Week 34 Bump Date

Woot! I made it to 34 weeks! This is only exciting because week 33 gave us a bit of a scare. Actually "scare" may be too big of a word. Let’s just say Miss P was apparently bored and decided to cause some drama....like we ladies do from time to time.

After having a wonderfully lazy Mother’s Day, I woke up on Monday morning with what I thought to be normal Braxton Hicks. They were pretty uncomfortable but nothing I couldn’t make my way through. They felt nothing like the contractions that I had with Dom. They just didn’t hurt as much so I continue about my normal quarantine routine. Dom duty until 10 am or so while Ben worked, then I logged on to take a few meetings. The contractions kept coming so naturally, I consulted Dr. Google, duh! I texted my mom tribe of which two of them are nurses, one an L&D nurse to boot and they convinced me to call my actual doctor. A call from my doctor, a liter of water, and some rest later, that same mom tribe convinced me that maybe it was time for me to go get checked at the hospital. I was extremely hesitant because I didn’t want to feel stupid. I didn’t want to go all the way to the hospital only for them to confirm nothing was happening. I’m a second-time mom! I felt I should know better than false alarms. 

Turns out, it wasn’t quite a false alarm. I continue contracting after both an IV push of fluid and a pill. When they checked my cervix and I was 1cm dilated and 50% effaced. Nothing to write home about usually, but given the continued contractions they decided to keep me overnight for observation. Later I was checked again and had progressed to 2cm and 60% effaced. So now that I was making progress docs decided to go ahead and give me steroid shots to jump start P’s lungs just in case! 

48 hours later I was home! The contractions had stalled and I wasn’t making new progress. I missed the shit out of Dom, and wanted so badly to shower and sleep in my own bed! It’s so funny because before Monday I was on day 60 of quarantine. I had spent 60 days inside this house and after only 48 hours away I was itching to get back! 

Things have calmed down heading into week 34. I had a doc appt that confirmed I hadn’t made more progress and the contractions seem more like Braxton Hicks again. Now we just wait. Will I make it to 40 weeks? Big brother came at 37 weeks on the nose. I’m not gonna lie to you, I’m cool with her coming at 37 weeks too! 

Symptoms:

• Metallic taste - Yes...effing still and my old trusty gum doesn't seem to work the same so I wonder if my hormones are changing in prep for birth.

• Night sweats - I literally sleep with zero blankets

• Back pain - This got better for a bit with my trusty belly band, but I find the band a little uncomfortable now at this late stage of the game.

• Braxton Hicks contractions - I had these pretty bad at the end with Dom too. But from my story above, apparently, I should pay more attention to them.

• Frequent peeing - I'm pretty sure I peed 4-5 times last night alone. So fun.

• Shortness of breath - I feel like I've run a mile after only walking a few feet. It's almost impossible to keep up with Dom at this point.

• Overall uncomfortableness - As to be expected.

Cravings:

• Strawberries

• Parfaits

• Salads

• Smore's Pop-Tarts (in fact I think I'll have one now)

• Sour Cream and Cheddar Lays Ruffles

Feeling/Emotion: Generally over it to be honest. Over being pregnant. Over being quarantined. Over working from home with a toddler. Just. Over it.

Cheers to being oh-so-close to the end!

xoxoxxx,

Rashida