Elephant, rhino, hippo… My appearance is pretty much analogous with any of these fine animals, so take your pick. I feel especially hippo like as I lay floundering in the bath tub. Actually, a hippo can definitely navigate it’s slippery mud bath better than I can my bathtub. But I can’t shower anymore either on account of the risk of my knees collapsing, so bath it is… the lesser of two evils.
Baby H and I have come a long way. From this:
6 weeks
To this:
37 Weeks
I. Feel. Huge. And that’s not just based on how I look, or the fact that even my midwife said, “Well, it’s not twins, just one giant baby” after my last ultrasound. It’s these things combined with the constant sensation of fatigue and lethargy. I can barely move. Getting out of bed is so hard, and I have to do it at least 3 times per night. At least. Getting off the couch is even harder since it’s lower down. Hell, I’m sitting right now and my knees are killing me. Turns out I’m not just a whiner and there is scientific proof that pregnant women should feel exhausted by this point, especially those carrying giant babies. You can read about it in a Huffington Post article HERE, or just read this one nice sentence that sums it up:
“By six months of pregnancy, women expend twice their usual energy keeping basic metabolic processes going, a burden that only gets greater as the fetus gets larger.” (Huffington Post, 2012)
Yup. I’m ready to have this baby. And as of today, it’s safe and normal to do so! So c’mon baby! Grace us with your presence! Yes, I do know better. The majority of first pregnancies end past their due dates and I still have three weeks to go, but with all these professionals saying that it could be any day I can’t help but get hopeful.
Dear Baby H, you’re 37 weeks now. Not a young spring chicken fetus (although as daddy pointed out last night, you still have some kung fu moves… I have no idea how since I’m stretched to the max and you’re pretty much out of room). C’mon out! There will be cookies. But not for you. To you I dedicate my boobies (sorry, J). I promise those are just as good as cookies. xo
Shan,
Only a few more weeks to go! This brings me back so many memories of my wife’s pregnancy (we usually say “ours”, but I’m feeling loving towards my wife after reading you). Good luck. Rest well. Much strength to you. In a few weeks, you’ll be losing sleep for other reasons…
Le Clown
I can’t help but feel that even though I know I’ve said goodbye to sleep forever (ok, not forever… but it feels like forever), I will get more sleep with a newborn than with this giant alien belly. Naïvité at its best, perhaps… I’m resting as best I can. For some reason passing out on the couch in the afternoon is easier than sleeping at night.
WOWZERS! I know that we’re basically due date twins (fine…you win by ONE DAY) but your belly wins ALL the awards.
Apparently, I have been generously sharing my belly weight with my arms, face, and thighs. Awesome.
Let’s just get these babies out, damn it. Then we can nap when they nap. In WHATEVER POSITION WE WANT.
I just woke up from a horribly awkward nap on the couch… apparently I can no longer stay awake in the afternoons at all.
My belly is full of water! That’s why it’s so huge. My fundal height at my last appointment was 43cm. I woke up to a whole new slew of stretch marks this morning and I’m pretty afraid of what things will look like if I go all the way to 40 weeks or beyond. Eep! And don’t you worry… my arms, face and thighs have definitely ballooned up a bit. I had been escaping looking like I was all belly for awhile. No longer!
People don’t realize that heaven is sleeping on your belly.
I want to know how to make those boob cookies! Those are soooo awesome! And I don’t blame you for being tired! Sheesh!
I have to take antibiotics for an inner ear infection and they make me pee…a lot…like a pregnant lady. But I’m not pregnant (I think) and I’m STILL tired!
I prescribe more sleep if you can get it.
I took a Gravol an hour ago (midwife told me to saying that sleep now is important for labour later) and not only am I wide awake, Baby H is rockin’ it in the womb. What the heck!
You should just start abusing him before he’s born and punch your belly till he sits still. (Not really. That’s a horrible idea.)
Just found your blog! Do you have a recipe for those boob cookies?!?! :)
Hey, thanks for stopping by! I actually don’t have it. It’s a pic I found, but there are lots of funny recipe ideas if you google it :)