Is it Due Day Yet? 39 Week Bumpdate

Is it Due Day yet?  It’s time for a 39 week bumpdate.  It’s actually a 39 1/2 week bumpdate! If you would have asked me when we had these photos taken, if I would still be doing these bumpdates are nearly 40 weeks, I probably would have said, “Nooooo!  She is going to come early! I have a feeling.” Despite the norm of first time mothers actually going beyond their due date, I really did have a feeling.  Just like I had a feeling we were having a girl.  Now, to be fair, it’s still before our due date (August 18th) so it is possible that she can still come early, but as of my latest appointment there is not much going on here in terms of progressing to labor.

The key right now is to maintain calm, be patient, and know that she is going to come whenever she is ready!  I know some first time moms get frustrated during this time, but that’s not going to do anyone any good.  Pregnancy is prepping you for a life with a child where you just don’t have control over things as much as you did before!  I have zero control of when she makes her arrival, so my motto is just enjoying these moments of feeling her little movements and spending time with Joey.  It’s been SOO nice to not have a million things on our schedule lately.  I cannot tell you how long it’s been since we were able to just lay in bed and have nightly conversations about random things!

39 Week Bumpdate

How are you feeling?

Physically:

Pregnant.  I feel very pregnant and all that comes with it.  It’s very difficult to tie my shoes or bend over.  I’m out of breath when I walk up the steps and my back hurts.  Terribly.  My face is swollen and so are my hands and feet.  They are actually hurting because apparently carpel tunnel is a thing, especially when they swell?  It’s all uncomfortable by this point, but I’m not miserable.

Mentally:

I’ve also been pretty emotional these days.  I had a pretty good handle on my emotions for the last few months until this week.  Everything is making me cry.  This phase of pregnancy is an odd phase because you know any day your entire life is going to change.  Like I mentioned above, I’m trying to stay positive and just know she is going to come when she is ready.  Relaxing right now is key.

What are you craving these days?

Well, this is interesting.  I feel like my cravings have been so manageable during this pregnancy until now.  Agh.. Sugar, chocolate, and fries.  It’s all I want to eat.   I’m trying to keep it together, but I’m like those mini snickers are the perfect size.  I’ll eat just 2.  Until I eat half the bag.  Or I’m going to get a salad… but I’ll add fries to it.  Thank you Pittsburgh for that trick. (Yes, it’s a Pittsburgh thing.)

Do you get a maternity Leave?

I’ve touched on this topic early on in pregnancy and at the time, I really wasn’t sure what my plan was.  Well, I had planned on getting lots of blog posts done and scheduled ahead of time.  Well, life happens and I didn’t accomplish that exactly.  I’m currently working on some content to schedule out the few weeks after Baby P arrives.  I am planning to take two weeks just to ourselves so Joey, Baby P, and me can get acquainted for each other.  If I completely disappear for those two weeks, that is why :-).

Did you get the nursery finished?    

No. This is totally not my personality, but I want it to be perfect!  I’m so happy with how it’s turning out.  We had some delays on some of the furniture pieces and some of the decor is taking longer that I would have expected so we are just piecing it together as items come in.  We have a bassinet set up in our bedroom and our pack-n-play downstairs so we have exactly what we need for right now!  I cannot wait to share the reveal with you guys, though!

Are your hospital bags packed?

Yes!  Thank goodness! I did a lot of research and stressed out about those hospital bags.  Of course, I don’t know how to pack lightly. I’m sure I’m not going to have the most bags anyone has ever seen at a hospital and I probably won’t be the one with the least amount of bags.  Middle ground.  It’s a good place to be!  I’ll be sharing all the details of what’s in my bag on Monday!

Are you going to do photography during/after birth?

I plan on having a photographer the day after Baby P is born!  Lately, I’ve been wondering if I should have gotten someone for the actual birth.  I wouldn’t necessarily want to capture some of the graphic parts of birth, but the emotional journey it will be.  Having someone capture you and your spouse seeing your baby for the first time.  Ahh.. That seems priceless to me.  I love photographs and I really get this from my mom.  She was the same way.  Photos are so special and they say so much.  I never ended up reaching out to a birth photographer, so I don’t know if it’s really too late.  Did any of you have a birth photographer?  Do you recommend it?