Pregnancy Update: 39 Weeks

Today will definitely be my last pregnancy update. I decided to do one more, but I'm not waiting until 40 weeks, because I won't be pregnant at 40 weeks! I am 39 weeks today, and will deliver tomorrow at 8 a.m. I had my mother-in-law take a picture of me after our dinner. I feel absolutely huge, but the end is near. This post is all about being pregnant, so if you aren't interested in that kind of thing, just skip this post.

The doctor said I'm not dialated or effaced at all yet, though it doesn't really matter, since I'll be a scheduled c-section. They're going to completely knock me out during the procedure with a general anesthetic, because spinals don't work on me. When I was having Nick, they tried seven different needles, and none of them would take. I could always feel everything. The anesthesiologist said that I had lots of calcifiction on my spine, and should never have spinal medication. They ended up knocking me out then, too. This time, I think it'll be much better to be knocked out without first having seven needles inserted into my spine!

Weight: (From starting weight) +32 pounds. Sigh. My doctor told me yesterday, though, that some of it is definitely water weight. I am quite swollen, and 97 degree temperatures don't help, especially when I work in a school with no air conditioning. Tuesday was my last day of school, but man, was it sweltering. My hands are so swollen that a size 9 ring was tight on my (usually size 7) ring finger.

Plus, my feet are absolutely huge! This definitely didn't happen with Nick. I actually have cankles. Ick. They'd better go away once I have this baby! My feet are bigger now than they were when I was very overweight, before my bariatric surgery. I've always had rather slim ankles, but they're gone, and my toes have been replaced by chubby little sausages. I'm only posting this picture so I can feel good about my feet once the swelling goes back down. Please tell me I'm not the only person whose feet did this at nine months along!

Movement: He's moving more now, or maybe he just ran out of room. I don't have an ultrasound picture, but I do have this. Maybe it's silly, but I wanted to remember what it felt like to be pregnant, so I videotaped the baby moving in my stomach. I have a big scar down the center of my tummy from RNY Gastric Bypass Surgery, so that is what you see there.

Doesn't it seem like he's trying to push his way out? That was a pretty violent kick!

Exercise: Actually, way more in the last few months than at any point since before I was pregnant. I've gotten my energy back, though I'm pretty sure it's nesting-related. I've been running around doing errands and shopping, and I spent three hours gardening on Monday. For some reason, I got it into my head that my plants were suffering and needed more space, so I repotted more of the ones from my classroom.

I will say, though, that I am definitely waddling. I've had several people comment on it, including a first grader who asked, "Why are you walking like that?" My response? "The baby inside me got bigger, and that makes it hard to walk." I didn't tell her that someone's head was pressing on my cervix. I figured that was TMI for a 1st grader.  ; )

Cravings: Still with the iced tea and Panera, actually. Nothing new, though I'm finding I need to eat my dinner in two or three stages. My uterus, you see, is taking up all of the room in my abdomen.

Sleep: I haven't had a good night's sleep in months. My neck, back, and sides hurt quite a lot, and it's been difficult to get comfortable. However, I'm pretty sure that I won't be sleeping too much once the baby comes, though it may be more comfortable to actually do so.

Today is my wedding anniversary, but I'll be spending most of it getting Nick up to my mom's house and getting our stuff ready for the hospital. Greg and I are going out for a nice dinner tonight, though, to celebrate. I wanted some quality food, because I'll be on hospital food for a few days.

I have to be at the hospital tomorrow at 6 a.m., and it's 45 minutes away, so that means waking up at an insanely early hour. I'm excited to meet my new son, but a little nervous, too. Wish me luck!