. I get worried of being too far from home. I am usually fine with running, but I have been crampy or feel uncomfortable that I want to know I have the opportunity to just stop if it gets too bad. If Matthew comes with me, I feel much more comfortable going outside. We went one day during week 29 when we had a 50 degree day and almost as soon as we left the subdivision I started to cramp on my right side again. I had to walk for a little bit and then once it was gone, I was able to start again. It was such a slow jog, I felt bad holding him back, but he didn't mind. At the beginning of the pregnancy I would notice my lower lower abdomen feels sore and uncomfortable the day after. I think my body is starting to get used to this added weight that I don’t have that as much anymore. While I run, there can be some awkward feeling towards the pelvic floor almost as though the baby is moving lower and lower.
I don’t like to run many days during the same week. I have found I prefer doing bricks so that I get a short run in after a bike to know I can still run without staying on the treadmill too long. My speed on the treadmill/running is still slow, but like the swim and bike has not continued to decrease.
PE class- The one PE class I teach is our new Group Fitness Class. I teach the class just as I would if I was leading a normal group fitness class. Most of the time I can do everything just fine- some ab exercises are more awkward and the Pilates roll ups... I usually get stuck on the way up. One day we were doing partner stunts/balances. There were some hand stands involved so I wanted to show them they should practice against the wall before going into a hand stand if they are not familiar with it. I demonstrated without even thinking about it. After I came down, my belly had quite the shift in there and I was just a tiny bit light headed. The whole class was in shock at what I had just done and they all started clapping. I really didn't think much of it, but it felt like the baby had gotten shifted upwards in weird way. I had told Matt I was looking forward to his next batch of kicks just to know he was ok in there. I don't think I'll be doing any more handstands until after the baby is here :)
During yoga on Fridays, I also feel a bit awkward in up dog/cobra and when I do child's pose, I have to separate my knees to provide room for my big belly.
Life
Clothes- Thank goodness that I am a PE teacher. I have been fortunate to be able to wear the majority of my own clothes up until this point. When I have to look "nicer" I do wear clothes I have borrowed from a friend that she got from Old Navy or Gap maternity. I did buy my own pair of maternity jeans from Buy Buy Baby. Having one pair has been fine for my life style. The dresses I wore for my baby showers were from PinkBlush online. I was a little worried to buy from an online shop, but I have to say it is great quality and super comfortable! If I had a job I needed to dress nicely for all the time, this place would be my go to.
I was worried about my jacket this winter, but so far I have still been able to fit in it. I did do some research and found out they make these inserts you can buy for the jacket you already have to help expand it. The one place was in Canada, but happy I didn’t need to buy one. Soccer Season-Soccer season has started and makes me more tired. We have been stuck inside for now. Our practices can be any time between 5 and 9 at night. I am anxious for a regular schedule to go outside, but nervous of the cold and being uncomfortable. If needed, I plan on borrowing Matt’s clothes to be able to layer up.
More Baby Stuff Baby Shower #1- Baby shower number one was hosted by my sister and my mom. I had requested that it be held at our house and I was so happy that it worked out so well. My sister had asked if there was one thing I really wanted for the shower and I had told her that I wanted a "time capsule"/well wishes for the baby. She came up with a card for each guest to fill out that had said, I hope you always, I hope you never forget etc. After the shower I read what everyone had written. I was amazed to realize how many people truly care about this little man before he is even here. It made me realize how much I love him already and want the best for him. I can't imagine the overwhelming feelings I will have once he is actually in our arms.
Baby movements- The feelings of the baby movements have changed a bit. Before they were very quick and not as heavy. Now that this little boy is getting bigger and bigger, there isn't as much room for him. He still kicks/punches but it feels like a heavier pressure on my belly as though he is pushing out and he holds it there. It is a love/annoyance relationship still. I know that once he is here I will miss knowing he is in there and feeling his silly movements, but sometimes, it can be a little rough.
Baby boy is starting to have hiccups. It’s this weird consistent popping sensation. We can tell he is getting bigger that we are getting more and more anxious to meet him. Baby Room- We are so excited how the baby's room is turning out! I had a lot of inspiration from Pinterest and we were able to make it into our own. It all started when I was looking through different newborn picture ideas. I found one with a baby inside a tool box. Matt is a very handy man and he loves his tools. Once I saw that newborn picture, I thought it would be a perfect theme that would be meaningful to Matt. I listened to a podcast about baby nurseries that said you want to try and plan a room that the baby can grow into as well and it wouldn't be something we would need to change right away. I have never been too into super cutesy/baby things so we went with the tool theme that wasn't too "baby-ish". I first started searching for tool room themes to get ideas. I found others had made craftsman tool chest changing tables so that was the first thing on our list to make. We found a dresser on Craigs List for $15. We bought the paint and Matt got some quarter round to spray paint silver for the "handle" look and attached the craftsman logo. We love how it turned out.
We found ideas for the walls using diamond plate with other diamond plate accents and continued getting ideas from there.
Matthew made a lamp out of a jack-stand, we bought tool knobs from etsy and I found a tire chair idea on pinterest that we made together (which doubles as a little storage area too!)
My dad is a graphic designer and was gracious enough to create artwork above the crib. The room is still a work in progress, so the end product of everything together will be revealed once it is finished. This is rough draft of the artwork we will display:
I found most of the ideas and Matt made a lot of it a reality. We can't wait for the finished product!
Placenta Encapsulation- We signed up for childbirth class at the hospital we are going to give birth at (Centegra Huntley). Matt thinks that everyone in the class thinks I am a hippie because I asked about taking the placenta. I am starting to really consider it as I have had another day of emotional chaos. I have talked to a couple people who have had experience with it and it doesn't seem like there would be anything wrong with it. If anything, it wouldn't do anything but a placebo effect, so what's the harm in trying? My doctor gave me the name of a woman who does it in our area. The idea of the encapsulation is to help with hormone balance after the birth as well as energy level.
Our child birth class was also informational and time well spent for our first child.
Body- I have not gotten any stretch marks at this point. I think it is because I have stayed active and didn’t gain weight quickly. I don't know how much lotions help, but I have been using Palmer's Coco butter lotion since the beginning. Mainly because my belly was so itchy and continues to be, but sometimes people say it helps preventing stretch marks too. At one of my doctor’s visits, she mentioned I “caught up” nicely with my belly size because I was measuring a little small earlier. My weight has stayed between 18 and 20 pounds heavier than prebaby, which I am surprised about. I thought I would be continuing to gain pretty regularly these past couple of weeks. We will see how much weight I gain in these last 6 weeks.
I continue to be very excited and anxious for our little one to arrive, and scared out of my mind at the same time. We have been going to the doctor every other week and will get one more ultrasound at 36 weeks which I am very excited for. I'm hoping to get an idea how big this guy is and what he is doing in there. It is strange to think the baby could come within the next few weeks. I continue to go to the bathroom more frequently, and moving in bed at night can be more awkward, but still have not had any strange cravings or other side effects. Up until this point, the pregnancy has been pretty manageable and I'm hoping the labor will be too... but I'm sure that is wishful thinking. Hoping to get one more blog in before he comes, but we will see :)