ups and downs

so here's the thing. When you get pregnant.. anything could happen. The saying is "every pregnancy is different for every woman" which I believe is more true than ever now! my pregnancy with this child is nothing like my pregnancy with Hannah.

I have forgotten a lot of the things that happened to me (chronologically) while I was pregnant with Hannah. I remember them happening, but I have no idea how far along in the pregnancy they happened. For instance, I have no idea when I started to NOT sleep through the night, or when I started having Braxton Hicks contractions, or when I started to feel really uncomfortable, OR even when I started nesting. I can't remember any of that -- that's why I would document symptoms every couple of weeks so I could remember and possibly, just maybe, compare to a third child.

So here we are folks, 36 weeks! Full term!! and boy do I feel it! I've gained a total of 21 lbs, my belly is measuring 38.5 inches (maybe more now because I measured a few days ago first thing in the morning) I'm definitely in nesting mode trying to de-clutter the house and get all her clothes washed and put away. My husband says I'm in Patsy-mode (my mom is OCD about cleanliness so I will take that as a compliment).

Building background Story -

Since every pregnancy is different I figured I'd go the full 40 weeks with this bebe, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I didn't think anything of it when I started to notice my Braxton Hicks. I'd rub on my tummy to make it go away (kinda like you would a charlie horse) and that was that. They didn't hurt, almost kinda like a really faint dull menstrual cramp or a growing pain or she was sitting right on my sciatic nerve or something. It would last for a minute then go away. No problem. I figured it was normal. I mean, I was in my third trimester, this is my second pregnancy... who knows when normal is to start having regular Braxton Hicks... (and when I say regular I mean a GOOD one every 30 minutes)

I leave school about 3:30 everyday, and she's always very active during that time. I mean, nonstop movment for the full hour-drive home. Hiccups, rolls, bladder kicks, you name it I get them for a full hour so when we scheduled my 36 week ultrasound for 3:30 I was so excited because I just knew we'd get some great last ultrasound pictures.. WRONG! she was knocked out the whole 30-minute session. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!???!?!? I bet you, that if I had downed a 20 oz coke things would have been different.

Also, my entire pregnancy this child has weighed either on schedule or a week ahead, but when they started to measure her today she was only weighed/measuring at 33 weeks!! well, 32 weeks and 5 days to be exact! My uterus has always measured right on schedule, but for some reason she basically QUIT growing for a short while. Strange.

I guess with the combination of her measuring so small and her not being as active as I claimed she usually was around this time of day they wanted to run a Non-Stress-Test (or NST for short) on me. I remember in Hannah's pregnancy I had one at 37 weeks, but I think that was just a normal routine NST. So they hook me up to the machine to measure her movements and what her heart would do right before, during, and after each movement... umm.... yeah, I starting contracting like every 3-5 minutes for at least a good minute and a half. This lasted for a good 30-45 minutes. her heart rate was all over the place dropping as low as 116 and going as high as 180 something. talk about cause for concern because every single time they've listened to her heart its been in the 150 range. EVERY TIME.

Soooooooooooo with all my contracting my doctor wanted to check me to see if I was dilated.. Which thank the Lord I'm not!! He's still a little worried and thinks I'm progressing a little too early. I've gotta go back Thursday for another NST and we'll go from there. I will make my 37 week appointment then.

He told me that even though he is a little worried, he's not worried enough to give me anything to stop my contractions just yet but that if they got more intense or more frequent (even in this slightest) to call him.

I know nothing is WRONG with her and I know she's perfectly healthy. I'm not worried in the least little bit that she's under any stress I just want her to stay in there as long as possible because I want an APRIL BABY!!!!!!!! (I'll write all about that in my Labor and Delivery Story once she gets here ;) )

Children will and always will have a mind of their own and will do things in their own time. She'll come when she's ready. We are more than ready to meet her and play with her and "teach her princess songs". Every morning feels like Chrismas Eve.. it's so not fair, but at the same time I will wait as long as I need to. If I go into early labor my doctor said he would stop the labor if he could. With all that being said, THIS CHILD CANNOT COME BEFORE THE 23rd!! it just can't happen. The stress level (on me) would be too high... I've got to finish this internship and graduate in May.


I love to complain, I would whine all day long about every little thing if  I thought it would make a difference, but actions speak louder than words so I keep my mouth shut unless I have something nice to say. With that being said, I try not to complain about my symptoms too much. I'm growing a human, I'm not going to feel normal. I'm also not going to be pregnant forever so why not just grit your teeth and bear it for the time being!?

After today's events I feel like I am allowed to complain a little bit -
I'm hungry all the time, but hardly have an appetite
I'm saddle sore throughout my entire pelvic region
I have to squat for everything
I can't even bend to kiss Hannah
I feel like my back is going to break in half if I bend to do anything
my hips pop when I walk
I probably get 5 hours of sleep a night
I get stuck in certain positions and Wes has to help me get "unstuck"
I'm starting to have to rely on everyone to do everything for me
back pain.
walking is excruciating.
sitting is good
standing is good.
rocking while sitting is awesome
trying to roll over in the bed is torture.

I think I'm done complaining. If I think of anything I will definitely let you know.
If you read this entire blog, go you!