Week 38 / Little Olive Update

Sydney has decided to throw in one last heatwave before the summer is over, so I'm feeling a bit hot and sticky at 38 weeks. My weekly photo outfit is getting pretty unbearably tight these days! At this point baby is full-term so it's unlikely I'll do much more growing until baby comes (which is a bit of a relief!). I can't believe how close we are now. I know it's been a long time coming, but now that it literally could be any day (for the next 3 weeks or so), it's hard to wrap my head around. Now that work has nearly wound up, I've got a bit more time to check some last things off the list and get in the zone. There's yoga, swimming (or bobbing!) trips and painting on the agenda this week, along with some last cleaning and organisation chores at home.

This is how I'm preparing for labour: taking more time out for/with myself, eating a handful of dates each day, still taking my pre-natal vitamin Elevit, yoga, stretching and relaxation exercises, and taking a homeopathic tonic that I was given. Knowing that you're doing a few things to assist with labour does give you a bit of extra confidence, regardless of whether those things actually do anything or not – and that's fine by me, as I know birth will be as much of a mental battle as it will be a physical one! Overall I'm feeling confident in my strength for this mammoth event.


How far along?
38 weeks.

Symptoms
Everyday symptoms: My pregnancy waddle is getting more apparent – though the waddling/walking is going pretty slow these days. I feel a bit more tired in general, but other symptoms have lessened a little, such as the sore pelvis/hips and heartburn. And despite feeling sleepy, I will get bursts of energy where I can get heaps done, or I feel really excited and happy. My fingers and toes are looking pretty chubs by now, too!

Practise symptoms: Last Friday evening I started to get sore lower back pain (which I haven't really had), combined with cramps and lots of strong Braxton Hicks contractions. You should have seen my tummy; whenever I have these contractions, my whole upper tummy rises like crazy – much like when you'd flex a bicep! It was quite uncomfortable, but a little bit exciting. I went to bed early and kept waking in the night with the same discomforts. By morning though, everything had fizzled out. It was great motivation to finish packing my hospital bag that day!

Maternity clothes
The usual, though everything is stretched at the seams. Just making do for now, not much longer!

Stretch marks
Maybe some very faint ones but nothing too obvious, it's tricky to tell.

Sleep
Looking forward to being able to sleep on my tummy, my back, any which way I want. Still getting up every night and waking up frequently but it's not too bad.

Best moment this week
Ben and I had such a lovely weekend – lots of fun things involved. We went out for a brunch date together in Double Bay. I saw there was a salmon dish on the menu, so I asked the waitress if it was cooked, to which she responded that it was. Well, it wasn't – it came out raw, much to my dismay! "I think there's been a miscommunication here," I said. "I asked if the salmon was cooked and was told that yes, it was." "'Cooked?'" she replied in her thick French accent, "I thought you said 'cured'!" Nope. But my replacement brunch was delicious all the same.

Last night was our final Tuesday night childbirth and parenting class, which was really fun but also a bit sad! Our lovely group facilitator Kel is setting up a Facebook group so we can all keep in touch. We all brought a plate along for a shared dinner send-off, which we ate between swaddling our fake babies and putting on nappies.

Worst moment this week
Just what's left of work has been a bit of a drag. But I'm neeeearly there!

Movement
Bub is still in the same possy, so feeling kicks below my right ribs as usual. Space is tight in there!

Food cravings
None.

Anything making you feel sick or queasy?
No.

Gender
We'll soon find out!

Belly button in or out?
Kinda both. The photo makes it look outward, but it's still some weird combo.

Happy or moody?
Happy in a sleepy kind of way.

Looking forward to...
Meeting this little one.

This week's tune:
Here's a beautiful, special song to me – The Road by Zero7. Definitely mirrors my mood for the coming times.