So as of Wednesday (or yesterday depending on which due date I use) baby and I will be 35 weeks. We just left our midwife appointment which was not as uneventful as one would like to hope with 5 weeks still left until August 8th. I was telling my midwife some of the things I have been experiencing over the past two weeks since our last appointment. While nothing was alarmingly wrong, some of my symptoms are similar to early labor. She then told me that since my babies are so close in age, I am at an elevated risk for preterm labor. Additionally, my body will be extra effecient when I do go into labor since it was only last March that I delivered Lucy. While everyone says they can't wait to meet their baby as they near the end of pregnancy, now I can. She advised me to keep drinking a ton of water and instructed me that it's time to significantly slow down, an active body means an active uterus, and take it easy for the next few weeks. That should be easy for a mom of a 15 month old to do right? If I make it to 37 weeks I am still able to deliver in the birthing center but I am hoping to make it to 38 weeks for a full term, healthy baby. Needless to say, it is not at all what I expected to hear at my appointment today and the full force of baby August is hitting home. In just a matter of weeks, there will be a brand new baby for me to love and take care of in addition to loving and taking care of Lucy. Basically every emotion in the world is running though my pregnant, hormone hijacked body right now. So for now, our days will be slowing down a bit and I will be grateful for every day that baby August stays put until we reach our 38 week mark. It is extremely hard for me to accept help from anyone, especially with Lucy, but I now need to realize that baby August may need attention a little earlier than expected and that I am responsbile for keeping this baby and myself healthy. I am so blessed to have a family who has already showered me with offers of help and encouragement and reminded me that no matter who Lucy spends time with, she will be as well taken care of and loved as when she is with me.
Other news from the appointment included baby's healthy heartbeat around 130 bpm and me up 2 pounds since my last weigh in. Two weeks from tomorrow we are scheduled for our ultrasound to make sure baby and mama are in position for delivery.
I have just started noticably swelling over the past week and finally had to take off the wedding bands for now, which I consider pretty lucky for a summer pregnancy. Moving around is getting more and more challenging, most notably when I try to turn over in bed or go from sitting to standing. I have been having a lot of pressure which I am thinking is baby settling into position for delivery which also means not much room for my bladder or my stomach. I don't feel like my belly has lowered any but the pressure tells me otherwise. On a positive note, I was able to give myself a pedicure this past weekend and found the cutest maternity bathing suit that fits me perfectly. Yay for small accomplishments!
Over the next few weeks as I concentrate on slowing down, I want to focus on my babies. I am looking forward to not trying to multitask during the day and being able to just sit and play or read with Lucy, knowing it is whats best for baby August too. I want to cherish every day that my baby gets stronger and fatter :) and rolls around letting me know he/she is ok in there. In a matter of weeks, there will be no such thing as slowing down when I become a mama of 2 but for now, I get to and that's enough for me.
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