I'm writing this post during my 35th week with anticipation that the next few weeks might be crazy/tired.
Physically I feel really grateful during my third trimester! I really thought I'd be miserable at this point, but I can honestly say that I am not! I had back/hip pain in my second trimester but haven't had any yet this trimester. I committed to daily yoga & walks in January and I think that has really helped! (Although the sub zero temps in the last few weeks have meant that a walk out to say hi to the chickens totally counts.) My biggest third trimester complaint has been the heartburn! I am really thankful I turned to medication this trimester rather than toughing it out like I did with the nausea. I have also radically changed my diet to avoid heartburn triggers, which has helped, though I do miss some of my favorite foods! Luckily, ice cream is still okay. I have noticed more tiredness and will often head to bed around 8 or 8:30. I have also definitely noticed heightened emotions (thanks, hormones) and general brain-fogginess. Bean has been getting strong! Most evenings the kicks can get painful and I have a permanent bruise under my right rib - not fun. Sam and I were curious and watched this video to see what baby looks like while they are moving around in there. That explains the foot in the ribs for sure! PreparationsMost of our "final preparations" were done in January - including baby showers, freezer meals, and packing the hospital bag. (Thankfully before the tiredness really set in.) We have taken a few online courses related to childbirth, newborns & breastfeeding, since in person classes are not currently an option. Nothing says dinner and a movie like watching a labor in progress! I've also been trying to prepare our home, our supplies & myself mentally for postpartum/the fourth trimester. I'm really grateful for the book "The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother" by Heng Ou for helping to fill a much needed gap in pregnancy/parenting genre - the postpartum time. Pregnancy is all about mama (and baby), but it seems that as soon as baby arrives, our society tends to shift the health & wellness focus all on baby and forget that mama just went through a pretty traumatic 9 months, mentally and physically. Turning towards other cultures for how they handle the fourth trimester has been really enlightening. I have also joined a weekly breastfeeding support group (we meet virtually) which is really exciting as I form a community of other mothers around me. Navigating the PandemicBecause of COVID, the third trimester has also meant navigating some interesting situations, such as trying to figure out how friends and family can help us out once baby comes without having to worry about Bean's health & safety or ours. It has also meant making big decisions like whether to get the COVID vaccine while pregnant, even though there was no evidence on the benefits or dangers. (I'm confident in saying that I have decided YES - as soon as possible please, and I'm happy to share why.) We are SO grateful that Sam gets to come to the 36 week appointment! Our hospital just started admitting "plus ones" for patients, so Sam will get to be a part of the conversation with our midwives about our birth plan and we will also be doing an ultrasound to see if Bean is head down. (They better be after all of the inversions I've been doing! Not a fun time with heartburn!) Other Life ChangesSam has transitioned to a new job, as his pre-pandemic work (freelance editing for a local business) seems to be taking it's sweet time in coming back. He is now working nights as a custodian and enjoying the time to listen to music and podcasts. It is certainly an adjustment, but also an incredible blessing at a crucial time financially. We are also thankful that his boss is giving him a few weeks off once baby arrives, and that he can continue this work when I return to school in the fall. I will have to figure out how to do bedtimes as a solo parent pretty quickly, so any advice or support is welcome. We are trying to make the most of the last of "us" time without baby. We squeeze daily walks when I get home from work & before Sam leaves for his job. We also recently hooked up Sam's Nintendo 64 and have been enjoying playing Mario Kart on our projector.
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So a babymoon seems a little bit like "stuff white people like," but it felt extra important to us after being cooped up in the house for almost 11 months #thanksCOVID.
We rented a local airbnb house, I got a masked prenatal massage (thanks Zaniya - they wore masks too!!!), and we did a lot of cooking and a few takeout meals. We spent hours in front of the fire playing games, watching movies, and dreaming. It was an excellent weekend. The highlight of my weekend was a delicious mocktail, a coconut mojito that was the best thing I've had in ages! |
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December 2022
I'm guessing I'll have it all figured out by the time I turn 30.
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