Third Trimester Update
With only a matter of days or weeks left until we meet our daughter, I can’t believe I’m sitting down to type up my third-trimester update right now. Time has flown by and it’s so crazy to think about how soon she’ll be here and how different everything will be. Today’s post is a recap on my third trimester thus far, from how I’m feeling to my favorite moments, body changes and what I’m looking forward to most.
Previous updates:
How far along are you now?
I’m 37 weeks, so 3 weeks out from my due date! According to the bump app, baby girl is the size of romaine lettuce and is approximately 18.9 inches long and 6.17 lbs, according to my Bump app. However, I had a growth check ultrasound at 33 weeks because my belly was measuring two weeks ahead at my previous appointment and my doctor said she was about 6 lbs then and in the 77th percentile. With that being said, I’d say she is likely bigger than what my app says — but we’ll see! Since I was 9 lbs when I was born, I’m expecting a big baby. My guess is 8 lbs and some ounces! She dropped a few weeks ago and is head down.
Pregnancy symptoms?
They’re really not kidding when they say the second trimester is the blissful period because I’ve experienced a lot more discomfort and pain in my third trimester, specifically over the last few weeks. My skin cleared up sometime in my second trimester I think and is back to its pre-pregnancy status, but acid reflux/heartburn has been worse than ever. I’m allowed to take six Tums a day and there are a lot of days where I have to take all six. My feet and ankles are swollen when I get home from work, but they usually go down pretty quickly once I prop them up for a bit.
Lactating has been out of control and I soaked the whole side of my shirt the other night when I was sleeping — crazy! My linea nigra has become a little more prominent, but it’s still pretty light overall. I must say, I’m a little sad to report that I think I have my first stretch mark on my belly (I have several dark ones coming out of my butt crack as well?). It’s only about an inch long and not too dark yet, but I’m crossing my fingers that a whole bunch more don’t pop up between now and delivery, only because I’ve made it this far without them! However, I totally understand and respect whatever stretching my body needs to do to get our baby here safely. Every mark and change to my body will be little reminders of the sweet time my baby was inside me.
I’ve been experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions (a lot some days and just a few on other days) and what I assume is nerve pain in my left groin. This pinched nerve, pressure or whatever it is makes it pretty painful to lift my legs and roll to my left side in bed. The pain isn’t constant and comes and goes, but when I do have it, it causes me to overcompensate with my other muscles, making my lower and upper back sore too.
I’m feeling pretty big these days and my belly is feeling HEAVY! I can feel my hips spreading sometimes too and everything is just a big harder than it used to be — bending over to pick stuff up, standing up, simple physical tasks make me more tired than usual, etc. I’m definitely waddling a lot more and walking much slower! I joke that I feel like a beached whale.
Weight gain?
As of right now, I’ve gained about 25-28 lbs.
Maternity clothes?
I’m not kidding when I say I wear the same pair of maternity leggings pretty much every day. If I have to leave the house, it’s pretty much the only thing that’s comfortable for me in the chilly weather. Luckily though, since they’re plain black, they’re easy to lazily style in different ways so I can get away with it. I often tie shirts/sweaters up over my belly so I don’t feel completely shapeless in my loose tops.
Sleep?
Ugh, not good. I wake up twice every night to go to the bathroom (which I never did before pregnancy, so that’s new for me) and a lot of the time, I wake up sometime between 2 and 5 and end up staying up because I’m unable to go back to sleep. I either watch videos on my phone or tip-toe to the living room to watch Keeping Up With the Kardashians until Justin wakes up (lol). I have a lot of pain at night sometimes too.
Best moment?
As uncomfortable as my third trimester has been at times, I’ve experienced some of my favorite moments during these last few weeks: our baby shower, 3D ultrasound and taking my maternity pictures to name a few.
Weird pregnancy moment?
My shirt getting completely soaked the other night from breast milk was so shocking. I’ve been lactating decently heavily daily for months, but not to this level until that night. My largest spot before that was about the size of a baseball.
Baby movement?
She’s still quite the wiggler and it’s been the wildest feeling to now feel her on both my hip bones, tail bone and sometimes my ribs all at once. Sometimes the movements are so big and sudden that they make me jump.
Food cravings?
I’m still very much into apples and milk. I eat one almost every day and I swear I could down a gallon of milk in 24 hours… I won’t though!
Anything making you queasy?
Just acid reflux. I’ve been feeling more nauseous this past week than I have in months and I think that’s a sign that labor is coming, which obviously it is!
Favorite products?
I’d say my heating pad, pregnancy pillow and the birthing ball I bought this week have been my biggest go-to’s! Sitting on the ball feels great for my hips and tailbone.
Something you’re looking forward to?
I’m looking forward to meeting our sweet little beeb SO SOON! I can’t believe the time has come and our lives are about to change. I can’t wait for that exciting moment when I lock eyes with her for the first time, when she holds my finger, seeing Justin hold her and the feeling of coming home and walking inside with her for the first time. I can’t wait for Lucia to meet her too!
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That’s how my third trimester is going so far! I’ve been blessed with a great pregnancy and I know that the discomfort I’m experiencing now will be so worth it. I can still say that I’ve loved being pregnant and I think having a bump is so cute. I’ll miss having our little baby inside of me. We’re together all the time and I’ll forever cherish it.