Week 37! Woohoo... we are in the home stretch now. (Which seems very surreal.) I have never felt this unprepared to have a baby as I do this time. Life has just been so crazy busy this entire pregnancy and as soon as it slowed down a little I injured myself and can hardly move at all. It might seem weird but I'm having a hard time grasping that we are about to gain another family member and embark on the newborn stage again. To be honest I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed! People keep asking what are plans are for delivery, who's watching the kids, what we are planning for visitors and for the boys birthdays and on and on and I'm completely not prepared for any of it. I know everything will fall into place and I already know how to "do" the labor and recovery and breastfeeding and newborn phase. But still...
I am not nesting at all. I was for about a week and then I became immobile so even regular little housework tasks have been shifted to the bottom of the priority list. At about 35 weeks I suddenly wasn't able to move one side of my body from the hips down... and started walking with a significant limp. The pain on the opposite side of my lower back was so severe that I would get nauseous and light headed from it. I decided to go to the chiropractor around the corner, DESPERATE for a miracle a few days into the pain. After my physical exam she discovered that along with the pubic bone subluxation I have dealt with in all 3 pregnancies (subluxation is like dislocation but not as severe as a total dislocation), I also have a subluxated sacrum and twisted pelvis thats causing immobility in my left side and severe inflammation in my right thanks to it overcompensating. The pain is constant, whether I'm sitting or laying down or standing. Walking for any distance is impossible but the worst of it is definitely when trying to get up. When I wake up in the middle of the night to roll over I have to use my arms to push me and then feel a huge pop out and back in (like a dislocation) in my pelvis. When I have to get up to use the bathroom I pause in a standing position for about a minute until I'm able to move my left leg to take a step. I told Tate I may start wearing adult diapers to bed to avoid the hassle... he thinks I'm joking. :)
Its unfortunate that my bones slipped out of place because up until then I really had no pregnancy complaints. My headaches have gone away thanks to chiropractic neck adjustments, I haven't had hardly any heartburn, my swelling is not painful, I have stopped gaining weight (I have been up 50 lbs since week 30), and I have been loving feeling the baby kick. If it weren't for the sacrial subluxation I would be a very happy 9 month pregnant person.
The worst part isn't the neglected housework or the pain, but instead my mom guilt. I am way more irritable with the kids when I'm in pain and that makes me feel horrible, especially this close to their worlds being rocked by a new baby. I also envisioned our last weeks of pregnancy being spent doing lots of fun mommy-son dates and one on one time. Now the thought of having to walk to the kitchen to make them food is bad enough, much less take them to the museum, zoo or park.
I'm really praying for a miracle this week at the chiropractor. I went three times last week and was feeling a little better, but I was also hosting a couple's baby shower for my friends who are having their first baby in January. Maybe throwing a shower at 36 weeks pregnant isn't the best idea, but I had no idea I would have these back issues happen right beforehand. I forced my body through the shopping, cleaning, decorating, cooking and hosting... so obviously that counteracted any progress I made at the chiropractor who told me I needed to be resting and icing my back as much as possible. My goal for this week is to move as little as possible and hope for a small miracle so that I can start preparing more for baby by next week.
We had an ultrasound to check on babys growth and positioning this week. She is officially head down now and measuring right on track. They estimated her to be right around 6 lbs on the nose at the appointment. She wouldn't cooperate and show her face at all for the 3D images unfortunately, but hearing everything looked like it should was exciting enough. We will just be surprised when we meet her to find what she looks like!
As someone who's always gone overdue and required induction I was surprised to hear that at just over 36 weeks my cervix is already favorable. I'm 1-2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. The doctor also mentioned that baby's head is pushed snugly against my cervix, which was the most promising part. In my past pregnancies the boys were always "floating" and never dropped into place to start labor. I'm not super optimistic that I will go into labor on my own no matter what... but you never know! And hearing my cervix is already favorable for induction this early is a relief when and if it comes to that again. Because of the boys birthdays being 4 and 7 days after my due date I would consider inducing earlier than I have in the past. I trust my doctor and her instincts. Although my dream is obviously a pitocin free labor this time... since I have been told its a whole different (much better!) experience usually.
We have not settled on a baby name yet officially but have had one for quite a while that is probably what we will go with. We mistakenly shared it with a couple of people before deciding people's opinions of the name really didn't matter to us at all... especially after they shared what names they liked. Lets just say to each their own. ;) So at this point we aren't sharing it with anyone and also aren't sure we won't change our minds once we meet her. Lane has been calling her by this name for several weeks though... but in fairness he also likes to randomly call her Tarzan and "arf arf" once in a while. :)
