What I Learned About Pregnancy

Now that I'm 1 month postpartum, I thought I would do a little post on what I learned about pregnancy. This is obviously just in regards to my own pregnancy, as we all know, each pregnancy is different in their own way. These are just my thoughts and opinions!

17 weeks

1. Pregnancy waddle is real. It's crazy how much your hips want to be ahead of the rest of your body when you're standing, or walking. Plus it doesn't help that it feels like there's a head in-between your legs!

2. Cravings are also real. Kit Kat Chunky's, Creme Eggs, & Cherry Sours have never held such a special place in my heart. 

18 weeks

3. It's really hard not to compare yourself to other fellow preggos.. but try your best not to and remember that this is your own personal, unique journey!

4. You may get the weirdest, most inconvenient pregnancy symptoms, such as carpal tunnel, jumpy legs or blurred vision... & you might have them all at once.

20 weeks

5. You may feel extra confident with your baby belly & take a million photos of it.

6. Climbing stairs and hills gets real challenging in the later months. 

24 weeks

7. You may pee yourself a little while brushing your teeth/tongue due to sensitive gag reflex. 

8. You may change up your wardrobe to sports bras and leggings once things stop fitting.

26 weeks

9. The first trimester is brutal. If you're one of the special ones who didn't get sick, consider yourself lucky. I was nauseas and threw up everyday for 14 weeks... but then it was like a light switch & I wanted to eat everything!

10. The first time you feel the baby move, is amazing... but the first time I saw my boyfriend feel the baby move, was so emotional.

29 weeks

11. You're really not as "big" as you think you are. I've been looking back through my belly photos, and I really wasn't as huge as I or anyone else thought I was!

12. The gender ultrasound is so fun! We knew we wanted to find out what we were having right away.. Having the ultrasound tech show us his "parts" was so emotional! All I could say was "it's a boy!!!" & then tears started falling. It was the first time I cried at an appointment.

34 weeks

13. You may think you're in the clear for stretch marks, but truth is, you probably just can't see them on that part of your body. You'll see the reality of it once the baby is out. 

14. Emotions change on a dime.

38 weeks

15. It's not as hot as you think it is. Careful not to freeze your boyfriend by opening windows and turning off the heat in the car, during the winter months. 

16. Pregnancy is really not that glamorous at times.... Consider it preparation for the also not so glam labour & birth. 

38 weeks

 17. You will miss your belly after you give birth.

18. You never really get used to your belly sticking out so far. I grazed mine on doors, walls, and the fridge countless times. 

40 weeks

19. Epsom salts & lavender bubble bath is a treat for the tired, aching body.

20. 9 [10] months of pregnancy doesn't prepare you for the overwhelming feeling of love when you see your baby for the first time.

40 weeks & 5 days

What's In My Hospital Bag - Postpartum Update!

So if you didnt originally see my first "What's In My Hospital Bag" post, click here!

Here are all the photos from my original post with the contents of the bags. I was only expecting to stay in the hospital for like, 2 days.... but we ended up being there 5 days, from Sunday-Friday... So that definitely plays a part in what I needed/should have packed. 

First! The clothing bag.

 So right off the bat, I'm going to say we needed more clothes. Bo for sure needed more. 

I should have brought pj pants. I really don't know why I didn't. 

I planned to wear my yoga pants as a going home outfit, but I ended up wearing them for a couple days in the hospital because I bled on one pair of leggings, and only had one other pair of leggings to wear. I also only had 3 tank tops... Definitely needed a couple more of those as well. 

I didn't ever use the flip flops.

The best thing I brought was my robe. It was greatly used, and then it was sadly missed because after labour, it wasn't wearable anymore... Another one would have been nice.

I would have really liked to have a nightgown that had easy boob access. That would have been nice to have as well..Maybe a couple of them actually..

