Baby is the size of a pumpkin – approximately 50cm and 3kg if I can trust my pregnancy app (which would be already bigger than I was as a newborn). She could come any day now – exciting!
I had my 38-week appointment with the midwife yesterday. So despite her prediction of a very early delivery, I did see her again! After examining me though, she stuck to her view and said she’d be surprised if the baby was not born this weekend!
Pregnancy update:
- Baby is very low in my pelvis, the midwife could only feel the bit above her neck (fully engaged)
- Heart rate was strong and she’s still been very active
- Bump measured now 36cm and my belly button has finally popped!
- I’ve stopped gaining weight but weighed exactly the same as two weeks ago (still about +10k in total), which apparently is normal at this point
- Still no swelling or stretch marks
- Braxton Hicks contractions continue but they are bearable and I can usually keep walking/talking while getting them (unlike last week)
- “Lighting crotch” is a new expression I’ve learned which describes the most uncomfortable of current sensations. As the baby’s head is very low in my pelvis it occasionally (read: too often) hits a nerve which sends a sort of a lighting bolt down my leg! Feels awful and is so sudden it nearly makes me drop on my knees!
- Some tummy cramps and lower back pain, kind of like mild period pain
I’ve written before about my recent sleep troubles. I told the midwife about the insomnia and she suggested I’d try an “acu seed”, which is a little seed on a plaster which is inserted onto my ear where it puts pressure on a specific acu spot which is meant to calm me down. Can do no harm I thought! Based on just last night though I wouldn’t say it works unfortunately…
On the days when I have had a half decent sleep I’ve actually been feeling very energetic and have enjoyed my free days! I’ve taken a yoga class, ballet class and had a good sweaty session at the gym yesterday! Adrenaline and endorphins from exercise feel great of course, but I also love the feeling of empowerment squatting away! I find the days when I’m tied to the sofa too tired or achy to move emotionally really, really hard!
Yesterday’s exercise session:
- 15k steps of walking outdoors in a gorgeous weather!
- 20min cardio on a stationary bike
- 40min of weights : weighted squats, deadlifts, bend over rows, shoulder superset flyes, pregnancy friendly core exercises
Pre-baby food prep:
This week my daily pre-baby maternity leave routine has consisted of slow mornings, midday exercise sessions and afternoon cooking/baking. In addition to our daily dinners, I’ve continued my food prep for the first weeks with baby when I expect to be pretty exhausted and overwhelmed – we shall not go hungry! 😊
In addition to the yummy cinnamon buns I made last week, I baked healthy banana-raspberry muffins (no sugar or butter) as easy pick-me-up snacks to have with a cuppa. For our actual meals I made two oven trays of meatballs that can be quickly added into a sauce. Yesterday I threw together a chicken pasta bake and today I froze what was left over from the Bolognese I made. My freezer is getting full!
Tomorrow we will go to the Christmas fair at our Finnish Church. They get a big delivery of foods and goodies from my home country and turn the church into a shop for the weekend’s Christmas market. This Christmas will be my first spent in London and I’m determined to make it as homely as possible!
xoxoxo,
Sini