 This blanket was so nice to have. It was nice to have something to snuggle with instead of the stupid hospital bedding. I would have had enough maxi pads for 3 days, but not 5. I ended up needing to use the hospital pads, which were definitely not as nice, and they didn't have wings, which I discovered is way better than no wings. I didn't need near as many nursing pads as I brought. My milk didn't really start flowing until day 4. Diapers - he wore newborn size for like, 1 day.. then we just used size 1's. I ended up having a bunch of size 1's of my own left over because we had a small package the hospital provided that we used first. 

 All the snacks were eaten.. it was 100% needed since the food there was CRAP and the cafeteria food was expensive. I wish I brought more snacks/food. Bo went home one night, cooked a frozen lasagna and brought it back. That was a good idea! 

I went through the baby wipes in 3 days.. I didn't use the coconut oil - and still haven't for that matter. Ive been really lucky in the breastfeeding department. I also didn't need the baby body wash/shampoo because the hospital gave us some. Everything they used for him was left with him. We even scored a soother.

He wore 1 pair of mittens, 1 onesie, 1 sleeper, and his going home outfit. I definitely overpacked in the clothes department. He was basically naked, wrapped in that top striped blanket the whole hospital stay. The nurses had to keep coming in and checking him and he kept having to have a bunch of tests done, so it was just easier to keep him naked instead of dressing/undressing him every time. 

So there's that! The only thing I really overpacked on was the baby's clothes. Other then that, it was pretty much all needed and used!

Bump Update - 40+41 Weeks

-40 Weeks-

-41 Weeks-

 How far along?  

Currently 41 weeks... I neglected to post a 40 week bump update and now I have no idea what happened when.. So I'm merging it into one post. 

Total weight gain/measurements: 

Sitting at a whopping 58lb weight gain. Ah well.. whatchya gunna do. I enjoyed every single calorie ;)

Maternity clothes:  

Nothing new. My wardrobe basically consists of underwear and tank tops or Bo's t-shirts.

Stretch marks: 

Oh yes... new ones have appeared. I was sad at first.. but now I don't really care. I guess thats what happens when you gain 58 lbs in 41 weeks. 

Sleep: 

Awful. It is literally so physically hard to sleep. I can't roll over without being in pain. My pelvis and hips ache like crazy. My legs cramp up all the time. Theres no sugar coating this. Sleep sucks. 

Best moment this week: 

Getting an induction date! It's really come to the point where I need this baby out now. Between my pulled groin/aching pelvis pain & these EFFING WRISTS!!!!!!!!! [they are clearly just getting worse and not better] It's nice to have a day where I know things are going to happen. Tomorrow [Sunday] I'll get 2 doses of the cervical gel... & then if I haven't gone into labour yet, I'll be induced on Monday  morning with Oxytocin. I was really hoping to go into labour on my own... but again, watchya gunna do. 

Miss anything? 

Not being pregnant. I miss being able to do anything with my hands, standing up and sitting down,  and breathing like a normal person. I miss not being winded from walking to the bathroom.... Not peeing every 2 seconds. I sound so bitter.. but this is real life right now. 

Movement: 

Yup. Still lots of movement considering he's probably like 10 lbs by now. 
Still hiccuping about 3 times a day.

Food cravings: 

I get cravings for sweets in the evening.

Anything making you queasy or sick? 

Not eating every couple hours. 

Gender:  

A stubborn boy. 

Labour signs:  

Lost my mucus plug Tuesday night.
Nauseas and vomitting for like 10 minutes Wednesday night. 
That's pretty much it. 

Symptoms:  

Aching lower back and belly. 
Burning wrists joints.... I woke up this morning and one of my fingers on each hand was completely locked up.
Lightning crotch.
I'm 41 weeks and feeling like a hippo.... you can guess my symptoms at this point. 

Belly button in or out? 

Out

Happy or moody most of the time: 

Moody! 

Looking forward to: 
Getting this baby earth side! 

 My birthday - Baby H's Due date